Game Preview: Exhibition-Prince George @ Vernon:

Prince George (1-2-0-1)  @ Vernon (1-1-0-1) 6pm 

Tonight is the second game of a home & home Exhibition series between the Vernon Vipers & Prince George Spruce Kings. The Vipers won 5-3 in Prince George last night.

Last Game:

Friday, September 4th Vernon defeated Prince George 5-3

Next Game:

Friday, September 11th Trail @ Vernon
Friday, September 11th Wenatchee @ Prince George

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 432-236-20-20

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 238-95-11-10 at home

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 195-131-9-10 on the road

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 420-230-20-19

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 231-94-11-10 at home

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 190-126-9-9 on the road

Since the 2002-03 season Vernon is 39-19-2-4 vs. Prince George

Since the 2002-03 season Vernon has outscored Prince George 253-179

Since the 2003-04 season Vernon is 15-5-2-4 at home vs. Prince George

Since the 2003-04 season Vernon is 16-11-0-1 in Prince George

The Vipers are 6-2-1-1 in their last ten games at home vs. the Spruce Kings

The Vipers are 6-4-0-0 in their last ten games on the road vs. the Spruce Kings

The Vipers are 6-3-1-0 in their last ten games vs. Prince George

The Vipers last win at home over Prince George was a 5-3 win on Saturday, January 9th 2015

Prince George's last win in Vernon was a 5-2 victory on Friday, September 28th 2012

The Vipers last win in Price George was a 3-0 win on Wednesday, November 12th 2014

Prince George's last win at home over Vernon was a 3-0 victory on Friday, October 4th 2013

The Vipers went 2-0-0-0 vs Prince George last season 

Lets take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

The Vernon Vipers are coming off a 5-3 victory Friday in Prince George wrap up the pre-season tonight in the second game of a home & home series with the Prince George Spruce Kings.  The Vipers picked up their first win of the pre-season last night improve to 1-1-0-1 open the 2015-16 regular season September 11th vs Trail.  Vernon has nine players returning from last season will make their final cuts after this weekend.  The Vipers have won six of their last ten home games over PG.  

Thomas Aldworth (37-19-56) lead the Vipers in goals last year with thirty six while Liam Finlay (23-41-64) lead the team in points with sixty four.

Graham Turnbull's Vernon Vipers Venom Blog

http://vipersvenom1.blogspot.ca/

Vernon Vipers 2015-16 Exhibition Stats:

Games Played: 3
Wins: 1
Losses: 1
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 1
Home Record: 0-0-0-1
Road Record: 1-1-0-0
Overtime Record: 0-1
Record vs Interior Division: 0-1-0-1
Record vs Island & Mainland Divisions: 1-0-0-0
When the Vipers score first: 1-0-0-0
When the opponents score first: 0-1-0-1
Leading after 1st Period: 1-0-0-0
Tied after 1st Period: 0-0-0-0
Trailing after 1st Period: 0-1-0-1
Leading after 2nd Period: 1-0-0-0
Tied after 2nd Period: 0-0-0-0
Trailing after 2nd Period: 0-1-0-1
Out shooting Opponents: 1-0-0-0
Out shot by Opponents: 0-1-0-1
One goal games: 0-0-0-1
Goals For: 9
Goals Against: 13
Place: 4th Place
Streak: One game winning streak


Vernon Vipers Returning Players:

Liam Finlay (97)
Jagger Williamson (98)
Colton McCarthy (96)
Riley Brandt (96)
Nicholas Rasovic (96)
Blaine Caton (97)
Mitchell Oliver (97)
Linden Hora (96)
Jarrod Schamerhorn (95)

Vernon Vipers Departing & traded players from last years team:

Liam Coughlin (94)
Anthony Latina (94)
TJ Dumonceaux (94)
Luke Shiplo (95)
Luke Voltin (95)
Brandon Egli (94)
Mitch Meek (96)
Johhny Coughlin (95)
Kenny Citron (95)
Riley Guenther (94)
Mackenzie Bauer (96)
Danny Todosychuk (94)

Vernon’s Home record vs. Prince George last season:

1-0-0-0

Vernon’s Road record vs. Prince George last season:

1-0-0-0

Vernon’s scoring leaders vs. Prince George last season:

Luke Shiplo (1-3-4)
Liam Finlay (2-1-3)
Liam Coughlin (1-2-3)
Colton McCarthy (1-1-2)
Anthony Latina (0-2-2)
TJ Dumonceaux (2-0-2)
Jagger Williamson (0-1-1)
Luke Voltin (0-1-1)
Brandon Egli (0-1-1)
Nicholas Rasovic (1-0-1)
Luke Voltin (0-1-1)
Riley Brandt (0-1-1)
Johnny Coughlin (0-1-1)

Jarrod Schamerhorn (1-0 Record)
Danny Todosychuk (1-0 Record)

-Vernon finished last season with the leagues 4th best powerplay

-Vernon finished last season with the leagues 4th best penalty kill

Lets take a look at the Prince George Spruce Kings:

The Prince George Spruce Kings make their first of two visits to Kal Tire Place tonight (exhibition & regular season) will see the Vipers twice more during the regular season.  The Spruce Kings are coming off a 5-3 loss to the visiting Vernon Vipers last night have dropped back to back pre-season games are now 1-2-0-1 in exhibition action.  Prince George will finish the pre-season tonight before opening the regular season at home vs the expansion Wenatchee Wild.  PG has lost seventeen of their last twenty six games in Vernon.  The Spruce Kings last win at Kal Tire Place was a 5-2 victory on Friday, September 28th 2012   

Braiden Epp (24-19-43) lead the Spruce Kings lead in goals last season with twenty four while Jeremiah Leudtke (21-46-67) lead the team in points with sixty seven.

Ryan Lep's Prince George Spruce Kings blog

http://sprucekingscrusader.blogspot.ca/

Prince George Spruce Kings 2015-16 Exhibition Stats:

Games Played: 3
Wins: 1
Losses: 2
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 1
Home Record: 0-2-0-1
Road Record: 1-0-0-0
Goals For: 14
Goals Against: 17
Place: 4th Place
Streak: Two game losing streak

Prince George Spruce Kings Returning Players:

Braiden Epp (96)
Ryan Fritz (96)
Nick Guerra (96)
Jake LeBrun (95)
Stephen Penner (95)
Cole Todd (95)
Alex Stoley (96)
Rider Stoglin (96)
Alex Brooks-Potts (95)

Prince George Spruce Kings Departing & traded players from last years team:

Jeremiah Luedtke (94)
Chad Staley (94)
Michael Buonincontri (94)
Jarryd Leung (94)
Adam Clements (95)
Matthew Stief (96)
Justin Rai (94)
Brogan O'Brien (97)
Viktor Domborvskiy (96)
Cole McCaskill (96)
Daniel Nachbaur (95)
Marco Ballarin (95)
Greydon Robinson (96)
Riley Hawes (95)
Karan Toor (94)
Jesse Jenks (95)

Prince George’s Home record vs. Vernon last season:

0-1-0-0

Prince George’s Road record vs. Vernon last season:

0-1-0-0

Prince George’s scoring leaders vs. Vernon last season:

Jarryd Leung (0-2-2)
Viktor Dombrovskiy (1-0-1)
Ryan Fritz (0-1-1)
Michael Buonincontri (1-0-1)
Marco Ballarin (1-0-1)
Chad Staley (0-1-1)
Daniel Nachbaur (0-1-1)

Jesse Jenks (0-2 Record)

-Prince George finished last season with the leagues 8th best powerplay

-The Spruce Kings finished last year with the league's 6th best penalty kill

Here's a look at both teams rosters:

Vernon Vipers:

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/stats_1team.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&teamid=224096

Prince George Spruce Kings:

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/stats_1team.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413

Exhibition: Vernon 5 Prince George 3

With no BCHL boxscores for all pre-season games thanks to the Prince George Spruce Kings twitter account for all updates-info through out tonight's Vipers-Spruce Kings game.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Jarrod Schamerhorn
Prince George: Alex Brooks-Potts (PG switched goaltenders halfway through 2nd period)

Scoring Summary:

1st Period:

Vernon Vipers-Brett Stapley
Vernon Vipers-Reece Soukoroff

Shots were even at 9-9

2nd Period:

Prince George Spruce Kings-Braiden Epp
Prince George Spruce Kings-Alex Stoley
Vernon Vipers-Liam Finlay

Vernon outshot Prince George 12-10

3rd Period:

Vernon Vipers-Callum Volpe
Prince George Spruce Kings-Corey Hoffman
Vernon Vipers-Jagger Williamson-Empty net goal

Vernon outshot Prince George 12-8

Final shots-Vernon 33 Prince George 27

Here's a look at both teams lineups-rosters:

Vernon:

Andrew Shortridge "95"
Jarrod Schamerhorn "95"
Alex Rasovic "97"
Bo Pellah "95"
Mitchell Oliver "97"
Reece Soukoroff "98"
Callum Volpe "98"
Chris Jandric "98"
Steven Jandric "97"
Brett Stapley "99"
Colton McCarthy "96"
Jagger Williamson "98"
Tak Anholt "98"
Peter Tufto "97"
Linden Hora "96"
Joey Cipillone "97"
Jimmy Lambert "97"
Liam Finlay "97"
Joe Sacco "96"
Michael Roberts "95"

Prince George:

Liam McCloskey "98"
Alex Brooks-Potts "95"
Stephen Penner "95"
Alex Stoley "96"
Cooper Prechel "97"
Adam Brubacher "95"
Ryan Fritz "96"
Jake LeBrun "95"
Rider Stoglin "96"
Adam Burnett "96"
Nick Guerra "96"
Kyle Johnson "98"
Cole Todd "95"
Frank Sullivan "96"
Cavin Tilsley "98"
Parker Colley "97"
Connor Logan "96"
Nic Ponak "97"
Luc Soares "96"
Braiden Epp "96"
Corey Hoffman "96"

Game Preview: Exhibition-Vernon @ Prince George:

Vernon (0-1-0-1) @ Prince George (1-1-0-1) 7pm 

Tonight is the first game of a home & home Exhibition series between the Vernon Vipers & Prince George Spruce Kings. The Vipers went 2-0 vs Prince George last season.

Last Game:

Saturday, August 29th Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 4-3 Overtime
Tuesday, September 1st Grande Prairie defeated Prince George 4-3 Overtime

Next Game:

Saturday, September 5th Prince George @ Vernon

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 432-236-20-20

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 238-95-11-10 at home

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 195-131-9-10 on the road

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 420-230-20-19

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 231-94-11-10 at home

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 190-126-9-9 on the road

Since the 2002-03 season Vernon is 39-19-2-4 vs. Prince George

Since the 2002-03 season Vernon has outscored Prince George 253-179

Since the 2003-04 season Vernon is 15-5-2-4 at home vs. Prince George

Since the 2003-04 season Vernon is 16-11-0-1 in Prince George

The Vipers are 6-2-1-1 in their last ten games at home vs. the Spruce Kings

The Vipers are 6-4-0-0 in their last ten games on the road vs. the Spruce Kings

The Vipers are 6-3-1-0 in their last ten games vs. Prince George

The Vipers last win at home over Prince George was a 5-3 win on Saturday, January 9th 2015

Prince George's last win in Vernon was a 5-2 victory on Friday, September 28th 2012

The Vipers last win in Price George was a 3-0 win on Wednesday, November 12th 2014

Prince George's last win at home over Vernon was a 3-0 victory on Friday, October 4th 2013

The Vipers went 2-0-0-0 vs Prince George last season 

Lets take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

Tonight is the first game of a home and home exhibition series with the Prince George Spruce Kings.  The Vipers are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks Saturday enter tonight's game with an 0-1-0-1 pre-season record.  Vernon will make their first of two visit's this season (exhibition & regular season) to the Prince George Coliseum where they have won six of their last ten games.  The Vipers won both games over Prince George last season open the 2015-16 regular season at home September 11th vs Trail.  Vernon has nine players back from last year's team, still has 27 players on their current roster heading into tonight's action. 

Thomas Aldworth (37-19-56) lead the Vipers in goals last year with thirty six while Liam Finlay (23-41-64) lead the team in points with sixty four.

Graham Turnbull's Vernon Vipers Venom Blog

http://vipersvenom1.blogspot.ca/

Vernon Vipers 2015-16 Exhibition Stats:

Games Played: 2
Wins: 0
Losses: 1
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 1
Home Record: 0-0-0-1
Road Record: 0-1-0-0
Overtime Record: 0-1
Record vs Interior Division: 0-1-0-1
Record vs Island & Mainland Divisions: 0-0-0-0
When the Vipers score first: 0-0-0-0
When the opponents score first: 0-1-0-1
Leading after 1st Period: 0-0-0-0
Tied after 1st Period: 0-0-0-0
Trailing after 1st Period: 0-1-0-1
Leading after 2nd Period: 0-0-0-0
Tied after 2nd Period: 0-0-0-0
Trailing after 2nd Period: 0-1-0-1
Out shooting Opponents: 0-0-0-0
Out shot by Opponents: 0-1-0-1
One goal games: 0-0-0-1
Goals For: 4
Goals Against: 10
Place: 6th Place
Streak: Two game losing streak

Vernon Vipers 2014-15 Regular Season Stats:

Games Played: 58
Wins: 36
Losses: 18
Ties: 1
Overtime Losses: 3
Home Record: 20-6-1-1
Road Record: 16-12-0-2
Overtime Record: 1-2-1
Record vs Interior Division: 20-14-1-1
Record vs Island & Mainland Divisions: 16-4-0-2
Record in September: 2-2-0-1
Record in October: 5-3-0-0
Record in November 9-2-1-1
Record in December 6-3-0-0
Record in January 8-4-0-0
Record in February 6-4-0-1
When the Vipers score first: 24-3-1-1
When the opponents score first: 12-16-0-2
Leading after 1st Period: 18-2-1-1
Tied after 1st Period: 11-7-0-0
Trailing after 1st Period: 7-9-0-2
Leading after 2nd Period: 25-2-0-1
Tied after 2nd Period: 7-2-0-0
Trailing after 2nd Period: 4-14-1-1
Out shooting Opponents: 30-12-0-2
Out shot by Opponents: 5-5-1-1
One goal games: 7-6-0-3
Goals For: 218
Goals Against: 161
Place: 2nd Place
Streak: Finished the Season on a two game losing streak

Vernon Vipers Returning Players:

Liam Finlay (97)
Jagger Williamson (98)
Colton McCarthy (96)
Riley Brandt (96)
Nicholas Rasovic (96)
Blaine Caton (97)
Mitchell Oliver (97)
Linden Hora (96)
Jarrod Schamerhorn (95)

Vernon Vipers Departing & traded players from last years team:

Liam Coughlin (94)
Anthony Latina (94)
TJ Dumonceaux (94)
Luke Shiplo (95)
Luke Voltin (95)
Brandon Egli (94)
Mitch Meek (96)
Johhny Coughlin (95)
Kenny Citron (95)
Riley Guenther (94)
Mackenzie Bauer (96)
Danny Todosychuk (94)

Vernon’s Home record vs. Prince George last season:

1-0-0-0

Vernon’s Road record vs. Prince George last season:

1-0-0-0

Vernon’s scoring leaders vs. Prince George last season:

Luke Shiplo (1-3-4)
Liam Finlay (2-1-3)
Liam Coughlin (1-2-3)
Colton McCarthy (1-1-2)
Anthony Latina (0-2-2)
TJ Dumonceaux (2-0-2)
Jagger Williamson (0-1-1)
Luke Voltin (0-1-1)
Brandon Egli (0-1-1)
Nicholas Rasovic (1-0-1)
Luke Voltin (0-1-1)
Riley Brandt (0-1-1)
Johnny Coughlin (0-1-1)

Jarrod Schamerhorn (1-0 Record)
Danny Todosychuk (1-0 Record)

-Vernon finished last season with the leagues 4th best powerplay

-Vernon finished last season with the leagues 4th best penalty kill

Lets take a look at the Prince George Spruce Kings:

Tonight is the first of four meetings (exhibition & regular season) between the Vipers & Spruce Kings.  Prince George's last win at home over Vernon was a 3-0 victory on October 4th 2013.  The Spruce Kings are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss in Grande Prairie Tuesday.  Tonight is the fourth of five pre-season games for PG who are 1-1-0-1 in exhibition action.  The Spruce Kings will wrap up the pre-season Saturday in Vernon before starting the BCHL regular season September 11th vs the expansion Wenatchee Wild.  Prince George has nine players returning from last year's hockey club who finished 3rd in the Mainland Division.  

Braiden Epp (24-19-43) lead the Spruce Kings lead in goals last season with twenty four while Jeremiah Leudtke (21-46-67) lead the team in points with sixty seven.

Ryan Lep's Prince George Spruce Kings blog

http://sprucekingscrusader.blogspot.ca/

Prince George Spruce Kings 2015-16 Exhibition Stats:

Games Played: 2
Wins: 1
Losses: 1
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 1
Home Record: 0-1-0-1
Road Record: 1-0-0-0
Goals For: 11
Goals Against: 12
Place: 3rd Place
Streak: One game losing streak

Prince George Spruce Kings 2014-15 Regular Season Stats:

Games Played: 58
Wins: 27
Losses: 24
Ties: 1
Overtime Losses: 6
Home Record: 16-10-0-3
Road Record: 11-14-1-3
Goals For: 195
Goals Against: 213
Standings: 3rd Place-Mainland Division
Streak: Finished with a Two game losing streak

Prince George Spruce Kings Returning Players:

Braiden Epp (96)
Ryan Fritz (96)
Nick Guerra (96)
Jake LeBrun (95)
Stephen Penner (95)
Cole Todd (95)
Alex Stoley (96)
Rider Stoglin (96)
Alex Brooks-Potts (95)

Prince George Spruce Kings Departing & traded players from last years team:

Jeremiah Luedtke (94)
Chad Staley (94)
Michael Buonincontri (94)
Jarryd Leung (94)
Adam Clements (95)
Matthew Stief (96)
Justin Rai (94)
Brogan O'Brien (97)
Viktor Domborvskiy (96)
Cole McCaskill (96)
Daniel Nachbaur (95)
Marco Ballarin (95)
Greydon Robinson (96)
Riley Hawes (95)
Karan Toor (94)
Jesse Jenks (95)

Prince George’s Home record vs. Vernon last season:

0-1-0-0

Prince George’s Road record vs. Vernon last season:

0-1-0-0

Prince George’s scoring leaders vs. Vernon last season:

Jarryd Leung (0-2-2)
Viktor Dombrovskiy (1-0-1)
Ryan Fritz (0-1-1)
Michael Buonincontri (1-0-1)
Marco Ballarin (1-0-1)
Chad Staley (0-1-1)
Daniel Nachbaur (0-1-1)

Jesse Jenks (0-2 Record)

-Prince George finished last season with the leagues 8th best powerplay

-The Spruce Kings finished last year with the league's 6th best penalty kill

Here's a look at both teams rosters:

Vernon Vipers:

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/stats_1team.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&teamid=224096

Prince George Spruce Kings:

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/stats_1team.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413

Stapley Returns To Vipers:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Stapley returns to Vipers

by  Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star

Sep 4, 2015

The Vernon Vipers welcomed back highly touted winger Brett Stapley and completed a trade which saw veteran F Luke Voltin head to the Langley Rivermen for futures.

Stapley, 16, was in Viper camp but left to attend the WHL Calgary Hitmen trials.

“They wanted to sign him, but he hasn’t decided which route he wants,” said Viper head coach/GM Mark Ferner. “He’s a pretty talented young kid (138 points in Campbell River Bantam) and this muddies the waters a little more. We basically have six kids going for three forward spots so we have some very tough decisions to make.”

Ferner said Voltin wanted a change of scenery and the Vipers are going in a different direction. The 20-year-old Minnesota product rang up 10 goals and 26 points in 44 games with Vernon last year.

The Vipers have 29 players, including 16 forwards, in camp and will reduce their roster to 22 after an exhibition series starting tonight in Prince George. The Spruce Kings are here Saturday, 6 p.m.

Viper Alumni Gill Eligible To Receive Qualifying Offer By Nailers:

Former Vernon Vipers forward Sahir Gill is one of eight players for the East Coast Hockey League's (ECHL) Wheeling Nailers who are eligible to receive a qualifying offer for the summer of 2015. 

Gill played with three teams last season finished last year with the American Hockey League (AHL) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after signing a professional tryout agreement (PTO) with the Penguins late in the season.  This was Gill's second stint with the Penguins last year.  In 12 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Gill posted (1-goal-2-assists-3-points).

Gill attended the Montreal Canadians Training camp last season was released before signing with the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs on October 10th 2014. Gill was released after going pointless in one game with Hamilton returned to the Wheeling Nailers where he played the previous season before signing a professional tryout agreement (PTO) with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Gill played in 12 games with the Penguins collecting (1-goal-2-assists-3-points) before being released January 16, 2015. Gill signed a professional tryout agreement (PTO) on January 17th 2015 with the Hamilton Bulldogs playing in 24 games collecting (2-goals-2-assists-4-points) was released on March 25th 2015 before returning to Wheeling and then finishing the season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Gill played his first pro season (2013-14) with the ECHL Wheeling Nailers. Gill finished sixth in rookie scoring and lead the team in scoring collecting (13-goals-41-assists-54-points). Gill was suppose to enter his fourth and final season at Boston University (2013-14) but left school signing with the Nailers early in the season. Gill played parts of two seasons in Vernon (2008-2010). Gill left the Vipers in July of 2009 for the United States Hockey League (USHL) Chicago Steel but after just 26 games would return to Vernon in mid January of 2010. In 71 regular season games with the Vipers Gill recorded (21-goals-30-assists-42-points).

Sahir Gill's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=38017    

This is posted on the Nailers website:

Nailers Announce 2015 Qualifying Offers

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, have announced their list of players who received qualifying offers for the summer of 2015. Eight players were tended qualifying offers for Wheeling.

Each team is entitled to reserve the rights to a maximum of eight qualified players. Of the eight qualified players, no more than four can be veterans (260 regular season professional hockey games played as of the start of the upcoming 2015-16 season). Players on open qualifying offers cannot be traded.

The qualifying offer must remain open for acceptance until August 1st, at which time the qualifying offer becomes null and void, and the team may sign the qualified player to any salary, or may elect to take no further action. Teams that extend a valid qualifying offer to a non-veteran player shall retain the rights to that qualified player for one playing season.

A team that extends a valid qualifying offer to a veteran player will retain the rights to that veteran until August 1st. After August 1st, if the veteran player is not signed to a contract by the team, the veteran shall be deemed a restricted free agent and shall be entitled to seek and secure offers of employment from other ECHL teams. Restricted free agents may not be traded. When a restricted free agent receives a contract offer from a team other than the team with the player's rights and the restricted free agent wishes to accept the contract offer, the restricted free agent and the offering member must, within 24 hours, notify the ECHL, the team with the player's rights and the Professional Hockey Players' Association. The member with the player's rights shall have seven days after the date it is notified to exercise its right to match the contract offer.

If a restricted free agent is not signed to either an offer sheet or a contract by an ECHL team by August 31st, the player shall be deemed an unrestricted free agent.

The eight qualified players for the Wheeling Nailers are:

F Riley Brace
D Paul Cianfrini
F Tyler Fernandez
F Sahir Gill
F Max MacKay
F Patrick McGrath
D Mike Slowikowski
F Zack Torquato


The Nailers will be announcing their first player signing of the summer within the coming days.

Vipers Show Sign Of Grit, Skill:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Vipers show sign of grit, skill
     
Sep 2, 2015

Mark Ferner blew the whistle to stop a puck support drill Monday afternoon at Kal Tire Place. He sternly reminded his players that a bust-yer-butt backcheck is a must in his system.

The former NHL defenceman, who turns 50 Saturday when the Vipers host the Prince George Spruce Kings in B.C. Hockey League exhibition play, stresses conditioning early in every training camp.

He caught some players taking shortcuts in Saturday night’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Salmon Arm SilverBacks and kindly clued them into what works when you work.

“It’s all about the process and systems, not the results right now,” said Ferner, who went over defensive and neutral zone play in the video room Monday. “It’s all about teaching. If there’s no teaching, there’s no learning.”

The Vipers will take 24 skaters and three goalies to Prince George for a Friday night pre-season tilt and cut down further after Saturday.

Released Monday morning were St. Albert F Ryan Cooper, D Nick Higgs of Vernon, F Jordan Robinson of the Okanagan Hockey Academy and F Zach Sullivan of Boston.

“We made four more cuts today, some young kids,” said Ferner. “We wanted to make sure we got them in at least one exhibition game. Three of the boys are ‘99s so I think they enjoyed the experience and hopefully they can take what they learned here back to their team. We’d love to AP all three of them. The other boy, Zach Sullivan, is a Boston product. We have a good relationship with that school, Catholic Memorial. He was good, but it was just a matter of numbers.”

The Vipers iced a young lineup Friday night at the Shaw Centre and it showed as the Snakes were hemmed in their own end most of the night. Ferner felt some Silverbacks took liberties with his players and has filed that memory.

“Salmon Arm took it to us. They dressed an older group, I think 13 players 19 or 20. And I get it, I understand it. In the second game, we came out slow again in the first and they heard about it a little. We have to get out of the training camp mode and play a more bit of a physical and effort game and I think the kids responded.”

Said Salmon Arm head coach Brandon West:  “The boys competed at a very high level tonight, which is what we want to see. It’s always exciting to play against Vernon, There was a lot of chippy play throughout the majority of the game, and things got out of hand at the end of the game. I’m glad to see no one got hurt.”

Josh Blanchard, Colton Thibault (Vernon product) Nick Hutchison, Aaron Aragon, Sam De Melo and Josh Laframboise handled the Gorillas’ offence Friday night, while Callum Volpe replied for the Snakes. D-man Ryley Booth (Armstrong) pocketed three helpers for the Silverbacks.

Hutchison (2G) went back door from Marcus Mitchell and Cameron Trott at 3:02 of OT Saturday night in Vernon. Cam Coutre and Brett Stewart, with the late 3-3 equalizer, completed the Salmon Arm attack in front of Angus Redmond.

Peter Tufto, Jimmy Lambert and Liam Finlay answered for the Vipers. Finlay buried a sweet pass from Tufto to give the Vipers their only lead of the night.

Finlay led the Vipers with 23 snipes and 64 points last season and will have to increase those numbers since Vernon lost half their offence (103 goals) with Liam Coughlin, Thomas Aldworth, Anthony Latina and TJ Dumonceau moving on.

“We’re really skilled,” said Finlay, who was overlooked in the NHL entry draft. “We are a little bit young, but we have a lot of grit, too, and we have a good mix which will help us do well.”

Finlay spent most of summer training, hanging out with friends and playing hockey in West Kelowna and at the Capital News Centre in Kelowna with loads of NHLers like Shea Weber, Cody Franson and Curtis Lazar.

“It was nice skating with them and seeing how they get ready and stuff for little games and how they handled themselves around other people.”

Disturbance specialist Riley Brandt, who will get serious consideration when the Viper choose their captains, likes the early look of the Snakes.

“We’ve got a young squad this year for sure; we’ve got a lot of young talent back there,” said Brandt, who played third base and catcher in Trail this summer. “So far, everbody’s done pretty good in camp. Too bad we lost those exhibition games, but I thought we did well in the second game.”

Brandt, who crashed the net for 14 snipes last year after leaving the Smoke Eaters, says things are slowly coming together.

“We have a lot of small kids, but they have quick feet and they work hard. The veterans are trying to get the new guys comfortable with the Junior A ways and Vernon. Hopefully, they’ll settle in pretty quick here. I love it here and I can’t wait for the season to get going.”

As for naming his captains, Ferner said: “Once we get down to our group. we’ll have a vote. It’s not my captain, he’s their captain. He’s gonna be the guy who translates all the information to me and we’ll go from there. We’ve got a good group in there; we’ve got our eye on a few guys. That was one of the concerns, possibily, not that we don’t have any leadership capabilities in there, but I’m not sure any of them have been a captain, much like Riley Guenther last year. I believe captains are built, they’re not born.”

SNAKE BITES: Andrew Shortridge stopped all 22 Silverbacks shots, while rookie Joseph McLeod (West Kelowna) gave up four goals on 22 shots. Redmond recorded 40 saves...D Matt Halvorson and F Michael Roberts, both of Vernon, are still in camp...Higgs joined the KIJHL Revelstoke Grizzlies, who iced the North Okanagan Knights 6-0 in exhibition play Monday night at Kal Tire Place...D Reece Soukoroff of Calgary is the son of Phil Soukoroff (1987-88 with Vernon Lakers and then four years with the University of Northern Michigan Wildcats)... The Edinburgh Capitals of Scotland have made hard-hitting American D Kyle Bigos (Vipers 2007-09) their ninth import signing ahead of the new Elite League season. Bigos, a former Edmonton Oilers draft pick, arrives fresh from a solid year with Ontario Reign of the ECHL, where, as a teammate of another of Edinburgh’s new faces, Everett Sheen, he picked up one goal and 14 assists in 62 games...Latina will play for the University of New Brunswick Reds in the CIS this season...Vernon’s Ernie Gare has retired after a lengthy career as a full-time scout with the New York Rangers. Ernie’s oldest son, Lanny, helped the Vipers win the 1999 Royal Bank Cup with 46 goals and 111 points on a dynamic line with future NHLer Ryan Bayda and Tyler Knight. Ernie led the Vernon Essos and the BCJHL with 50 goals and 133 points in the 1971-72 season. He and linemate John Price, who also had 54 goals and 133 points in one extra game, both made the league’s first all-star team...West Kelowna Warriors games can be heard this season live via the Internet on MIXLR, dubbed WIN for Warriors Internet Network. Vernon’s Kyle Anderson will provide play-by-play coverage of all 58 regular season games, plus playoffs...The Warriors fell behind 9-2 before falling 9-7 to the Smokies Saturday night in Trail... The Spruce Kings acquired 19 year old D Adam Burnett from The Ancaster Avalanche of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League for future considerations.

Ex Vernon Viper Hannoun Wins Peaches Cup:

Former Vernon Vipers forward Demico Hannoun & Team Blue won the Peaches Cup over the weekend.  

The Penticton Vees held their annual Blue-White Intrasquad game Saturday.  Hannoun scored twice also added two assists playing for Team Blue who defeated Team White 6-2 winning the Peaches Cup. 

Hannoun is entering his second season with the Vees, after being traded from Surrey to Penticton on August 13th 2014. Hannoun played one season in Vernon (2013-14) before being traded to Surrey along with Ben Butcher on June 9th 2014 as the Future Considerations in the Brett Mulcahy trade from January 2014. The Vipers sent Chase McMurphy & Future Considerations to Surrey for Brett Mulcahy & Future Considerations on January 6th 2014.  In 47 games with the Vipers Hannoun collected (15-goals-29-assists-44-points).  Hannoun played two seasons in Surrey before joining the Vipers for the 2013-14 season. Hannoun was part of the future considerations in the Vipers-Eagles trade at the 2012 BCHL trade deadline that saw Vernon send Adam Tambellini & Michael Roberts to Surrey for future considerations wich at the end of that season were named (Mason Blacklock and Demico Hannoun). 

Demico Hannoun's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=98683

This is posted on Fraser Rodgers Penticton Vees blog:

Team Blue Wins Peaches Cup

Posted on August 31, 2015 by frodgers

The annual Peaches Cup Intrasquad game went down Saturday at the SOEC and Team Blue came out on top, scoring a 6-2 win over Team White. Blue’s offense was led by Demico Hannoun (2-0-2), Easton Brodzinski (1-1-2) and Jason lavallee (1-1-2).

Anthony Brodeur started for Team Blue and was very sharp, working a clean sheet in 30-minutes of work. His outing was highlighted by two eye-popping kick-saves in short succession right in front of his net. Even Team White’s Tyson Jost walked over to Brodeur by the dressing rooms and gave him props in the intermission.

Brendan Barry was very good in goal for White as well, as he only conceded a Lavallee breakaway goal in half a game’s work.

The Vees trimmed down their roster after Saturday’s intrasquad game but are carrying a few extra bodies as the team prepares for their second exhibition game Wednesday at the SOEC versus West Kelowna.

Former Vipers Goaltender Neilsen Commits To Mustangs:

Former Vernon Vipers affiliated "AP" goaltender Gunnar Neilsen has committed to the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Calgary Mustangs for this season.  No official press release but Neilsen posted the news on his twitter account over the summer.  Neilsen is listed on the Mustangs roster.

Neilsen attended the Vipers 2013 & 2014 Training Camps also played as an "AP" with the Vipers the past two seasons.  Neilsen was called up to the Vipers for two games as a backup goaltender during the 2013-14 season, and then called up for seven games as a backup goaltender last season, saw some action in one of those games.

Gunnar Neilsen's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=273519