Crunch Sign Former Vernon Viper Marino:

The American Hockey League Syracuse Crunch have signed former Vernon Vipers forward Brandon Marino.

Marino has been playing this year with the East Coast Hockey League Brampton Beast where he has spent the past three seasons. In 72 games this year Marino has (20-goals-42-assists-62-points). 

After four years with Bemidji State University Marino has spent the past nine seasons playing in five different leagues (IHL, CHL, ECHL, AHL & EBEL) with six different teams (Quad City, Fort Wayne, Norfolk, Szekesfehervar, Utica & Brampton).

Marino played two games with the 2002-2003 Vernon Vipers.

Brandon Marino's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=39227

This was posted on the Crunch website:

Syracuse Crunch announce roster moves

4/13/2018 

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch have signed forwards Brandon Marino, Brendan Bradley and Josh Pitt and defensemen TJ Melancon, Matt Petgrave and Ben Wilson to professional tryout contracts, general manager Julien BriseBois announced today. Additionally, the Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned defenseman Matthew Spencer to the Syracuse Crunch from the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL and Syracuse has recalled forward Shane Conacher from Adirondack.

 

Marino, 31, skated in 72 games with the Brampton Beast of the ECHL this season. He led the team in points (62) and assists (42). Last season, the 5-foot-9, 185-pound forward put up 72 points in 72 contests, pacing the Beast in assists with 52.

 

The Riverside, California native has appeared in 327 career ECHL contests with the Beast and Fort Wayne Komets tallying 337 points (103g, 234a). He has also skated in 31 AHL games with the Utica Comets and Norfolk Admirals, recording four goals.

 

Bradley, 25, ranked third on the Kalamazoo Wings with 53 points in 72 games this season. His 38 assists and plus-22 rating paced the team. Last season, the 6-foot, 182-pound forward appeared in two contests with Adirondack.

 

Prior to his professional career, the Richboro, Pennsylvania native spent four seasons at the University of Vermont from 2013 to 2017 scoring 85 points (31g, 54a).

 

Pitt, 25, played in 64 games with Kalamazoo this season. His 57 points led the team, while ranking second in goals with 31. The 6-foot-3, 198-pound forward skated in 49 games with the K-Wings last season posting 18 goals and 17 assists.

 

The Brockville, Ontario native appeared in 155 contests with Western Michigan University from 2012 to 2016 recording 36 points (13g, 23a).

 

Melancon, 21, appeared in four games with the Crunch while on a PTO with the team from March 14 to March 29. He has also skated in 58 games with the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL, tallying 43 points (15g, 28a), two games with the Belleville Senators and one with the Tucson Roadrunners this season. He was recently named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team for the 2017-18 campaign.

 

Prior to his professional career, the 6-foot-2, 203-pound blueliner played in 200 games with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL from 2014 to 2017 tallying 99 points (29g, 70a). In his final season, the Oshawa, Ontario native paced all QMJHL defensemen with 19 goals.

 

Petgrave, 26, has played in 44 games with the Beast this season, earning 23 points (8g, 15a). He also appeared in one contest with the Belleville Senators and 12 with the Laval Rocket. Last season, the 6-foot-2, 189-pound defenseman made his professional debut with Brampton, earning one goal and one assist in five games.

 

The Brampton, Ontario native spent four seasons at the University of New Brunswick from 2013 to 2017, putting up 60 points (13g, 47a) in 108 games.

 

Wilson, 27, had 11 points (3g, 8a) in 48 games with the K-Wings this season. Last year, the Woodstock, Ontario native tallied four goals and 13 assists in 64 games with Kalamazoo.

 

The 6-foot, 180-pound blueliner has played in 249 career ECHL contests, all with the K-Wings, accumulating 45 points (10g, 35a). Wilson also has skated in 38 AHL contests with the Lake Erie Monsters, earning three assists, and 61 CHL games with the Denver Cutthroats and Allen Americans, scoring 23 points (9g. 14a).

 

Spencer, 21, has appeared in 37 games with the Crunch this season, posting four points (1g, 3a). He has also played in 14 games with the Thunder tallying two goals and one assist. Spencer skated in 60 games with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League last season, recording seven goals and 29 points to go along with 60 penalty minutes. He ranked third among all Petes defensemen for assists with 22 during the regular season. The 6-foot-1, 207-pound defenseman also appeared in 12 OHL playoff games, posting seven points.

 

The Guelph, Ontario native played in 251 career OHL games, all with Peterborough over the past four seasons, posting 19 goals and 98 points to go along with 203 penalty minutes. Spencer was selected by the Lightning in the second round, 44th overall, at the 2015 NHL Draft.

 

Conacher, 23, has played in 55 games with the Thunder this season, earning 63 points (20g, 43a). He has also appeared in eight games with the Crunch. Last season, he posted 11 points (2g, 9a) in 25 games with the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound right wing also skated in three contests with the Toronto Marlies.

 

A native of Burlington, Ontario, Conacher has appeared in 18 career AHL games with Syracuse and Toronto recording two goals and one assist. Prior to his professional career, he spent three seasons at Canisius College from 2013 to 2016, appearing in 106 games. He paced the team in points during the 2015-16 season with 46 (20g, 26a) and was named to the AHA First All-Star Team. His 37 points, including a team-high 26 assists, ranked second in the 2014-15 campaign.

 

Single game tickets and packages for the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Crunch office located inside the War Memorial Arena at 800 S. State St. in Syracuse, by calling the office at 315-473-4444. For the latest Crunch news, visit www.syracusecrunch.com or follow the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/syracusecrunch), Twitter (@SyracuseCrunch) and Instagram (@syracusecrunch) using #SyrCrunch.

Former Vipers Tryout Iannone Wins Doyle Cup-Advances To Royal Bank Cup:

Former Vernon Vipers tryout forward Nathan Iannone and the Wenatchee Wild claimed their first Doyle Cup in franchise history Friday in Spruce Grove after a 7-2 victory over the Alberta Junior Hockey League Spruce Grove Saints.

The Wild won the best of seven series 4-1 are the first US based franchise to win the Doyle Cup. Wenatchee advances to the Royal Bank Cup in Chilliwack.

Iannone attended the 2015 Vipers Spring Camp was in his first season with Wenatchee. In 58 games this season with the Wild, Iannone collected (6-goals-14-assists-20-points).

Nathan Iannone's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=247172

This is posted on the Wild website:

WILD CLOBBER SAINTS TO EARN DOYLE CUP

May 4, 2018

by arch1

Recent News

The Wenatchee Wild used a combination of a punishing physical presence along with a relentless assault to post a convincing 7-2 victory over the AJHL champion Spruce Grove Saints to claim the Doyle Cup and earn a berth in the Royal Bank Cup Tournament to compete for the National Championship. Wenatchee won the Doyle Cup Series 4 games to 1.

The pace was brisk and the hits were plenty from the outset, and the opening salvo was fired by Josh Arnold, a backhander set up first by a pass from Matt Dorsey to Sam Hesler, then Hesler to Arnold for the 1-0 lead at 15:45. Ten seconds later, Logan Ganie tied it up for the Saints, but :36 seconds after that, Sam Morton muscled his way through two defenders to slip a low shot by Nolan Kent to retake the lead, which stood at the end of the first.

Spruce Grove tied it back up exactly 60 seconds into the middle frame as Logan Ganie benefited from a defensive zone turnover and a 2-on-0 break. Wenatchee responded quickly when August Von Ungern-Sternberg poked a neutral zone pass towards the Saints zone, chased it down and rifled a top corner shot sending the water bottle into orbit for a 3-2 lead less than a minute later. The air left the building at 14:01 when AJ Vanderbeck went end to end, dangling through the neutral zone and drilling his signature heavy wrister home for a 4-2 lead. Before the period expired, a quick transition pass from Cooper Zech to Sam Hesler spawned a 2-on-1 rush, with Hesler dishing to Matt Dorsey for the slick backhand finish and 5-2 lead after two.

The third period featured a lot of shutdown hockey, with the Wild adding two more to the heap. The first, a power play goal by Jasper Weatherby from the lower left circle, ripped high blocker side and assisted by a slick pass from Cooper Zech. With the Wild shorthanded a minute later, the Saints opted to pull the goalie and try to salvage the series, but Zech saucered a pass from deep in his own zone that sailed on the fly into the abandoned net for the 7-2 final. The Wild outshot Spruce Grove 38-31.

The Royal Bank Cup Tournament takes place May 12-20 in Chilliwack, BC. Wenatchee will open their tournament schedule on Saturday May 12 at 7pm against the host team, the Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL). The Wild play again Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm against the winner of the ANAVET Cup (Nipawin or Steinbach). Tuesday at 2pm the Wild meet the winner of the East’s Fred Page Cup Tournament, then on Thursday at 2pm it’s the winner of the Dudley-Hewitt Cup. Competition beyond that point is dependent upon round robin results.

Taylor Nominated For CJHL Goaltender Award:

This is posted on the CJHL website:

CJHL announces its Top Goaltender Award finalists for 2017-18

May 4, 2018 

CANADIAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

Media Update

Riley Morris, Okotoks (AJHL); Ty Taylor, Vernon (BCHL); Fraser Kirk, Newmarket (OJHL); Troy Martyniuk, Winkler (MJHL); Declan Hobbs, Nipawin (SJHL) named finalists

CALGARY, Alta. – The Canadian Junior Hockey League announced Friday the finalists for its Top Goaltender Award for the 2017-18 campaign.

Each of the finalists were determined through balloting by each of the CJHL’s 10-member leagues for their respective efforts during the course of the regular season.

Listed alphabetically, by league, are the five nominees for the CJHL’s Top Goaltender Award:

Riley Morris, Okotoks Oilers (AJHL)

BIO: Named the AJHL’s Top Goaltender for 2017-18 and was the recipient of the Friends of AJHL Trophy. The Top Goaltender Award is presented to the goalie who demonstrated the greatest ability in his position throughout the season. Morris finished 2017-18 season with 18 consecutive wins.  Overall Morris posted a record of 31-2-2 and recorded 4 shutouts.  He is second overall among all AJHL goaltenders with a 1.98 GAA. The 21-year-old from Calgary, Alta., is in his fourth and final AJHL season as a member of the Okotoks Oilers. In his final season, he set new franchise records for Career Shutouts (10), Games Played by a Goaltender (141) and Career Wins (88). Morris was also a finalist for the AJHL goaltending award in 2016-17.   

Ty Taylor, Vernon Vipers (BCHL)

BIO: Vernon’s Ty Taylor led the BCHL in nearly every statistical goaltending category this year, so he was a no-brainer for the league’s Top Goaltender Award at the end of the season. On Jan. 16 against the West Kelowna Warriors, the native of Richmond, B.C. tied the BCHL record with his seventh shutout of the season in a 5-0 victory. He finished the season with a league-best .931 save percentage and a 1.87 goals-against average. The 18-year-old split duties with the Vipers other goaltender Anthony Yamnitsky and they combined to win the Wally Forslund Trophy for the top goaltending tandem with a combined 1.98 goals-against average. From Dec. 9 to Jan. 16, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound keeper posted five shutouts in seven games. Taylor finished the year with a record of 23-5-3. Next season he will play for the University of New Hampshire in the NCAA D-I ranks.

Troy Martyniuk, Winkler Flyers (MJHL)

BIO: For the 37th consecutive season, Winkler Flyers qualified for the MJHL playoffs ─ thanks in large part to the outstanding play of tireless goaltender Troy Martyniuk. The native of Winnipeg was a workhorse for the Flyers, leading all MJHL goaltenders in minutes played: 2,797. He also recorded a league-high 28 wins. Nicknamed “Marty”, the 20-year-old was recently voted the league’s top goaltender, in addition to being voted to the league’s second team all-star team. Among his many accomplishments, he was named the MGEU-MJHL goaltender of the month for November. He broke into the MJHL when he was 16 with Dauphin Kings. He would also play with Wayway Wolverines before finding a permanent home with the Flyers. He’s a second generation MJHLer following his father Wayne who played defence for the St. James Canadians.

Fraser Kirk, Newmarket Hurricanes (OJHL)

BIO: The Burlington, Ont. native was tabbed the 22-team OJHL’s Goaltender of the Year for 2017-18. Kirk, 20, The October 2017 Kewl OJHL goaltender of the month went on to record 27 wins and have a 1.86 average, which were both second-best in the league. He tied for seventh in save percentage at .923. His goals against (1.84) and save percentage (.937) were both tops in the OJHL playoffs before Newmarket fell in seven games to the eventual Buckland Trophy champion Wellington Dukes. Kirk has committed to Bentley University in Waltham, Mass. Kirk on an NCAA Division 1 scholarship to play for the hockey Falcons beginning this fall.

Declan Hobbs, Nipawin Hawks (SJHL)

BIO: Was named co-recipient of the SJHL Top Goaltender Award. The 19-year-old Hobbs appeared in 29 games with the Hawks in the regular season recording a 22-4-1-2 record. His goals-against average of 2.20 was the second-best mark in the league and he tied for fourth in save percentage at .919. Last season he went 9-3-0 in 13 appearances with a 1.94 GAA and .929 save mark. His strong play this year also got him another opportunity in the WHL as Hobbs was called up by the Spokane Chiefs for two games in December. His return to Nipawin, however, gave the Hawks one of the best tandems along with rookie netminder Jake Anthony.

Earning honourable mention for the CJHL Top Goaltender Award were: Liam Lascelle, Cornwall Colts (CCHL); Jeremy Belisle, Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJAAAQ); Dominik Tmej, Summerside Western Capitals (MHL); Carter McPhail, Soo Eagles (NOJHL) and Brandon Bodnar, Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL).

The CJHL Top Goaltender Award recipient will be announced later this month.

Also of note, the finalists for the CJHL Coach of the Year will be named at a later date while the RBC Hockey Canada/CJHL Player of the Year and the RBC Scholastic Player of the Year will be presented at the RBC Cup Awards Banquet, May 10, in Chilliwack, B.C.

Former Vernon Laker Salmond-Canada Open World Hockey Championships vs Americans:

Former Vernon Lakers forward Scott Salmond & Team Canada open the 2018 IIHF World Hockey Championship vs the United States this morning on TSN at 7am.

Salmond is Vice President of Hockey Operations with Team Canada played parts of two years in Vernon (1988-1990) before being traded to Kelowna during the 1989-90 season. In 52 games with the Vernon Lakers Salmond collected (7-goals-26-assists-33-points). Salmond has been involved with Team Canada since 2002 was named Vice President of Hockey Operations in 2014.

Scott Salmond's Player Profile:

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/140537/scott-salmond

Kal Tire Place Arena Work Making Progress:

This was in Wednesdays Morning Star Newspaper:

Kal Tire Place arena work making progress

Roger Knox

May. 2, 2018 

Call him Mr. On Time and On Budget.

Greater Vernon’s director of recreation services, Doug Ross, alerted Vernon council that the expansion at Kal Tire Place is, well, those four words.

“One community member has called me Mr. On Time and On Budget,” smiled Ross, who reported the second ice surface at Kal Tire Place is “doing very well and moving forward.”

One of the big milestones is the addition of the orange roof to the facility.

“Work on the roof was slowed down a bit by our extended winter, but they’re making up time now,” said Ross. “There’s a lot of finishing work inside. Tile work in the change rooms and washrooms is done. The change rooms have been painted. Benches have been installed.

“It’s starting to look like a hockey arena now.”

In the bleacher area, workers have installed a glass partition that separates the seating area, and the facility’s front doors have been put on.

City staff are working with prospective tenants for the lease spaces and are hoping to have lease agreements finalized prior to June 1.

It’s expected the new facility will be ready to open in September.

Clan Sign Vipers Alumni Scofield:

The Elite Ice Hockey League Braehead Clan have signed former Vernon Vipers for Tyler Scofield.

Braehead Clan is a Scottish professional ice hockey team. It was formed in 2010 as the UK Elite Ice Hockey League expanded into the West of Scotland market, and are based at the Braehead Arena in Renfrewshire. It is currently one of four Scottish clubs playing in the top British league.

Scofield played last season in Germany with Starbulls Rosenheim a professional ice hockey team based in Rosenheim, Oberbayern, Germany. In 47 games last season Scofield collected (25-goals-30-assists-55-points).

After four seasons at Bemidji State University Scofield has spent the past nine seasons playing in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom & the US playing with eight different teams (HC Plzen, Klagenfurter AC, Graz 99ers, Ontario Reign, Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg, HC Innsbruck, Rapid City Rush, HC Thurgau, Starbulls Rosenheim & Braehead Clan) from 2009-2018.

Scofield played parts of two seasons in Vernon (2000-2002) before being traded to Prince George during the 2001-2002 season. The Vipers sent Scofield and Mark Nelson to the Spruce Kings in return for Rod Pelly, Dan Rossi & Josh Ciocco. In 79 games with the Vipers Scofield collected (21-goals-19-assists-40-points).

Tyler Scofield's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=34054

This was posted on the Clan website:

SIGNED: Scofield agrees to Clan move

Published: 02 August 2017

Glasgow’s Braehead Clan are delighted to announce the signing of forward Tyler Scofield, who becomes the 15th signing for the 2017-18 season.

Scofield has a wealth of experience playing around Europe, taking his career to Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic and more recently, Germany.

Now he’s looking forward to joining the Clan and after hearing a lot about the club from current and past players, it seemed too good to turn down.

“I spoke with Brendan Cook, who played for the Clan a few years ago and gave a pretty recommendation about the fans and the city,” Scofield said.

“Brendan had a great career in Europe and said that Braehead was one of his favourite places to play.  I’d heard the fans are great as well as the arena, plus Glasgow as a city is really nice.

“John, the coach, contacted me a bit ago and he seems very excited to take the reins at Braehead.  He came across as energetic and very passionate about it.

“Although he’s new as well, he spoke a lot of the fans based on what he knew.  Plus another former team-mate of mine, Cameron Burt has just signed there too and he’s been talking it up.

“It just seems like a good fit for myself and Cameron did his homework about the team and reiterated what I’d already heard so having a familiar face there will help the transition.”

Scofield played with Burt at Starbulls Rosenheim in Germany’s DEL2 last season, coming up against Tripp’s Eispiraten Crimmitschau in the relegation play-off, which the Starbulls ultimately lost.

He scored 32 goals in 69 appearances all in for the Southern German side, picking up a further 35 assists, despite the fortunes of the team.

Scofield is another opposing player from his time in Germany that caught coach Tripp’s eye and was pleased to be able to bring him to Glasgow.

“Tyler was another player that impressed me last season and picked up a great amount of points for a team that didn’t do so well,” Tripp said.

“I admired his leadership quality and he’s the sort of player that can be a huge help to this team-mates on the ice by talking to them and encouraging them.

“I have no doubt he’s a player that can flourish in the Elite League and I know he’s excited about coming to Glasgow and taking on this new challenge.

“He’ll bring speed to the team and he’s a terrific skater, which will add another dimension to our offensive lines .”

Scofield will wear #10 for the Clan in the new season.

Ex Viper Sagissor Scores Overtime Winner-Gives Jets Series Lead:

Former Vernon Vipers forward Simon Sagissor scored the overtime winner Sunday in Fairbanks, giving the North American Hockey League Janesville Jets a 3-2 overtime victory over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs & a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-five Midwest Division Finals.

Sagissor's overtime winner 

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/990806921967034368

Sagissor played parts of last season with the Vipers playing in 18 games. The Vipers signed Sagissor at the BCHL trade deadline (January 10th 2017). Sagissor attened the Vipers training camp this season, played in two exhibition games before being released. The Jets acquired/signed Sagissor September 19th 2017.

In 54 regular season games with the Jets this season Sagissor collected (8-goals-13-assists-21-points).

Simon Sagissor's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=353796

This was in the Gazette Extra Newspaper:

Sagissor's overtime goal gives Jets 2-1 series lead over Ice Dogs

Gazette staff 

April 29th 2018

The Janesville Jets will return home one win away from advancing to the Robertson Cup finals.

Simon Sagissor scored in overtime Sunday as the Jets tipped the Fairbanks Ice Dogs 3-2 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five Midwest Division Finals.

The series will shift to Janesville for Game 4 on Friday.

Janesville trailed 2-0 after two periods, but Sam Renlund continued his blistering scoring pace with two quick goals to tie the game with 17:18 remaining in regulation. The Colorado College commit leads the NAHL with seven playoff goals.

Jakov Novak assisted Sagissor for the game-winner 14:02 into the extra period.

Jax Murray and Daniel Haider each scored for top-seeded Fairbanks, which went 5-1 against Janesville during the regular season.

The Jets have shown that anything can happen during the postseason. They need one more win to reach the Robertson Cup finals for the second straight year.