The Smoke Eaters continue their three game road trip with a stop in Vernon on Friday night as they’ll take on the Vipers for the first time this season
Season series versus Vernon
Dec. 3 Trail at Vernon 7:00 pm PST
Dec. 10 Vernon at Trail 7:00 pm PST
Jan. 8 Trail at Vernon 6:00 pm PST
Jan. 19 Trail at Vernon 7:00 pm PST
Feb. 2 Vernon at Trail 7:00 pm PST
Feb. 25 Vernon at Trail 7:00 pm PST
The Smoke Eaters head to Vernon to face an unfamiliar foe in the Vipers. Two months into the season and the Vipers are just one of two interior conference teams the Smoke Eaters are yet to face. It’s the first of back to back games on the road as the Smoke Eaters will head to Merritt to face the Centennials on Saturday. Prior to getting a 7-4 win on Wednesday night in Cranbrook, Head Coach Tim Fragle stressed the importance of not only this road trip but this final 7 games the Smoke Eaters have until the Christmas break. The took the right steps on Wednesday in the win, despite allowing four goals the Smoke Eaters proved they can score from all angles and score their way out of trouble. With the likes of Zach Michaelis and Teddy Lagerback scoring in bunches over the last three games and the defence chipping in with a couple as well the Smoke Eaters game by game are looking like a more complete team. Historically the Smoke Eaters have struggle in Vernon, with a 2-6-1 record over the last five seasons, but both teams take to the ice with very different rosters than the ones two years ago in their last meeting, which saw the Vipers win 5-3 at Kal Tire Place.
Smoke Eaters leading scorers:
Michaelis (13-6-19)
Hunter (5-12-17)
Cunningham (5-11-16)
Disher (5-11-16)
Lagerback (8-7-15)
The Vipers come into this game like the Smoke Eaters coming off a win on Wednesday night. Following a big trade that landed the Vipers defenceman Tallon Zakall from the Merritt Centennials the Vipers are hoping the boost on the back end can help them right the ship and climb the interior conference standings. With a 5-9-3-2 record the Vipers haven’t been their usual selves to start the year, but a big 5-1 win over the West Kelowna Warriors on Wednesday helped the Vipers snap a five game losing streak. Despite the record the Vipers have taken six games to overtime or a shootout and been close in doing so in a handful more, meaning their a team not to be underestimated.
Vipers leading scorers:
Buss (9-10-19)
Milburn (7-7-14)
Shostak (7-7-14)
Zakall (3-8-11)
MacDonald (4-6-10)
Puck drop is 7pm tonight from Kal Tire Place in Vernon as the Smoke Eaters look to build off their performance on Wednesday night and take another two points from an interior division foe. Fans can catch the game with Smoke Eater broadcaster Ben Phillips on BCHLTV or on Mixlr starting at 6:60pm
