This is posted on BCHLnetwork.ca
Vernon Vipers: Graduating players and eligible returnees
Written by Brian Wiebe on May 9, 2020
Rather than launching into a second round playoff series against their rivals in Penticton earlier this spring, the Vernon Vipers found themselves ground to a halt by COVID-19. Vernon beat Wenatchee in five games to open the playoffs and looked poised to give the Vees a run for their money, despite finishing 26 points back of first place.
The Vipers roster had no fewer than five players with Canadian Hockey League experience on it, including 47 point man Dawson Holt, who was second on the team in scoring. Both he and top scorer Matt Kowalski will play USports hockey in 2020-21 for Queen’s and the University of Saskatchewan respectively.
Reigning Canadian Junior Hockey League academic player of the year JoJo Tanaka-Campbell is the highest returning scorer after he put up 26 points in 52 games as a rookie in 2019-20. Tanaka-Campbell headlines a strong group of 19-year-old forwards that includes Max Bulawka (10 points in 18 games) and Ryan Shostak (16 points in 40 games). Cameron MacDonald will likely show a big improvement on the 25 points he posted as a 17-year-old.
Hunter Donohoe is the lone 20-year-old skater eligible to return to Vernon next season. The defenseman had 11 points in 35 games since joining the Vipers in mid-November. The blueline will also be anchored by Clarkson-bound Trey Taylor, who is going into his third BCHL season at just 18-years-old.
Vipers general manager and head coach Jason McKee also has to sort out his goaltending. Both Reilly Herbst and Keegan Karki are 20-year-olds next season, and it’s doubtful the team will use two of its six coveted overage roster spots on that position.
The depth chart below is based on coaches going with a 23-man roster of 13 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders.
All college commitment years are collated from each player’s profile on the Vipers roster on the BCHL website.
Graduating Players
Ben Helgeson (University of Wisconsin)
Connor Marritt (Northern Michigan University)
Logan Cash (University of Vermont)
Christian Felton (Bentley University)
Connor Sleeth (SUNY-Oswego)
Landon Fuller (Trinity Western University)
Ben Sanderson (Colorado College)
Matt Kowalski (Queen’s University)
Dawson Holt (University of Saskatchewan)
Jackson Caller (aged out)
Eligible Returnees
(* indicates an open spot – assuming the team goes with 13 forwards and eight defencemen)
Forwards
Jack Glen (01)
JoJo Tanaka-Campbell (01)
Brett Fudger (01)
Ryan Shostak (01)
Max Bulawka (01)
Colby Feist (02)
Cameron MacDonald (02)
*
*
*
*
*
*
Defensemen
Hunter Donohoe (00)
Keigo Hachisuka (01)
Nicholas Kent (01)
Trey Taylor (02)
*
*
*
*
Goaltenders
Keegan Karki (00)
Reilly Herbst (00)
6 comments:
From various sites I've found these players who are possible/rumoured/recruited Vipers in the fall of 2020. If there is a 20-21 season.
On defense: Griffen Barr from Shawnigan Lake school. Liam Cavan from St. Andrew's in Ontario. Sam Duerr from Shattuck St Mary's. Desmond Johnson from Chicago high school.
At forward: Adam Flammang from Minnesota high school. He put up big numbers in high school. Logan Lorenz from Consort Alberta. Reagan Milburn from Kamloops. He scored a ton last season in Midget, and played a few AP games with the Vipers. Nick Remissong and Daniel Rozsival from Chicago high school. Ethan Mercer from Edmonton Midget. Will Seiya Tanaka-Campbell come to Vernon or stay at Shawnigan Lake for grade 12?
The Vipers have 3, count 'em 3, 20 year olds in goal. The injured Max Palaga, Keegan Karki, and Reilly Herbst. Both Karki and Herbst are imports. It figures that two of the three will leave.
The American players coming over the border, and even if there will be a season, are moot points right now.
Should we have an upcoming season,hopeful but doubtful. This will be Jason's team with his new picks for our team,much like When Mark Ferner returned and Jason Williamson left as coach. Fans with the new Jason's team this will tell us beyond a doubt whether or not the right choice was made in retaining his services as coach, hopeful. GO,VIPERS,GO.
Thank you Bob for the list of new possible players. I haven't heard anything on any of these players. I searched the internet and found nothing on them coming to Vernon.
I wonder why they didn't include Max Palaga on the list of possible returning players? You can bet the Vipers won't go with two 20 year old goaltenders to start the season, if there is a season.
If there is a season this year, I'm really interested in seeing what kind of team Jason McKee puts together. Viper fans weren't too pleased/happy with the team this past season and several shared those thoughts on here.
If there isn't a season this year, all teams including the Vipers will lose some key players who will never get the chance to play for there respected team in 2020-21. Depending who's able to return for the 2021-22 season, most teams may be forced to start there roster from scratch with very little to no returning players returning for the 2021-22 season.
Several of the players I mentioned are listed on the BCHL website under Rosters, 2019-20 Playoffs, New Recruits.
Here is the link to the three Chicago high school players:
https://www.bchlnetwork.ca/bchl-today-vipers-get-commitments-from-chicago-mission-u18-teammates-former-bchl-vet-schartz-signs-echl-deal-and-more/
Lots of player signings with various teams have been listed by VDHF. Looks like alot of quality players with good numbers have gone to our division rivals so let's hope we get above average players to fill out the roster cause there is really not alot to get excited about for next year
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