Vipers Game Day – Vipers and Backs Write Another Chapter at Shaw Centre

Vernon Vipers

GM & Head Coach: Jason McKee

2022-23: GP 31 – 14-13-0-4, 6th Interior Division

Home: 14-5-0-2

Away: 3-8-0-2

Goals For: 80

Goals Against: 102

Powerplay: 23 for 109 – 21.1% (7^th in BCHL)

Penalty Kill: 112 of 130 – 86.2% (1st in BCHL)

Season Series:

Sept. 23 @ Salmon Arm, 3-0 L

Sept. 24 vs Salmon Arm, 4-1 L

Oct. 7 vs Salmon Arm, 6-5 W

Dec. 9 vs Salmon Arm, 5-2 W

Dec. 10 @ Salmon Arm, 4-3 OTW

Jan. 6 @ Salmon Arm, 7PM

March 10 vs Salmon Arm, 7PM

Last Game: The Vipers were downed 6-3 by the Penticton Vees in their last outing on New Year’s Day.  Hank Cleaves, Julian Facchinelli and Isaac Tremblay had the goals.  They were outshot 34-24 and went 1 for 2 on the powerplay.

Today’s Game:  The Vipers look for their first win of 2023 and their second straight on the road tonight in Salmon Arm.  The Snakes took down the Silverbacks on December 10^th with a 4-3 win in OT.  Jonathan Horn had the OT winner.  After surrendering the first two games in the season series, the Vipers have since won 3 in a row against the North Okanagan-Shuswap rival.  Luke Pakulak has enjoyed playing the Backs, he has 5 goals and 1 assist in 5 games.  Jonathan Horn is also a point a game player against Salmon Arm with 3 goals and 1 assist.

Salmon Arm Silverbacks

Head Coach: Tyler Shattock

2022-23: GP 30 – 15-12-2-1, 5th Interior Conference

Home: 9-2-1-0

Away: 6-10-1-1

Goals For: 90

Goals Against: 95

Powerplay: 17 for 99 – 17.2% (16th in BCHL)

Penalty Kill: 90 of 119 – 75.6% (13th in BCHL)

Last Game: The Silverbacks wrapped up 2022 in style with a 5-1 win over the Merritt Centennials on New Year’s Eve.  Five different Backs tickled the twine as Will Lavigne, Jayden Grier, Isaac Lambert, Hayden Stavroff and Owen Beckner had goals.  Matthew Tovell was brilliant in goal with 39 saves on 40 shots.

Today’s Game:  Salmon Arm had an up and down month of December which saw them play just one game at home (against the Vipers).  They continue to be really strong at the Shaw Centre.  They have just 2 regulation losses.  Unlike the Vipers, the Backs have spent the majority of the first half on the road.  They have played the most road games of all BCHL teams with 18 of their first 30 away from the friendly confines.  SA is 4-4-2 in their last 10.  Four Silverbacks have done the bulk of the damage against Vernon.  Nathan Mackie, Owen Beckner, Ethan Ullrick and Brandon Santa Juana all have 6 points.

Tonight’s game will be broadcast on 107.5 Beach Radio and HockeyTV, starting with the pregame show at 6:45 pm.