Morning Star Staff
Eight goalies, 22 defencemen and the rest forwards.
That’s how the analytics stack up as the Vernon Vipers open their B.C. Hockey League training camp Monday morning at Kal Tire Place.
A total of 69 players will be put through specific defensive and offensive skills with the goalies jumpstarting things Monday at 8 a.m. with a 45-minute session with coach Sean Matile.
There will be Red and Blue team forward skills from 11-11:45 a.m., led by head coach Mark Ferner and his assistants Kevin Kraus and Kevin Pederson.
Scrimmages go from 5:30-7:15 and 7:30-9:15 p.m.
A pair of education seminars will be held Tuesday morning with the first scrimmage set from 8-9:45 a.m., followed by another game at 10 a.m.
There is a Blue vs White game at 5:30 p.m., followed by a Red vs Black tilt at 7:30. Scrimmages go at 8 and 10 a.m. and 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Kelowna’s Brendan Barry, who went 4-6 with a 4.24 GAA and .877 save percentage with the Snakes last year, will be the lone veteran goalie in camp.
Barry has a scholarship with the Clarkson Golden Knights in New York for the 2018-19 NCAA season.
Vernon Midget Rep star Billy Cawthorn is also going to battle for a net detective spot.
Coleton Bilodeau, whose WHL rights are owned by the Moose Jaw Warriors, joins fellow 16-year-old forward Dawson Chase as local products vying for forward jobs. Bilodeau played Midget Quad last season with the Okanagan Rockets, while Chase was with the Vernon Home Hardware Midget Tier 2 Vipers.
Vernon hosts the Penticton Vees Thursday night and the Merritt Centennials Friday night in preseason action at Kal Tire Place. The Snakes visit the Cents Saturday, Aug. 27.
