Vernon Vipers - History

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 advise and determination of Canadians owner Bill Brown.

After their inaugural season the Canadians changed their name to "Vernon Blades" and kept that name till 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 Abbott Cup of 1970, the Weyburn Red Wings of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League defeated Vernon 4 games to none.

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.

For the start of the 1973-74 season the "Vernon Essos" became the "Vernon Vikings". The name remained until the end of the 1979 playoffs, which saw the team take a leave-of-absence for the 1979-80 season.

The 1980–81 season is one the new "Vernon Lakers" would like to forget, as they only won 8 games, playing 56. They didn't fare much better the next season, which saw them win only 10 of 47. It wasn't until the 1982-83 season that Vernon began its slow and meticulous climb to the top of the Junior "A" Hockey World. Even a name change, for one season in 1983-84, "Vernon Rockets", did not deter the team from their ultimate goal. Each season that went by brought with it an improvement. When the playoffs of 1988 saw them go all the way to the Doyle Cup, it was the beginning of things to come for the Lakers. In 1989, the Lakers started the first of four consecutive trips to the National Championships, a string which saw the them accumulate two Centennial Cups(1990 and 1991), three Abbott Cups, 3 Doyle Cups, four Mowat Cups, 4 League Championships, and 5 Conference Championships.

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 would be the first televised Centennial Cup Final and some say the best game ever, period. The game saw New Westminster take the lead into the 3rd period, 5-3. Cam Sylven would tie the game for the Lakers, 5-5, in the third period to force overtime. He scored once again in OT, on a breakaway, for the 6-5 win and the first of two Centennial Cups for the Lakers.

The Lakers repeated as Centennial Cup winners in 1991 defeating the Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, 8-4. They showed up, to contest for the National Finals, again in 1992 but fell short in the semis to the Winkler Flyers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League,5-2.

The Vernon franchise would not return to the National Final Tournament for another 4 years. That year was 1996, the team was 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 portion winning 43 games, losing 13 and tying 4. The Vipers defeated the Langley Thunder for the League title, 4 games to 1. Went on to defeat Prince George Spruce Kings (Rocky Mountain JHL) for the Mowat Cup, 3 games to 0. Then faced a tough Saint Albert Saints (Alberta Junior Hockey League) team but came out ahead winning 4 games to 3, 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 2 games and losing 2. The Newmarket 87's of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League were the Vipers next opponent, in the semi-finals, which they won, 7-4. Onto the final it was, meeting the host Melfort Mustangs, avenging their lose in the semis, winning by a score of 2-0.

Three short years after winning the inaugural Royal Bank Cup did Vernon once again claim a National Title in 1999.

The Vipers did this by capping a season of 52 wins and 6 loses 2 ties, breaking just about every record in league history, with a win over the Chilliwack Chiefs for the league title, Fred Page Cup. The Mowat Cup was a mixed blessing as Vernon won but, not without controversy. The Kimberley Dynamiters (Rocky Mountain JHL) won one game of the 4 played. It was the first time a team from the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League defeated a team from the BCHL. It should be noted however, that Vernon played with a Junior "B" backup goaltender in the loss, (7-6) due to injury of their regular goaltenders. Kimberley was only able to muster 13 shots in that game. The Doyle Cup was easily won by Vernon, 4 games to 1, over the Calgary Canucks (AJHL). The Vipers did it all the hard-way in the Royal Bank Cup Tournament winning only once during round-robin play. That one win was enough though, to claim the Abbott Cup by defeating the Estevan Bruins (SJHL), 3-2. After that dismal showing in the round-robin Vernon still managed to advance to the semi-finals. In that semi, the Bramalea Blues (OPJHL) went down to defeat by a score of 3-2. The Royal Bank Cup was an absolute blow-out as the Vipers hammered the Charlottetown Abbies (Maritime Junior A Hockey League), 9-3, claiming the franchises 4th National Championship in 10 years. The 1999 Viper team is considered by many the greatest team in BCHL history.

The 2000-01 season turned out to be an extreme disappointment for the franchise as the Vernon Vipers failed to make the playoffs, the first time since 1982.

Maintaining a competitive level in the league for the next few years, the Vipers would eventually set a Canadian Record. 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. The Vernon Vipers would then literally breeze though the regional and national series with ten straight wins and no losses. They defeated the Grande Prairie Storm for the Doyle Cup, and in the Royal Bank Cup Tournament they defeated all teams in the round-robin, the Kingston Voyageurs, 6-3, in the semi-final and the Humboldt Broncos, 2-0, in the final, winning the franchises fifth national title and third Royal Bank Cup. The Canadian Record ?, with five National Titles, Vernon is the only Jr. A Franchise in Canada to have that distinction !

Once again, in 2010, the Vernon Vipers win the Royal Bank Cup. Only the third time a team has won back-to-back National Championships, the previous two being in 1981 & 1982 Prince Albert Raiders, 1990 & 1991 Vernon Lakers. The Vipers were League and Divisional Pennant winners with 105 points, second all-time for the Franchise, finishing with a League record of 51 W-6 L-0T-3OL. Having avoided the Elimination Round, the Vipers met up with the 5th place Quesnel Millionaires in the Quarter Finals defeating them 4 games to 2. The Penticton Vees were the Vipers' next victim in the Semi Finals winning also by a result of 4 games to 2. In the BCHL Finals the Vernon Vipers would once again take on the Powell River Kings. Looking for revenge from their loss in 2009, to the Vipers, the Kings took Vernon to a game seven. The Vipers won that game by a score of 3-1, advancing them 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 Jr. A Tournament was held in Dauphin, Manitoba. The Vernon Vipers record in the Round Robin, 3 W-1 L, Dauphin Kings 5-6 L ot, La Ronge Ice Wolves 4-2 W, Oakville Blades 5-3 W and Brockville Braves 4-2 W. In the Semi Final Vernon once again took on the Brockville Braves earning a shut-out winning 2-0. The Final was a blow-out for the Vernon Vipers. Taking on the Host, Dauphin Kings, the Vipers annialiated Dauphin for a 8-1 win, giving the Vernon Vipers their 6th Royal Bank Cup.

The Vernon Vipers 4th National Title ties them with the Prince Albert Raiders, although it is the 6th for the Franchise which is a new Canadian Record set last year by the same Vipers.

2011 The Vernon Vipers once again reached the National Championship Tournament setting a Canadian Record of 9 appearances.

With 9 national championship tournament appearances, 4 Royal Bank Cups, 2 Centennial Cups, 4 Abbott Cups (2-second places), 9 Doyle Cups (3-second places), 12 Mowat Cups, 12 League Titles,16 Conference titles, 7 League Pennants (most points) and 13 Conference pennants (most points) proves that the Vernon Franchise continues to be among the best-of-the-best in junior " A" hockey.