EXPRESS MIXLR BROADCAST

Monday, April 13, 2009

VIPERS BCHL CHAMPIONS



For the 10th time in their long and storied franchise history, the Vernon Vipers are BCHL champions. Vernon had previously won the Fred Page Cup in 2003.

This series proved the old adage that good defence beats a good offence. This series featured the league's top defensive team the Vipers playing the league's most explosive offence in Powell River.

The Vipers took the series in 6 games after defeating Powell River 2-1 Sunday night. Vernon really clamped down defensively once they opened up a 2-0 lead on goals by Adam Thompson and Braden Pimm. Andrew Pettit cut the lead down to one before the second period was done. But that would be as close as the Kings would come. As Vernon allowed just 3 shots in the third period as the Vipers went into full shut down mode.

The one stat that really stands out about who well defensively the Vipers played was how they shut down the league's best powerplay. The Vipers allowed just 2 power play goals on 23 King opportunities in the series.

The Vipers celebrated the win in front of 2269 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Congratulations are in order to former Express captain Mike Leidl and Cam Brodie who were traded to Vernon in exchange for John Digness at the January trading deadline.

The Vipers will now play the Alberta Junior Hockey League Champion Grande Praire Storm in the Doyle Cup which begins Friday in Vernon. The winner of the best of 7 will represent the Pacific region at the RBC Cup next month in Victoria.

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