This is in the Victoria Times Colonist Newspaper: Three deadly Vipers hard to catch
By Sharie EppMay 7, 2009
By Sharie EppMay 7, 2009
With the Victoria Grizzlies in one semifinal at the RBC Cup today and the Vernon Vipers in the other, the B.C. Hockey League will have at least a 50 per cent chance of being represented in Sunday’s Junior A championship final. If either or both of them get there, chances are it will be because their opposition got caught flatfooted in a speed zone.
Both talented BCHL squads — the Grizzlies won the league and the Vipers took the playoffs — are fronted by top lines that turn D-men in circles and give goalies heart palpitations.
Their efforts will be crucial as the Vipers take on the Kingston Kimco Voyageurs at 2 p.m. in the first semi, and the Grizzlies have a rematch with the defending champion Humboldt Broncos at 7 p.m. at Bear Mountain Arena.
The Vipers capped off a perfect round-robin yesterday with an 8-5 win over the Voyageurs.
Vernon’s trio of terror features the five-foot-nine, 18-year-old Jones twins, Connor and Kellen, and Sahir Gill, who just turned 17. Through 21 playoff games leading to the RBC Cup, the three posted 32 goals and 41 assists.
“Obviously, Connor and Kellen have played together their whole lives, and Sahir has the same mentality as far as playing the game,” Vernon coach Mark Ferner said about one of the youngest top lines to appear in the RBC Cup. “They’re fearless, regardless of who they’re playing against.”
Gill and the Joneses are best friends, and the camaraderie continues on the ice. Kellen said rather than using a particular style, they just have fun out there, which includes each player knowing where the other two are at all times.
The twins have played on a line together since Kellen was moved up from defence in bantam, but Gill only became part of the unit 40 games into this season.
“We haven’t looked back,” said Gill, who elaborated a little on what makes them click. “We always want the puck, and we want to play in their zone, not ours.”
For the Grizzlies, the
veteran line of captain Brian Nugent and sidekicks Derek Lee and Jonathan Milhouse didn’t come together until the last part of the regular season, either. Milhouse left the team to try his hand with Portland, in the Western Hockey League, but was happy to return to the Grizzlies for the run to the Cup.
“He says he’s happy — the rest of us were happy, too. He came back with a whole new fire,” Lee said, as the Grizzlies enjoyed an off day to prepare for a Humboldt team that beat Victoria 2-1 on a last-second goal during the round robin.
Great buddies off the ice, as well, the three players clicked immediately on it. The playmaker, Lee is usually the set up guy, looking for a streaking Milhouse or locating Nugent somewhere in a goal-crease scrum.
“He’ll find us wherever we are,” Milhouse said.
Lee hasn’t scored a goal yet at the RBC Cup, but he has five assists in four games, while Milhouse has three goals and three assists, including the game-winner against Summerside. Nugent, who’s taken a pounding for his efforts grinding around the net, has four goals and an assist.
“It’s just a great combination,” Lee said. “It’s a good mix for us.”
And the mix is one that’s going to be crucial in overriding the Broncos.
“They’ve got a lot of good players and they’ve got a good goalie, so we’re definitely going to have to come with our A game.”
Both talented BCHL squads — the Grizzlies won the league and the Vipers took the playoffs — are fronted by top lines that turn D-men in circles and give goalies heart palpitations.
Their efforts will be crucial as the Vipers take on the Kingston Kimco Voyageurs at 2 p.m. in the first semi, and the Grizzlies have a rematch with the defending champion Humboldt Broncos at 7 p.m. at Bear Mountain Arena.
The Vipers capped off a perfect round-robin yesterday with an 8-5 win over the Voyageurs.
Vernon’s trio of terror features the five-foot-nine, 18-year-old Jones twins, Connor and Kellen, and Sahir Gill, who just turned 17. Through 21 playoff games leading to the RBC Cup, the three posted 32 goals and 41 assists.
“Obviously, Connor and Kellen have played together their whole lives, and Sahir has the same mentality as far as playing the game,” Vernon coach Mark Ferner said about one of the youngest top lines to appear in the RBC Cup. “They’re fearless, regardless of who they’re playing against.”
Gill and the Joneses are best friends, and the camaraderie continues on the ice. Kellen said rather than using a particular style, they just have fun out there, which includes each player knowing where the other two are at all times.
The twins have played on a line together since Kellen was moved up from defence in bantam, but Gill only became part of the unit 40 games into this season.
“We haven’t looked back,” said Gill, who elaborated a little on what makes them click. “We always want the puck, and we want to play in their zone, not ours.”
For the Grizzlies, the
veteran line of captain Brian Nugent and sidekicks Derek Lee and Jonathan Milhouse didn’t come together until the last part of the regular season, either. Milhouse left the team to try his hand with Portland, in the Western Hockey League, but was happy to return to the Grizzlies for the run to the Cup.
“He says he’s happy — the rest of us were happy, too. He came back with a whole new fire,” Lee said, as the Grizzlies enjoyed an off day to prepare for a Humboldt team that beat Victoria 2-1 on a last-second goal during the round robin.
Great buddies off the ice, as well, the three players clicked immediately on it. The playmaker, Lee is usually the set up guy, looking for a streaking Milhouse or locating Nugent somewhere in a goal-crease scrum.
“He’ll find us wherever we are,” Milhouse said.
Lee hasn’t scored a goal yet at the RBC Cup, but he has five assists in four games, while Milhouse has three goals and three assists, including the game-winner against Summerside. Nugent, who’s taken a pounding for his efforts grinding around the net, has four goals and an assist.
“It’s just a great combination,” Lee said. “It’s a good mix for us.”
And the mix is one that’s going to be crucial in overriding the Broncos.
“They’ve got a lot of good players and they’ve got a good goalie, so we’re definitely going to have to come with our A game.”
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