Rookie Walchuk Collects Trick As Vipers Trim Sprucies:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Rookie Walchuk collects trick as Vipers trim Sprucies

Published: November 07, 2009

The Vernon Vipers haven’t lost in a month and they’re showing no signs of slowing down.

Their next four B.C. Hockey League games are against the bottom three Interior Conference teams, starting this afternoon against the cellar dwelling Williams Lake Timberwolves at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.

They tangled with the Quesnel Millionaires (7-12-0-3) Saturday at the Vault.

Vernon visits the Merritt Centennials (7-13-0-1) Tuesday night at Nicola Valley Arena before entertaining the Trail Smoke Eaters (6-15-1-1) Friday and Saturday night at Wesbild Centre.

Even without two of their top forwards (Kellen and Connor Jones are away at the World Junior A Challenge in P.E.I.), they continue to lead the B.C. Hockey League with a 5.3 goals for average, and 1.7 goals against.

Friday night, it was rookie sniper Dylan Walchuk earning first star, recording his first BCHL hat trick to lead the Vipers to a 5-2 win over the host Prince George Spruce Kings before 1,000 fans at the Coliseum.

“It feels good. It’s exciting to get your first hat trick,” said Walchuk, who led the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League in rookie scoring last season with the Nelson Leafs.

“Everybody knows they’re (Jones brothers) a big part of our team and everybody has stepped up their game to pick up the slack.

“PG played pretty well defensively. It was fast paced so we just had to get it over the redline and dump and chase.”

The Spruce Kings’ RJay Berra (6th) opened the scoring early in a first period on a Viper giveaway, assisted by second star Joe Morgan.

Walchuk (10th, 11th and 12th), answered for Vernon (19-1) midway through the second period, walking in from the side to beat netminder Kyle Nielsen (25 saves) with a forehand-backhand.

Vipers’ netminder Graeme Gordon recorded 24 saves for the win.

Walchuk, who has shown great ability in taking defenders on one-on-one, credits the Vipers’ veteran forward corps for helping him adjust.

“They’re really making me feel at home here. They’re very supportive and they never let you get down on yourself.”

In particular, Walchuk says Braden Pimm has helped his transition to the BCHL.

“He tells me to do the simple things. It’s just good advice.”

Added Pimm: “Every night he shows up. He scored two highlight-reel goals – he’s picking up the slack from the Jonesies, that’s for sure.”

The Vipers’ Drew George (2nd), on a slick seam pass from Sawyer Mick, Mike Collins, and Walchuk, assisted by Robbie Short and Patrick McGillis, made it 4-1 early in the third period.

Jonathan Gibson (2nd) completed the Sprucies’ attack with 10 minutes remaining.

Walchuk fired an empty-netter to seal the win.

Even with the Vipers on a 12-game winning streak, head coach Mark Ferner isn’t about to ease up on his players’ performance. He felt they were lukewarm Friday night.

“Mentally, some of the guys were not ready to play. That was the way of it all night. It just seemed like they were content with being OK.

“I can paint pretty much everybody with the same brush. They’re thinking if we have a good offensive night, I played a good game – scoring goals and getting points is the most important thing. Well it’s not.

Added Pimm: “Especially when you’re playing weaker teams, you’ve got to remember how hard you had to battle to beat teams like Penticton and Salmon Arm.

“Otherwise, those games don’t mean anything.”