Monday, August 19, 2019

Vernon Vipers Open Training Camp:

Well the 2019-20 season has finally arrived. The defending Interior Division Champion Vernon Vipers open training camp today. The Vipers main camp goes from Monday through till Wednesday with the teams first exhibition game Friday night vs the Alberta Junior Hockey League Grande Prairie Storm.

After winning the Interior Division championship and falling short in the league finals, the Vipers new ownership felt changes were needed. On May 7th 2019 out was Kevin Kraus and Mark Ferner, In is new Head Coach/GM Jason McKee. McKee and John Glen know each other well after Glen's son was a member of the Alberta Junior Hockey League Spruce Grove Saints, where McKee was Head Coach. Glen also served as a volunteer with the Saints.

With very little to no coverage from the Vernon Morning Star newspaper over the summer, Vipers fans don't know much about the upcoming team/or roster other then the team announcing seven new recruits/committed players and a few players acquired in trades.

I will do my best at trying to piece together the Vipers 2019-20 roster as best I can with what info I have. I have a very reliable source who told me in June the Snakes could have a possible thirteen players from last year's team return.

Here is my projected Vipers roster. Please don't quote me on this, this is just a guess.

Forwards:

Connor Marritt (Captain/Returning for a third season)
Ben Helgeson (Returning for a second season?)
Logan Cash (Returning for a second season?)
Brett Fudger (Recruited/Committed)
Matt Kowalski (Returning for a second season?)
Ryan Shostak (Recruited/Committed)
Jojo Tanaka-Campbell (Recruited/Committed)
Ben Sanderson (Returning for a second season?)
Connor Sleeth (Acquired in off season trade with Kanata)
Nick Cherkowski (Returning for a second season?)
Cameron MacDonald (Recruited/Committed)
Elan Bar-Lev-Wise (Returning for a third season?)

Defence:

Landon Fuller (Returning for a second season?)
Ryan MacLean (Recruited/Committed)
Trey Taylor (Returning for a second season?)
Nicholas Kent (Acquired in a trade with Buffalo)
Christian Felton (Recruited/Committed)
Brendan Kim (Returning for a second season?)
Keigo Hachisuka (Recruited/Committed)

Goaltenders:

Max Palaga (Returning for a second season)
Bradley Cooper (Returning for a second season?)

Here is what the BCHL website has listed for the Vipers 2019-20 roster,

Forwards:

Connor Marritt
Jojo Tanaka-Campbell
Brett Fudger
Cameron MacDonald
Ryan Shostak

Defence:

Christian Felton
Keigo Hachisuka
Nicholas Kent
Ryan MacLean

No comments: