Vipers Strike Early:

Vipers strike early

by Don Klepp - Oct 17, 2009

Once again, the Vernon Vipers scored early and often, as they defeated the Timberwolves in Williams Lake, 9-2. Patrick McGillis picked up where he left off the previous night in Quesnel, as he scored at 218 of the first period, assisted by line mates Bryce Kakoske and Drew George. In the third period, he assisted on Drew George’s goal, for his second successive two-point game. McGillis took Sawyer Mick’s place on the line because Mick was subbing for the injured Cole Ikkala with Dylan Walchuk and Rob Short. The Timberwolves played hard in this game, as evidenced by the Cameron Hoffman goal that tied the game at 1-1 at 7:44 of the first period. After Anthony DeLong blocked Steve Weinstein’s point shot, Hoffman raced away with Nick Amies in hot pursuit. Hoffman won the race and placed a shot between Viper goalie Blake Voth and the left goal post. The goal energized the T’Wolves and they were able to stay with the Vipers for the next few minutes. However, power play goals by Kellen Jones and Dylan Walchuk at 15:38 and 17:30 put the Vipers ahead to stay. The Jones goal was the result of a pretty three-way passing play with Bryce Kakoske and Connor Jones. In the second period, two Braden Pimm goals were sandwiched around a strong individual effort by Timberwolf Justin Bardarson. Pimm’s first was scored short-handed with three deft touches, he tapped the puck away from goalie Kirk Croswell behind the Williams Lake goal, slid it out front, and knocked it in. The second Pimm goal, on a bang-bang play, converted a rebound resulting from a brilliant Jonathon Milhouse rush. Despite their hustle and scrappiness in this game, the Timberwolves had the roof cave in on them during a three-minute spell in the third period. Cory Kane’s power play marker at 12:35 started the onslaught Mike Collins added his 10th of the season 15 seconds later Drew George scored on a one-timer of a McGillis pass and Sawyer Mick rounded out the scoring at 15:56. Mick completed the Gordie Howe hat trick in a fight with veteran Casey Fratkin. Their bout was preceded by a second-period fight when Vernon’s Darrin Robak challenged Lucas Hildebrand after Hildebrand had high-sticked Vernon captain, Kevin Kraus. Robak, playing his second BCHL game, was perhaps Vernon’s most physical player. After the game, Viper defenceman Garrett Noonan admitted that “our play was kind of sloppy at times, but you have to give the Timberwolves credit. They came at us pretty hard, just like we came at them when we met them in Vernon. But we have a lot of experienced guys who know how to respond to pressure.” Still, Viper coaches Mark Ferner and Jason Williamson will have suggestions for improvement leading to Sunday afternoon’s game in Prince George.

Game notes:

Seven of the nine Williams Lake losses have come when the opposing team scores first. The Vipers, meanwhile, have scored first in 10 of their 13 wins. During their current six-game winning streak, the Vipers have scored 42 goals and allowed 7. During the first period of 14 games this season, the Vipers have scored 29 goals while surrendering just 4. Adam Thompson and Cole Ikkala sat out their second successive game with undisclosed minor injuries. Affiliated player Sean Donnelly, who replaced Kirk Croswell with 12.32 played in the second period, saw his first action for the T’Wolves. He stopped 24 of 29 shots.