Snakes Ready For BCHL Top Guns:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Snakes ready for BCHL top guns

By Kevin Mitchell - Vernon Morning Star

Published: January 12, 2010

There is no official point spread on the 41st B.C. Hockey League all-star game tonight in Nanaimo.

In a new format, the defending champion Vernon Vipers will face the all-stars at Frank Crane Arena. The Stars have the potential of icing a top line featuring Denver Manderson, who has 96 points, Mark Zengerle, who has 91, and Mitch MacMillan, who has 46 goals in 46 games.

However, the all-stars aren’t necessarily favoured to win.

“They’re going to be hard pressed because Vernon is going to be a machine,” said Bill Bestwick, coach of the Nanaimo Clippers. “They’re the No. 1-ranked team in the country and they have been for almost two years.”

The Vipers, who actually slipped to No. 2 this week behind the Spruce Grove Saints of Alberta, are treating the game more than a vacation stop.

“I hope it’s gonna be a real competitive game and I know I’m gonna tell our guys to give it their all and if we beat them by 10 goals, then so be it,” said veteran Connor Jones, who earned first star with 1+3 as the Vipers shelled the Williams Lake Timberwolves 11-1 before 2,300 fans Saturday night at Wesbild Centre.

Viper captain Kevin Kraus won’t simply wave his stick as the all-stars buzz down the wing.

“It will be fun and an experience for a lot of guys who not normally make an all-star game,” said Kraus. “We get to play against the league’s best so I think it will be a an exciting game. I’ll add a few bumps in there. I’m not much of a river hockey player so if I have to, I’ll throw the body around.”

Viper head coach Mark Ferner expects his crew to be up for the challenge.

“We’re going to play hard,” said Ferner. “It’s about talent and showcasing our league, but there’s a little different spin on it and our guys are excited and honoured to play in it, and I know our guys will play hard to a point where it’s going to make it a little more competitive than it has the last couple of years.”

The Vipers will stay in Nanaimo for a few extra nights as they battle the Clippers Friday night. Vernon visits the Victoria Grizzlies Saturday night and take on the Cowichan Valley Capitals Sunday afternoon before concluding a marathon road trip Tuesday night in Port Alberni versus the Bulldogs.

Rookie goalie Blake Voth earned his third straight win with a 14-save showing Saturday night. Ferner will likely split the four games between Voth and veteran Graeme Gordon.

“We’ve got two quality goalies that we know can play and Graeme played a lot of games early and he just needs to get re-focussed again,” said Ferner.

“I had a good, long talk with him today, and we’re in a good situation where we’ve got two goalies coming down the stretch, and it’s just a matter of making sure we’re ready to play, not only them, but also in front of them.”

Cory Kane and David Robinson each scored twice for the Vipers, who went 6-for-10 on the powerplay against the league’s worst team (9-30-1). Rob Short added 1+3, while Dylan Walchuk had 1+2 and other goals came from Curtis Gedig, Braden Pimm, Kraus and third star Patrick McGillis.

The Vipers held period leads of 3-0 and 6-1.

“Every team that comes into our rink is going to give a 100 per cent effort and Williams Lake is no different than any team in our league,” said Jones. “We just have to play everybody the same and just worry about how we play.”

Vernon product Kevin Swales was summoned from the Junior B North Okanagan Knights, and looked like he belonged on the Williams Lake defence.

“It was great,” said the towering Swales. “It was a little overwhelming at first, but once I got over that, it was fun. They’re a great team. They’ve got a lot of skill. They’re tough to contain when they get going.”

SNAKE BITES: Ex-Viper d-man Nick Amies, of Enderby, is rated 135th among North American skaters in Central Scouting’s mid-term list...Vernon-born Ryan Harrison of the Prince Albert Raiders is rated 137th. The Penticton Vees have four players ranked...Hockey greats Darryl Sittler, Lanny McDonald and Dave (Tiger) Williams were special guests at the all-star banquet Tuesday.