The Vernon Vipers kick off 2024 with a doubleheader weekend at home, and a new defenceman in town.

The Snakes host the Cranbrook Bucks tonight (Friday, Jan. 5) at 7 p.m., and wrap up the four-game B.C. Hockey League homestand at Kal Tire Place Saturday at 6 p.m. with a match against the Trail Smoke Eaters.

Newly acquired defenceman Etienne Lessard, 19, makes his Vernon debut. Lessard was acquired from the Cornwall Colts of the Central Canada Hockey League.

鈥淓tienne is a skilled offensive defenceman that will come in and add a puck-moving dynamic to our back end,鈥� said Vipers head coach and general manager Jason McKee. 鈥淥ur staff looks forward to working with Etienne in achieving his long-term goals of becoming a Division 1 college player.鈥�

Lessard, from Blainville, QC, had six goals and 29 assists in just 22 games with the Colts. He also represented Canada East at the recent World Junior A Challenge, pocketing six points in six games.

鈥淚鈥檓 very excited to join the Vernon Vipers,鈥� said Lessard, five-foot-nine, 168 pounds, and a right-handed shot. 鈥淚 will give my 100 per cent to help the team win and I can鈥檛 wait to get started.鈥�

The Vipers (17-11-1) enter the weekend in fourth place in the Interior Conference, five points back of the third-place Salmon Arm Silverbacks, and three points up on fifth-place Trail (13-11-6). Cranbrook (13-17-1) is sixth with 27 points.