Vernon Vipers Set to Face Red-Hot Trail Smoke Eaters Saturday Night

Vernon, BC:   The Vernon Vipers will look to ride the momentum from their thrilling overtime win Friday night as they host the blazing Trail Smoke Eaters at Kal Tire Place.

The Vipers (11-18-5) are fresh off a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Okotoks Oilers, where Kyren Gronick and Tyson Zimmer led the charge with a goal and an assist each. Goaltender Jari Kykkanen was stellar, stopping 39 of 41 shots to help Vernon snap a three-game winless streak.

The Smoke Eaters (24-8-2-1), however, come into Saturday’s matchup as one of the hottest teams in the BCHL. Trail is 9-1 in their last 10 games and riding an impressive eight-game winning streak. Last night, they defeated Sherwood Park 7-4, powered by Jason Stefanek’s three-point effort (1G, 2A) and Gryphon Bucci’s two goals. Goaltender Teagan Kendrick turned aside 26 of 30 shots to secure the win.

This will be the third meeting of the season between Vernon and Trail, with the Smoke Eaters having taken the first two contests. The Vipers will aim to turn the tide on home ice, where they hold a 6-7-4 record.

Players to Watch:

• Kyren Gronick (Vernon): Scored the overtime winner last night and will look to stay hot against a strong Trail team.
• Tyson Zimmer (Vernon): Contributed a goal and an assist Friday and remains a key offensive piece for the Vipers.
• Jason Stefanek (Trail): Fresh off a three-point performance, Stefanek has been a reliable force for the Smoke Eaters.
• Gryphon Bucci (Trail): With two goals last night, Bucci brings confidence and scoring touch into the matchup.

Keys to the Game:

• For Vernon: Tighten up defensively to contain Trail’s high-powered offense, and rely on Kykkanen to deliver another strong performance.
• For Trail: Use their speed and scoring depth to put early pressure on the Vipers and extend their winning streak.

Puck drop is set for 6:00 PM at Kal Tire Place. With Trail looking to keep their streak alive and Vernon eager to build on Friday’s win, fans can expect an intense battle between these two teams.