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Vernon Vipers land experienced goalie

Logan Cunningham got right to work for his new on the weekend
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The Vernon Vipers have filled a void at the goalie position, nabbing Logan Cunningham. The Alberta product made his home debut Sunday, Feb. 2, taking the loss in a 6-3 setback against the Brooks Bandits at Kal Tire Place.

The Vernon Vipers' latest roster addition got put to work right away.

The Vipers picked up goalie Logan Cunningham, who turns 20 on Feb. 11.

Cunningham made his Vernon debut Saturday, Feb. 1 in Trail, playing the final 16 minutes 29 seconds in an 8-3 loss to the Smoke Eaters. He allowed two goals on 14 shots.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound goalie made his home debut Sunday, Feb. 2, taking the loss in a 6-3 defeat at the hands and sticks of the Brooks Bandits. Cunningham made 27 saves.

"Logan is a big, athletic goalie with different experiences around junior leagues," said Vernon head coach Lukas Lomicky. "He will come in and help our group down the stretch, adding depth in net."

The Vipers needed a goalie when Marko Bilic left the team to join the Maryland Black Bears of the North American Hockey League. Bilic has gone 3-0 in three starts with the Bears, including one shutout.

Since 2021-22, Cunningham appeared in 31 Western Hockey League games with the Victoria Royals, Edmonton Oil Kings, Tri City Americans, and Saskatoon Blades. He compiled a career record of 7-22-2, and won his only WHL start this season for the Blades, an overtime victory Oct. 15 against provincial rival Regina Pats.

Cunningham finished off 2023-24 in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League with the Battlefords North Stars, going 13-3 in 17 regular season games, then played all eight of the Stars' playoff matches, going 4-4.

He landed this season with the Devon Xtreme in the Alberta Junior Hockey, going 4-6 in 12 games with a 3.56 goals against average, and a .914 save percentage.

"I'm super excited to have the opportunity to battle alongside a great group of guys, and join a historic franchise with a great fan base in an amazing city," said Cunningham, who shares net duties with Jari Kykkanen on the Vipers.

The Vipers (11-20-6-0) remain 10th in the BCHL's Interior Conference, six points behind the eighth-place Spruce Grove Saints (15-19-4-0) for the final playoff spot. Vernon trails the ninth-place Okotoks Oilers (16-20-1-0) by five points. Both the Vipers and Oilers have a game in hand on the Saints.

Vernon, which has lost its last three games, returns to action with an Okanagan weekend road trip. The Vipers play the conference-leading Vees in Penticton Friday, Feb. 7, and visit the seventh-place West Kelowna Warriors (15-17-5-2) Saturday, Feb. 8.

Next home game for the Snakes is a Valentine's Day matchup with the 11th-place Blackfalds Bulldogs (6-29-2-0) Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. at Kal Tire Place.

 



Roger Knox

About the Author: Roger Knox

I am a journalist with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. I started my career in radio and have spent the last 21 years working with Black Press Media.
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