Vernon Vipers Explained

Team:Vernon Vipers
Colour:background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#ED1C24 5px solid; border-bottom:#002366 5px solid;
Colour Text:black
City:Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
League:British Columbia Hockey League
Conference:Interior
Founded:–62
Arena:Kal Tire Place
Colours:Red, navy, gold, white
Owner:John Glen
Tom Glen
Coach:Vacant
Gm:Vacant
Website:www.vipers.bc.ca/
Name1:Vernon Jr. Canadians
Dates1:1961–1962
Name2:Vernon Blades
Dates2:1962–1967
Name3:Vernon Essos
Dates3:1967–1973
Name4:Vernon Vikings
Dates4:1973–1978
Name5:Vernon Canadians
Dates5:1978–1980
Name6:Vernon Lakers
Dates6:1980–1995
Name7:Vernon Vipers
Dates7:1995–present

The Vernon Vipers are a junior "A" ice hockey team based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play their home games at Kal Tire Place.

History

The Vernon Jr. Canadians, Penticton Jr. Vees, Kelowna Buckaroos and Kamloops Rockets, four junior "B" teams, formed the Okanagan-Mainline Junior Hockey League in 1961 on the advice and determination of Canadians owner Bill Brown.[1]

After their inaugural season the Canadians changed their name to "Vernon Blades"[2] and kept that name until 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 1970 Abbott Cup, the Weyburn Red Wings of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League defeated Vernon four games to none.[3]

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.[4]

For the start of the 1973–74 season the Vernon Essos became the Vernon Vikings. They remained the Vikings until the end of the 1977–78 season.[5] The team took a leave of absence for the 1979–80 season.

In the 1980–81 season, as the Vernon Lakers, the team only won 8 games out of the 56 played. They next season, they won only 10 of 47 games. It was not until the 1982–83 season that Lakers began to gradually improve. In the 1988 playoffs, the team made it to the Doyle Cup. In 1989, the Lakers started the first of four consecutive trips to the National Championships, which saw them win two Centennial Cups (1990 and 1991), three Abbott Cups, three Doyle Cups, four Mowat Cups, four league championships, and five conference championships.[6]

In the 1990 Centennial Cup final, Vernon (as host) faced the heavily favored New Westminster Royals, who had previously defeated Vernon in the league finals. It was the first televised Centennial Cup Final. The game had New Westminster take the lead into the third period, 5–3 before Cam Sylven tied the game for the Lakers, 5–5, in the third period to force overtime. He scored once again in overtime on a breakaway for the 6–5 win and the first of two Centennial Cups for the Lakers.[7]

The Lakers repeated as Centennial Cup winners in 1991 defeating the Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, 8–4.[8] They also contested for the national finals in 1992, but lost in the semifinals to the Winkler Flyers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, 5–2.[9]

The Vernon franchise would not return to the national tournament for another four years. In 1996, the team had rebranded as the Vernon Vipers and the trophy was the inaugural Royal Bank Cup. It was one of Vernon's best seasons as they finished the regular season with a 43–13–4 record. The Vipers defeated the Langley Thunder for the league title, four games to one, before defeating the Prince George Spruce Kings (Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League) for the Mowat Cup, three games to none. They then faced the Saint Albert Saints (Alberta Junior Hockey League) team winning four games to three 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 two games and losing two. The Newmarket 87's of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League were the Vipers' next opponent in the semifinals, which they won, 7–4. In the final, the met the host Melfort Mustangs, avenging their lose in the semifinals, winning by a score of 2–0.[10]

Three years after winning the inaugural Royal Bank Cup, Vernon won another in 1999. The Vipers finished the season with a 52–6–2 record, then went on to defeat the Chilliwack Chiefs for the league title, the Fred Page Cup. They won the Mowat Cup over the Kimberley Dynamiters (RMJHL) four games to one, but it was the first time a team from the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League defeated a team from the BCHL. The Doyle Cup was also won by Vernon, four games to one, over the Calgary Canucks (AJHL). The Vipers struggled in the Royal Bank Cup tournament, winning only once during round-robin play, but was enough to claim the Abbott Cup by defeating the Estevan Bruins (SJHL), 3–2. Vernon still managed to advance to the semifinals based on the one win and in that semifinals, the Bramalea Blues (OPJHL) were defeated by a score of 3–2. The Vipers then defeated the Charlottetown Abbies (Maritime Junior A Hockey League), 9–3, claiming the franchise's fourth national championship in ten years.[11] The 1999 Viper team was inducted in the British Columbia Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016.[12]

In the 2000–01 season, the Vernon Vipers failed to make the playoffs, the first time since 1982.

In 2009, the Vipers swept through the league playoffs, defeating the Penticton Vees four games to one, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks four games to two and the Powell River Kings four games to two, for the league championship.[13] The Vernon Vipers then swept the regional and national series with ten straight wins and no losses. They defeated the Grande Prairie Storm for the Doyle Cup,[14] and in the Royal Bank Cup Tournament they defeated all teams in the round-robin: the Kingston Voyageurs, 6–3, in the semifinal and the Humboldt Broncos, 2–0, in the final, winning the franchise's fifth national title and third Royal Bank Cup. With five national titles, Vernon is the only junior A franchise to have that distinction.[15]

In 2010, the Vipers were league and divisional winners with 105 points, second all-time for the franchise, finishing with a league record of 51–6–0–3. Having avoided the elimination round, the Vipers met up with the fifth place Quesnel Millionaires in the quarterfinals, defeating them four games to two. The Penticton Vees were the Vipers' next opponent in the semifinals, also defeated by a result of four games to two. In the BCHL finals, the Vipers once again took on the Powell River Kings. The Kings took Vernon to a game seven, which the Vipers won by a score of 3–1, advancing to the Doyle Cup. The Doyle Cup series also went to seven games against the Spruce Grove Saints, with Vernon winning 7–3. The 2010 National Junior A Tournament was held in Dauphin, Manitoba. The Vernon Vipers record in the round-robin was 3–1 and advanced to the semifinal against the Brockville Braves, winning 2–0. In the final against the host team, the Dauphin Kings, the Vipers won 8–1, giving the Vernon Vipers their fourth Royal Bank Cup and sixth national championship for Vernon.[16] The Vipers were the third team that had won back-to-back national championships, the previous two being in 1981 and 1982 Prince Albert Raiders and the 1990 and 1991 Vernon Lakers.[17]

The Vernon Vipers fourth national title tied them with the Prince Albert Raiders, although it is the sixth for the franchise, a new Canadian record.[18] In 2014, the Vipers were once again in the national tournament, as hosts, setting a record of ten appearances.[19]

Season-by-season history

Royal Bank CupAbbott CupDoyle CupMowat CupLeague Champions
VERNON JUNIOR CANADIANS
SeasonDivisionRegular seasonPlayoffs
FinishGP W L T OTL Pts GF GA GP W L GF GA Result
1961–624th29 7 21 1 15 95 1825 2 3 Lost Semifinals, 2–3 (Buckaroos)
VERNON BLADES
SeasonDivisionRegular seasonPlayoffs
FinishGP W L T OTL Pts GF GA GP W L GF GA Result
1962–633rd31 9 22 0 18 114 1455 1 4 Lost Semifinals, 1–4 (Buckaroos)
1963–643rd34 7 27 0 14 124 2197 2 5 Third place round robin
1964–654th30 10 16 4 24 99 1325 1 4 Lost Semifinals, 1–4 (Buckaroos)
1965–664th30 4 25 1 9 100 2124 0 4 Lost Semifinals, 0–4 (Kraft Kings)
1966–673rd40 15 25 0 30 5 1 4 Lost Semifinals, 1–4 (Broncos)
VERNON ESSOS
SeasonDivisionRegular seasonPlayoffs
FinishGP W L T OTL Pts GF GA GP W L GF GA Result
1967–683rd40 19 17 4 42 213 2184 0 4 Lost Semifinals, 0–4 (Broncos)
1968–693rd40 19 15 6 44 177 1914 0 4 Lost Semifinals, 0–4 (Cougars)
1969–701st48 32 12 4 68 245 15115 8 7 Won Semifinals, 4–1 (Centennials)
Won Final, 4–2 (Cougars)
Mowat Cup, Automatic Winners
Lost Abbott Cup, 0–4 (Red Wings)
1970–71Interior2nd60 34 20 6 74 285 2485 1 4 Lost in Div. Semifinals, 1–4 (Rockets)
1971–721st60 42 17 1 85 18 10 8 Won Semifinals, 4–1 (Bruins)
Won Final, 4–3 (Broncos)
Mowat Cup, Automatic Winners
Lost Pacific Centennial Cup Regional, 2–4 (Rustlers)
1972–73Interior4th61 27 33 1 55 292 2875 1 4 Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–4 (Rockets)
VERNON VIKINGS
SeasonDivisionRegular seasonPlayoffs
FinishGP W L T OTL Pts GF GA GP W L GF GA Result
1973–74Interior3rd64 37 26 1 75 340 3024 0 4 Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–4 (Broncos)
1974–75Interior3rd66 31 33 2 64 327 34310 4 6 Won Div. Semifinals, 4–2 (Broncos)
Lost Div. Final, 0–4 (Buckaroos)
1975–761st66 47 18 1 95 390 24710 4.5 5.5 Won Quarterfinals, 8pts–2pts (Bruins)
Lost Semifinals, 1pt–9pts (Vees)
1976–77Interior3rd68 29 37 2 60 259 3216 2 4 Lost Div. Semifinals, 2–4 (Vees)
1977–78Interior6th66 10 56 0 20 251 486did not qualify
VERNON CANADIANS
SeasonDivisionRegular seasonPlayoffs
FinishGP W L T OTL Pts GF GA GP W L GF GA Result
1978–79Interior3rd62 32 29 1 65 345 3386 2 4 Lost Div. Semifinals, 2–4 (Rockets)
1979–80Team took a leave of absence
VERNON LAKERS
SeasonDivisionRegular seasonPlayoffs
FinishGP W L T OTL Pts GF GA GP W L GF GA Result
1980–81Interior5th56 8 48 0 16 205 435did not qualify
1981–82Interior5th47 10 36 2 22 182 304did not qualify
1982–83Interior2nd56 35 20 1 71 280 2357 3 4 Lost Div. Semifinals, 3–4 (Knights)
1983–84Interior2nd60 45 15 0 90 452 2766 2 4 Lost Div. Semifinals, 2–4 (Buckaroos)
1984–85Interior2nd51 28 21 2 58 261 2627 3 4 Lost Div. Semifinals, 3–4 (Centennials)
1985–86Interior3rd52 28 21 3 59 338 2817 3 4 33 26Lost Div. Semifinals, 3–4 (Packers)
1986–87Interior2nd52 33 17 2 68 381 25710 6 4 45 47Won Div. Semifinals, 4–0 (Knights)
Lost Div. Final, 2–4 (Packers)
1987–88Interior1st52 42 10 0 84 381 21619 14 5 120 75Won Div. Semifinals, 4–0 (Centennials)
Won Div. Final, 4–0 (Knights)
Won BCJHL Final, 4–1 (Sockeyes)
Won Mowat Cup, 2–0 (North Stars)
Lost Doyle Cup, 0–4 (Canucks)
1988–89Interior1st60 40 19 1 81 376 25631 22 9 146 112Won Div. Semifinals, 4–1 (Packers)
Won Div. Final, 4–0 (Centennials)
Won BCJHL Final, 4–1 (Royals)
Won Mowat Cup, 2–0 (Mustangs)
Won Doyle Cup, 4–2 (Rustlers)
Won Abbott Cup, 4–2 (Broncos)
4th place Centennial Cup round robin
1989–90Interior1st58 33 20 5 71 330 22919 12 7 92 731st place Interior round robin
Lost BCJHL Final, 2–4 (Royals)
Second place Centennial Cup round robin
Won Centennial Cup Semifinals, 11–5 (Hawks)
Won Centennial Cup Final, 6–5 (OT) (Royals)
1990–91Interior3rd60 37 20 3 77 359 26628 23 5 170 126Won Div. Semifinals, 4–0 (Spartans)
Won Div. Final, 4–2 (Chiefs)
Won .BCJHL Final, 4–0 (Paper Kings)
Won Mowat Cup, 3–0 (Spruce Kings)
Won Doyle Cup, 4–1 (Royals)
Won Abbott Cup, 5–4 (OT) (Terriers)
4th place Centennial Cup round robin
Won Centennial Cup Semifinals, 7–5 (Terriers)
Won Centennial Cup Final, 8–4 (Cubs)
1991–92Interior4th60 34 23 3 71 348 28630 22 8 168 116Won Div. Semifinals, 4–2 (Spartans)
Won Div. Final, 4–2 (Chiefs)
Won BCJHL Final, 4–0 (Ice Hawks)
Won Mowat Cup, 3–0 (Spruce Kings)
Won Doyle Cup, 4–2 (Grizzlys)
Won Abbott Cup, 5–3 (Flyers)
1st place Centennial Cup round robin
Lost Centennial Cup Semifinals, 2–5 (Flyers)
1992–93Interior3rd60 35 23 2 72 336 2785 1 4 14 22Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–4 (Panthers)
1993–94Interior3rd60 31 29 0 62 286 31411 4 7 38 48Won Div. Semifinals, 4–3 (Panthers)
Lost Div. Final, 0–4 (Spartans)
1994–95Interior3rd60 28 28 4 60 297 2849 5 4 41 37Won Prelim. Round, 2–0 (Ice Hawks)
Lost Quarterfinals, 3–4 (Panthers)
VERNON VIPERS
SeasonDivisionRegular seasonPlayoffs
FinishGP W L T OTL Pts GF GA GP W L GF GA Result
1995–96Interior1st60 43 13 4 90 324 21930 23 7 156 102Won Quarterfinals, 4–1 (Clippers)
Won Semifinals, 4–0 (Capitals)
Won BCJHL Final, 4–1 (Thunder)
Won Mowat Cup, 3–0 (Spruce Kings)
Won Doyle Cup, 4–3 (Saints)
Lost Abbott Cup, 1–5 (Mustangs)
Third place Royal Bank Cup round robin
Won Royal Bank Cup Semifinals, 7–4 (87's)
Won Royal Bank Cup Final, 2–0 (Mustangs)
1996–97Interior1st60 43 14 5 87 339 21214 9 5 56 50Won in Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Centennials)
Won in Semifinals, 4–1 (Smoke Eaters)
Lost in BCHL Final, 1–4 (Eagles)
1997–98Interior2nd60 33 19 8 74 251 2297 3 4 17 25Lost in Quarterfinals, 3–4 (Smoke Eaters)
1998–99Interior1st60 52 6 2 106 305 14530 22 8 150 88Won in Conference Semifinals, 4–1 (Centennials)
Won in Conference Final, 4–0 (Spruce Kings)
Won in BCHL Final, 4–1 (Chiefs)
Won in Mowat Cup, 3–1 (Dynamiters)
Won in Doyle Cup, 4–1 (Canucks)
Won in Abbott Cup, 3–2 (Mustangs)
Fourth place in Royal Bank Cup round robin
Won in Royal Bank Cup Semifinals, 3–2 (Blues)
Won in Royal Bank Cup Final, 9–3 (Abbies)
1999–00Interior2nd60 35 20 5 75 242 21618 9 9 56 64 Won in Conference Semifinals, 4–2 (Spruce Kings)
Won in Conference Final, 4–3 (Centennials)
Lost in BCHL Final, 1–4 (Chiefs)
2000–01Interior5th60 24 26 10 58 203 225did not qualify
2001–02Interior1st60 33 21 6 72 243 20517 10 7 52 40Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Centennials)
Won Conf. Final, 4–3 (Panthers)
Lost BCHL Final, 2–4 (Chiefs)
2002–03Interior1st60 47 12 0 1 95 273 15017 10 7 52 40Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Panthers)
Won Conf. Final, 4–0 (Smoke Eaters)
Won BCHL Final, 4–0 (Chiefs)
Mowat Cup, Automatic Winners
Lost Doyle Cup, 2–4 (Kodiaks)
2003–04Interior2nd60 37 15 1 7 82 233 1825 1 4 13 17Lost Conf. Quarterfinals, 1–4 (Smoke Eaters)
2004–05Interior1st60 42 9 3 6 93 232 15614 9 5 40 41Won Conf. Semifinals, 4–0 (Vees)
Won in Conference Final, 4–1 (Spruce Kings)
Lost BCHL Final, 1–4 (Eagles)
2005–06Interior3rd60 36 18 2 4 78 205 16510 5 5 32 29Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–1 (Spruce Kings)
Lost Conf. Semifinals, 1–4 (Silverbacks)
2006–07Interior2nd60 37 19 1 3 78 246 19322 14 8 70 53Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–2 (Warriors)
Won Conf. Semifinals, 4–1 (Smoke Eaters)
Won Conf. Final, 4–1 (Vees)
Lost BCHL Final, 2–4 (Clippers)
2007–08Interior4th60 36 20 2 2 76 238 18510 6 4 35 31Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 3–0 (Smoke Eaters)
Lost Conf. Semifinals, 3–4 (Vees)
2008–09Interior1st60 42 14 1 3 88 223 14525 20 5 152 90Won Conf. Semifinals, 4–1 (Vees)
Won Conf. Final, 4–2 (Silverbacks)
Won BCHL Final, 4–2 (Kings)
Mowat Cup, Automatic Winners
Won Doyle Cup, 4–0 (Storm)
1st place Royal Bank Cup RR
Won Royal Bank Cup Semifinals, 6–3 (Voyageurs)
Won Royal Bank Cup Final, 2–0 (Broncos)
2009–10Interior1st60 51 6 0 3 105 298 11932 21 11 117 77Won Conf. Semifinals, 4–2 (Millionaires)
Won Conf. Final, 4–2 (Vees)
Won BCHL Final, 4–3 (Kings)
Mowat Cup, Automatic Winners
Won Doyle Cup, 4–3 (Saints)
2nd place Royal Bank Cup RR
Won Royal Bank Cup Semifinals, 2–0 (Braves)
Won Royal Bank Cup Final, 8–1 (Kings)
2010–11Interior1st60 36 11 4 9 85 197 14128 21 7 93 59Won Conf. Semifinals, 4–2 (Warriors)
Won Conf. Final, 4–2 (Silverbacks)
Won BCHL Final, 4–0 (Kings)
Mowat Cup, Automatic Winners
Won Doyle Cup, 4–3 (Saints)
1st Place Royal Bank Cup RR (4–0)
Won RBC Semifinal vs (Dukes) 4–1
Lost RBC Final vs (Kings) 2–0
2011–12Interior5th60 30 27 1 2 63 208 193did not qualify
2012–13Interior6th56 21 25 1 9 52 139 170did not qualify
2013–14Interior3rd58 30 18 4 6 70 187 17519 10 9 66 58Won Div. Semifinals, 4–2 (Warriors)
Won Div. Final, 4–3 (Vees)
Won Semifinal Round Robin 2–0
Lost BCHL Final, 0–4 (Express)
2014–15Interior
BCHL
2nd
4th
58 36 18 1 3 76 218 16111 7 4 32 31 Won Div. Semifinals, 0–4 (Centennials)
Lost Div. Final, 3–4 (Vees)
2015–16Interior
BCHL
4th
12th
58 24 31 0 3 51 179 2065 1 4 9 21Lost Div. Semifinal, 1–4 (Vees)
2016–17Interior
BCHL
2 of 6
6 of 17
58 30 19 4 5 69 181 15812 7 5 40 27 Won Div. Semifinals, 4–1 (Smoke Eaters)
Lost Div. Finals, 3–4 (Vees)
2017–18Interior
BCHL
2 of 7
2 of 17
58 39 14 4 1 83 205 11810 5 5 24 19 Won Div. Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Silverbacks)
Lost Div. Semifinals, 2–4 (Wild)
2018–19Interior
BCHL
4 of 7
8 of 17
58 26 21 11 63 166 1605 4 1 13 11 Won First Round, 4–1 (Silverbacks)
Won Second Round, 4–3 (Smoke Eaters)
Won Semifinals, 4–1 (Wild)
Lost BCHL Finals, 0–4 (Spruce Kings)
2019–20Interior
BCHL
5 of 7
8 of 17
58 30 24 0 4 64 174 1785 4 1 22 11 Won First Round, 4–1 (Wild)
Playoffs Cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)
2020–21Pod1 of 320 13 6 - 1 28 69 55Pod Season Only, No Playoffs
2021–22Interior
BCHL
6 of 9
10 of 18
54 27 23 - 4 61 152 1545 1 4 14 26 Won First Round, 4-1 (Warriors)
2022–23Interior
BCHL
7 of 9
11 of 18
54 27 21 - 6 60 160 16411 5 6 36 36 Won Div. Quarterfinal, 4-2 (Warriors)
Lost Div. Semifinal, 1–4 (Silverbacks)
2023–24Interior
BCHL
4 of 8
6 of 17
54 33 19 - 2 68 196 16010 5 5 28 25 Won Div. Quarterfinal, 4-1 (Smoke Eaters)
Lost Div. Semifinal, 1–4 (Vees)

Notable alumni

Other notable alumni

See also

External links


Notes and References

  1. Web site: 60th Anniversary Spotlight: 1960's. 19 November 2022. BCHL.ca .
  2. Web site: 60th Anniversary Spotlight: 1960's. 19 November 2022. BCHL.ca .
  3. Web site: Vernon Essos ruled BC Junior Hockey 50 years ago . 25 November 2020. vernonmorningstar.com .
  4. Web site: Vernon Essos 1971-1972 Season . 25 May 2022. VernonJrAHockey.ca .
  5. Web site: Vernon Vikings Statistics and History . 25 November 2020. HockeyDB.com .
  6. Web site: The Greatest Moments in Vernon Junior Hockey History . 6 March 2021. bchlnetwork.ca .
  7. Web site: 1990 Centennial Cup . 28 February 2016 . youtube.com .
  8. Web site: Centennial Cup All Time Results . 26 May 2022. HockeyCanada.ca .
  9. Web site: 2023 Centennial Cup . 11 May 2023. hockeycanada.ca/ .
  10. Web site: Recapping the Vipers' 1996 RBC Cup Win . 24 June 2021. bchlnetwork.ca .
  11. Web site: Memories Of The '99 Vipers . 22 July 2016. vernonvipers.com .
  12. Web site: BCHHF 1998-99 Vernon Vipers . 22 July 2016. bchhf.com .
  13. Web site: 2008-2009 British Columbia Hockey League Season . 22 July 2022. vernonjrahockey.ca .
  14. Web site: VIPERS FIRST INTO 2009 RBC CUP . 22 April 2022. hockeycanada.ca .
  15. Web site: Game Summary . 22 June 2009. hockeycanada.ca .
  16. Web site: The Greatest Moments In Vernon Junior Hockey History . 6 March 2021. bchlnetwork.ca .
  17. Web site: Centennial Cup All Time Results . 26 May 2022. HockeyCanada.ca .
  18. Web site: RBC Cup 2018 Guide and Record Book . 26 May 2018. HockeyCanada.ca .
  19. Web site: RBC Cup 2018 Guide and Record Book . 26 May 2018. HockeyCanada.ca .