Snakes Stuff Cents:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Snakes stuff Cents

Published: February 07, 2010

It was a two-game road trip that felt more like eternity for the Vernon Vipers, but claiming three of a possible four B.C. Hockey League points probably helped ease the exhaustion a little.

The Snakes travelled to the Sunshine Coast Thursday night, falling 3-2 in overtime in a make-up game with the Powell River Kings, and then ventured back to the Interior to stuff the Merritt Centennials 7-3 Friday night at Nicola Valley Arena.

The Vipers (44-6-0-3), who caught a charter flight to Powell River from Richmond, got off to a good start when defenceman Adam Thompson (5th goal) converted and nice passing play, beating netminder Josh Watson from the slot.

A first-period goal by the Kings’ Andrew Pettitt (30th) had the teams deadlocked after 40 minutes before 608 fans at the Recreation Centre.

Powell River seized momentum with a shorthanded tally 25 seconds into the third frame. The Kings’ Ben Schmidt collected a strange bounce off the sidewall in the Powell River zone and tried to rush up ice on a breakaway. Viper d-man Dan Nycholat stopped him, but not before Schmidt dropped to Mat Bodie (8th) who had jumped up on the play.

Robbie Short (17th) forced OT with a rising rocket from the blueline that crept up and over Watson.

Powell River (31-15-1-6) capitalized on some poor Viper defensive coverage in overtime, with Matt Garbowsky (26th) converting a bang-bang play 54 seconds into the extra period.

“We were a shot away from getting four out of four (points), but we just didn’t keep things simple,” said Vipers’ assistant coach Jason Williamson. “We turned the puck over at inopportune times and it cost us.

“Give our guys credit for being able to stay focussed. Any other team in the league would have been easier to have a make-up game with.”

Rookie netminder Blake Voth recorded 29 stops to earn third star. Watson made 32 saves for the Kings.

Vernon got another quick road start against the Centennials (20-32-0-2), as Connor Jones scored his 32nd goal on a breakaway just 10 seconds into the game.

Derek Hills (18th) responded for the Cents at 3:02, but the Vipers began scoring in bunches to take control. Cole Ikkala (20th), with a blast off the post and in, and Cory Kane (21st), with one of his wicked wristers, scored less than a minute apart midway through the first period. Short (first star) made it 4-1 after 20 minutes.

Second star Mike Collins and Short, on a pair of gorgeous three-way passing plays, scored a minute apart early in the second frame, forcing Powell River coach Kent Lewis to pull netminder Keith Hamilton (eight saves) in favour of Cole Holowenko (13 saves).

“Our guys were pretty simple, pretty good in that one,” said Williamson, noting that both teams took advantage of the rink’s small ice surface by shooting from all angles.

“They had more shots, but we had the better scoring chances.”

David Robinson (7th) rounded out the Vipers’ scoring, while Dustin Johnson (32nd and 33rd) completed the Merritt attack.

Voth turned in a 37-save showing for Vernon.

The Vipers, who have just seven regular-season games remaining, host Merritt Tuesday night at Wesbild Centre. With the top Interior team earning a first-round bye in the playoffs, Williamson says they just need to maintain a game-by-game attitude.

“We don’t know how many points we’re going to need (to win the division), so we just need to focus on that game.”

First-round playoff series are now best-of-seven, instead of best-of-five.

The Vipers lead second-place Penticton Vees (42-7-0-3) by four points. They play each other twice more in the regular season.