Vernon Vipers
GM & Head Coach: Jason McKee
2022-23: GP 44 – 20-18-2-4, 7th Interior Division
Home: 14-6-1-2
Away: 6-12-1-2
Goals For: 117
Goals Against: 143
Powerplay: 30 for 146 – 20.6% (9th in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 156 of 181 – 86.2% (1st in BCHL)
Season Series:
Oct. 29 vs Cranbrook, 1-0 W
Nov. 25 vs Cranbrook, 6-5 SOL
Jan. 15 @ Cranbrook, 5-2 L
Feb. 4 @ Cranbrook, 4-2 L
Feb. 24 @ Cranbrook, 6PM (PST)
Last Game: The Vipers earned another point on Monday afternoon following a 3-2 overtime loss to the Trail Smoke Eaters. Walker Erickson and Luke Pakulak had goals. Ethan David made 26 saves. The Vipers powerplay was 1 for 4 and their penalty kill was a perfect 2 for 2 including a shorthanded goal.
Tonight’s Game: This is the fifth and final meeting of the season between the Vipers and Bucks. As you can see the first four games were extremely close. The last two games were one goal games before the Bucks added empty net goals. Vernon is 4-4-2 in their last 10 games. They also haven’t lost in regulation in four games. Seiya Tanaka-Campbell leads the team offensively against the Bucks with 1 goal and 4 assists in 4 games. Lee Parks has points in 6 straight games (5 goals, 6 assists).
Cranbrook Bucks
GM & Head Coach: Ryan Donald
2022-23: GP 44 – 29-12-1-2, 2nd Interior Conference
Home: 17-3-0-1
Away: 12-9-1-1
Goals For: 154
Goals Against: 109
Powerplay: 21 for 140 – 15.0% (17th in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 116 of 141 – 82.3% (5th in BCHL)
Last Game: The Bucks lost 5-1 in Penticton on Monday afternoon. Jack Silich scored his 20th of the season. Nathan Airey had 30 saves in the loss. Cranbrook had two separate 5-minute major penalties. The Vees scored 3 times in the second period on the first of those majors. The Bucks were 0 for 1 on the powerplay and killed 3 of 6 on the penalty kill.
Today’s Game: This is the first of two home games this weekend for Cranbrook. They host Salmon Arm tomorrow. The Bucks have lost three straight games on their most recent road swing including two losses in Wenatchee. Noah Quinn has enjoyed playing against the Vipers he has 4 goals in 4 games including one game where he registered a hat trick. The Bucks are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games.
Today’s game will be broadcast on 107.5 Beach Radio and HockeyTV, starting with the pregame show at 5:45 pm PST.