Candice Ward Photography

Vipers roster update

The Vipers have added more players for the remainder of the extended training camp. Many of the players have been loaned from the Western Hockey League as they await the start of their camps. Vernon also acquired a player through a trade. Meet the new players below.

Will Arquiett

Arquiett was acquired in a trade from Cowichan Valley on October 13. The Brasher Falls, New York native began his playing career with St. Lawerence Central High School of the United States High School Prep League – New York State.

In the 2015-16 season, he had 20 points in 20 games. The following season, Arquiett played in three different leagues. He first played in the Eastern Junior Elite Prospects League with Northwood School U16 and had 24 points in 20 games. He next played with Northwood School in the U16 AAA League and had 48 points in 49 games. The last league he played in was the United States High School Prep Leauge where he suited up in two games.

In 2017-18, he continued to play with Northwood School in the USHS-Prep league and had 37 points in 55 games. He also played in six games with the United States Premier Hockey League U18 and had a single point. The following season was much of the same, as Arquiett played at Northwood in both the USHS-Prep and the USPHL-U18 leagues.

This past season, he began his BCHL career with the Cowichan Valley Capitals. As a first year player, Arquiett had 30 points in 53 games. 2020-21 is Arquiett’s final season in junior hockey as he’s committed to play NCAA hockey at St. Lawrence University starting next September.

Koen MacInnes

MacInnes is a goaltender from the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League.

He began his career with his hometown Burnaby Winter Club U15 A1 team of the Pacific Coast Bantam Hockey League. In 2017-18, MacInnes continued to play in the BWC system, this time playing in the Canadian Sports School Hockey U16 League. He had a save percentage of .926 and played in 17 games.

The following season, made the jump to the BWC U18 Prep team and had a save percentage of .907 through 17 games. He also played one game with the Blades as an affiliate.

This past season was MacInnes’ first with the Blades. He played in 24 games as a rookie, had a 2.84 goals-against-average, and a .901 save percentage.

Josh Prokop

Prokop is back for his second stint with the Vipers. He played full-time with the club in the 2017-18 season and six games in the 2018-19 season.

Before playing for Vernon, the Edmonton native played in the Alberta Elite Hockey League U15 AAA for the CAC U15 AAA Canadians and had 14 points in 32 games.

He stayed with the team the following season and put up 56 points in 30 games. In the 2015-16 season, Prokop made the jump to play with the CSSHL’s Northern Alberta Elite 15s and put up 50 points in 28 games.

He then took another step and played with the Northern Alberta X-Treme Prep team in the CSSHL U18 in 2016-17. Prokop also played one game that season as an affiliate player for the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

In 2017-18, Prokop played 48 games in Vernon and had 36 points as a rookie. After six games with the Snakes in the following season, Prokop spent the remainder of the season with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, scoring 28 points in 65 games.

This past season, Prokop played in 57 games and tied his junior hockey career-high in points with 36. He should bring a scoring touch and veteran presence to this young Vipers team.

Tyler Carpendale

Carpendale has been loaned to the Vipers from Kamloops of the WHL and will return to the Blazers when the Major Junior league starts up.

He began his hockey journey in the CSSHL with the Shawnigan Lake School Prep U18 team in 2015-16. Carpendale played in 36 games and had 12 points.

In 2016-17, he played junior B with the Westshore Wolves of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League and posted 16 points in 34 games. He also played one game as an affiliate with the Powell River Kings and two games with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds.

Carpendale played the next two seasons in Seattle, putting up 27 points in 79 games. He was traded to Kamloops during the 2019-20 season and played in the final eight games of the season after returning from injury and had three points.

Trey Taylor

Taylor returns to the Vipers lineup for his third season playing defense. The Richmond, BC native’s first steps after minor hockey were with the Delta Hockey Academy Elite 15s of the CSSHL U16. He played in 35 games in 2017-18 and had 28 points. He also played three games with Delta’s U18 Prep team in the CSSHL U18, where he had a single point.

Taylor has spent the last two seasons with Vernon. He has 30 points in 105 games and added another seven points in 26 playoff games. Taylor is committed to play NCAA hockey with Clarkson University in 2021-22.

Vipers fans will also be excited to know of one additional change to the Vipers’ staff. The team has brought in Vipers alumnus Colton Sparrow as a development coach. Sparrow played four seasons with the Vipers from 2010-14 and appeared in two RBC Cup National Junior A Championship tournaments.