Vipers Welcome Prairie Netminder Prospect To Den:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Vipers welcome Prairie netminder prospect to den

Published: May 31, 2009 6:00 AM

The Vernon Vipers appear to have the makings of yet another top goaltending tandem.
The Vipers have signed 17-year-old netminder Blake Voth for the upcoming B.C. Hockey League season.
Voth (5-foot-10, 165 pounds) played last season with the Tisdale Trojans of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. Vipers’ head scout Larry Black, along with the coaching staff, have watched the Herbert, Sask. (near Swift Current) product over the last two seasons and feel that he has the tools to become a top goalie in the BCHL.
“Mark (Vipers’ head coach Ferner) watched him play once and they were outshot something like 48-12, and it was still a 2-1 game,” said Vipers’ assistant coach Jason Williamson. “He’s a big-game goalie.”
In 25 regular-season games, Voth posted 13-11-1 with a 2.57 goals-against average and 91.18 save percentage.
The Trojans were heavily outshot in five playoff games, and Voth registered a 1.34 GAA and a remarkable 95.48 save percentage, giving his team a chance against the eventual national champion Notre Dame Hounds.
“We had a pretty young team, so I had a lot of work just trying to keep our team in it and giving them a chance to win,” said Voth, who is graduating in Tisdale and helping out in a heavy-duty mechanics shop to help pay his way.
With all-star net detective Andrew Hammond graduating, North Vancouver’s Graeme Gordon, who went 14-4 with a 2.40 GAA with the Snakes, looks primed to assume the starter position.
“Graeme is going to be our starting guy, but we want (Blake) to push him and earn his minutes, and hopefully it’ll be a good tandem like we had last year,” said Williamson.
With veteran defencemen Cameron Brodie, Mike Leidl, Cody Ikkala, and possibly Royal Bank Cup MVP Kyle Bigos, graduating, the Vipers have work to do to shore up a blueline that was tops in the BCHL with a 2.40 goals-against average.
“Hopefully we can instill the same work ethic so he’s facing maybe 25 shots instead of what he has been facing,” said Williamson.
Voth visited Vernon during the BCHL Fred Page Cup final against the Powell River Kings, and he liked what he saw of the team.
“The fans were next to none, the rink is fabulous and it’s just a good community,” said Voth, who likes to play the puck.
“I just have to be there in any way the team needs me and help out in any way I can.”