INTRODUCTION:

Hi, and welcome to "my hobby"...VERNON JR. 'A' HOCKEY HISTORY, VERNONJRAHOCKEY.CA..., with focus on the Vernon Junior 'A'mateur Hockey Franchise & the British Columbia Hockey League. I created this website for my own entertainment, to keep my mind active however, if you appreciate it as well, all the better, enjoy!

If you want, or can, contribute information to this project please, send whatever information to: admin "at" vernonjrahockey "dot" ca

MY HOCKEY HISTORY:

After becoming acclimated to the Canadian culture and becoming old enough to understand it, I really started to enjoy its' hockey. I always looked forward to hearing the games on the radio. When my parents aquired their first, black and white, television I could not wait to watch the "Original Six" every weekend, circa: 1960's.

Years later, one Christmas, us boys got a "Table Hockey Game". When playing we would impersonate "Foster Hewitt" calling the names of our players as we passed the puck and scoring. My little brother though was the "Pro" at it.

What really hooked me to the game, was the "rough and tough" style of play the "Broad Street Bullies" executed, I loved it!

Living in Edmonton, I got my first hockey try-out, on an outdoor rink, in a Jasper Place park. I could not skate very good at the time. So, when told to skate end-to-end I had trouble stopping and crashed heavily into the end boards. That pretty much ended my career as a "wannabe NHL player", circa: 1964.

When we moved to Agassiz I never had to urge to continue to ice skate so, never did. It was not until the 1970-71 school year, of Grade 10 gym class, that I learned how to skate backwards, cross-overs and stopping. Now, I am not to bad at skating but, don't even try giving me a hockey stick to handle a puck 'cause, not gonna happen!

I was an avid fan of the CHILLIWACK BRUINS from 1970 to 1976, as Ron Greschner played for the team. He was a classmate of mine at Chilliwack Junior High School, now called Chilliwack Middle School.

Arriving back to Chilliwack from Vancouver Island, via a work transfer, my wife and I became fans of the CHILLIWACK COLTS from 1978 to 1981. Around this time we were also, fans of the senior hockey team in Chilliwack called the Royals. I will never forget the player/fan brawl when the Powell River Regals came to town. We won a season-end program draw for a trip to Reno from the Royals.

I still think my best fan experience/atmosphere was in the "old" Chilliwack Coliseum.

While living at Mara Lake Resort, after quiting my job, we moved to Vernon. Our first year watching the Vernon Lakers was in 1985. We were part of the infamous Section B Fans in the now demolished Civic Arena.

Watching the Vernon Lakers, with my wife, daughter and son in tow, win the 1990 Centennial Cup was definetly a highlight. In a highlight video , you can see me(at about the 6:46 mark) holding a "LAKERS RULE" flag(it was made from a pillow case and crayons). The flag was given to one of the players who held it high and skated around the rink with it for a bit.

We are currently Vernon Viper season ticket holders and have been season ticket holders for this franchise since 1986.

My wife and I were billets, with the Vipers, for about ten years. Our billets included BRENT MEKELBURG, DEREK GUSTAFSON, BJ GAUSTAD, BRENT DODGINHORSE, HARKIE SINGH, BRENDAN MINNIBARRIET(AP), JOHN STRAILE(AP) and DANNY WILLIAMS(AP). We have had an uncountable number of training camp try-outs over the years who slept, row upon row, on the floor of our basement, amongst those was BRANT NICKLIN.

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WEBSITE CONTENT:

The content of this site is a accurate as possible by the use of the following resources ....

• 1. Vernon Laker & Vernon Viper programs,
• 2. Vernon Teams year-end name plaques (supplied by former player Marty Stein, since given to former Viper GM Troy Mick),
• 3. 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 BCHL Yearbook (given out at Arenas of BCHL Teams, published by HockeyNow Communications Ltd.), however I have found minor and major erros in these publications,
• 4. Hockey Canada National Junior A Championship Guide and Record Book (available at HockeyCanada.ca),
• 5. BC Hockey Handbook (available at BCHockey.ca),
• 6. the late Marty Knack's - Centennial Cup History Document (President 1998-2005 of the CJAHL by his permission via email),
• 7. Gregg Drinnans articles on the Memorial Cup History 1919-2004, (www.chl.ca/CHLMemorialCup05/history.html via the Internet Wayback Machine),
• 8. player & fan submissions (such as former Viking, Scott Cozens & fan, Chris Heisenberg),
• 9. information from the Hockey Hall Of Fame for Centennial & Abbott Cups (via emails and images from Archivist - Izak Westgate),
• 10. scouring the internet including
HockeyDBand most recently Elite Prospectsand various other resources,
• 11. and, of course, stats published online at the BCHL's various incarnations of its websites, (www2.mybc.com/sports/bchl, www.bchl.bc.ca & www.bchl.ca)

...to provide all the various sources of information at one location, I have yet to search the archives at my local museum.

SHARED CONTENT:

This site has provided, to Wikipedia (many years ago) the statistics on the BCHL, the Abbott Cup & Mowat Cup winners lists. Other sites have linked to or copied the information contained within this one, like the website Canadian Junior Hockey League - Ice Hockey Wiki. For Vernon Vipers information you can read VipersDieHardFan's Blog and for detailed reporting on the BCHL read the BCHLNetwork articles.

Some of the information on this site was used in Don Klepps' book!, after a very lengthy phone call I had with him. I bought a copy which, he signed, during a Vipers game in Kal Tire Place.

Vernon's Hockey History 1894 - 2021
by Don Klepp

Vernon has a rich and varied hockey history that goes back to 1894. Yes, 1894!

If you were a member of one of the Vernon Junior A teams you are thus part of a tradition and a strong cultural phenomenon that goes back more than 125 years. As a Vernon Junior player, you're well aware of the connection between the community and the hockey players who have represented that community. So, whether your team lost 46 of 56 or your team won 51 out of 60, you are part of a proud tradition that has produced exciting Junior A hockey in Vernon for 60 years so far.

That tradition has been chronicled in a book researched, written, and published by Don Klepp, with support from the Vipers. The book covers every era and every team, so you are in that book. If you don't already have a copy, you can get one by visiting the Viper office or by phoning 250-542-6022. The cost is $25, including taxes, plus shipping.

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IN THE NEWS:

I or this website has been featured/contributed in/to some third party entities and their social media accounts...

• 1. March 20, 2021, by Brian Webb, BCHL Network: The Timeline of Each BC Hockey League Franchise at...

https://bchlnetwork.ca/the-timeline-of-each-bc-hockey-league-franchise/
• 2. September 24, 2021, by Roger Knox of The Vernon Morning Star, Vernon's Hockey History 1894-2021 (BOOK) by Don Klepp at...
  
https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/sports/rich-vernon-hockey-history-captured-in-pages-of-new-book/
• 3. April 12, 2022, Staff of, BCHL Website: 60th Anniversity Team at...
  
https://bchl.ca/bchl-unveils-60th-anniversary-team

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ARCHIVED URL WEBSITE ADDRESS:

This site was first located at http://members.shaw.ca/vernonfranchise/index.html, from 2003 to 2013, by Shaws 'FREE' Webspace, included with ones account, and was discontinued in 2013.

You can still view versions of it by clicking the following ... Vernon Franchise Website Archive brought to you by The INTERNET ARCHIVE WAYBACK MACHINE

LOU PASAGLIA & The Hannson Brothers

I pose with former BC Lion Lou Pasaglia!

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My pose with The Hannson Brothers at the Civic Arena consession area.
I did not have my glasses so, they gave me theirs!

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VOLUNTEERISM

OTHER PROJECTS:

I also, currently volunteer doing the website for...

• Vernon & District Family History Society
  https://vdfhs.com/

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I also, volunteer my services to Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre....

• Soverreign 2 Silverstar Ski Marathon
  Sovereign2Silverstar

1. You can view me at the 1:12 mark of the video on the 2023 under the heading "Results, Videos, Photos".
2. Also, in the images by Anna Sellers "Sunday" images 265A1219.jpg, 265A1221.jpg and 265A1225.jpg.

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I previously volunteered for twenty years, doing the website the Vernon Tigers lacrosse clubs....

• Vernon Tigers Junior Lacrosse Club (2002 - 2022)
  VERNONTIGERS.CA
• Vernon Tigers Senior Lacrosse Club (2019 - 2022)
  VERNONTIGERS.CA

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From - Vernon's 107.5 Beach Radio

2018 Jim and I cheering! No Sound!

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From - BlackBearMedia1 YouTube Channel

1990 Centennial Cup, me at the 6:45 mark.

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From - BlackBearMedia1 (Screenshot)

1990, Screenshot at 6:45 mark!

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From - ShawTVOkanagan

2014 RBC Cup interview at the 1:43 mark!

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BCHHOF - Many Items Donated!

A few of the items here, program, pucks, stick, donated to the BCHHOF by me.

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BCHHOF - Many Items Donated!

Many items here, programs, pennant, pucks, hats, donated to the BCHHOF by me.

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BCHHOF - Many Items Donated!

A few items here, programs, stick, pucks, donated to the BCHHOF by me.

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BCHHOF - Many Items Donated!

All items here, everything that is, supplied to the BCHHOF by me.

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BCHHOF - Many Items Donated!

A few of the items here, programs, pamphlets, donated to the BCHHOF by me.

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BCHHOF - Many Items Donated!

All items here, everything that is, supplied to the BCHHOF by me.

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Unfortunately, many seasons are missing or incomplete.
If you or someone you know, can supply, any or all, of the missing information, additions/corrections, with proof, I would be most grateful.
If you can be of any assistance or need to get ahold of me please, feel free contact me via the method(s) below.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

A: Email Addresses:

1. admin "at" vernonjrahockey.ca
2. vernonjrahockey.ca "at" shaw.ca
3. pdbeugeling "at" msn.com

B: Send Text To:

• (one) (seven, seven, eight) (two, one, two) (one, three, seven, four)

C: Mailing Address:

• Vernon Junior 'A' Hockey History,
• C/O Paul C. Beugeling,
• 1 8 0 6, 24th Avenue, Vernon,
• British Columbia, Canada,
• V1T-1K9

If you would like to donate please,