Vipers Storm Back To Beat Centennials:

This is posted on the Vipers website:

Vipers storm back to beat Centennials

by Don Klepp | Added 2010-02-09

The Merritt Centennials led 3-1 after the first period in Vernon Tuesday, but the Vipers scored six unanswered goals to win 7-3.

Viper David Robinson led the way with his first BCHL hat trick, including the winner at 8:11 of the third period. His power play goal came on a tip-in from the left side of the crease. After setting up Connor Jones’s wicked shot that went in off the post at 12.31, Robinson added another power play marker at 17:35 when he fronted goalie Keith Hamilton, picked up Curtis Gedig’s rebound and wheeled to beat Hamilton.

Rob Short capped the scoring at 18:19 following good work by Sahir Gill and Cory Kane, a line that was finally rewarded for their strong game.

The teams entered the third period tied 3-3 largely because Hamilton played very well in the first two periods and the Centennials capitalized on most of the few chances they generated.

The Vipers started the game with two dominating shifts, which eventually led to a Dan Nycholat power play goal at 2:46. His hard slap shot from the point found the top corner. However, the Centennials rallied behind Hamilton’s solid goal tending and they bounced back with Jeff Jones’s power play goal at 5.10.

Jones followed that up with a short handed marker at 15:14 when he roared down the right wing and blew one past Blake Voth. When Lucas Daoust poked in a puck from a scramble at 18:14, the home crowd fell silent.

After the game, Vernon Coach Jason Williamson said, “we had plenty of chances but were unable to bury them, but we told the guys to keep working and eventually we’d get some past Hamilton, and that’s what happened.”

The Vipers had the better part of the play in the second, outshooting the Cents 18-9 and scoring the only two goals of the period. The comeback started with a hard working shift by the Pimm line. Cole Ikkala controlled a Centennial defender and kicked the puck to Mike Collins, who set up Braden Pimm for a one-timer at 14:58.

The comeback was completed by David Robinson at 17:04. His first goal of the night came after Steve Weinstein wheeled out of his zone and headmanned to Connor Jones. Connor undressed a Centennial defenceman and passed to Robinson at the goal mouth.

With this win, the Vipers swept the seven regular season meetings with the Centennials, by a combined score of 49-14. In every game of the seven, the Vipers scored a minimum of five straight goals to dishearten the Nicola Valley crew.

The Centennials have lost three straight and now are in a dog fight for the last playoff spot in the Interior Division. Meanwhile, the Vipers await Penticton’s visit on Friday, with first place on the line. The Vipers have 93 points and the Vees 91, with six games to play for each squad.