Vernon, BC: The Vernon Vipers are very pleased to announce the leadership group for the 2019-20 season.
Connor Marritt was named Captain earlier in the off season as he prepares for his third season in Vipers colours. It would’ve been difficult to find many more deserving than the former Vernon Minor Hockey player to assume the ‘C’ from outgoing Captain Jagger Williamson.
Joining Marritt in the leadership group and wearing an ‘A’ is Landon Fuller. The 20 year old Williams Lake product is entering his 5th season of Junior Hockey. A career that started in 2015-26 with the Sicamous Eagles and has taken him to stops in Tri-City and Vancouver in the WHL and Salmon Arm, Surrey, Coquitlam and Vernon in the BCHL. He has played 223 career Junior hockey games.
“With Landon he has such a commanding presence,” says Head Coach and GM of the Vipers Jason McKee. “It resonates on the ice and in our dressing room.”
Also donning an ‘A’ is 17 year old Trey Taylor. The Richmond product had an outstanding rookie campaign with the Vipers suiting up for 74 games including the run to the Fred Page Cup Finals.
“Trey is a calming presence in the room and the experience he gained last season as a 16 year old will continue to serve us as a group well and him as an individual,” says McKee. “Age is just a number and he’s a very mature young man.”
Rounding out the assistants is 19 year old Ben Sanderson. He joined the Vipers in late October and made an immediate impact before an injury shortened his season. He pitched in with 10 points in the playoffs. “Ben is a lead by example type of player. He never takes a shift off and works hard in every regard of the game whether its on or off the ice,” says McKee.
The new leadership group will continue to prepare through the preseason as the Vipers take on the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in back to back games Wednesday in SA and Friday in Vernon.
