Game Preview: Vernon Vipers vs. Victoria Grizzlies
Vernon, BC: After a long 19-day road trip, the Vernon Vipers are back on home ice, eager to build on their recent strong play.
Vipers Road Recap
The Vipers have shown resilience on the road, wrapping up a six-game away stretch with a 3-2-1 record. They took three out of a possible four points last weekend, including battles in Salmon Arm and Penticton—two challenging venues. In their last outing, Vernon led Penticton 3-0 early, dominating the first period with a 9-2 shot advantage. However, the Vipers ultimately fell in overtime, 5-4, in a tough but promising performance.
Grizzlies Overview
Victoria arrives with a 6-4-2 record, tied for 5th place in a closely contested Coastal Conference. The Grizzlies opened their season with a five-game win streak but have faced a 1-4-2 skid in recent matchups. In net, Tyler Hodges has been Victoria’s primary starter with 10 games under his belt, while Oliver Auyeung-Ashton has rejoined the roster, hoping to regain his early-season form.
Key Players to Watch
For Vernon, Will Schumacher leads the scoring efforts with 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists), while Shea Busch has tallied a team-high eight goals, including an impressive three shorthanded goals. Both players will be central to the Vipers’ strategy tonight.
The Grizzlies’ scoring is led by Drew Hockley, who has posted 17 points (8 goals, 9 assists), and Chase Pirtle, who trails closely with 20 points (5 goals, 15 assists). Both bring offensive momentum and will look to test Vernon’s defense.
Special Teams Matchup
This game will feature two potent power plays. Victoria ranks 5th in the league at 27.9%, while Vernon isn’t far behind, sitting 7th with a 24.4% success rate. On the penalty kill, the Vipers have demonstrated their danger even while shorthanded, tied for 3rd in the BCHL for shorthanded goals.
Game Coverage
Catch all the action on 107.5 Beach Radio and Vernon Matters, or stream live on FloHockey. Coverage starts at 6:45 PM.