Vipers Load Up Blueline:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:
Vipers load up blueline

By Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning Star
Published: November 29, 2009

The Vernon Vipers served notice Thursday they are willing do whatever it takes to repeat as Royal Bank Cup champions. Even mortgage a piece of their future perhaps.

In trading prospect defenceman Nick Amies and highly-scouted forward Drew George in exchange for Cowichan Capitals’ star blueliner Curtis Gedig, the Snakes sacrificed what would have been two key building blocks for the foreseeable future.

George instantly becomes Cowichan’s leading scorer with 10-7-17 in 24 games. Amies, a 6-foot-1, 180 pounder, has five points in 28 games, and has steadily grown in confidence since September.

“It was a little bit of a shock, but it’s a good deal for both sides,” said Amies, a 17-year-old Enderby product. “I’m going to be getting more ice time, and the Vipers look like they’re going to make another run at the cup.”

In return, Vernon gets a top-two defenceman that will boost the Snakes’ back end for the remainder of the season. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder is committed to play with the NCAA Division 1 Ohio State Buckeyes for the 2010-11 season.

Gedig knows first-hand just how lethal the Vernon assault can be. He still has nightmares from the 14-0 shellacking the Snakes handed Cowichan in October.

“I remember them scoring what seemed like every minute – it was terrible,” chuckled Gedig. “I never want to go through that again.

“I was really excited (about the trade). To go from a last-place team to a first-place team is exciting. You saw what they did last year at the RBC and they have a chance of going again this year.”

There is no denying Gedig, 18, comes with impressive credentials. He was a seventh-round pick (204th overall) of the New Jersey Devils in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, and he played alongside twins Connor and Kellen Jones for Canada West at the Junior A Challenge earlier this month in P.E.I.

In 23 games with the Capitals, the West Kelowna product posted 6-3-9.

Yet Vipers’ head coach Mark Ferner admits he has already had people question the deal.

His response: “We didn’t do this on a whim.

“We gave up two really good, young players, but we also knew we were getting a very good player in return. Even though he’s only 18 and we only get him for the rest of the season, we feel like we got a lot in return.

“When you have a chance to add a No. 1 or No. 2 defenceman, you have to at least take a look at it. Those players don’t come up very often.”

With the Vipers spoiled for talent at every position, Ferner adds this move will give both George and Amies a chance to shine, albeit on a weaker team.

“I know it’s tough for them to digest this now, but they’re going to play in all situations and it’s only going to help their development,” said Ferner. “They need to be seen to get scholarships.”

Having played on three different junior teams in two leagues over the last four seasons, Vipers’ captain Kevin Kraus has a pretty good idea what George and Amies are going through.

“I was 17 when I got traded, so I’ve been in their shoes before. The best thing you can do is just look at it as a positive and go there. They’re going to get more shifts, they’re going to get more ice time and they’re going to get better.

“It’s hockey, it’s going to happen at one point in your life.”

The Vipers pulled a similar deal last season, bringing in veteran d-men Cam Brodie and Mike Leidl at the Jan. 10 trade deadline. Both played integral roles in the Vipers earning a fifth national title. While Gedig might be known more for his puck-moving ability and his play in the offensive zone, he is willing chip in any way he can.

“I want to play solid, no mistakes,” said Gedig. “I’m more of an offensive sort of defenceman, but I’ll try to pick up my physical play too.

“There’s a little pressure, but that’s part of hockey, and that’s fun for me.”

The trade deadline is more than a month away, but Prince George Spruce Kings’ head coach Ed Dempsey thinks this trade might be a bit of a wake-up call for other elite Junior A teams across the country.

“With the trade Vernon made today, that’s obviously a deadline deal, which I’m sure will send shockwaves to the other big four teams (Penticton Vees, Salmon Arm SilverBacks, Westside Warriors),” Dempsey told The Morning Star after the Sprucies bowed 6-2 to the Vipers Thursday night. “The arms race is on.

“Penticton’s going to have to move...Grande Prairie (Storm), Fort Mac (Oil Barons), Dauphin (Kings), and maybe Spruce Grove (Saints) and Camrose (Kodiaks) because that’s a big trade for Vernon.

“Those next-level teams, if they’re going to have any hope, they can’t wait around until January 10th because they’re not going to have enough bullets to catch up now.”