Vipers open new BCHL season in Salmon Arm

Vernon, BC:  The Vernon Vipers will begin their 2026–27 BCHL season tonight against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks at Rogers Rink.

Vernon enters the season with a more experienced roster after missing the playoffs in each of the last two years. The Vipers finished 15-32-7-0 last season, nine points outside the postseason, and went 6-16-5 on home ice.

Twenty players on this year’s roster have previous North American junior experience, while another two have played at the European junior equivalent. Only two players are true junior rookies.

Five players return from last season: forwards Toms Trockis and Cole Bieksa, along with defencemen Oscar Bjork, Brayden Pankey and Aaron Zulinick.