In addition to the six graduating 20-year olds – Rob Short, Kevin Kraus, Dan Nycholat, Graeme Gordon, Jonathan Milhouse, and Braden Pimm – five 19-year olds departed a year early for college. The Jones twins, Mike Collins, Cory Kane, and Cole Ikkala have moved on. In addition, Garrett Noonan and Curtis Gedig, each of whom have two more years of junior eligibility, have accepted NCAA scholarships.
Nine of the Vipers’ top ten scorers have departed, along with four veteran defencemen.
In other words, there will be a significant changing of the guard in the Snakes’ den this fall. Goalie Blake Voth is joined by 20-year old defencemen Steve Weinstein and Adam Thompson, each of whom will be expected to play more prominent roles in their third and final year of Viper hockey.
Up front, veteran sniper David Robinson will captain the team. He’ll be joined by returnees Bryce Kakoske, Dylan Walchuk, and Patrick McGillis, all of whom have looked sharp in the early going.
Trevor Fitzgerald and Aaron Hadley were with the team at the end of last season; their size and their Jr. “B” experience will provide the Vipers with muscle up front. Rookies Mike Zalewski (Syracuse, New York) and Todd Skirving (Thunder Bay) also have good size and skill.
One of the first things fans will notice about this year’s team is that all the new players can really skate. That speed is particularly noticeable in the bumper crop of recruited young forwards. Marcus Basara, John Knisley, Darren Nowick, Kyle Murphy, and Gus Correale all can scoot.
On the back end, the Vipers have committed to Calgary’s Brett Corkey and Florida’s Malcolm Lyles. They’re both on the small side but they have excellent speed and puck skills.
A quintet of good-sized defencemen are also in the mix: Bennett Hambrook (6’, 185) and Philip Patenaude (6’2”, 190) played Jr. “B” in Nelson last year, while 6’2”, 205 lb. Taylor Love played for the Dallas Stars AAA midget squad. Last week, the Vipers acquired Elliott Richardson (6’, 190) from the Lindsay Muskies, a Jr. “A” team northeast of Toronto. The biggest player in the group is Alaska’s Austin Sture, who stands 6’ 6” and weighs 230 pounds.
In goal, Blake Voth will be backed up by Tyler Steel, Bryton Udy, or Zach Station. They’re all young and they all can play.
Several of the new players will be introduced in a series of articles called “Changing of the Guard.” The first in this series will feature Kyle Murphy, a transfer from the University of Notre Dame. Yes, that Notre Dame!
