This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:Published: August 30, 2009
The Vernon Vipers’ annual Blue & White game looked a sure bet to go to a shootout thriller Thursday night at Wesbild Centre. That is until Team Blue’s Drew George took a pass from behind the net, then quickly turned and fired from the slot to beat Team White netminder Justin Goritz with 24 seconds remaining.
The Blues, coached by the Kiss-FM tandem of Rob Abramenko and Joel Knox, earned a 5-4 decision over the Whites, coached by The Morning Star’s Graeme Corbett and Glenn Mitchell. With the win, the Blues claimed the coveted Jacques Strap Cup.
“I definitely thought it was going to go into OT,” said Team White forward Robbie Short, a Vipers’ veteran who made it 4-4 on a quick snap shot a few minutes earlier.
“It’s always hard in this type of hockey – the guys aren’t really settled in, guys don’t know each other, so sometimes it’s hard to tell individual-wise how a player’s skill is because it’s so disorganized out there.
“But as the camp goes on, the guys get more familiar, and this game was pretty good and it was good to see the guys shine through.”
Added George: “It’s nice to put one home. I kind of fanned on it, but it worked out.”
George, an 18-year-old forward who the Vipers plucked from the Notre Dame Hounds Midget program in Wilcox, Sask., knows it will take more than a pretty pre-season goal to earn a spot on the Vipers’ roster.
“It’s been an eye-opener seeing all the vets and how hard they work and what level you have to be at to be a Viper, so it’s been a good learning experience.”
While Vipers’ GM/head coach Mark Ferner agrees most of the vets came to camp well prepared, he warned there were some older players that could have shown more effort.
“For the most part, the vets came in and worked pretty hard – for the most part. Some need to come in and pick things up.”
For Ferner, developing a winning culture is as important as putting pucks in the net. That starts with the small details.
“We watch things as simple as individual skill and work ethic. I watched how players changed last night – were they lazy skating to the bench or were they skating hard?”
Of all the Vipers newcomers, Ferner says forward Dylan Walchuk, who played last season with the Nelson Leafs of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, finishing in the top-10 in scoring as a rookie, has impressed him most.
“He stood out for me the most, but that only goes so far. You’ve got to continue to prove yourself.”
Walchuk recorded the Blues’ first goal when he raced up ice on a 2-on-1 and ripped a shot through netminder Adam Voth.
Defenceman Garrett Noonan gave Blue their first lead shortly after, firing his point shot through traffic to beat Voth.
“It’s a little tough, you’ve just got to take what they give you, make the saves when you have to,” said Voth, a recruit from the Tisdale Trojans (Saskatchewan Tier 1 Midget).
“It’s definitely a lot of bigger bodies in front of the net, and it takes a while to adjust to the harder shots, but I’m getting used to it now and starting to feel more comfortable.”
Josh McKissock extended the Blue lead midway through the second frame when his weak shot from the sidewall appeared to be redirected past netminder Justin Goritz, who played the second half for White.
Pat McGillis, on a sweet cross-ice pass from Nick Kerr, the younger brother of Viper grad James, kept White within a goal heading into the final stanza.
“It’s been pretty tough adjustment going from Midget, but going to the Telus Cup (Midget championships) it was kind of the same speed in the finals,” said McGillis, another Notre Dame Hounds prospect.
“I’m feeling pretty confident right now. They wanted me to go out there and do my thing, and I thought I did pretty well at that.”
Team White got some momentum after killing a 5-on-3 early in the third period. Jesse Halikas picked up the loose change off linemate David Sabey’s shot to equalize yet again.
However, less than a minute later, the Blues’ Braden Pimm wired a shot past Goritz from the left faceoff circle.
The Vipers trimmed their roster to 31 players after the game. The cuts included: Jeff Jones, Shaun Holliday, Colton Sparrow, Burhan Pourmokhtari, Josh McKinney, Bennett Hambrook, David Sabey, Brett Mulcahy, Kurtis Hagen, Daryl Devries, Trevor Fitzgerald and Justin Gorin.
The Snakes faced the Salmon Arm SilverBacks in B.C. Hockey League exhibition play Saturday night at the Sunwave Centre. They meet again tonight at the Revelstoke Forum.
“We’re getting down to some decent numbers and we expect it to get a little more tense, a little crisper, quicker,” said Ferner, noting they will be carrying 12 defencemen during pre-season, so they can get one more look at the younger blueliners before making a final decision.
“Some of these guys have earned their right to play in exhibition games. We have to worry about the future too. Are they ready now – maybe not, but some of them are going to be very good players in Junior.”
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