LaSalle – The LaSalle Vipers have acquired Belle River native Cale Allen, head coach and general manager Bill Bowler announced today.

Allen, 19, stands 5’11” and 175 pounds and brings experience a gritty element to the Vipers forward group.

“His age could benefit us right now, and he could be a returning player (next year as an overager),” Bowler says. “He’s played against us and we know the player very well, and we feel like we’re lucky to get him.”

The three-year GOJHL veteran was a member of the back-to-back Western Conference champion Leamington Flyers, scoring 11 goals and 45 points in 106 regular season games and adding another six points in 39 playoff games.

“He’s very versatile, he’s played forward and defence,” Bowler says. “We know firsthand what he’s capable of. We’re going to give him every opportunity to show what he can do within our structure.”

Allen has enjoyed considerable success playing against the Vipers, posting four goals and 12 points in nine games against LaSalle over the past two seasons, and looks forward to being on the other side of the Essex County rivalry.

“I can bring some speed to the lineup,” Allen says. “It’s a good group of guys and I’m excited to get going.”

He is expected to be in the lineup Wednesday night, wearing jersey number 6, when the Vipers host the Sarnia Legionnaires. Game time is 7 pm. Tickets are available at the gate ($9 adult, $7 student/senior, children under six get in free).

VIPERS CLOSE OUT 2015 HOME SCHEDULE WITH HOLIDAY CHEER

The LaSalle Vipers have a pair of fun game nights scheduled to close out the 2015 home schedule, beginning Wednesday night at the Vollmer Centre.

Fans will be able to fill out a ballot for a chance to win a night in a Windsor Spitfires luxury suite, courtesy of Game Night Sponsor Richard Paliani, of Stewart, Fisher and Associates, Inc. Fans will also have a chance to sign up for a test drive at the game with Reaume Chevrolet Buick GMC. For each sign up, $25 will be donated to the LaSalle Food Bank.

The Vipers will then close out the home portion of their 2015 schedule with their annual Collins Barrow Teddy Bear game in support of Sparky’s Toy Drive. Fans are asked to bring in a new, unwrapped toy to support this great initiative to help local, low-income families have a merry Christmas.