Vernon Vipers
GM & Head Coach: Jason McKee
2022-23: GP 17 – 7-8-0-2, 6th Interior Division
Home: 5-3-0-1
Away: 2-5-0-1
Goals For: 40
Goals Against: 60
Powerplay: 14 for 62 – 22.6% (8th in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 70 of 79 – 88.6% (1st in BCHL)
Season Series:
Oct. 30 @ Merritt, 4-2 L
Nov. 12 vs Merritt, 6PM
Dec. 30 vs Merritt, 7PM
Jan. 7 vs Merritt, 6PM
March 25 @ Merritt, 7PM
Last Game: The Vipers played a real solid 40 minutes against the Penticton Vees last night keeping it close for the first two periods of play before ultimately falling 6-2. Seiya Tanaka-Campbell scored his fourth of the season. He has goals in back to back games. Lee Parks contributed a late powerplay marking to tie the team lead with his 6th goal of the season. Roan Clarke made 37 saves on 43 shots. Special Teams were equal as the Vipers powerplay went 1 for 3 and their PK went 2 of 3.
Today’s Game: The Vipers look to end a modest two game winless streak when they play host to the Merritt Centennials. It’s the second of five meetings. The Cents took the first game on October 30th in Merritt. Lee Parks has a five game point streak going with 3 goals and 4 assists in that span. Luke Pakulak has 3 assists in his last two games. The Vipers powerplay has been great over the last 5 games with 6 goals on 18 opportunities which is 33.3%. The PK was be clutch all year, but remains red hot killing off 18 of 20 for a 90.0 kill percentage.
Merritt Centennials
GM & Head Coach: Curtis Toneff
2022-23: GP 17 – 5-10-2-0, 8th Interior Conference
Home: 3-6-1-0
Away: 2-4-1-0
Goals For: 56
Goals Against: 86
Powerplay: 11 for 63 – 17.5% (14th in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 61 of 76 – 80.3% (7th in BCHL)
Last Game: The Centennials split the first two games of the week with Prince George on Thursday and Friday. A 3-2 win Thursday before a 7-5 loss Friday. Merritt surrendered 45 shots in the loss. Walker Erickson had a pair of goals and Jaxson Murray had 3 points in defeat. Conor Sullivan made 38 saves on 44 shots.
Today’s Game: The Vees will kick off three straight away from home tonight. In their last meeting with Vernon the Cents held on for a 4-2 win. Johnny Hicks made 30 saves on 32 shots. Merritt has had their share of struggles on the road with a goal differential of -12.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Today’s game will be broadcast on 107.5 Beach Radio and Hockey TV, starting with the pre-game show at 5:45 pm.
