Reunion Works For Viper Unit:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Reunion works for Viper unit

Published: January 17, 2010

Twins Connor and Kellen Jones and David Robinson hadn’t played a B.C. Hockey League game together since they were 16-year-old call-ups. They were clutch for the Vernon Vipers back then, and they clicked Friday night as the Snakes stuffed the host Nanaimo Clippers 5-4 before 1,649 fans at Frank Crane Arena.

The line combined for six points, with Connor (1+2) netting the winner with 33 seconds remaining, his shot trickling past netminder Loic Boivin on an odd-man rush.

Kellen, in his first game back after missing a dozen games with a broken jaw, potted a goal and an assist.

“I was pretty nervous, but I’m happy to be back. You can only watch so many games (from the stands),” said Kellen, who played with a full face shield. “I was just making sure everything was working alright, but after the first few shifts everything settled in and the rust wore off.

“We didn’t play as well defensively as we usually do and we’ve got to stay out of the box, but overall we played alright.”

Vernon came out firing, outshooting Nanaimo 13-2 in the first period. Rookie sniper Dylan Walchuk (16th goal) opened the scoring when his shot from the side wall beat Boivin (26 saves) through traffic on a powerplay at 14:09.

Walchuk played on a line with Robbie Short and Sahir Gill, who played his first league game with Vernon since returning from the USHL’s Chicago Steel.

“We had a good first period,” said Vipers’ head coach Mark Ferner. “We did a lot of good things and had some good opportunities.

“But give Nanaimo credit – they didn’t go away. We got a couple leads and let them back into it.”

Ferner noted it was difficult for either team to get any flow going because there was a seemingly endless parade to the penalty box. Referee Carl Poole dished out 14 minors – eight to Vernon (38-4-0-2) and six to Nanaimo (16-19-1-9).

“Fourteen minors is going to affect the flow. Neither team knew half the time who was getting the penalty,” said Ferner.

The Clippers cashed in on the powerplay bonanza in the second period, taking the lead on goals by Teal Burns (14th) and Nicholas McIntyre (6th), both with the man advantage.

Robinson, with his fourth goal in as many games, equalized for the Snakes with 36 seconds left in the second period. Earlier in the period, the Vernon product stepped up to scrap Tyler Mah after Connor got drilled into Nanaimo’s net.

Cole Ikkala (13th), with a deflection on d-man Stevie Weinstein’s point shot, put Vernon back in front 1:16 into the third frame.

Nanaimo wouldn’t roll over. Keifer McNaughton (3rd) pulled the Clippers even less than a minute later. And after Kellen (8th) restored the Viper lead with a shorthanded goal, Brayden Jaw (7th) squared things up yet again.

Vipers’ netminder Graeme Gordon recorded 18 saves for his 26th win.

Vernon tangled with the Victoria Grizzlies (23-14-2-5) Saturday night and will visit the Cowichan Valley Capitals (16-28-0-2) this afternoon (5 p.m.).

On Tuesday, they head back up island for a date with the Coastal Conference-leading Alberni Valley Bulldogs, who are riding a 10-game win streak.

SNAKE BITES: The BCHL board of governors unanimously approved the relocation application of the Burnaby Express franchise to Coquitlam for the 2010-11 season. The decision was made at the league’s biannual governors meeting Wednesday in Nanaimo. The Express have been in Burnaby since the 2005-06 season. Despite winning a national championship in 2006, the franchise found it increasingly difficult to operate in Burnaby because of dwindling crowds and limited parking...Laine Keyes and Trevor Fitzgerald combined for 10 points as the North Okanagan Knights thumped the Grand Forks Border Bruins 6-2 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League play Friday night at Enderby Arena. Keyes and Fitgerald, each with 3+2, earned first and second star respectively. The Knights, who outshot the Bruins 48-22, led 2-0 after 20 minutes. The Knights host the Princeton Posse today at Nor-Val Sports Centre (1:30 p.m.).