Vipers owner being mourned

One of the most successful owners in the history of Canadian junior A hockey is dead.

Vipers owner Duncan Wray died in his sleep at age 68 early Thursday morning at his home in Vernon. Wray has owned Vernon’s BCHL franchise since 1992 and served as chair of the league’s board of governors since 2011. He was also league chairman from 1999-2006.

“We were shocked and saddened to receive word today about Duncan,” said BCHL com- missioner John Grisdale. “He was the lifeblood of the Vipers franchise for a very long time and he leaves a huge void in our league and in our hearts.”

The Vipers, known as the Lakers until 1995, won four national junior A hockey championships during Wray’s time as the owner and went back-to-back as Royal Bank Cup champions in 2009 and 2010. The Vipers have won the Fred Page Cup as BCHL champion six times and have five Doyle Cup titles for their playoff wins against the AJHL champions.

For years, Wray offered his services as a Vernon dentist to treat Viper players who had their teeth damaged in games. In 2011, he was inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame.

Wray was among the dignitaries featured in Saturday’s Vipers-Prince George Spruce Kings game to commemorate the permanent closure of the 80-year-old Vernon Civic Arena.

Each BCHL team will have a minute of silence in Wray’s honour before they play their next home games.