Vipers Win Shootout Against Kingston:

Vipers win shootout against Kingston

by Contributed - May 8, 2009

The Kingston Voyageurs treated Thursday’s RBC Cup round robin game as the first part of a two-game playoff against the Vernon Vipers. Viper Head Coach Mark Ferner used the game to give playing time to four players who have played very little or not at all in the post-season. In the end, the Vipers prevailed, 8-5. Ferner maintains that Cory Roy, Nick Amies, Steve Weinstein, and Graeme Gordon all deserved a game in the RBC Cup because they have worked hard all year and have contributed to the team’s success: “Certainly, we knew that they would have a challenge adjusting to the pace of play after not dressing for most of the playoffs, but they’re good players and we believe in them. As you saw, all four of them helped us win that game today.” Graeme Gordon and Nick Amies had not played since February, while Steve Weinstein saw only limited action in two games versus Salmon Arm in early March. Kory Roy’s last game was April 22 in Grande Prairie when he saw received limited ice time subbing for the then-injured James Kerr. The quartet replaced Andrew Hammond, Cam Brodie, Kevin Kraus, and Bryce Kakoske in this game. The first period previewed what was to come, as Sahir Gill’s power play goal at 2:10 opened the scoring. Steve Weinstein, who was playing his first game in weeks, and Kyle Bigos assisted on the goal, the first of three points for each point man. Within 22 seconds, however, the Voyageurs responded with Dustin Walsh’s goal. Walsh was set up by the energetic Adam McAllister. Vernon went head again at 4:39, when Connor Jones beat Shawn Sirman with a low slap shot just inside the post, a carbon copy of Gill’s earlier strike. Then, at 5:43, Jeff Blackburn once again answered for Kingston after a good fore check and some loose Viper defensive coverage. Before the period was over, Kory Roy put the Vipers ahead with a slap shot that caromed off defender Anthony Geldart. With his parents seeing their son play for the first time this year, the product of Anchorage, Alaska took a regular shift with Ryan Santana and Rob Short. Graeme Gordon, seeing his first action since a brief relief appearance on February 21, was the victim of some uncharacteristic Viper generosity and some spirited Voyageur play in the second period. Kingston scored three straight to take a 5-3 lead. Adam Walsh scored at 4:42, following a broken play in the Viper zone, and Craig Laliberte bundled in a go-ahead marker at 4:46. When McAllister popped in a rebound at 9:42, the Ontarians could sense an upset in the making. However, Kellen Jones had other ideas. After Cory Kane and Cody Ikkala combined to break up a Vee rush at centre ice, Kellen stepped across the blue line and scored in the same fashion as Sahir Gill and Connor had tallied in the first period his low slapper beat Sirman just inside the post. The Vipers kept on coming, and their persistence paid off with power play markers at 12:41 and 13:51. Steve Weinstein sneaked in from the point to fire a wrist shot past Sirman’s right elbow, and he later set up Cory Kane’s powerful wrist shot. By the time the third period rolled around, the Vipers had sorted out their defensive zone coverage and they shut down the Voyageurs, who had just two scoring chances in the period. All six Viper defencemen played well in the period, and they were helped by a more committed band of back-checking forwards. Also, Graeme Gordon had regained his timing so that he was able to prevent rebounds on the six shots he faced. While clamping down on the Voyageurs, the Vipers scored twice. Kyle Bigos struck on the power play with a blast from the left point after taking passes from Ryan Santana and James Kerr. Rob Short’s fine play continued with a speed rush and close-in shot that resulted in the Vipers’ eighth goal. Santana’s assist on the play earned him his fourth point in the last two games. The same two teams meet tomorrow at 2 pm in the first of two semi-final games to decide who will play in Sunday’s final. The other semi-final between the Humboldt Broncos and Victoria Grizzlies starts at 7 pm. In Thursday’s evening match, Humboldt rested 7 regulars and were blanked by Summerside, 5-0. Game Notes:
The Vipers scored 4 power play goals in 9 chances while Kingston went 1 for 4 with the man advantage.
Mike Collins’s assist on Steve Weinstein’s goal gave the Boston winger 7 points and the round robin scoring lead. Summerside’s Chad Locke, who had 1 goal and 6 assists, tied Collins in total points
Adam McAllister, whose physical play and presence in front of Graeme Gordon netted the big winger one goal and two assists, was Summerside’s “Player of the Game.” Kyle Bigos’s three points and strong defensive play earned him the same designation for Vernon.
Each of the members of Vernon’s Jones line was credited with a goal and an assist, to bring their round robin combined points total to 14 in the 4 games.
Vernon has now won 9 straight post-season contests, going back to the deciding game of the BCHL finals versus Powell River.