Vernon Vipers

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Vernon Vipers

City	Vernon, British Columbia
League	British Columbia Hockey League
Founded	1961
Home Arena	Vernon Multiplex
Colours	Red, Gold, and Blue
Coach	Mark Hollick
GM	Troy Mick

The Vernon Vipers are a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team from Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League and play in the Interior Conference.

Vernon Jr. Canadians 1961-62

Vernon Blades 1962-67

Vernon Essos 1967-73

Vernon Vikings 1973-79

Vernon Lakers 1980-83

Vernon Rockets 1983-84

Vernon Lakers 1984-96

Vernon Vipers 1996 to Present

1 History
2 Season-by-Season Record
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] History

The Vernon Jr. Canadians, Penticton Jr. Vees, Kelowna Buckaroos and Kamloops Jr. Rockets, four junior "B" teams, formed the Okanagan-Mainline Junior Hockey League in 1961 on the advise and determination of Canadians owner Bill Brown.

After their inaugural season the Canadians changed their name to "Vernon Blades" and kept that name till the start of the 1967-68 season.

In the playoffs of 1970 the "Vernon Essos", as they were called, captured the league championship and Mowat Cup (BC). They also automatically advanced to the Abbott Cup (Western Canada) because the AJHL champions did not want to contest for the BC/Alta Championship (now called the Doyle Cup). In the Abbott Cup of 1970, the Weyburn Red Wings of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League defeated Vernon 4 games to none.

The Essos repeated as league champions and Mowat Cup winners in 1972, only to lose to the Red Deer Rustlers for the BC/Alta Championship, 4 games to 2.

For the start of the 1973-74 season the "Vernon Essos" became the "Vernon Vikings". The name remained until the end of the 1979 playoffs, which saw the team take a leave-of-absence for the 1979-80 season.

The 1980-81 season is one, the new, "Vernon Lakers" would like to forget, as they only won 8 games, playing 56. They didn't fair much better the next season which saw them win only 10 of 47. It wasn't until the 1982-83 season that Vernon began its slow and meticulous climb to the top of the Junior "A" Hockey World. Even a name change, for one season in 1983-84, "Vernon Rockets", did not deter the team from their ultimate goal. Each season that went by, brought with it, an improvement. When in the playoffs of 1988 saw them go all the way to the Doyle Cup, it was the beginning of things to come for the Lakers. In 1989 the Lakers started the first of 4 consecutive trips to the National Championships. A string which saw the them accumulate 2 Centennial Cups(1990 & 1991), 3 Abbott Cups, 3 Doyle Cups, 4 Mowat Cups, 4 League Championships, and 5 Conference Championships.

In the 1990 Centennial Cup final Vernon (as Host) faced the heavily favored New Westminster Royals, whom had previously defeated Vernon in the league finals. It would be the first televised Centennial Cup Final and some say the best game ever, period. The game saw New Westminster take the lead into the 3rd period, 5-3. Cam Sylven would tie the game for the Lakers, 5-5, in the third period to force overtime. He scored once again in OT, on a breakaway, for the 6-5 win and the first of two Centennial Cups for the Lakers.

The Lakers repeated as Centennial Cup winners in 1991 defeating the Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, 8-4. They showed up, to contest for the National Finals, again in 1992 but fell short in the semis to the Winkler Flyers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League,5-2.

The Vernon franchise would not return to the National Final Tournament for another 4 years. That year was 1996, the team was the "Vernon Vipers" and the trophy was the inaugural Royal Bank Cup. It was one of Vernons best seasons as they finished the regular portion winning 43 games, losing 13 and tying 4. The Vipers defeated the Langley Thunder for the League title, 4 games to 1. Went on to defeat Prince George Spruce Kings (Rocky Mountain JHL) for the Mowat Cup, 3 games to 0. Then faced a tough Saint Albert Saints (Alberta Junior Hockey League) team but came out ahead winning 4 games to 3, to claim the Doyle Cup.

The Abbott Cup, which was now awarded during the Royal Bank Cup round-robin play, was given to Melfort Mustangs (Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League) as they defeated Vipers, 5-1. The Vipers had an even round-robin, winning 2 games and losing 2. The Newmarket 87's of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League were the Vipers next opponent, in the semi-finals, which they won, 7-4. Onto the final it was, meeting the host Melfort Mustangs (Manitoba Junior Hockey League), avenging their lose in the semis, winning by a score of 2-0.

Three short years after winning the inaugural Royal Bank Cup did Vernon once again claim a National Title in 1999.

The Vipers did this by capping an amazing season of 52 wins and 6 loses 2 Ties, breaking just about every record in League history, with a win over the Chilliwack Chiefs for the League title, Fred Page Cup. The Mowat Cup was a mixed blessing as Vernon won but, not without controversy. The Kimberley Dynamiters (Rocky Mountain JHL) won 1 game of the 4 played. It was the first time a team from the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League defeated a team from the BCHL. It should be noted however, that Vernon played with a Junior "B" backup goaltender in the loss, (7-6) due to injury of thier regular goaltenders. Kimberley was only able to muster 13 shots in that game. The Doyle Cup was easily won by Vernon, 4 games to 1, over the Calgary Canucks (AJHL). The Vipers did it all the hard-way in the Royal Bank Cup Tournament winning only once during round-robin play. That one win was enough though, to claim the Abbott Cup by defeating the Estevan Bruins (SJHL), 3-2. After that dismal showing in the round-robin Vernon still managed to advance to the semi-finals. In that semi, the Bramalea Blues (OPJHL) went down to defeat by a score of, 3-2. The Royal Bank Cup was an absolute blow-out as the Vipers hammered the Charlottetown Abbies (Maritime Junior A Hockey League), 9-3, claiming the franchises 4th National Championship in 10 years. Many BCHL hockey pundits suggest that this Viper squad was without question, the best team the BCHL has ever seen...

In conclusion, 2 Royal Bank Cups, 2 Centennial Cups, 4 Abbott Cups, 5 Doyle Cups, 8 Mowat Cups and 9 League Titles proves that the Vernon Vipers continue to be among the best-of-the-best in junior " A" hockey, and remain a proud and competitive franchise.

[edit] Season-by-Season Record

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Season	League	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Points	Finish	Playoffs
1961-62	OMJHL	29	7	21	1	-	95	182	15	4th	Lost in Semi-final
1962-63	OMJHL	31	9	22	0	-	114	145	18	3rd	Lost in Semi-final
1963-64	OJHL	34	7	27	0	-	124	219	14	3rd	3rd in Round Robin Final
1964-65	OJHL	30	10	16	4	-	99	134	24	4th	Lost in Semi-final
1965-66	OJHL	30	4	25	1	-	100	212	9	4th	Lost in Semi-finals
1966-67	OJHL	40	15	25	0	-	-	-	30	3rd	Lost in Semi-finals
1967-68	BCJHL	40	19	17	4	-	213	218	42	3rd	Lost in Semi-finals
1968-69	BCJHL	40	19	15	6	-	177	191	44	3rd	Lost in Semi-finals
1969-70	BCJHL	48	32	12	4	-	245	151	68	1st	Won Final, Mowat Cup, Lost BC/Alb Championship
1970-71	BCJHL	60	34	20	6	-	285	248	74	3rd	Lost in Quarter-finals
1971-72	BCJHL	60	42	17	1	-	-	-	85	1st	Won Final, Mowat Cup, Lost Doyle Cup
1972-73	BCJHL	61	27	33	1	-	292	287	55	6th	Lost in Quarter-finals
1973-74	BCJHL	64	37	26	1	-	340	302	75	4th	Lost in Quarter-finals
1974-75	BCJHL	66	31	33	2	-	327	343	64	6th	Lost in Semi-finals
1975-76	BCJHL	66	47	18	1	-	390	247	95	1st	Lost in Semi-finals
1976-77	BCJHL	68	29	37	2	-	259	321	60	6th	Lost in Quarter-finals
1977-78	BCJHL	66	10	56	0	-	251	486	20	10th	DNQ
1978-79	BCJHL	62	32	29	1	-	345	338	65	5th	Lost in Quarter-finals
1979-80	BCJHL	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Received a leave of absence
1980-81	BCJHL	56	8	48	0	-	205	435	26	11th	DNQ
1981-82	BCJHL	47	10	36	2	-	182	304	21	11th	DNQ
1982-83	BCJHL	56	35	20	1	-	280	235	71	4th	Lost in Quarter-finals
1983-84	BCJHL	60	45	15	0	-	452	276	90	2nd	Lost in Quarter-finals
1984-85	BCJHL	51	28	21	2	-	261	262	58	6th	Lost in Quarter-finals
1985-86	BCJHL	52	28	21	3	-	338	281	59	5th	Lost in Quarter-finals
1986-87	BCJHL	52	33	17	2	-	381	257	68	3rd	Lost in Semi-finals
1987-88	BCJHL	52	42	10	0	-	381	216	84	1st	Won Final,Mowat Cup, Lost Doyle Cup
1988-89	BCJHL	60	40	19	1	-	376	256	81	2nd	Won Final,Mowat Cup,Doyle Cup, Abbott Cup, Lost Centennial Cup
1989-90	BCJHL	58	33	20	5	-	330	229	71	3rd	Lost Final, Hosted and Won Centennial Cup
1990-91	BCJHL	60	37	20	3	-	359	266	77	4th	Won Final,Mowat Cup, Doyle Cup, Abbott Cup,Centennial Cup
1991-92	BCJHL	60	34	23	3	-	348	286	71	4th	Won Final,Mowat Cup,Doyle Cup, Abbott Cup, Lost Centennial Cup
1992-93	BCJHL	60	35	23	2	-	336	278	72	3rd	Lost in Quarter-finals
1993-94	BCJHL	60	31	29	0	-	286	314	62	4th	Lost in Semi-finals
1994-95	BCJHL	60	28	28	4	-	297	284	60	3rd in Interior	Lost in Quarter-finals
1995-96	BCJHL	60	43	13	4	-	324	219	90	1st in Interior	Won Final, Mowat Cup,Doyle Cup, Lost Abbott Cup, Won Royal Bank Cup
1996-97	BCHL	60	41	14	5	-	339	212	87	1st in Interior	Lost in Final
1997-98	BCHL	60	33	19	8	-	251	229	74	2nd in Interior	Lost in Quarter-finals
1998-99	BCHL	60	52	6	-	2	305	145	106	1st in Interior	Won Final,Mowat Cup, Doyle Cup, Abbott Cup, Royal Bank Cup
1999-00	BCHL	60	35	20	-	5	242	216	75	2nd in Interior	Lost in Final
2000-01	BCHL	60	24	26	-	10	203	225	58	5th in Interior	DNQ
2001-02	BCHL	60	33	21	-	6	243	205	72	1st in Interior	Lost in Final
2002-03	BCHL	60	47	12	0	1	273	150	95	1st in Interior	Won Final, Lost Doyle Cup
2003-04	BCHL	60	37	15	1	7	233	182	82	2nd in Interior	Lost in Preliminary
2004-05	BCHL	60	42	9	3	6	232	156	93	1st in Interior	Lost in Final
2005-06	BCHL	60	36	18	2	4	205	165	78	3rd in Interior	Lost in Quarter-finals
2006-07	BCHL	60	37	19	1	3	246	193	78	2nd in Interior	Conference Champions / TBD