Vipers, SilverBacks All Square:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:


Vipers, SilverBacks all square

SALMON ARM – They have played 14 times over the last seven months and really settled very little.
They know one mistake usually results in a goal, and they know if you’re moving, you’re going to get hit. They also realize only one team is going to the B.C. Hockey League Fred Page Cup championship series next week.
While the fans are jacked about the Interior Conference final series, the players don’t want the best-of-seven series to end either.
The Salmon Arm SilverBacks iced the Vipers 3-1 Wednesday night, 24 hours after Andrew Hammond and the Vipers pitched a 3-0 shutout. The series is even at 2-2 with the fifth game tonight (7:00) at the Wesbild Centre. Game 6 goes Saturday night in the Shuswap, while a seventh game would go Tuesday night in Vernon.
The SilverBacks, whose superstar line of Mark Zengerle, Keenan Desmet and Conor Morrison had been smothered by the Vipers in the opening three games, took advantage of the absence of injured all-star blueliner Cam Brodie (foot) and busted out for two goals from Desmet.
“Through the first three games, our top two lines only had one point so we had some guys step up which is a really good thing,” said SilverBacks’ head coach Rylan Ferster.
“We certainly needed some goaltending, we got a couple of bounces and I thought our penalty kill did a good job. I thought we played desperate tonight and now it’s a best-of-three.”
Desmet scored the only first-period goal after Viper d-man Kevin Kraus hit the side of the net with a pass intended for teammate Kyle Bigos. Morrison scooped up the puck and fed Desmet on Hammond’s doorstep.
Matt Grassi made it 2-0 midway through the second period, 50 seconds into a 5-on-3 powerplay, finishing off a nice passing play with Ashford McMaster and Justin Cseter.
The two-man advantage came after Viper head coach Mark Ferner took an unsportsmanlike conduct minor for arguing with referee Andrew Guest following a too many men on the ice call.
“Obviously, with my little tirade there, didn’t help us, but at the same time, sooner or later I’ve gotta take a stand to protect this hockey team,” said Ferner, who feels the SilverBacks are taking liberties with his better players. “... The refs and the league have to protect the better players in the league, and if they don’t want to, then certainly we’re going to have to do something about. In saying that, ‘Are we going to turn the clock back 10 years as far as the BCHL, no?’ It’s pretty blatant to me what they’re trying to do out there and I don’t agree with it.”
The Vipers, whose stellar shot-blocking penalty kill units gave up just their second powerplay goal in 30 playoff attempts, mustered one goal on eight powerplay chances.
Braden Pimm was credited with the late second-period goal after he, captain Chris Crowell and Bryce Kakoske basically took batting practice in front of Salmon Arm goalie Bryan Gillis.
Desmet completed the offence five minutes into the third on a nice feed by Morrison.
“I thought our guys played hard and I felt we had enough opportunities to win the hockey game and go up 3-1, but at the very least, we got home-ice advantage back,” added Ferner.
“It was just one of those nights where it just wasn’t going to go in for us and we’ll regroup and we’ll be good on Friday.”
Desmet, who had 31 goals in the regular season, found a little more room to move before a standing-room-only crowd of 1,849.
“It was an all-around good battle with both teams coming out to play hard,” said Desmet, as he signed photographs for fans. “We had the intensity needed to win tonight and a few breaks went our way. This is great fun. Everybody wants to see us and Vernon in the final and I think the fans are enjoying it as much as we are.”
Crowell, a four-year veteran, gave the Gorillas credit for responding well after getting shut out.
“Hand it to them,” said the Williams Lake product. “They competed, we didn’t get any breaks but we’ve gotta work for those breaks and earn those breaks. I don’t think we played bad, but I don’t think it was our best effort at the same time. We’ll show up for Game 5 with a better effort. We came in and split, the same thing they did. Now, it’s a best-of-three and we have home ice. That’s what playoffs are all about.”
Crowell is also thriving on going to war against a team with just as much talent, determination and grit.
“I know I don’t like them and I’m sure they don’t like us. It is what it is. It’s playoff hockey with two bitter rivals going at. There’s some questionable hits and some non-calls and stuff, but that’s part of playoffs so guys have to learn to battle through that. We’re getting away with stuff and they’re getting away with stuff and we just have to go out and play.”
Cory Kane, who basically overpowered Gillis with a wraparound, Cole Ikkala with a high shot from the wall which fooled Gillis, and Connor Jones, with a 100-foot empty netter, accounted for Vernon’s scoring in Game 3.
Ferster knows the intensity level will be off the charts for the rest of the series.
“They’re such a good team over there and it’s starting to get a little bit feisty now. I certainly didn’t think after winning Game 1, we were going to win in four so we kind of prepared for a long series too.”
Grassi, who had an NHL scout checking him and Bigos out in Game 4, was elated to see the SilverBacks open the scoring Wednesday.
“The last two games we kind of lacked emotion so tonight we got the first goal which was the first lead we’ve had since the first game so it was good to get that lead and get the emotion going on the bench.”
Grassi is also enjoying the Disney-like ride.
“It’s just a battle every game, it’s the best rivalry in the BCHL and it’s a lot of fun to play in. This is what it’s all about. We expect the same in Vernon. Every shift’s gonna be a battle.”