This is posted on the Kelowna Rockets website:
Rockets reassign James Porter to Vernon Vipers
November 4, 2019
by Kelowna Rockets Staff
Kelowna Rockets president and general manager Bruce Hamilton announced today that the Rockets have reassigned goaltender James Porter to the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL.
“We feel there’s an opportunity in Vernon for James to get some games in,” said Hamilton. “It’s critical right now as he hasn’t had any playing time here, the most important thing for James is to get him playing.”
The Rockets drafted Porter during the seventh round of 2014 Bantam Draft. He has suited up in 73 games for Kelowna over the last two seasons, collecting a record of 30-22-7-2 with 3.29 GAA and a .897 SAV%
James Porter Player Profile:
This is posted on the Vipers website:
Roster Alert – Vipers Add Porter from Rockets
November 4, 2019
Vernon, BC: The Vernon Vipers are pleased to announce the addition of goaltender James Porter from the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets.
The 19 year old from Bonners Ferry, Idaho has played the last two season with the Kelowna Rockets where he rang up 30 wins.
“James will come in and help in as a nice tandem with Reilly Herbst,” says Head Coach and GM of the Vipers. “He’s a veteran player with a lot of experience.”
Porter will join his new team this week as they prepare for a weekend in Trail.
Can anyone add some insight into the Vipers goaltending situation? Is Max Palaga still with the team? If so, is his injury more serious than originally thought? Are they going to go with Herbst & Porter for the next while? Every couple of weeks it seems like the Vipers have added another goalie.
ReplyDeleteThe AP goalies on the weekend were goalies of convenience. They were both Midget goalies who dressed as a backup for Herbst. The previous weekend Cole Steinke from the KIJHL went to the Island with the Vipers as an AP and played the game in Alberni (and won).
ReplyDeleteMax Palaga is injured and the Vipers are allowed to roster another goalie (Porter) in his place until he's ready to return. When Palaga is healthy the Vipers will have to make a roster move.
I said this earlier in the season and I bet Max Palaga will be back on a WHL roster..more than likely the Rockets cause their goaltending is a mess
ReplyDeleteMax Palaga is still listed on the Vipers roster. No official word on how long Palaga will be out the lineup. Is Palaga's injury more serious then people thought? Will Palaga be out of the lineup long term and this is why James Porter was brought in? Or is Palaga close to returning, but with the addition of Reilly Herbst, Palaga doesn't want to be a backup and asked for a trade? Or are the Everett Silvertips looking at trading Palaga's rights and the Vipers want to be safe and bring in another backup? I guess will have to wait and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteSince being acquired by the Vipers Reilly Herbst has played in all but one game for the Snakes since October 11th. Herbst has played in ten out of the Vipers last eleven games. If Palaga is out long term, the Vipers will need a backup goaltender, more then just an "AP" goaltender who sits on the bench and this is why Porter is here.
I watch/& follow the Rockets and go to between 15-40 games a season depending on when and where the Vipers play, so I have seen Porter play the last two seasons. Porter went 22-9-1 with three shutouts and a 3.27 GAA but went 8-13-1 with one shutout last season. On some night's he's very good but other night's he's been average.
My only concern with the addition of Porter is, will the Rockets keep Porter on there roster and allow him to finish the season in Vernon? Or will they eventually stick with two goaltenders and then deal his rights to another team in the Western Hockey League, therefor Porter will leave the Vipers back to the WHL. In the same kind of way with what happened with Max Palaga last year.
The new ownership in Vernon seems to like bringing in kids from the Western Hockey League. Last season the Vipers brought in Tyler Ho, Lane Zablocki, Kjell Kjemhus, Sebastian Streu, Landon Fuller, Tylor Ludwar & Max Palaga. Kjemhus, Streu, Ludwar and Palaga all left back to the Western Hockey League once there rights were again traded.
It's almost like they don't get the whole point of Jr A
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