This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:Snakes ice Centennials
Published: November 13, 2009 10:00 AM
Morning Star Staff
Finding chemistry isn’t an issue with Vernon Viper rookies Drew George and Patrick McGillis. After years of playing together with the Notre Dame Hounds of Wilcox, Sask., it comes as a standard accessory.
Now that they’re getting some consistent B.C. Hockey League ice time, albeit on a stopgap line with either defencemen Darrin Robak or Nils-Erik Soderlund, they are making those minutes count.
McGillis fired a pair of goals (he wasn’t credited for either on the scoresheet) and George collected an assist as the Vipers rolled the Merritt Centennials 6-1 Tuesday night at Nicola Valley Arena.
That makes 13 points (5+8) between them in the last three games.
“It was a slow start to the year – not being in the lineup all the time – so it’s nice to get on the scoreboard finally,” said McGillis, an 18-year-old Calgary product.
“Me and George have been playing together for years now. We know where we are on the ice all the time and now we’re starting to play with confidence.”
Added Vipers’ assistant coach Jason Williamson: “They might be the hottest line in the league right now. It seems whoever we put with George and McGillis is putting up points.”
Merritt (7-14-0-1), who are .500 at home, got off to a good start as Silvan Harper put one past second star Graeme Gordon (28 saves) at 16:48 of the first period. Mitch Jones and former Viper Steve Tresierra drew assists.
“They were good in the first. They forechecked hard and battled for the puck,” said Williamson, of Merritt. “We had a little wake-up call in the intermission and our guys just stepped up their game again.
“Sometimes they try to do a little bit too much and it cost us in the first. Then they just stuck to the game-plan and played typical Viper hockey.”
Vernon (22-1), who are cruising with a 15-game win streak, exploded for four second-period markers. Dan Nycholat (2nd) on a powerplay point shot, and McGillis (4th) scored 90 seconds apart.
Midway through the period, Cory Kane (10th) took a nice outlet feed from Bryce Kakoske, skated in on the fly and ripped a snapshot past netminder Cole Holowenko (37 saves).
A minute later, Adam Thompson (2nd) added another powerplay point shot.
Early in the third frame, McGillis (5th) came in 2-on-1 with George, received a nice saucer pass and faked Holowenko with a gorgeous backhand.
First star Robbie Short (9th) used his speed to pick off a puck, then converted a pin-point return pass from Dylan Walchuk to complete the Vipers’ attack at 8:01.
Vernon hosts the Trail Smoke Eaters (6-16-1-1) tonight and Saturday night at Wesbild Centre. They will be without sniper Jonathan Milhouse, who went back to California for personal reasons.
They will, however, regain the services of twins Connor and Kellen Jones, who returned Monday from Summerside, P.E.I. with silver medals from the World Junior A Challenge.
If the Montrose boys had their way, they would have played Tuesday in Merritt.
“We definitely wanted to play. We just don’t like sitting in the stands and watching,” said the ultra-competitive Connor. “It will be nice to get back with the team.”
That said, Connor added he really enjoyed his time in P.E.I.
“It was great hanging with a new group of guys. It was amazing to see how quick 22 guys can come together as a team.
“The Interior guys, we all became pretty close, but when we come back to playing one another, I’m sure they’re going to be hating me and I’m going to be hating them.”
Canada West bowed 2-1 to the U.S. in the gold-medal game. Connor, who tied linemate Cody Kunyk for the tournament scoring lead with 10 points in five games (Kellen had six), credits Canada West netminder Sean Bonar for keeping them in the game.
“Bonar definitely held us in the game. I’m not looking forward to shooting on him as the year goes on,” said Connor.
“They (U.S.) played well – you have to give them credit.”
Finding chemistry isn’t an issue with Vernon Viper rookies Drew George and Patrick McGillis. After years of playing together with the Notre Dame Hounds of Wilcox, Sask., it comes as a standard accessory.
Now that they’re getting some consistent B.C. Hockey League ice time, albeit on a stopgap line with either defencemen Darrin Robak or Nils-Erik Soderlund, they are making those minutes count.
McGillis fired a pair of goals (he wasn’t credited for either on the scoresheet) and George collected an assist as the Vipers rolled the Merritt Centennials 6-1 Tuesday night at Nicola Valley Arena.
That makes 13 points (5+8) between them in the last three games.
“It was a slow start to the year – not being in the lineup all the time – so it’s nice to get on the scoreboard finally,” said McGillis, an 18-year-old Calgary product.
“Me and George have been playing together for years now. We know where we are on the ice all the time and now we’re starting to play with confidence.”
Added Vipers’ assistant coach Jason Williamson: “They might be the hottest line in the league right now. It seems whoever we put with George and McGillis is putting up points.”
Merritt (7-14-0-1), who are .500 at home, got off to a good start as Silvan Harper put one past second star Graeme Gordon (28 saves) at 16:48 of the first period. Mitch Jones and former Viper Steve Tresierra drew assists.
“They were good in the first. They forechecked hard and battled for the puck,” said Williamson, of Merritt. “We had a little wake-up call in the intermission and our guys just stepped up their game again.
“Sometimes they try to do a little bit too much and it cost us in the first. Then they just stuck to the game-plan and played typical Viper hockey.”
Vernon (22-1), who are cruising with a 15-game win streak, exploded for four second-period markers. Dan Nycholat (2nd) on a powerplay point shot, and McGillis (4th) scored 90 seconds apart.
Midway through the period, Cory Kane (10th) took a nice outlet feed from Bryce Kakoske, skated in on the fly and ripped a snapshot past netminder Cole Holowenko (37 saves).
A minute later, Adam Thompson (2nd) added another powerplay point shot.
Early in the third frame, McGillis (5th) came in 2-on-1 with George, received a nice saucer pass and faked Holowenko with a gorgeous backhand.
First star Robbie Short (9th) used his speed to pick off a puck, then converted a pin-point return pass from Dylan Walchuk to complete the Vipers’ attack at 8:01.
Vernon hosts the Trail Smoke Eaters (6-16-1-1) tonight and Saturday night at Wesbild Centre. They will be without sniper Jonathan Milhouse, who went back to California for personal reasons.
They will, however, regain the services of twins Connor and Kellen Jones, who returned Monday from Summerside, P.E.I. with silver medals from the World Junior A Challenge.
If the Montrose boys had their way, they would have played Tuesday in Merritt.
“We definitely wanted to play. We just don’t like sitting in the stands and watching,” said the ultra-competitive Connor. “It will be nice to get back with the team.”
That said, Connor added he really enjoyed his time in P.E.I.
“It was great hanging with a new group of guys. It was amazing to see how quick 22 guys can come together as a team.
“The Interior guys, we all became pretty close, but when we come back to playing one another, I’m sure they’re going to be hating me and I’m going to be hating them.”
Canada West bowed 2-1 to the U.S. in the gold-medal game. Connor, who tied linemate Cody Kunyk for the tournament scoring lead with 10 points in five games (Kellen had six), credits Canada West netminder Sean Bonar for keeping them in the game.
“Bonar definitely held us in the game. I’m not looking forward to shooting on him as the year goes on,” said Connor.
“They (U.S.) played well – you have to give them credit.”
No comments:
Post a Comment