This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:
Voth snares Top Goalie award
Published: February 25, 2010
For a team noted more for its high-octane offence, it was the Vernon Viper goaltending tandem of Blake Voth and Graeme Gordon who walked away with B.C. Hockey League awards this week.
Voth, an 18-year-old rookie, earned Top Goaltender based on his record-setting 1.79 goals against average. He eclipsed the 1.98 GAA posted by Nanaimo’s Sebastien Nolet in 2004-05.
The Herbert, Sask. product’s 92.90 save percentage also came close to Powell River Kings’ keeper Pete Brady’s mark of 93.17 set in 1996-97.
He and Gordon (2.06 GAA) also earned the Wally Forslund Trophy as the Top Goaltending Duo based on their combined GAA.
While Gordon earned the bulk of the starts earlier in the year, Voth stepped up to make 10 straight appearances down the final stretch when Gordon got injured.
“I got to play against a couple of the better teams, so that was fun,” smiled Voth, 18. “It’s easier to get up for the top teams and the team always seems to play better too.
“The more starts you get the more confident you get, and you get more comfortable with the guys in front of you too. They did a pretty good job of keeping guys to the outside.”
For the league’s nomination-based awards, Vipers’ head coach Mark Ferner collected his second straight Joe Tenant Memorial Trophy as Interior Conference Coach of the Year. He was the only Viper to receive a nomination, and given the Vipers’ stellar regular season, the third-year bench boss was left feeling a little perplexed as to why.
While quick to praise players like Salmon Arm’s Mark Zengerle and Penticton’s Beau Bennett (Rookie of the Year) for having sensational seasons, Ferner felt there were a number of Vipers worthy of a nomination.
“I wouldn’t trade some of our guys for anyone in the league because of the character they bring to the team. It’s not so much what people see on the ice, it’s how they are off the ice.
“It’s disappointing for our group for sure, but we would all trade any individual trophy for the one we really want. And that one is still out there.”
Penticton’s Denver Manderson was named Interior MVP, Westside’s Brendan Ellis took Top Defenceman and Quesnel’s Trevor Hertz picked up Most Sportsmanlike.
Meanwhile, veteran forward Connor Jones hauled in the heavy hardware, collecting the Leading Scorer, Three Star and Most Valuable Player awards as the Vipers hosted their annual Awards Gala Monday night at Best Western Vernon Lodge.
Jones led Vernon with 36 goals for 81 points in 51 games. His twin brother Kellen was named Most Sportsmanlike Player.
Ultra-athletic Robbie Short was a solid choice for the Fan Favourite award, while Mike Collins, who quietly posted a 30-goal season (six were game winners), earned the Unsung Hero honour.
Captain Kevin Kraus and Bryce Kakoske shared the Rienie Holland Memorial Community Contribution award, and Kraus noted the Vipers’ role off the ice is just as important as their presence on it.
“It’s great to go out and make a name for yourself in the community. It’s good for the community to see us as role models. It shows we’re not just here for the hockey.”
Kraus was also awarded the Coldstream Truck Parts Short Handed Scholarship.
Rookie of the Year honours were split by netminder Blake Voth and forward Dylan Walcuk.
Walchuk, a top-10 scorer as a rookie in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League last season, was as good as advertised, posting 19-28-47 with Vernon this year.
Philadelphia product Cole Ikkala picked up the Bill Brown Academic Excellence award, while reliable blueliner Garrett Noonan took home the Sun Valley Source For Sports Most Improved Player.
Dan Nycholat, who led all Viper d-men with 44 points, pocketed Top Defenceman, and Gordon received the Blueliners Scholarship.
The Vipers, who won the B.C. Hockey League pennant for the first time in seven years, posted a 51-6-0-3 record, coming within a point of the franchise-best 106-point regular season. They also smashed the league record for fewest goals allowed in 60 games by holding the opposition to just 119 goals. That is 18 fewer than the Penticton Vees surrendered in 2005-06.
“We stressed solid team defence all around – not just the defencemen but the forwards too,” said Kraus. “We played more defensive hockey and worked from our own zone out.”
Added Voth: “It was just a good overall effort. No one can really take credit for it.”
With just a short break after closing the regular season, the Vipers laced up for a Wednesday afternoon practice at Wesbild Centre. They will host Games 1 and 2 of the Interior Conference semifinals, Tuesday, March 9 and Wednesday, March 10 at Wesbild.
“The first week will be pretty relaxed, but the next week will be conditioning and then battling drills to get ready for playoff hockey again,” said Kraus, who has shown an ability to elevate his game in each of the last two post-seasons.
“It’s a new season. We’re playing about every other day, but it’s easy to get up for playoffs because if you lose, you’re out.
“The thing we’ve got going for us is we all want the same thing and we’re all buying into that.”
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