Backs Pull Fast One On Snakes:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Backs pull fast one on Snakes

Published: January 03, 2010

The Sunwave Centre in Salmon Arm was the backdrop for the latest remake of the 1974 classic Gone in 60 Seconds, as the host SilverBacks highjacked the Vernon Vipers 4-2 on New Year’s Eve.

The ice had barely set when the SilverBacks’ Mark Zengerle and Josh Manson scored goals 34 seconds apart in the opening minute, staggering the league-leading Snakes (34-3-0-2) before 1,268 B.C. Hockey League fans.

Zengerle (23rd goal) opened the scoring 29 seconds in when he tapped home a rebound off a point shot. Second star Manson (5th) made it 2-0 at 1:03 on a goal mouth scramble. Vipers’ assistant coach Jason Williamson questioned why referee Steve Papp didn’t blow the whistle sooner on the second goal, as netminder Graeme Gordon appeared to have the puck covered.

“We just had a bad start,” said Williamson, who flew solo behind the bench as head coach Mark Ferner is away scouting a tournament in the U.S. “Two goals on the first two shifts and the shots were 9-2 early.

“If you fall behind by two goals on two shifts against any team in this league, that could be the game right there.

“It’s a little bit of a wakeup call – we’re not invincible and you’ve got to be ready to go every night. But other than that first little bit, we carried the play most of the game.”

With the Vipers on a 5-on-3, Jonathan Milhouse pocketed his 16th of the season, easily converting a nifty backdoor pass from Connor Jones at 14:23 of the first period. Defenceman Curtis Gedig earned the other assist.

Other than the two-man advantage, the Snakes struggled on the powerplay, failing on six other attempts. Salmon Arm (21-15-2-2) went 1-for-4.

“We were trying to be a little too cute with the puck,” said Williamson. “We just got to get more pucks to the net, and we’ve got to get guys going to those greasy areas. If they don’t want to go there, we’ll get other guys on the ice that will.”

David Killip (2+1) restored Salmon Arm’s two-goal cushion with four seconds remaining in the second period, deflecting a Zengerle point shot that was going wide to beat Gordon (20 saves) for his 24th goal.

The Vipers began forcing the play in the third period, testing Gorillas’ netminder Tony Ierfino, who turned in a 30-stop showing for first star and the win.

Defenceman Stevie Weinstein (4th) took a gorgeous backhand pass from third star Braden Pimm on an odd-man rush to pull Vernon within one midway through the frame. However, Killip (25th) iced the game with an empty-netter.

The two teams tangled again Saturday night at Wesbild Centre. Vernon hosts the Merritt Centennials (15-23-0-2) Tuesday night at Wesbild.