Vipers Rub Out Cents:

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Vipers rub out Cents

By Brent Mutis - Vernon Morning Star

Published: December 09, 2009

You could excuse the Vernon Vipers for their below-average showings against Penticton and Trail leading into Tuesday’s game with the Merritt Centennials.

They’d just lost one of their top scorers to a broken jaw and were still adjusting to new forward lines. With Dylan Walchuk absent Tuesday for the CJHL prospects game, there was even more mixing and matching going on.

But a visit from the struggling Cents seems to have allowed the Snakes to get their offensive house back in order in front of 1,636 B.C. Hockey League fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Four third-period goals by Vernon buried the visitors, who are still searching for their first road win this season.

Veteran winger Bryce Kakoske notched 1+2 and seems poised to surpass his previous high points total of 40 set with Westside two years ago. The first star liked his second-line assignment alongside Braden Pimm and Mike Collins.

“It’s always nice playing with those two; they work really well together and I just try to find the open spots and they’re pretty good at getting me the puck.”

That’s how it went on the goal that made it 5-1 as Kakoske roofed a shot from the high slot past Keith Hamilton. It was the final shot the netminder would face. Junior B call-up Riley Wall mopped up in the Merritt crease, allowing two goals.

Merritt actually opened the scoring 1:08 into the first after some sloppy play by Vernon in their own end. Dustin Johnson took a feed from behind the net and beat Blake Voth from in close.

“It’s really tough when they score on the first shot but it was a good goal so I just didn’t let it bother me and just focused on the rest of the game,” said Voth, now 9-0 on the campaign.

A highlight-reel effort from Connor Jones tied the game as he danced around a Cents defenceman before going backhand-forehand to beat Hamilton. The eventual game-winner came when Adam Thompson put a nice feed from Sawyer Mick into an open net.

The outcome was still in question going into the third as the teams skated through a second period lull, producing no goals. Kakoske said Mark Ferner emphasized a focus on systems play in the second intermission.

“Ferns always says it’s not about the score, it’s about the process and we just kinda got reminded about that. It didn’t really matter what the score was then, we just had to go out and work hard in the third and that’s what we needed to do.”

Merritt’s early lead last only five minutes and they were never able to build on the good first shift they opened with.

“We got a great start and even after the opening goal I though we continued to apply the pressure but against a team like that that’s very opportunistic you need to stay the course and can’t take a second off,” said Merritt coach Luke Pierce, a former Viper, now 2-4 since taking the Cents’ job. “We just had a couple lapses and every time we did that they managed to capitalize and score.

“We’ll learn from it and we’ll be a better team the next time we come back.”

Colton Sobchak looked dangerous at times and earned an assist on the evening but said Vernon is a team that can’t be handed opportunities.

“I think it’s mostly the one-on-one battles. Odd man rushes, they can capitalize; you can’t give a team like that chances (or) they’ll score.”

Cole Ikkala, playing on the top line with Jones and Jonathan Milhouse, netted two third-period goals giving him a dozen for the season. Cory Kane and Mike Collins added the other tallies for Vernon.

A skirmish broke out after the final horn sounded and five players were given roughing penalties. Pimm dropped the mitts with Jordan Soquila late in the game but is expected to be available Friday when Vernon hosts the Salmon Arm SilverBacks.

It’s Teddy Bear Toss Night with fans urged to litter the ice with stuffies for kids in need.