Welcome to the March 22, 2018 edition of BCHL Today, a (near) daily look at whatB次元官网网址檚 going on around the league and the junior A world.

We start today with the Vernon Vipers, who are suddenly in a heap of trouble in their second round series versus the Wenatchee Wild.

Vernon lost 7-1 Wednesday night, experiencing a team-wide meltdown at the Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee. All-star goaltender Ty Taylor was pulled for the first time in 39 outings this season, letting in four goals on 28 shots before yielding the crease to Anthony Yamnitsky.

TaylorB次元官网网址檚 teammates managed just 19 shots on Wild goalie Austin Park, with Josh Latta the only Viper to beat him.

Meanwhile, the Wenatchee offence got healthy on home ice. Sam Morton and Josh Arnold scored two goals apiece with AJ Vanderbeck, Sam Hesler and Murphy Stratton adding singles. Twelve of the 18 Wild skaters picked up at least one point.

Notably absent from the Vernon lineup were Brett Stapley and Jagger Williamson.

Stapley was knocked out of game three with a concussion after taking a hard hit to the head from WenatcheeB次元官网网址檚 Nathan Iannone.

Vernon Morning Star sports writer Kevin Mitchell talked to Vipers bench boss Mark Ferner, who confirmed the injury.

B次元官网网址淪tapes is done,B次元官网网址� Ferner said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a tough kid and he played through it, but he complained of headaches after the game. He vomited to we took him to hospital for observation. There was no call on the play.B次元官网网址�

Williamson was sidelined after taking a goalie interference penalty in game three. It was his third of the season which carries an automatic two game suspension.

Ferner filed an appeal, which was denied.

B次元官网网址淭he goalie (Austin Park) was outside the blue paint and Jags was waiting for a slap pass and there was just a little contact. The referee right there didnB次元官网网址檛 make the call; the back referee did,B次元官网网址� Ferner noted.

With Stapley and Williamson out and Vernon already missing Josh Prokop (injured), Shane Kelly (injured) and Jack Judson (suspended), the Snakes were in a tough spot.

Ferner wasnB次元官网网址檛 done taking digs at the officials. This was his most pointed assessment, and will probably earn him a fine from the league office.

B次元官网网址淲e kind of warned the guys that you donB次元官网网址檛 know what youB次元官网网址檙e going to get (from American officials) and we got it. Five penalties in the first period which took some energy out of us.B次元官网网址� Ferner told Mitchell, talking about game three refs Jared Boman and Mike Ellis. B次元官网网址淭he refs put their whistles away in the second period and called one penalty. ItB次元官网网址檚 crazy. Every time we touched them, their whole bench erupted. ItB次元官网网址檚 embarrassing. The refs hear them yelling and they figure it must be a penalty.B次元官网网址�

The same pair officiated game four, giving each team four power play chances, but only two apiece through the first 40 minutes.

Side note: Stapes? At least go Staples there and sing every time he walks by.

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The Vipers can take solace knowing their main rival for Interior division dominance is also suddenly struggling.

Penticton fell 6-3 in Trail Wednesday night as the Smoke Eaters tied that second round series at 2-2.

I wrote yesterday that Vees goaltender Adam Scheel was looking unexpectedly vulnerable in this series, and that continued in game four as he allowed five goals on just 24 shots for a playoff-low save percentage of .792. His save percentages in four games against Trail thus far have been .893, .920, .871 and .792 and his playoff SP has now dipped to .896.

Trail is smelling blood in the water. Kale Howarth, Tyler Ghirardosi, Andre Ghantous, Carter Jones and Seth Barton put pucks behind Scheel while Ross Armour scored into an empty net in the final minute.

GhirardosiB次元官网网址檚 goal was an absolute beauty.

Tyler Ghirardosi might have scored the goal of the playoffs tonight for the

B次元官网网址� Trevor Miller (@Miller_Lite00)

TrailB次元官网网址檚 goalie, Adam Marcoux, turned in a 28 save performance.

Wyatt Sloboshan, Jonny Tychonick and Lukas Sillinger scored for the Vees and if not for ScheelB次元官网网址檚 struggles the spotlight might be shining on Marcoux. Like Scheel, the Smokies stopper hasnB次元官网网址檛 been as strong as expected in these playoffs. Aside from a 30 save 4-0 shutout win over West Kelowna in round one, the Calgary native has been surprisingly meh, posting save percentages of .821, .920, 1.000, .909, .844, .800, .909 and .903 over eight postseason starts. That said, Marcoux is capable of stealing games when heB次元官网网址檚 on, and Trail will need to win at least one game in the South Okanagan Events Centre to take this series.

Marcoux gets his first chance Friday night, with a 7 p.m. start at the SOEC.

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Jumping to scholarship news and congrats to Chilliwack Chiefs defenceman Matt Slick, who has committed to the Holy Cross Crusaders.

Proud to announce my commitment to play Division 1 College Hockey at Holy Cross. Thank you to everybody who helped me along the way.

B次元官网网址� Matt Slick (@SlickSauce76)

The 18 year old is a player who surprised me in a good way this season. In September I had him pegged as a fifth or sixth defenceman with limited offensive upside who might have trouble hanging on to a roster spot. As Chilliwack head coach/general manager Jason Tatarnic wheeled and dealed, bringing players in and shipping players out, I expected the New Hampshire native might end up on the transaction wire.

Instead, the six-foot-one and 208 pound blueliner played every single regular season game, and by yearB次元官网网址檚 end had established himself as one of Coach TB次元官网网址檚 go-to guys. Slick logged big minutes against top forwards as one of ChilliwackB次元官网网址檚 most dependable defencemen. Even though he didnB次元官网网址檛 add a lot of offence (58-4-8-12) he became a hugely valuable player and the teamB次元官网网址檚 2017-18 Orland Kurtenbach Defenceman of the Year award winner.

It just goes to show how much things can change at this level in a short amount of time. Players you donB次元官网网址檛 think much of in September can be difference makers by March, and guys who look like dynamite in the early months can flatline.

Development is never linear.

IB次元官网网址檓 also happy for Slick because he has one of the best Twitter handles in the league, .

B次元官网网址斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�-

Congrats to Merritt Centennials grad Jake Clifford for winning an Arthur Ashe Junior Scholar Athlete of the Year award.

Thirty four student athletes were recognized, with Clifford chosen from the ranks of menB次元官网网址檚 Div-I hockey. This is presented by the Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine. It goes to a student athlete who maintains a cumulative grade-point average of 3.2 or better and is active on campus and in the community. Clifford, who spent two seasons in Merritt (2013-15) and has just wrapped up his third season at Arizona State U, checks all the boxes.

He maintained a GPA of 3.43. According to a press release sent out by the ASU athletics department, Clifford B次元官网网址榩articipated in several community service events, including visiting the Phoenix ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital Child Life Zone as well as spending time with the One Step Bobcats and Mission AZ Ice Special Edition teams of the American Special Hockey Association on the ice at Oceanside during the season.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭his prestigious award just further exemplifies what Jake Clifford is all about,B次元官网网址� said Sun Devils head coach Greg Powers. B次元官网网址淭he character, maturity and leadership skills he has developed over the past three years at ASU have been amazing to witness. We are so proud of Jake for his accomplishments both on and off the ice. He is going to be tremendously successful in life.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�-

Finally, a heartwarming story featuring a Coquitlam Express alum.

Brad Hunt played two years in the BCHL (2006-08), four at Bemidji State U (2008-12) and is now a big league defenceman with the National Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Las Vegas Golden Knights.

Great story about alum and 08 captain Brad Hunt down in Vegas.

B次元官网网址� Coquitlam Express (@BCHLExpress)

Last week Hunt reunited with a young fella he met while playing minor-pro hockey in Oklahoma City. Hunt calls 10 year old Chase Buell his B次元官网网址榣ittle brother,B次元官网网址� and hereB次元官网网址檚 the tale from the Las Vegas Review JournalB次元官网网址檚 Steve Carp.