Vipers Cage Bulldogs, Clobber Caps:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Vipers cage Bulldogs, clobber Caps

By Kevin Mitchell - Vernon Morning Star

Published: October 13, 2009

Former Viper Trent Dorais says they’re the best team the Alberni Valley Bulldogs have faced this season.
Cowichan Valley Capitals’ coach Scott Robinson figures even one of the best NHL goalies would have encountered trouble stopping the Vipers.
After bouncing the Bulldogs 4-1 in a Sunday matinee and ambushing the Capitals 14-0 Saturday night, the Vipers head on a northern road swing sitting at 11-1 and ranked No. 3 in Canada.
Only the Spruce Grove Saints of Alberta, at 11-0-0-1, and Ontario’s Kingston Voyageurs, at 10-0-1, are rated in front of the Vipers, who opened Thanksgiving Weekend by beating the Penticton Vees 2-1 in overtime Friday night.
“They’ve got a good, strong team again,” said Dorais, a Vernon product who gets prime-time ice and has 2-3-5 in 11 games with the Dawgs.
“They’re really deep. I’d say the weakest part of their game would be their defence, but their forwards are again, very strong, and (Graeme) Gordon back there, seemed to shut the door so I think they got another shot again this year at another RBC (Royal Bank Cup) championship.”
It was a weekend of firsts for a few Vipers with blueliner Nick Amies scoring his first BCHL goal, the winner, against Alberni. Rookie d-man Garrett Noonan also netted his first goal, and towering d-man Lars Erik Soderlund made his Viper debut Saturday.
“I’ll take it,” said Amies, of his unassisted tally 2:41 into the second period. “I’ve been waiting a while for it. I just rushed it up and took a shot between a defenceman’s legs and it went in. Our trainer (Gord Cochran) said it (puck) went over the glass. I don’t know if he’s just bugging me or what.”
The Vees brushed off Alberni Valley 3-1 Saturday night and are one point up on the Snakes for first overall in the BCHL. Vernon opens their first extended road trip Thursday in Quesnel.
Rob Short, Jonathan Milhouse, with a beauty while laying on his back, and first star Dylan Walchuk, also scored for the Vipers before 1,720 fans Sunday at Wesbild Centre. Warren Muir put the Dawgs up 1-0 midway through the first period.
Noonan took a decision over Tyler Berkholtz in a spirited third-period scrap, while Viper captain Kevin Kraus speedbagged Matt Hatch five minutes later after Hatch ran over Kellen Jones.
The Vipers basically held a public skating session Saturday night, with the Caps watching the dazzling display.
Noonan, an offensive rushing d-man in Boston high school last year, felt somewhat sorry for the Caps (4-8-0-1), who lost 6-1 Sunday in Westside.
“I’ve never been in a game like that,” said Noonan. “It’s tough on them. We got off to an early lead (8-0 after one period) and I’m sure they never really wanted to play anymore. On my goal, Braden Pimm made an unbelievable pass to me and luckily it went in.”
Soderlund, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound California Swede, skated well and tossed some solid checks, while struggling with the puck.
“It feels great, finally, I haven’t played since May,” said Soderlund. “There were issues with my old (major midget) team in Utah regarding team fees where you have to pay to play, but it’s all sorted out.”
Soderlund figures practising daily with the high-tempo Vipers prepared him for regular duty.
“It’s a lot higher level, definitely. The group is definitely one of the best teams to be on; it’s just a solid group and the guys are all great.
“I felt a little rusty today (Sunday) and yesterday. I was trying to make a hard play instead of an easy play sometimes.”
The Jones twins compiled six-point nights versus Cowichan – Connor with 5+1 and Kellen with 1+5. Cole Ikkala and Short also scored twice, Short connecting once on a 95-footer which fooled 15-year-old goalie Laurent Brossoit.
“I think we were a little awe-struck,” said Robinson. “We never snapped out of it. It was, as you can imagine, quite painful.’’
Regarding Brossoit, who gave up 13 of the 14 goals while giving way, briefly to veteran Alexandre Peck, Robinson said. “He wanted to go back in (after first period). That speaks volumes about the kid. He wanted to battle through.
“It was not a case of bad goaltending. It was not a goaltending issue. I’m fairly confident Roberto Luongo would have let in at least 10.’’
Said Connor Jones: “I’ve been in a few games like that, mostly in minor hockey, and I was always on the losing side. This high of level, I’ve never been in anything like that before. They’re supposed to be a team that works pretty hard. They’re a young team and they were on a long road trip.”
Mike Collins, who leads the Vipers with nine goals and 20 points, was the BCHL Player-of-the-Week. The Boston product had two assists Sunday and 1+2 Saturday.