This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:Cats eye pennant
By Nicole Berg - Vernon Morning Star
Published: June 23, 2009
It’s down to crunch time for the Vernon Tigers.
After rolling big victories against the first-place South Okanagan Flames 10-5 Saturday night at Wesbild Centre and thrashing the Kamloops Venom 11-4 Sunday night at Memorial Arena, the Cats (8-3-2) are in a good position to claim the Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League pennant.
The Tigers play their last regular-season game Saturday night when they host the 6-3-3 Kelowna Warriors. With a tie or a victory, Vernon will clinch first place and receive a bye into the second round of the playoffs.
Recording a 5-5 tie with Summerland earlier in the season, the underdog Tigers played the Flames tough by holding the league’s top offence (108 total goals) to just five goals.
While the Tigers’ offence has been mediocre, their defence, however, has been red-hot with 80 goals against, good for second place.
“The boys played a great game at both ends of the floor,” said Vernon coach Rich Zecchel. “We had our lowest penalty-minute total of the season in just eight minutes, which helped us produce some goals.
“Overall, our goalie Josh Phillips, who made 40 saves, was solid. I think this was our best all-around team game.”
Jordan Jarvis and Robbie Short had big games for the Tigers, both potting hat-tricks.
Jarvis, a prairie product who has notched four goals and eight assists in his rookie season, scored his first two goals in the opening period.
“My first goal came on a sweet pass by Patrick Quigley, who ran up the floor alone with the ball, spotted me at the right side and passed the ball, and I scored on a straight shot,” said Jarvis, who took first-star honours. “I think in this game, we displayed an all-around better ball movement, which is something we’ve been working on in practice this week.”
Short (second star) pocketed his first two goals in the first frame as well. Tyler Berkholtz (2+2) supplied the lone marker for the Flames.
Both teams exchanged a pair of goals in the second, with Short and Miles Jespersen (1+2) sniping for Vernon and third star Darcy Ricard getting a deuce for the Flames.
The third period was more one-sided as Vernon outscored South Okanagan 4-2. Riley Soleway, Jarvis, and Ryan Landels (2) led the Tigers’ attack. Ricard rounded out his hat-trick and Berkholtz supplied one for the Flames.
The Cats’ Darren Kirby added three assists. Rory McDowell made 40 saves in the Flames’ cage.
Steven Clark returned after a two-game absence, while James Dobrowolski missed his third straight game due to an injury.
Russell MacLean made his Tiger debut Saturday night and also played in Kamloops.
“In order for a player to play for a team in the playoffs, he has to play at least three regular-season games,” explained Zecchel, of the 20-year-old Vernon product. “He played pretty good tonight and we hope to have his leadership shine through in our future games.”
The Cats only picked up one minor penalty as they brushed back the Venom.
Jarvis (2+3), Short (2+2), Riley Soleway (2) and Landels and Matt Kolb, with 1+2 apiece, led the Tigers. Braidy Webb, Nolan Fame and Jespersen also scored in front of Phillips.
Quigley was a standout on defence and Kolb also drew special praise from Zecchel. Vernon outshot the Venom 51-39.
By Nicole Berg - Vernon Morning Star
Published: June 23, 2009
It’s down to crunch time for the Vernon Tigers.
After rolling big victories against the first-place South Okanagan Flames 10-5 Saturday night at Wesbild Centre and thrashing the Kamloops Venom 11-4 Sunday night at Memorial Arena, the Cats (8-3-2) are in a good position to claim the Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League pennant.
The Tigers play their last regular-season game Saturday night when they host the 6-3-3 Kelowna Warriors. With a tie or a victory, Vernon will clinch first place and receive a bye into the second round of the playoffs.
Recording a 5-5 tie with Summerland earlier in the season, the underdog Tigers played the Flames tough by holding the league’s top offence (108 total goals) to just five goals.
While the Tigers’ offence has been mediocre, their defence, however, has been red-hot with 80 goals against, good for second place.
“The boys played a great game at both ends of the floor,” said Vernon coach Rich Zecchel. “We had our lowest penalty-minute total of the season in just eight minutes, which helped us produce some goals.
“Overall, our goalie Josh Phillips, who made 40 saves, was solid. I think this was our best all-around team game.”
Jordan Jarvis and Robbie Short had big games for the Tigers, both potting hat-tricks.
Jarvis, a prairie product who has notched four goals and eight assists in his rookie season, scored his first two goals in the opening period.
“My first goal came on a sweet pass by Patrick Quigley, who ran up the floor alone with the ball, spotted me at the right side and passed the ball, and I scored on a straight shot,” said Jarvis, who took first-star honours. “I think in this game, we displayed an all-around better ball movement, which is something we’ve been working on in practice this week.”
Short (second star) pocketed his first two goals in the first frame as well. Tyler Berkholtz (2+2) supplied the lone marker for the Flames.
Both teams exchanged a pair of goals in the second, with Short and Miles Jespersen (1+2) sniping for Vernon and third star Darcy Ricard getting a deuce for the Flames.
The third period was more one-sided as Vernon outscored South Okanagan 4-2. Riley Soleway, Jarvis, and Ryan Landels (2) led the Tigers’ attack. Ricard rounded out his hat-trick and Berkholtz supplied one for the Flames.
The Cats’ Darren Kirby added three assists. Rory McDowell made 40 saves in the Flames’ cage.
Steven Clark returned after a two-game absence, while James Dobrowolski missed his third straight game due to an injury.
Russell MacLean made his Tiger debut Saturday night and also played in Kamloops.
“In order for a player to play for a team in the playoffs, he has to play at least three regular-season games,” explained Zecchel, of the 20-year-old Vernon product. “He played pretty good tonight and we hope to have his leadership shine through in our future games.”
The Cats only picked up one minor penalty as they brushed back the Venom.
Jarvis (2+3), Short (2+2), Riley Soleway (2) and Landels and Matt Kolb, with 1+2 apiece, led the Tigers. Braidy Webb, Nolan Fame and Jespersen also scored in front of Phillips.
Quigley was a standout on defence and Kolb also drew special praise from Zecchel. Vernon outshot the Venom 51-39.
For more on the Tigers check out there web site,
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