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In the weeks leading up to the start of the 2024-25 season, we will go team-by-team to profile new players entering the league, as well as offseason acquisitions through trades. We speak with the coach/GM of each team to get their thoughts on the new crop of players.
Next up are the Vernon Vipers.
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The Vernon Vipers finished the 2023-24 season in fourth place in the Interior Conference with a record of 33-19-2-0 to setup a first-round playoff matchup with the Trail Smoke Eaters, which they won in five games. That led to a Round 2 clash with their longtime rivals the Penticton Vees. The games were low-scoring and tight-checking, with three going to overtime, but the Vipers dropped the series in five.
Vernon now turns the page to the 2024-25 campaign and have added a significant amount of new talent to their roster. We spoke with newly appointed head coach Lukas Lomicky about the new additions.
New recruits
Cooper Cleaves (2006, D)
Hometown: Riverside, Conn.- Previous team: Brunswick School (USHS-Prep)
- College commitment: Dartmouth College
Cleaves started the 2023-24 season with the Vipers where he scored one goal in six games, playing on the same team as his older brother Hank. He returned to Brunswick School in late October and spent the balance of the season there. In prep school, he had 37 points in 30 games to lead his team in scoring from the back end. He returned to Vernon in the spring to play four more regular season games and another three in the playoffs.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“Cooper is a mobile, two-way defenseman and, for his size, he’s a pretty smooth skater, which helps him be first on the puck and allows him to get the puck up the ice from the zone. He is also really patient with a nice offensive touch and deception on the blueline, which creates time and space to use his shot. Cooper will step in and be a big piece of our team.”
Sean Gibbons (2005, F)
Hometown: Southport, Conn.- Previous team: Brunswick School (USHS-Prep)
A teammate of Cleaves at Brunswick, Gibbons was tied for the team lead with 68 points in 34 games, averaging exactly two points per contest. His 44 assists were the most on the team as well.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“With Sean, we are getting lots of offensive tools. He’s a tremendous shooter, but also his vision helps him setup his teammates. He competes hard and he’s got good speed. We believe he will transition well to our league and he’ll be the same player as he was in prep school.”
Roarke Gilmour (2006, D)
Hometown: Iroquois, Ont.- Previous team: St. Andrew’s College (U18 AAA)
- College commitment: University of Maine
Gilmour played the past two seasons at St. Andrew’s. In 2023-24, he totaled 42 points in 67 games from the back end.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“After losing five defencemen from last season, it was important for us to find players who can step in and play right away. We believe Roarke has all the tools to make that transition to junior hockey and be an everyday player for us. His elite skating, mobility and competitiveness will help him make that step sooner rather than later.”
Marko Bilic (2006, G)
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.- Previous team: Cushing Academy (USHS-Prep)
- College commitment: Arizona State University
Bilic appeared in 32 games for Cushing last season, while also making 13 appearances with the Central Mass Penguins under-18 team.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“He’s coming off a pretty good season with Cushing Academy. He played lots of minutes for them and he’s a very athletic goalie with good size. I believe he has a high ceiling and he has the potential to be a great goalie in the BCHL. He’s got pro potential as well.”
Carter Streek (2004, F)
Hometown: Kamloops, B.C.- Previous team: Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Streek brings four years of experience in the Western Hockey League, most recently with Spokane. In 2023-24, he had 17 points in 65 games with the Chiefs.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“We expect Carter to be a crucial part of our offence and to be a good example and resource for our younger guys coming in who are trying to get their feet wet in junior hockey. He has a natural skating ability, which has allowed him to be a threat offensively, but also be a guy who is able to defend and compete really hard away from the puck.”
Charlie Kresl (2006, F)
Hometown: Denver, Colo.- Previous team: Bishop Kearney Selects (18U AAA)
- College commitment: UMass-Lowell
Kresl was Bishop Kearney’s leading scorer in 2023-24 with 59 points in 57 games on 20 goals and a team-high 39 helpers.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“Charlie is the type of player that you never know what’s going to happen when he has the puck on his stick. His IQ is very high. That’s one of his biggest strengths. He’ll be able to come in and excite our fans right away because of the type of player he is. He’s going to have to improve the defensive side of his game, but he’s still a young player and he’s going to get better throughout the season.”
Jakub Galnor (2006, F)
Hometown: Prerov, Czechia- Previous team: HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czechia U20)
Galnor scored 17 goals in 37 games last year for his under-20 team in Czechia, which was just two off of the team lead. He added 12 assists to finish with 29 points on the season. He has also represented his country internationally on multiple occasions.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“He was one of the most productive players on his junior team in Czechia last year. I believe he’ll transfer his skills over to the North American style because he understands how to play on both sides of the puck.”
Carson Lloyd (2005, D)
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.- Previous team: Georgetown Raiders (OJHL)
Lloyd played for multiple teams in Ontario last year, but mainly with Georgetown of the OJHL where he notched 34 points in 37 games.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“We were looking for a guy like Carson because mobile defencemen are able to support your offence from the back end and he likes to join the rush. He’s got a great, hard shot and he’s also got a lot of experience. We believe he’s going to be one of the best offensive defencemen on our team. He’ll run our powerplay and help that offensive side of the game.”
Kristian Lamanna (2005, F)
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.- Previous team: Georgetown Raiders (OJHL)
A teammate of Lloyd’s last year, Lamanna put together his most productive OJHL campaign in 2023-24, totaling 38 points in 39 games on 18 goals and 20 assists.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“He’s going to bring experience and competitiveness to our team. He’s a really good 200-foot player, so you can put him in any situation.”
Isaac Holt (2005, D)
Hometown: Pembroke, Ont.- Previous team: Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL)
- College commitment: Robert Morris University
Holt played the past two seasons with Johnstown of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) and contributed a combined 18 points in 96 games over that stretch.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“He’s a kid with a big frame and that’s why it’s hard to beat him one-on-one, in the corner and in open ice. For a big guy, he’s able to move pretty well. He’s played almost 100 games in the NAHL, so we’re expecting him to come in and be a big part of the back end.
Koji Gibson (2007, F)
Hometown: North Vancouver, B.C.- Previous team: Burnaby Winter Club Prep (CSSHL U18)
Gibson was injured last season and only played in seven games, but he averaged a point per contest with four goals, three assists and seven points.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“He’s a young, talented player with lots of skill, good size and great skating. He’s got lots of offensive upside. He competes really hard. He’s going to come in and get better every day. That’s who he is. We believe there’s lots of potential for Koji over the next couple of years with us.”
Simon Binkley (2006, F)
Hometown: Fairbanks, Alaska- Previous team: Pittsburgh Penguins Elite (18U AAA)
Binkley averaged exactly a point per game for the Penguins last year, finishing his campaign with 10 goals, 14 assists and 24 points in 24 contests. He also got into two games with Vernon last season as an affiliate.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“When he played for us an affiliate last year, he showed his potential to be a great two-way forward who plays well in our style of hockey. He has a motor and he likes to use his speed to get on the forecheck, but also gets to the inside with the puck offensively. He is the type of power forward who is going to step in and earn his spot in the lineup and contribute right away.”
Joey Mugaas (2005, D)
Hometown: Edina, Minn.- Previous team: Orono High (USHS-MN)
Mugaas was the captain of his high school team in Minnesota last season, chipping in with 42 points in 31 games to lead all defencemen and finish second overall in team scoring.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“As an older player, we expect him to come in and be able to play on both sides of the puck. He’s really good defensively because of his skating, but he can also chip in offensively and be the go-to guy if you need him to be. He’s should be able to contribute right away.”
Vinny Ipri (2006, D)
Hometown: Broadview Heights, Ohio- Previous team: Bishop Kearney Selects (18U AAA)
Ipri finished the 2023-24 season one point back of the team lead in points from the blueline with 34 in 46 games, while his eight goals led all Bishop Kearney defenders.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“He’s an undersized, two-way, mobile defenceman, but he makes up for his size with his competitiveness and a great stick. He plays with lots of speed and is an extremely competitive player. It’s going to be a big transition for him, coming from prep school, but we believe that, because of his competitiveness and great skating ability, he’s going to contribute to our team.”
Acquired via trade
Lucas Brennan (2004, F)
Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.- Previous team: Omaha Lancers (USHL)
- College commitment: Bemidji State University
Brennan split time with two USHL teams last year, starting the season with the Cedar Rapids Roughriders and playing the second half with Omaha. He totaled nine points in 45 games. The year prior, he was the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s leading scorer with 84 points in 53 games when he played for the Selkirk Steelers. His BCHL rights were acquired by Vernon from the Spruce Grove Saints in a June 24 trade.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“Lucas is a veteran player who has played in a few different junior leagues. He’ll bring his speed, goal-scoring ability and extremely competitive nature to our team.”
Keeghan Dunn (2007, F)
Hometown: Richmond, B.C.- Previous team: Cowichan Valley Capitals (BCHL)
In his 16-year-old season, Dunn put up three goals and an assist in 26 games. Vernon acquired him from Cowichan Valley in a July 14 trade.
Lomicky’s scouting report:
“We really liked what he did as a 16-year-old last year and we feel like he’s going to bring an edge and competitiveness to our team here. He is a good sized forward who really likes to be hard on the forecheck, but he’s also got offensive upside. He’s got the potential to be a great player in the BCHL.”
Photo credits: Liz Wolter (Cleaves), Dan Hickling (Gibbons, Bilic, Kresl, Binkley, Ipri), CSSHL (Gibson), USHL (Brennan)
