This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:Robbie Short hadn’t played since game one of the B.C. Hockey League season. The veteran Vernon Vipers’ forward was sidelined for the last eight games with a nasty compression cut on his leg.
So it was a pretty sweet feeling when the 20-year-old Vernon product returned to collect the overtime winner as the 9-1 Vipers shaded the Vees 2-1 Friday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
“Any time you get in that barn against that team, it’s going to be a hard game to win,” said Short. “It would have been nice if it hadn’t gone to OT, but the guys are happy with it.
“It definitely gives us a confidence boost after they came into our rink and handed us an egg (2-0 loss at Wesbild Centre last Saturday).”
In OT, Short rushed up ice with Dylan Walchuk on a 2-on-2 and took a pass at the circle. His shot deflected off a Vee defenceman’s skate to beat netminder Sean Bonar five-hole for his first goal.
“I usually get the greasy ones that bounce off things and go in,” grinned Short. “I’ll take whatever I can get.”
Vipers’ head coach Mark Ferner was pleased to see Short – who he placed on line with Walchuk and Cole Ikkala – back in action.
“He’s 20-years-old, he’s been around and he understands what we’re trying to do here.”
Ferner credited Vipers’ netminder Graeme Gordon (24 saves, second star) with helping keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes.
Bonar made 25 stops as the Vees (10-2-0-1) lost their first home game before 2,100 fans.
The Vipers hosted the Cowichan Valley Capitals (4-6-0-1) Saturday night at Wesbild, and will entertain the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (6-2-1) today (2 p.m.).
The Vipers’ Jonathan Milhouse started the rush that set up Vernon’s first goal, sending linemates Braden Pimm and Mike Collins on a 2-on-1. Pimm made a great pass past a Vees’ defender to set up Collins (8th) for a one-timer at 13:25 of the second period.
Alex Szczechura, assisted by Joey Holka, responded for Penticton midway through the third frame as the Vees’ caught Vernon on a neutral zone turnover.
“We have to understand that we can’t turn pucks over. When we do, we get ourselves into trouble,” said Ferner, who, despite the impressive record, knows the Vipers can be better.
“You always have work to do. It’s the little things that make the difference, and I’m not going to let up. I’m going to keep harping on the little details of the game.”
Referee Matt Thurston allowed the game flow, calling just 12 penalty minutes in total (three minors per team).
In other Friday-night action, Grayson Downing fired the OT winner as the host Westside Warriors trimmed the Prince George Spruce Kings 4-3 at Royal LePage Place.
The Warriors Joel Woznikoski pocketed three assists to earn first star.
Netminder Alexandre Peck recorded 33 stops as the Capitals outlasted the host Trail Smoke Eaters 3-2 at Cominco Arena.
Nick Anderson potted the winner early in the third frame.
Visit www.vernonmorningstar.com and click on the Vernon Vipers icon near the top right corner to check out The Morning Star’s newly launched Vipers Central. It contains news, features, player profiles and other useful BCHL links.
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