Thursday, April 3, 2025

On This Day In Vernon Vipers History:

Eighteen years ago today (April 3rd 2007) Vernon Vipers goaltender Nick Olynyk made 26 saves for the win/shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Penticton Vees in front of 1630 fans at the Penticton Memorial Arena. Corey Milan made 13 saves in the loss in Game 5 of the Interior Division Finals. Vernon went on to win the best of seven series 4-1.

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Vernon Vipers @ Penticton Vees Tuesday, April 03, 2007 | BCHL League Site

Nick Olynyk's Player Profile:

Nick Olynyk - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Sixteen years ago today (April 3rd 2009) Vernon Vipers goaltender Andrew Hammond made 23 saves for the win/shutout in a 4-0 win over the Powell River Kings in front of 1,215 fans at the Hap Parker Arena. Carsen Chubak made 28 saves in the loss in Game 1 of the BCHL League Championship Finals. Vernon went on to win the best of seven series 4-2.

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Vernon Vipers @ Powell River Kings Friday, April 03, 2009 | BCHL League Site

Andrew Hammond's Player Profile:

Andrew Hammond - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Six years ago today (April 3rd 2019) Vernon Vipers goaltender Aidan Porter made 16 saves for the win/shutout in a 3-0 win over the Wenatchee Wild in front of 2,190 fans at Kal Tire Place. Austin Park made 22 saves in the loss in Game 4 of the Interior Division Finals. Vernon went on to win the best of seven series 4-1.

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Wenatchee Wild @ Vernon Vipers Wednesday, April 03, 2019 | BCHL League Site

Aidan Porter's Player Profile:

Aidan Porter - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Vernon Vipers 2024-25 Year End Awards:

The Vernon Vipers held their annual year end awards at Kal Tire Place on Saturday after a 8-5 loss to the visiting Cranbrook Bucks in the final game of the 2024-25 regular season.

Image credit: Vernon Vipers

Here is the press release from the Vernon Vipers website,

VERNON VIPERS ANNOUNCE 2024-25 TEAM AWARD WINNERS & SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS | Vernon Vipers

Here is the awards ceremony from the Vernon Vipers YouTube page,

Vernon Vipers 2024-25 Awards

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

On This Day In Vernon Vipers History:

Fourteen years ago today (April 2nd 2011) Vernon Vipers forward David Robinson

scored the lone goal at 14:41 of the 3rd period, while Kirby Halcrowd made 24 saves for the win/shutout giving the Vernon Vipers a 1-0 victory over the Powell River Kings in front of 1129 at the Hap Parker Arena. Michael Garteig made 26 saves in the loss in Game 2 of the BCHL league championship finals. Vernon went on to win the best of seven series and the league championship 4-0.

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Vernon Vipers @ Powell River Kings Saturday, April 02, 2011 | BCHL League Site

Kirby Halcrow's Player Profile:

Kirby Halcrow - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Orlando Solar Bears Release Ex Viper Goaltender Taylor:

The ECHL Orlando Solar Bears have released former Vernon Vipers

goaltender Ty Taylor.

The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a minor professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams across the United States and Canada. Competitively, it is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL). The league serves as a farm system to the AHL and the National Hockey League (NHL).

Here is the transaction from the ECHL website,


Taylor was invited to the ECHL Utah Grizzlies training camp in early October 2024 on a try-out. Taylor never played a game with the Grizzlies was released before the 2024-25 season started and returned to the SPHL Evansville Thunderbolts. In 16 games this season with the Thunderboldts, Taylor is 5-6-3 with a 2.21 GAA The ECHL Orlando Solar Bears signed Taylor January 2nd 2025. Taylor never played a game with the Solar Bears, was released January 6th 2025. The ECHL Reading Royals signed Taylor January 15th 2025. Taylor played 1 game with the Royals, going 0-1 with a 3.60 GAA before being released January 31st 2025. The Orlando Solar Bears signed Taylor for a second time this season January 30th 2025. Taylor played 1 game with the Solar Bears, going 1-0 with a 1.90 GAA before being released February 4th 2025. The Solar Bears signed Taylor for a third time this season, February 6th 2025. 

Taylor started the 2023-24 season with the SPHL Macon Mayhem. The Mayhem signed Taylor August 29th 2023. Taylor attended the Mayhem training camp but never played a game before being released mid October 2023. Taylor played the 2023-24 season with the SPHL Evansville Thunderbolts. The Thunderbolts signed Taylor November 29th 2023. In 18 games last season, Taylor went 6-8 with a 2.69 GAA The SPHL (formerly the Southern Professional Hockey League) is a professional ice hockey independent minor league based in Huntersville, North Carolina, with teams located primarily in the southeastern United States as well as Illinois and Indiana in the midwestern United States.

Taylor played three seasons at the University of New Hampshire from 2018-2021 before transferring to Grant MacEwan University for the 2021-22 season, for his final year of college hockey. Taylor signed his first professional contract with the ECHL Orlando Solar Bears February 24th 2022. Taylor played one game with the Solar Bears before the American Hockey League Syracuse Crunch signed Taylor March 13th 2022. Taylor didn’t play a game with the Crunch, before being released April 28th 2022.

Taylor was drafted 214th overall in Round 7 by the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The Lightning traded Taylor March 6th 2024 to the Anaheim Ducks, the Ducks then traded Taylor March 6th 2024 to the Edmonton Oilers in a three team trade.

Taylor played two seasons in Vernon from 2016-2018. In 60 games with the Vipers, Taylor went 36-17-5 with 8 shutouts and a 2.38 GAA Taylor holds the franchise record for most shutouts in one season with 7 during the 2017-18 season. Taylor along with Michael Garteig & Brad Thiessen hold the BCHL record with most shutouts in a season with 7 each. 

Ty Taylor's Player Profile:

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Belanger Suspended:

Cranbrook Bucks defenceman Sam Belanger has been suspended two games for

receiving a match penalty during Saturday's 8-5 win over the Vernon Vipers.

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Cranbrook Bucks @ Vernon Vipers Saturday, March 29, 2025 | BCHL League Site

Here is the report from the BCHL website,

Discipline | BCHL League Site

The Cranbrook Bucks open the BCHL playoffs Friday in Trail.

Sam Belanger's Player Profile:

Samuel Bélanger - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Former Vernon Viper Dorais Found Deceased:

After going missing, former Vernon Vipers forward Trent Dorais has been found deceased.

Here is the story from the Vernon Morning Star,


Here is the story from castanet.net,


Dorais played parts of two seasons in Vernon with the Vipers from 2007-2009. In 39 games with the Vipers, Dorais collected (3-goals-7-assists-10-points). Dorais signed with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs May 28th 2009 played three seasons in Alberni Valley from 2009-2012 was captain of the Bulldogs.

Trent Dorais's Player Profile: