Vipers Trounce Centennials:

Vipers trounce Centennials

by Don Klepp -Oct 22, 2009

On “Paint the Rink Pink” night in Vernon, the Merritt Centennials put a scare into the Vipers, but a dominating third period led to six Viper goals and a 7-2 victory. In the process, over $12,000 was raised to support cancer research. In the first and third period, the Vipers were all over the Centennials, out shooting them 14-4 in the first and 18-0 in the third. However, the Cents were strong in the middle frame, checking hard and skating with the Vipers. On a bang-bang play, converted defenceman Derek Hills put Merritt ahead 2-1 at 2.48. The Cents made that lead stand up for the remainder of the period, although goalie Cole Holowenko had Mike Collins ring a laser off the post late in the period. The Vipers had hit two posts in the first period as well, and Holowenko made two great right-pad saves to keep the game close. Although they were comprehensively outplayed in the period, the Centennials escaped with a 1-1 tie at the end of 20 minutes. Rob Short opened the scoring at 8.58, from a scramble during a Viper power play. However, the Cents replied with a power play goal of their own at 11.16. Dustin Johnson followed up after losing the puck in the slot and blasted a low shot past Graeme Gordon. The Viper third-period onslaught was triggered by Steve Weinstein. The Vipers started the period with constant pressure in the offensive zone. With the Centennials labouring, both Viper defencemen moved in for the kill. Garrett Noonan fed a perfect cross-ice pass to Steve Weinstein, who was sneaking in, back door. Weinstein went hard to the net and rifled the puck past Holowenko’s right arm at 1.38. Then the flood gates opened. With the Centennials once again frazzled by Viper pressure, Bryce Kakoske ripped a shot top shelf for the game winner two minutes after Weinstein had tied it. The real back breaker came when Kellen Jones knifed through the Merritt defence and put a back hand through Holowenko’s pads. Then Connor Jones went to work. At 11.03, with Matt Mazzarolo serving a slashing penalty , Connor’s low shot deflected in. He closed the scoring by stealing the puck at centre and converting his breakaway chance with a forehand to backhand deke. In between Connor’s goals, Jonathon Milhouse scored his seventh of the season on a breakaway of his own. Cole Holowenko, a 16-year old who was a late cut of the Chilliwack Bruins, was clearly frustrated at the end of the game. In the final tally, he stopped 40 of 47 Viper shots and had 5 more hit iron. Viper coach Jason Williamson admitted after the game that “Merritt had us worried in the second period. It looked like it might be one of those nights when nothing goes in. but we stuck with our game plan and we proved once again that this team can score in bunches. But you know, Merritt worked hard they blocked a lot of shots, they made several desperation clears, and their goalie was good for them. They skated with us for the first two periods, but our guys found another gear and came through for the Cancer Society.” The Viper players donated $60 for each goal they scored and their jerseys were auctioned via the internet and in person at the Wesbild. Vipers coaches and staff and owner Duncan Wray (who doubled the amount pledged by his staff) added about another $120 per Viper goal. Preliminary estimates indicate that over $12,000 was raised for cancer research. Many of the fans wore pink to symbolically support the fundraising effort.

Game Notes:

•The Viper winning streak now stands at 8 games they have outscored the opposition 54-10 during that stretch.

•Mike Collins, Jonathon Milhouse, and Dylan Walchuk ran their point scoring streak to 8 consecutive games Braden Pimm’s streak was snapped at 7.

•During the winning streak, Connor Jones has scored 10 of his team-leading 11 goals.

•Merritt’s road woes continued the Centennials have managed just one point from 6 games played away from the Nicola Valley Arena. That record is partly due to woeful penalty killing – home teams have scored on 19 of 37 power plays against the Centennials.

•The Vipers had not held a team shotless in a period since the January 10, 2009 game in Penticton when the Vipers out shot the Vees 15-0 in the first period.