Vernon Vipers Host Red-Hot Trail Smoke Eaters in Second Matchup of the Season

Vernon, BC:  The Vernon Vipers (5-8-3-0) aim to build off a dominant performance last Saturday as they host the Trail Smoke Eaters (9-5-1-1) at Kal Tire Place to open a three-game home stand.

The Vipers come in with renewed energy following a 6-1 road victory over the West Kelowna Warriors. Leading the charge, Cooper Cleaves notched an impressive two goals and three assists, while goaltender Marko Bilic put on a stellar performance, stopping 27 of 28 shots to earn his second win of the season.

The Trail Smoke Eaters have been a force to be reckoned with, entering tonight’s game on a hot streak and sitting in the top tier of BCHL scorers with the league’s fourth-highest goal count. In their last outing, they took down the Spruce Grove Saints 5-1, powered by Evan Sundar’s playmaking with three assists and solid goaltending from Ryan Parker, who recorded 28 saves. Sundar, a major offensive contributor for Trail, currently leads the team with 17 points (5 goals, 12 assists), while goaltender Teagan Kendrick has been reliable between the pipes with a 2.76 GAA and a .916 save percentage over 12 starts.

This marks the second of five head-to-head meetings between Vernon and Trail this season. In their last clash, the Smoke Eaters claimed a 5-3 victory in the season opener, adding fuel to tonight’s matchup. With Trail’s high-powered offense and Vernon’s recent surge, this game promises a compelling battle as the Vipers strive to hold their ground at home and extend their winning streak.