Vernon (21-9-1-2) @ Merritt (18-13-0-2) 7:30pm
Tonight is the fifth of six meetings between the Vernon Vipers & Merritt Centennials. The Vipers lead the season series 3-1. You can listen to tonight's game live with Graham Turnbull starting with the pre-game show at 7:15pm on 107.5 Kiss FM
Since the 2002-03 season Vernon is 56-17-3-8 vs. Merritt
Since the 2003-04 season Vernon is 23-8-2-5 in Merritt
The Vipers are 2-5-2-1 in their last ten games on the road vs. the Centennials
The Vipers are 5-4-1-0 in their last ten games vs. Merritt
The Vipers last win in Merritt was a 4-3 overtime victory on Friday, November 15th 2013
The Centennials last win at home over Vernon was a 4-0 victory on Friday, October 3rd 2014
Lets take a look at the Vernon Vipers:
The defending Interior Division Conference Champion Vernon Vipers make their second of three visits to the Nicola Valley Arena. The Vipers have just two wins in their last ten visits to Merritt. The Vipers are coming off a 9-0 victory over the visiting Surrey Eagles Wednesday have won three out of the four meetings vs the Centennials this season. The lone lose to the Cents was a 4-0 loss in Merritt on October 3rd. Vernon has won four of their last five games and are 8-2-0-0 in their last ten. The Vipers have won seven of their last nine games on the road. The Vipers are ten points back of Division leading Penticton are four points up on West Kelowna and seven points up on Merritt. Vernon won the last three meetings with Merritt all on home ice. Tonight is the second last game before the Christmas break.
Thomas Aldworth (24-10-34) leads the team in goals with twenty four while Liam Coughlin (13-25-38) leads the team in points with thirty eight.
Vipers goaltender Jarrod Schamerhorn played eight games with the Cents last season
Vernon Vipers 2014-15 Regular Season Stats:
Games Played: 33
Wins: 21
Losses: 9
Ties: 1
Overtime Losses: 2
Home Record: 11-5-1-1
Road Record: 10-4-0-1
Overtime Record: 1-2-1
Record vs Interior Division: 12-7-1-1
Record vs Island & Mainland Divisions: 9-2-0-1
Record in September: 2-2-0-1
Record in October: 5-3-0-0
Record in November 9-2-1-1
Record in December 5-2-0-0
When the Vipers score first: 16-2-1-1
When the opponents score first: 5-8-0-1
Leading after 1st Period: 11-1-1-1
Tied after 1st Period: 5-2-0-0
Trailing after 1st Period: 5-6-0-1
Leading after 2nd Period: 14-1-0-1
Tied after 2nd Period: 6-0-0-0
Trailing after 2nd Period: 1-8-1-1
Out shooting Opponents: 16-4-0-1
Out shot by Opponents: 4-4-1-1
One goal games: 4-3-0-2
Goals For: 125
Goals Against: 91
Place: 2nd Place
Streak: One game winning streak
Lets take a look at the Merritt Centennials:
The Merritt Centennials will be looking to snap a three game losing skid vs the Vernon Vipers. The Centennials are coming off a 5-1 victory over the visiting Penticton Vees Wednesday night are playing their third game of a current five game home stand. Tonight is the final game of 2014 before the Centennials head into the Christmas break. Merritt sits in 4th place eight points up on Salmon Arm and three points back of West Kelowna and seven back of Vernon. The Cents have won three of their last five games and are 4-4-0-2 in their last ten. The Centennials have just two wins in their last six home games have lost just five regulation games at home this season.
John Schiavo (17-21-38) leads the Centennials in goals with sevnteen and in points with with thirty eight.
Centennials Head Coach-GM Luke Pierce played his final year of Junior hockey with the Vipers (2003-04)
Merritt Centennials 2014-15 Regular Season Stats:
Games Played: 33
Wins: 18
Losses: 13
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 2
Home Record: 10-5-0-0
Road Record: 8-8-0-2
Goals For: 120
Goals Against: 119
Place: 4th Place
Streak: One game winning streak
The Vipers next home game is tomorrow night when they host the Powell River Kings at 6pm
Tickets will be on sale at the Vipers office, for more information please call the Vipers office at 250-542-6022
