Game: Powell River Kings vs Vernon Vipers
Arena: Kal Tire Place
Puck Drop: 7:00pm
Broadcast: Starts at 6:30pm
95.7 SunFM Free Audio
FastHockey PPV Video
Kings This Season vs Opposition: 1-0-0-0
Last Meeting: Vipers won 2-1
Kings 2013/2014 Record: 23-7-2-2 (2nd Island)
Kings on the road: 9-3-1-2
Kings Last 10: 4-3-2-1
Kings vs Interior:4-3-1-1
Opposition 2013/2014 Record: 20-9-3-4 (2nd Interior)
Opposition at home: 10-2-3-3
Opposition Last 10: 7-2-1-0
The Kings got perhaps the most ideal start to not only a 3-in-3 road trip, but also a weekend where they looked to place all three of their last games behind them. Not only did the team beat the Coquitlam Express, but they did it by scoring twice as many goals then they did through 3 games last weekend. It was nice to see for Kings fans who had worried that that scoring may have dried up…not the case. Last night was a better reflection of how this team has played more often than not, and with the exception of a few breakdowns, particularly late in the 1st and 2nd, the Kings were solid all over the ice.
Tonight the Kings move from the league’s highest scoring team to the only team in Canada guaranteed to be playing hockey in May. It’s a motivator for the Kings, who have proven to be contenders this year and know that in order to win Junior A hockey’s ultimate prize, they will have to beat the Vipers in the Spring. October’s game between the two clubs was a low scoring but entertaining affairs. It showcased two clubs who expect to have long seasons, with Ryan Scarfo getting the lone Kings goal in a 2-1 loss.
The Kings will have a couple of adjustments in the lineup tonight, with Jonny Evans remaining in Vancouver following his 4th game of the year with the Kings last night. Coming into help out up front is Gage Colpron, playing this year with the Campbell River Storm but is from Kelowna. He has not only played a handful of games with the Kings this year, he’s also scored, in a 6-3 Kings win against the Grizzlies in Victoria. The Kings will still be without Aidan Wright, Lucas Grayson, Matt Scarth and Luke Ripley tonight who are all (with the exception of Wright) at home for Christmas break. The only other change is between the pipes where Jonah Imoo will look to once again go shot for shot with Jeff Smith, who last night registered win number 12 on the season, a figure Jonah will attempt to match this evening.
It’s the last game for the Vernon Vipers tonight before the Christmas break and a chance for them to end the pre-Christmas schedule on a high. After 3 straight wins to start the month of December, it’s been up and down for the Vipers who have gone win-loss through their last 4. The wins came at home against West Kelowna (last Wednesday) and Trail (just over a week ago), while losses came on the road in Coquitlam and Salmon Arm.
To date, it’s been a successful season for a club that’s missed the playoffs for the past two seasons, after making a trip to the National Championship a habit over the last few years (all at the expense of the Powell River Kings). The Vipers have a 5-point buffer either way on the standings, as they’re 5 down of the Vees for 1st and 5 up of the Silverbacks who are in 3rd. What has stuck out for the Vipers is their play at home as the Vipers have lost just twice on home ice in regulation, with Merritt and Surrey the only team to take full regulation points away from Kal Tire Place.
On the roster for Vernon is a lot of BCHL experience, but not all with the Vipers. Michael McNicholas and Josh Bryan are former Clippers, Demico Hannoun played with the Surrey Eagles, Jason Bird suited up with the Coquitlam Express and Jared Wilson started the year with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. It’s the aftermath of the Vipers fire sale last year that saw them load up for this season, by dealing two big players (Aaron Hadley and Adam Tambellini) before the deadline last year. The trades, along with players that the Vipers already had make them a deep team up front, with 3 players over 30 points and 7 (including 2 defencemen) over 20 points.
In goal, Danny Todosychuk started and won in Powell River back in October, and has been sharing duties this year with 20-year-old Austin Smith who has (marginally) the better GAA and sv% stats this season.
In our pre-game show, we’ll chat with the coaches from both benches, get to your keys to the game, the tale of the tape and stat pack. In the 1st intermission, we’ll talk with Jarryd Leung about his pair last night in Coquitlam. Also, Jordan Burns talks on last night’s game and coming into his home-town and playing a team he watched growing up. We’ll also talk a lot about May’s RBC Cup being hosted in Vernon.
In the 2nd intermission, our player profile segment continues with Kings forward Ryan Scarfo. Chad van Diemen will join us in the post-game show to talk about the game and tomorrow’s pre-Christmas finale against the Silverbacks.
