Snakes Escape Alberta With Lead:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Snakes escape Alberta with lead

Published: April 20, 2010

SPRUCE GROVE – So far there hasn’t been much to choose between the Spruce Grove Saints and the Vernon Vipers in the Doyle Cup hockey playoffs, but the Alberta champs, who trail the best-of-seven series 2-1, say their best is yet to come.

The Saints, who lost two consecutive 3-2 decisions to Vernon, the second in double OT Sunday night at Grant Fuhr Arena, now finish the series at Wesbild Centre.

And that, their captain and head coach say, could be a good thing, noting the Saints were the best road team in the AJHL this past year, and now they don’t have to impress anyone with their style of play – they simply have to win.

“When we go there, it’s just the family, the team, the 25 of us,” said Saints’ captain Malcom Tomlinson outside a sombre dressing room after Game 3. “We don’t have to impress anybody and we are a good team on the road.

“And losing isn’t acceptable in this dressing room.”

Cory Kane fired the OT winner before 683 fans in Game 3, assisted by Stevie Weinstein on the powerplay.

The Saints forced extra time when Adam Henderson connected from Kodie Curran with 64 seconds to play in the third period.

Dylan Walchuk, from Patrick McGillis and Curtis Gedig, gave the Vipers a 1-0 first-period lead, but Spruce Grove equalized in the opening minute of the second period when Joshua Lazowski converted a powerplay chance.

Sahir Gill, from twins Kellen and Connor Jones, restored Vernon’s one-goal lead 10 minutes later.

Vernon captain Kevin Kraus said the Vipers’ ability to force turnovers high in the offensive zone was a big reason for his team’s success. He doesn’t see any reason to change when the series continues with Game 4 tonight.

Game 5 goes Thursday night, with Games 6 and 7, if necessary, going Saturday and Sunday night respectively.

“Our main focus is to not let the other team in our zone,” said Kraus, a Garden Grove, Calif. product. “I guess you could say we play a little bit of a trap. We try to get them at the redline, and if not, then at the blueline.”

Kraus said it is somewhat of an advantage to be headed home up by a game.

“Yes and no. I mean, we are in our own barn but it’s a seven-game series and they’re No. 1 team in the country and we’re second in the country. Anything can happen.”

The one area the Saints will have to improve while in B.C. is shutting down the Vipers fast-break offence. The B.C. squad transitions faster than any team Spruce Grove has seen, and it showed a number of times over the first three games.

“They’re a lot faster than what we’ve seen this year,” Tomlinson said. “We’re catching up to them now though. We’re getting our legs going. I think we’re right there. We’re making them play our game now; a little grittier, a little more hitting.”

Saturday night, the Snakes struck for three straight second-period goals to earn the win before 1,015 fans.

After allowing the opening goal in the second period, Vernon tied it shortly after on a low point shot by Kraus.

Then the Jones brothers, Connor and Kellen, went to work, taking a feed from Gill to go in on a 2-on-1, with Kellen putting the finishing touches on the play at 9:02.

Kellen netted the winner less than three minutes later.

“We were better and that has nothing to do with the result,” said Ferner. “The group as a whole was just a better team tonight. We were soft last game – lost a lot of puck battles.”

The Vipers cycled the puck well in the offensive zone and ripped more than 40 shots on the Spruce Grove goal, the most they’ve allowed this season. The, meanwhile, looked hesitant in their attack, and it cost them a number of possible scoring chances.

“They forced us to the outside and there were times where we wanted to shoot it and they were getting sticks on it,” said Saints’ assistant coach Ryan Marsh.

The Saints pulled within one with 1:50 left when Jordan Draper scored on a one-timer off a feed from Nate Fleming. Despite the series lead, Vipers’ head coach Mark Ferner says his club hasn’t played their best hockey yet either.

“A lot of times we don’t get pucks out, we get caught out there a little too long,” he explained of some first and third game defensive breakdowns. “When you’re tired, the first thing to go is your mind. We need to get better as far as communication and realize who we’re playing against.

“They’re a great hockey team and you can’t take anything away from them.”

In assessing the series to this point, Ferner was pleased with the Vipers’ road record.

“Coming in here, there was a bit of an unknown. Obviously we hadn’t played against Spruce Grove, hadn’t been in the building. We had an opportunity to steal one in Game 1, but didn’t. I thought last night (Saturday) we came out with a better effort and this one (Sunday) was a crucial game.

“Going home with two victories, we wouldn’t have planned it that way but we’re certainly happy. At the same time, we wanted to come up here and win at least once.”

Saints’ head coach Steve Hamilton was looking for more than one win at home, as he knows it will be a stiff challenge to take this series and move on to the Royal Bank Cup.

“Obviously it’s a tough pill to swallow, but that’s a good hockey team,” he said. “I was proud though of the way we bounced back and emerged from our shell in those first couple of games.”

Hamilton said his team has to go into the trenches now and battle with Vernon, looking to slow them down and force them into the AJHL style of game, which is more physically oriented than speed based.

“We learned from experience we’re not going to be able to get into a horse race with them. I thought we were way more physical tonight and were more aggressive in getting after the puck,” said Hamilton.

The Doyle Cup champion advances to the Royal Bank Cup, May 1-9, in Dauphin, Man.