Vipers Acquire Vanderbreggen and Wiggins from Komets

Published on December 13, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Roanoke Valley Vipers News Release


ROANOKE, VA - The Roanoke Valley Vipers, member of the United Hockey League (UHL), announced today that they have traded defenseman Matt Kenny to the Fort Wayne Komets for defenseman Josh VanderBreggen and left wing Mike Wiggins.

VanderBreggen, 21, is in his first season as a professional, which he began in Richmond with the RiverDogs where he played eight games before joining the Fort Wayne Komets. The Milton, Ontario native played two seasons for the Yarmouth Mariners of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MJAHL) prior to the 2005-06 season, and spent one season in the Ontario Provincial Junior "A" Hockey League (OPJHL) as a member of the Streetsville Derbys.

The 25-year-old Wiggins joined the Komets for six games at the end of the 2004-05 season after completing a four-year career at the University of Wisconsin Superior. The winger, who hails from Calgary, Alberta has nine points (3G, 6A) over 22 games with the Komets this season. Wiggins had a career season his senior year at the University of Wisconsin Superior, putting up 47 points (31G, 16A) over 29 games played.

The Vipers also announced today that they've made an addition to their hockey operations staff as they've added new head equipment manager Ken Bufton. Bufton, a native of Ponca City, Oklahoma, joins the Vipers after a well-traveled career in professional sports, including stints with the Roller Hockey International Oklahoma City Coyotes and San Jose Rhinos, the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League (CHL), the Fresno Falcons, then of the West Coast Hockey League (WCHL), the Lexington Thoroughblades and Cleveland Barrons of the American Hockey League (AHL), the Lexington Men'o'War of the ECHL, the Lexington Legends of the South Atlantic League (baseball), and the Round Rock Express of the Texas League/Pacific Coast League (baseball). Bufton, an avid Houston Astros fan, has relocated to Roanoke.

Catch the Vipers broadcasts this Wednesday and Friday, December 14th and 16th on 3WR 910AM from Danbury, Connecticut. Don't forget that New York Rangers broadcaster Sam Rosen will be providing color commentary for Wednesday night's game! Call the Vipers office at (540) 345-PUCK (7825) to get your tickets for Saturday and Sunday, December 17th and 18th when the Vipers return home to finish up their four consecutive games against the second-place Danbury Trashers! Vipers Hockey - Catch the Fever!



International Hockey League 2 Stories from December 13, 2005


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