Matchup set for Doyle Cup, winner goes to RBC Cup

Press Release

For the second straight season, the Vernon Vipers will play the Spruce Grove Saints in the Doyle Cup for the right to compete for a national title.

It wasn't necessarily a surprise that the Vipers claimed the BCHL title and the Fred Page Cup for a third straight year but it did raise eyebrows that they did it in a four-game sweep of the Powell River Kings. Powell River was far and away the best team in the regular season and despite being in each game against Vernon, they couldn't manage a win.

For the Saints, they needed just one more game than the Vipers to claim their league championship. They won the Enerflex Cup in five games over the Camrose Kodiaks after a 5-1 win on Friday night in Spruce Grove.

Camrose's season continues however as they are hosting the RBC Cup and have an automatice berth into the tournament.

Last year, the Vipers won a dramatic seven-game series over the Saints with a Game 7 win on home ice. This year, the Saints have home-ice advantage and should the series go the distance, the final game would be played in Spruce Grove.

Both teams' success stems from their responsible defensive play with neither team having a player in the top eight in their respective league's playoff scoring. Meanwhile, the Saints' Vincenzo Marozzi leads the AJHL in playoff goals-against average at 1.46 while the Vipers' Kirby Halcrow is fourth with a 2.34 mark.

Game 1 of the Doyle Cup is Friday night at 7 p.m. from Wesbild Centre in Vernon.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)