Jones Hat Trick Wipes Trail Clean:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:
Jones hat trick wipes Trail clean

By Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning Star
Published: November 17, 2009

Cole Ikkala was the maitre d’ for the Vernon Vipers’ offence Saturday night, and Connor Jones served up the main course.

Jones pulled the hat trick as the Snakes force-fed the Trail Smoke Eaters a 7-1 loss before 1,900 B.C. Hockey League fans at Wesbild Centre.

For the second game in a row (Vernon doubled Trail 8-4 Friday night), Ikkala (8th goal) opened the scoring with an first-period powerplay goal. He deftly deflected defenceman Dan Nycholat’s point shot past netminder Kiefer Smiley at 4:54.

Jones (14th), who was denied on a good poke check by Smiley in the first minute, collected his first of the night midway through the period, easily tucking home a rebound off a Cory Kane (1+2) shot.

The Vipers (24-1) were much tighter defensively than on Friday, firing off eight shots before the Smoke Eaters (6-18-1-1) registered one. Vernon was without captain Kevin Kraus, who received a game suspension for his part in a mini-brawl Friday night.

Vipers’ head coach Mark Ferner noted the improved performance, on both offence and defence.

“We had some guys with some real good efforts. We were a little bit more hungry tonight,” said Ferner. “To create opportunities you need to go through the neutral zone with speed and support.

“It’s (defensive play) a case of having a bit more patience and we’ve got to get our guys to communicate better. When one guy tries to do two people’s jobs that’s when you start running around.”

Bryce Kakoske (5th) showed great hands, taking a pass from Braden Pimm before going roof daddy on Smiley to complete the Vipers’ first-period barrage. Nycholat (2A) made a smart pinch from the point to keep the play alive.

“We’ve got four lines going. When we’re moving our feet and winning races and winning battles, that’s when we’re at our best,” said Jones.

“We were a little better defensively and Vother (third star netminder Blake Voth) played well tonight. We still have to sharpen up defensively. We gave them a lot of odd-man rushes.”

The Smokies’ best chance came on the powerplay when Scott Jacklin, possibly Trail’s best player on the night, tipped a point shot that Voth (29 saves) had to be sharp for.

Trail head coach Jim Ingram was far from impressed with his team’s performance.

“Our competitiveness was nonexistent for most of the night,” said Ingram, clearly frustrated with the lack of effort.

“There are no surprises when you face Vernon. All they do is compete hard on every shift, every night, that’s it. If you add in the talent they’ve got, they are dangerous.

“We have too many guys out there just playing for themselves. We were gross.”

Pimm, who was even more relentless than usual, set up Vernon’s fourth goal early in the second period. Faking a point shot, he sent it out wide to Mike Collins (15th) for a sharp angle one-timer on the powerplay.

That was Vernon’s third highlight reel one-timer on the weekend – Pimm and Nycholat fired the other two beauties Friday – and Collins explains it isn’t an accident.

“Ferns (Ferner) will give us a little time after practice and that’s one of the things we’ll work on. Someone will just go in the corner and feed five or six of us.”

Jones (15th and 16th) completed his trick in the second frame, first cutting around defenceman Wade Bennett (the older brother of Penticton’s Beau Bennett) before going five-hole on Smiley, who was pulled in favour of Garrett Beckwith (17 saves).

Kellen Jones (3A), with a slick 2-on-1 passing play, sprung Connor (first star) on a breakaway, scoring with four seconds remaining.

Trail captain Paul Mailey (4th) snapped Voth’s shutout bid early in third, taking a pass from Jacklin from behind the net and beating the rookie keeper down low.

“Last night (Friday) we got off to a better start and it gave us a lot of confidence. We got a few chances early but we didn’t score so it didn’t really help,” said Mailey, a Trail product.

“We proved we could play with them in their rink, but tonight we didn’t take it to them. If you give them an inch they’ll take you for a mile.”

Connor set up Kane (11th) for a shorthanded point-blank strike to complete the scoring.

The Vipers, who are in the midst of playing 10 out of 12 games on the road, left Tuesday for a four-game swing to the Lower Mainland. They visit the Powell River Kings (13-9-1-4) tonight at the Recreation Complex, and the Coastal Conference leading Surrey Eagles (18-7-0-3) Friday night at South Surrey Arena.

The Vipers appear happy to put their 16-game win streak on the line against .500 teams again.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Collins, a Boston product. “It’s not the strong part of our schedule, but playing better teams now will help us later on.”