Vernon Vipers owner Dr. Duncan Wray and former Viper bench boss Troy Mick sat down to talk about their memories of the 1999 Royal Bank Cup champion Vernon Vipers. The team is being inducted into the BC Hockey Hall Of Fame along with alumnus Murray Baron who played for the Lakers between 1984 and 1986. Wray, who was inducted into the BCHHOF in 2011, says all of the teams that have won a national title have a special place in his memories but the 1999 team’s accomplishments cannot be overlooked.
The ’99 squad only lost six games in the regular season posting a team record 106 points. However the team also had some struggles en route to its second RBC cup and 4th National Championship. Not only did the team lose the first ever game to the RMJHL Kimberley Dynamiters (no BCHL team had lost a game during the Mowat Cup) but the team also had to beat the Calgary Canucks led by future NHL star Dany Heatley.
Even in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, the team narrowly avoided being eliminated in the RBC Cup’s round robin portion after losing their first three games of the tournament. The Vipers however would come back to beat Charlottetown 9-3 to win their 4th National Championship.
Here is a look at the 1998-1999 Vernon Viper Roster:
4 Bradley, John
5 Bussoli, Mike
6 Gilchrist, Spence
7 Williams, Danny
8 Reed, Josh
9 Knight, Tyler
10 Davison, Kori (Asst. Capt.)
11 Filewich, Jeff
12 Bayda, Ryan
14 Sickavish, Kelly (Asst. Capt.)
15 Magowan, Kenny
16 Chytka, Petr
17 Digel, Jace
18 Gare, Lanny
19 Duggan, John
20 Bresciani, Joel (Asst. Capt.)
21 Krahn, Scott
22 Kamel, Tito
24 Ringstad, Nick
25 Lacasse, Domenic
28 Rampone, Lennie (Capt.)
96 Gustafson, Derek
97 King, Chris
Owner/President: Duncan Wray
Head Coach: Troy Mick
Assistant Coach Joe Oliver
