East Meets West In Viper Victory:

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East meets West in Viper victory

by viper staff | Added 2010-01-17

East Coast recruits Cole Ikkala and Mike Collins shone on the West Coast Sunday in the Vernon Vipers’ 5-1 victory over the host Cowichan Valley Capitals.

Viper regulars Jonathan Milhouse, Dylan Walchuk, and Bryce Kakoske were healthy scratches, so Mark Ferner shook up his line combinations. Philadelphia’s Cole Ikkala slotted in with Boston’s Mike Collins and Braden Pimm, and the trio fired four of the five Viper goals.

The two teams started the game at a furious pace, with the Capitals eager to avenge their 14-0 defeat in Vernon on October. They got the early jump with a goal on their first shot. At 4:22, Mike Hammond led a rush into the Viper zone. At full speed, he zipped a pass that Jackson Garrett deflected past Graeme Gordon at the goal mouth.

The Vipers responded with constant pressure in all areas of the ice. However, Alexandre Peck was solid in the Capitals net, so the Vipers were held off the score sheet until 18:21. From the right faceoff circle, Mike Collins whipped a high backhand past Peck for his first goal in 13 games.

Collins struck again at 1:06 of the second. Braden Pimm got the puck behind the net to Cole Ikkala who fed a quick pass to Collins skating through the slot. Collins snapped the puck past a defenceless Peck. Just over three minutes later, the constant Viper pressure led to a Cory Kane goal. Garrett Noonan, another Boston native, held the line and Sahir Gill fed Kane whose stick handling mesmerized Peck.

Later, Peck robbed Connor Jones point blank on a great set up by Braden Pimm. Despite being down two goals, the Capitals sustained the feisty style of play that has been emphasized by their new coach, Dale Purinton. In particular, Brendan MacDonald tried his best to divert the Vipers from their game.

That energy carried on in the third period, but the Vipers added to their lead on two fine goals by Cole Ikkala. On the first, Steve Weinstein’s long pass was gathered along the right boards by Braden Pimm, who found Mike Collins in the middle. Collins feathered a backhand dish to Ikkala for a strong wrist shot that overpowered Peck.

Another Rick Nash-like pass, this time by Braden Pimm, found Ikkala in front and the Philadelphia native had his 15th of the season.

For their efforts, the three line mates collected all three game stars.

Game Notes:

• Connor Jones had his nine-game point streak snapped, while David Robinson was held off the score sheet for the first time in his five games in his second tour of duty with the Vipers.

• Mike Hammond (eight games) and Jackson Garrett (six games) kept their point scoring streaks alive.

• The line of Hammond, Garrett, and Nick Anderson has scored all of Cowichan Valley’s goals in their last four games and 14 of the last 20 Capitals goals.

• Darrin Robak, Sawyer Mick, and Patrick McGillis were inserted into the Viper lineup to add energy and grit.

• Cowichan Valley’s Nick Amies and Vernon’s Curtis Gedig played against each other for the first time since they were traded for each other in November.