As Canada’s National Junior A Championship enters its 43rd year in 2014, there has been no team more successful than the Vernon Vipers, who will host the RBC Cup next spring for the second time.
The national championship appearance will be the 10th for Vernon – no other franchise has more than six – and a national title will be No. 7, four more than any other team. They’re also one of just eight host teams to win, hoisting the Centennial Cup on home ice in 1990.
In 42 years, only three teams have won back-to-back championships, and Vernon has done it twice – as the Lakers in 1990 and 1991, and as the Vipers in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, they almost pulled off the unthinkable, reaching the national final in a quest for an unprecedented third straight title.
Here’s a look at Vernon all-time results at Canada’s National Junior A Championship:
Appearances: 9 (1st all-time)
National Championships: 6 (1st all-time)
Wins: 35 (1st all-time)
Goals: 230 (1st all-time)
OVERALL RECORD: 35-15 | 230GF 168GA
2011 – VERNON VIPERS (CAMROSE, ALTA.)
Preliminary Round
vs. Camrose Kodiaks – 4-2 win
vs. Portage Terriers – 5-2 win
vs. Wellington Dukes – 5-2 win
vs. Pembroke Lumber Kings – 5-3 win
Semifinal
vs. Wellington Dukes – 4-1 win
Championship Game
vs. Pembroke Lumber Kings – 2-0 loss
RESULTS: runner-up | 5-1 | 23GF 12GA
2010 – VERNON VIPERS (DAUPHIN, MAN.)
Preliminary Round
vs. Dauphin Kings – 6-5 loss (OT)
vs. La Ronge Ice Wolves – 4-2 win
vs. Oakville Blades – 5-3 win
vs. Brockville Braves – 4-2 win
Semifinal
vs. Brockville Braves – 2-0 win
Championship Game
vs. Dauphin Kings – 8-1 win
RESULTS: national champions | 5-1 | 28GF 14GA
2009 – VERNON VIPERS (VICTORIA, B.C.)
Preliminary Round
vs. Summerside Western Capitals – 4-2 win
vs. Humboldt Broncos – 7-1 win
vs. Victoria Grizzlies – 5-4 win (OT)
vs. Kingston Voyageurs – 8-5 win
Semifinal
vs. Kingston Voyageurs – 6-3 win
Championship Game
vs. Humboldt Broncos – 2-0 win
RESULTS: national champions | 6-0 | 32GF 15GA
1999 – VERNON VIPERS (YORKTON, SASK.)
Preliminary Round
vs. Bramalea Blues – 4-2 loss
vs. Charlottetown Abbies – 6-5 loss
vs. Yorkton Terriers – 3-1 loss
vs. Estevan Bruins – 3-2 win
Semifinal
vs. Bramalea Blues – 3-2 win
Championship Game
vs. Charlottetown Abbies – 9-3 win
RESULTS: national champions | 3-3 | 23GF 20GA
1996 – VERNON VIPERS (MELFORT, SASK.)
Preliminary Round
vs. Newmarket 87s – 7-5 loss
vs. Moncton Beavers – 6-3 win
vs. Melfort Mustangs – 5-1 loss
vs. Yorkton Terriers – 5-1 win
Semifinal
vs. Newmarket 87s – 7-4 win
Championship Game
vs. Melfort Mustangs – 2-0 win
RESULTS: national champions | 4-2 | 26GF 20GA
1992 – VERNON LAKERS (WINNIPEG, MAN.)
Preliminary Round
vs. Thunder Bay Flyers – 5-4 win (2OT)
vs. Halifax Mooseheads – 6-4 loss
vs. St. James Canadians – 9-3 win
vs. Winkler Flyers – 5-3 win
Semifinal
vs. Winkler Flyers – 5-2 loss
RESULTS: 3rd place | 3-2 | 25GF 21GA
1991 – VERNON LAKERS (SUDBURY, ONT.)
Preliminary Round
vs. Halifax Jr. Canadians – 8-3 loss
vs. Thunder Bay Flyers – 3-2 win
vs. Yorkton Terriers – 5-4 win (OT)
vs. Sudbury Cubs – 6-3 loss
Semifinal
vs. Yorkton Terriers – 7-5 win
Championship Game
vs. Sudbury Cubs – 8-4 win
RESULTS: national champions | 4-2 | 29GF 29GA
1990 – VERNON LAKERS (VERNON, B.C.)
Preliminary Round
vs. Sieurs de Longueuil – 6-1 win
vs. Nipawin Hawks – 2-1 win (OT)
vs. New Westminster Royals – 5-3 loss
vs. Amherst Ramblers – 8-2 win
Semifinal
vs. Nipawin Hawks – 11-5 win
Championship Game
vs. New Westminster Royals – 6-5 win (OT)
RESULTS: national champions | 5-1 | 36GF 19GA
1989 – VERNON LAKERS (SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I.)
Preliminary Round
vs. Thunder Bay Flyers – 8-2 loss
vs. Moncton Hawks – 5-2 loss
vs. Summerside Western Capitals – 5-4 loss (2OT)
RESULTS: 4th place | 0-3 | 8GF 18GA