Game Preview: Prince George @ Vernon:

Prince George (20-12-3-4) @ Vernon (27-8-1-4) 6pm

Tonight is the first of two regular season meeting between the Vernon Vipers & Prince George Spruce Kings. The Vipers went 2-0-0-0 vs Prince George last season.

Last Game:

Friday, January 5th Vernon defeated Merritt 2-0
Friday, January 5th Penticton defeated Prince George 2-1 in double overtime

Next Game:

Friday, January 15th Vernon @ Merritt
Sunday, January 7th Prince George @ Salmon Arm

Tonight's a very special night taking place in Vernon with tonight's game being played at the Vernon Civic Arena. The Civic Arena was the previous home to the Vipers who played in the arena from 1995-2001 before moving into the brand new Vernon Multi-Plex, now known as Kal Tire Place. Junior hockey was played in the Civic Arena starting in 1961 with the team having several different names, Vernon Jr. Canadians 1961-62, Vernon Blades 1962-67, Vernon Essos 1967-73, Vernon Vikings 1973-1979, Vernon Lakers 1980-83, Vernon Rockets 1983-84, Vernon Lakers 1984-1995, & Vernon Vipers 1995-present. Tonight's game will mark the 80th anniversary of the Civic Arena, where the first hockey game took place 80 years ago today. An exhibition game between the Vancouver Lions and Spokane Clippers on January 6th 1938. The Civic Arena is set to be knocked down sometime this year. This isn't the first time the Vipers have had to play in the again Civic Arena, since moving into Kal Tire Place in 2001. The Vipers were forced to play the BCHL League Finals in the Civic Arena vs the Surrey Eagles in 2005 and again in 2009 vs the AJHL Grande Prairie Storm during the Doyle Cup. Both series were forced into the Civic Arena due to the loggers convention in town-inside Kal Tire Place. The Civic Arena is listed at a seating capacity of 2,252 with 500 standing room and an ice surface listed at 180'x80'

The first nationally televised Centennial Cup was in Vernon in 1990 between the host Vernon Lakers vs the New Westminster Royals. The Lakers defeated the powerful New Westminster Royals in the 1990 Centennial Cup 6-5 in overtime in one of the greatest so called games in Junior hockey history. New West built up a 5-2 lead after 40 minutes, but couldnt hold onto the lead as Cam Sylven scored the game tying goal and the overtime winner in front of a packed Vernon Civic Arena.

1990 Centennial Cup Highlight's,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgTNsy19LuA

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 42-20-2-4 vs Prince George

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon has outscored Prince George 273-193

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 16-6-2-4 at home vs. Prince George

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 18-11-0-1 in Prince George

The Vipers are 6-3-1-0 in their last ten games vs Prince George

The Vipers are 7-2-1-0 in their last ten home games vs Prince George

The Vipers are 7-3-0-0 in their last ten games in Prince George

The Vipers last regular season win at home vs. Prince George was a 5-4 double overtime win on Sunday, January 29th 2017

The Spruce Kings last regular season win in Vernon was a 4-3 victory on Saturday, October 10th 2015

The Vipers last regular season win in Prince George was a 5-3 victory on Wednesday, January 11th 2017

The Spruce Kings last regular season win at home vs. Vernon was a 3-0 victory on Friday, October 4th 2013

Here's a look at last years season series vs Prince George

January 11th Vernon @ Prince George: Vipers won 5-3
January 29th Prince George @ Vernon: Vipers won 5-4 double overtime

Let's take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

The 27-8-1-4 Vernon Vipers are coming off a 2-0 victory over the visiting Merritt Centennials Friday night. Tonight's the second and final game of a two game home stand, where the Vipers will play two of their next three games. Vernon has won four of their last five home games. The Snakes come into tonight having won four of their last five and eight of their last ten games. Vernon sits atop the Interior Division and overall standings are nine points up on Trail & Penticton and six points up on Wenatchee. The Vipers will pay tribute to the senior Vancouver Lions, who played the Spokane Clippers in the first hockey game at Civic, almost 80 years to the day the facility opened. Their uniforms for the night will be cream coloured with maroon – same as the Lions – and there will be a big V on the front with “Vipers” spelled out on the letter. The uniform will have a Civic Arena patch on one shoulder and the Vipers’ patch will be on the other shoulder.

Vernon Vipers Roster:

http://bchl.ca/stats/roster/21

Josh Prokop (19-13-32) leads the team lead in goals with nineteen, while Jimmy Lambert (15-30-45) leads the team in points with fourty five.

Vernon Vipers 2017-18 regular season stats:

Games Played: 40
Wins: 27
Losses: 8
Ties: 4
Overtime Wins: 2
Overtime Losses: 1
Home Record: 14-4-1-1
Road Record: 13-4-0-3
Overtime Record: 2-0-4
Record vs Interior Division: 19-5-0-2
Record vs Island & Mainland Divisions: 8-3-1-2
Record In September: 6-1-0-1
Record In October: 6-3-0-1
Record In November: 7-3-0-2
Record In December: 7-1-1-0
Record In January: 1-0-0-0
When the Vipers score first: 20-4-0-2
When the opponents score first: 7-4-1-2
Leading after the 1st period: 15-3-0-1
Tied after the 1st period: 5-2-0-3
Trailing after the 1st period: 6-2-1-0
Leading after the 2nd period: 19-1-0-1
Tied after the 2nd period: 8-5-0-0
Trailing after the 2nd period: 0-2-1-3
Out shooting opponents: 21-5-1-2
Out shot by opponents: 6-3-0-2
One goal games: 5-7-1-0
Goals for: 143
Goals against: 82
Standings: 1st Place (Overall)
Longest winning streak: Unbeaten in eight games (6 wins-2 ties)
Longest losing streak: Winless in three games (2 losses & 1 tie)

Vernon Vipers Returning Players:

Brett Stapley (99)
Cameron Trott (97)
Jagger Williamson (98)
Jimmy Lambert (97)
Niko Karamanis (98)
Jesse Lansdell (98)
Michael Ufberg (97)
Shane Kelly (97)
Sol Seibel (99)
Chris Jandric (98)
Ty Taylor (99)

Vernon Vipers departed & traded players from last years team:

Austin Adamson (96)
Riley Brandt (96)
Ryan Brushett (98)
Simon Sagissor (97)
Brody Dale (99)
Hunter Zandee (96)
Luke Gingras (98)
Steven Jandric (97)
Cooper Watson (96)
Connor Clouston (96)
Darion Hanson (97)

Vernon's home record vs Prince George last year:

1-0-0-0

Vernon's road record vs Prince George last year:

1-0-0-0

Vernon's scoring leaders vs Prince George last year:

Jimmy Lambert (3-2-5)
Steven Jandric (1-3-4)
Austin Adamson (0-4-4)
Brett Stapley (1-2-3)
Michael Ufberg (0-3-3)
Cameron Trott (2-1-3)
Ryan Brushett (2-0-2)
Jagger Williamson (0-1-1)
Hunter Zandee (0-1-1)
Connor Clouston (0-1-1)
Chris Jandric (1-0-1)
Simon Sagissor (0-1-1)

Darion Hanson (1-0 Record)
Ty Taylor (1-0 Record)

Let's take a look at the Prince George Spruce Kings:

The 20-12-3-4 Prince George Spruce Kings make their second of two visits to Vernon are coming off a 2-1 double overtime loss in Penticton last night. Tonight is the second of three meetings vs the Vipers (exhibition & regular season). The Spruce Kings lost 4-2 in pre-season action in Vernon August 31st. These two teams will meet again January 19th in Prince George. Tonight's the second game of a three game road trip, where PG has lost two straight away from home and winless in their last three road games. The Spruce Kings have just one win in their last five and six wins in their last ten games. Prince George sits 2nd in the Mainland Division are three points up on Surrey and just a single point back of Division leading Langley.

Prince George Spruce Kings Roster:

http://bchl.ca/stats/roster/14

Ben Brar (17-19-36) leads the team in goals with sixteen, while Ethan de Jong (12-27-39) leads the team in points with thirty nine.

Prince George Spruce Kings 2017-18 regular season stats:

Games Played: 39
Wins: 20
Losses: 12
Ties: 4
Overtime Losses: 3
Home Record: 15-3-1-1
Road Record: 5-9-2-3
Goals for: 120
Goals against: 103
Standings: 2nd Place Mainland Division

Prince George Spruce Kings Returning Players:

Ethan De Jong (99)
Ben Poisson (99)
Jarod Hovde (97)
Kyle Johnson (98)
Chong Min Lee (99)
Ben Brar (98)
Ryan Stack (00)
Liam Watson-Brawn (99)

Prince George Spruce Kings departed and traded players from last years team:

Travis Schneider (98)
Brett Mennear (96)
Tanner Campbell (97)
Chong Hyun Lee (96)
Parker Colley (97)
Hunter Luhmann (97)
Ethan O'Rourke (99)
Keegan Ward (97)
Tyler Anderson (96)
Drew Lennon (98)
Adam Burnett (96)
Sam De Melo (98)
Bryan Allbee (97)
Connor Russell (96)
Tavin Grant (98)
Aris Anagnostopoulos (98)

Prince George's home record vs Vernon last year:

0-1-0-0

Prince George's road record vs Vernon last year:

0-0-0-1

Prince George's scoring leaders vs Vernon last year:

Brett Mennear (1-2-3)
Travis Schneider (0-2-2)
Tyler Anderson (0-2-2)
Parker Colley (0-3-3)
Hunter Luhmann (2-0-2)
Chong Hyun Lee (1-1-2)
Drew Lennon (0-1-1)
Tanner Campbell (1-0-1)
Sam De Melo (0-1-1)
Connor Russell (0-1-1)
Ben Brar (1-0-1)
Ethan O'Rourke (0-1-1)
Keegan Ward (1-0-1)

Tavin Grant (0-2 Record)