The Vernon Vipers have added brothers/forwards Jordan & Zach Tonelli to there roster.
No official press release from the Vernon Vipers but the Tonelli brothers are listed on there roster.
Vernon Vipers 2020-21 roster,
https://bchl.ca/stats/roster/21
New York Islanders legend John Tonelli is the father of Jordan & Zach. John played sixteen seasons in the NHL with New York, Calgary, Los Angeles, Chicago & Quebec.
John Tonelli's Player Profile:
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=5430
Jordan Tonelli is 20 yrs old from Armonk, New York, is listed at 6'0 179lbs. Jordan spent the past two seasons in the United States Hockey League with the Cedar Rapids Roughriders. Jordan was captain last season collected (9-goals-26-assists-35-points). Jordan was committed to Brown University this season.
Jordan Tonelli's Player Profile:
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/364864/jordan-tonelli
Here is a story from The Gazette newspaper on Jordan Tonelli following his father's footsteps,
The USHL Tri-City Storm have acquired Jordan Tonelli in the 2020 USHL Dispersal Draft,
https://nebraska.tv/sports/content/storm-acquire-five-players-in-dispersal-draft
Zach Tonelli's Player Profile:
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/512548/zackary-tonelli
Here is a story from the Gazette newspaper, on the USHL Cedar Rapids selecting Zach Tonelli in the 9th round of the USHL Draft,
They were Cedar Rapids RoughRiders players but Cedar Rapids had their arena damaged in a big storm over the summer and have pulled out of the USHL for the year. Part of the roof was ripped off.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/minor-league/due-to-imon-ice-arena-damage-cedar-rapids-roughriders-pull-out-of-2020-21-ushl-season-20200918
Well it didn't take Jason McKee & the Vernon Vipers long to make some changes after losing both exhibition games over the weekend. I have questioned McKee & the Vipers all off season, why they went with such a young team this year? & Why they didn't make any moves/trades over the summer? If you follow the league you would have noticed almost every other team in the BCHL was very active making trades or signing players this summer.
ReplyDeleteI obviously don't know much about the Tonelli brothers, other then what I could find online. Both brothers didn't put up any real big numbers in past seasons but I do like the addition of bringing in a veteran 20 yr old and a kid who was captain last season. Jordan Tonelli has has experience in junior hockey, spending the past two years with the USHL Cedar Rapids Roughriders. I think with Jordan being captain last season, he can bring his experience and leadership into a young Vipers team and lead the way. I also like the fact that the Vipers didn't have to give up anybody to get them. If these two kids don't work out, it didn't cost Vernon anything for signing them/taking a chance on them.
I like the fact these kids father is an NHL legend. These two kids grew up with hockey in there blood, they probably were taught and learned a lot from there father.
With the addition of Jordan Tonelli, this puts the Vipers with three 20 year olds, leaving three open 20 yr old roster spots. The Vipers roster now sits at 29 players with three players out of the lineup with injuries. Will the Snakes make some cuts before there next game or will they continue to carry 29 kids for a few more exhibition games? Does anyone know what happened to Reilly Herbst? I liked what I saw in both rookie goaltenders over the weekend, but I still think you need a veteran goaltender between the pipes.
Viper fans probably won't get the chance to see the Tonelli brothers play anytime soon. The two will have to try and get across the border first and then quarantine for fourteen days. The Vipers next game is October 7th in Penticton.