Morning Star Staff
Both regular goalies attended practices this week and left the rink unscathed.
And head coach Jim Armstrong also welcomed back two forwards and a defenceman to regular duty.
“It was nice we went the whole week of practice without anybody getting hurt,” laughed Armstrong, whose Vernon Home Building Centre Vipers open their home Tier 1 tourney tonight at 6:15 against the Chilliwack Bruins (Civic Arena).
Forwards Patrick Dove and Wyatt Bonneau, along with d-man/captain Austin Krahn, return, giving the Vipers at least nine healthy bodies up front.
They played with just seven forwards while going 2-2 in a gutsy Christmas holiday effort at the 31st annual Richmond International Tournament.
“We got back our discipline in Richmond and now we have to remain consistent at both ends of the ice,” said Armstrong. “Paying attention to details will be of the utmost importance.”
The Vipers will battle the Calgary Rangers (11:30 a.m.) and take on the Seafair Islanders of Richmond (6:15 p.m.) in Saturday games at Civic. They beat the Isles earlier this season, but haven’t played Chilliwack or Calgary.
Seafair opens the six-team tourney today at 4 p.m. against the Prince George Coast Inn of the North Cougars, while Calgary battles the Sylvan Lake Lakers of Alberta at 8:30 p.m.
Goalie Evan Campagnolo is back from injury and joins Max Brown as Vernon’s net detective tandem this weekend.
Vernon has five league games left before the Okanagan playoffs, including a twinbill next weekend in Prince George.
“We always say January is our time to make our steps so this tournament will help get us prepared for a good month.”
The championship game is scheduled for Sunday at 2:45 p.m. with the semifinals going at 7:15 and 9:45 a.m. All games are at Civic Arena.
