Snakes Seize Sixth Junior Title:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Snakes seize sixth junior title

By Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning Star

Published: May 11, 2010

DAUPHIN, MAN. – Good, better, best. That was the natural progression of the Vernon Vipers' play at the Royal Bank Cup, culminating in an 8-1 drubbing of the host Dauphin Kings in the championship game Sunday afternoon at Credit Union Place.

The Vipers are the first team to repeat as national junior A hockey champions since the Vernon Lakers won back-to-back Centennial Cups in 1990 and '91. They are also the all-time leader with six national championships (1990, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2009, 2010).

"They should be proud of themselves, and the fans of Vernon should be very proud of these kids because it wasn't easy. They've had a target on their back all year and they just kept getting better and better as the year went on," said Vipers' head coach Mark Ferner, piloting his club to its second title in just three years behind the bench.

His players celebrated by dumping the Gatorade jug over Ferner's head.

With the Kings having to grind out a win over the physical La Ronge Ice Wolves in the late semifinal Saturday night (Vernon stopped the Brockville Braves 2-0 in the afternoon semi), Ferner suspected there might be an opportunity to take advantage of a tired opponent.

"That's why we wanted to push the pace real early and just make sure we get a good jump in this hockey game. And our guys responded," he said.

The Vipers took advantage of a lethargic looking Kings squad from the outset, controlling the play and keeping the Dauphin defenders on their heels with a blinding forecheck. Cory Kane, using a defenceman as a screen, pegged Vernon to a 1-0 lead with a quick blast from the top of the faceoff circle at 14:28 of the first period.

Rookie Dylan Walchuck's winner at 6:28 of the second period marked the start of a three-goal spree over a 48-second span that the Kings never recovered from. A pair of carbon-copy goals just nine seconds apart by Kellen Jones and Cole Ikkala had the Kings reeling, and the home crowd stunned.

Jones, who netted two goals and an assist to earn Vernon's Game MVP, tied Dauphin’s Ryan Dreger for the tournament scoring lead with nine points in six games. He was also named the tournament’s Most Sportsmanlike Player.

"It's a great way to end it. I'm sad to be leaving Vernon, but I'm also excited for a new season to start down in Quinnipiac (Bobcats)," said Kellen, crediting netminder Graeme Gordon for holding Dauphin off the scoresheet early in the game. "We're the best team in Canada right now, so he should be the best goalie. I don't think he gets noticed enough, but he played great."

Bryce Lamb pocketed the Kings' lone goal midway through the second period, but the Vipers fired four unanswered goals to seal the win before 2,260 fans.

Said Kings' captain Steven Shamanski: "They're a skilled team and they really put the pressure on us. They buried a couple quick ones on us and we just got behind the eight-ball and it was tough to come back against a skilled team like that."

Pat McGillis, Sahir Gill, Jones and Garrett Noonan, with a rocket from the face-off circle, completed the Vernon assault. Walchuk, Gill and Thompson each contributed two points.

Gordon recorded 23 saves for the win, his best when he slid cross-crease to deny Dauphin sniper Shane Luke on an odd-man rush early in the second period.

"I can't wait to celebrate with the boys, it's been an unreal two seasons," said Gordon. "I gotta thank Ferns for bringing me here and I gotta thank Duncan (Wray, Vipers' owner) and the staff. Repeat champions, that's the best way to close it out, I don't know what more to say."

Joe Caligiuri faced 36 shots, and didn't get a lot of help as his team got caught pinching, repeatedly turned the puck over in the neutral zone, and allowed countless odd-man rushes.

Gordon and defenceman Stevie Weinstein didn't see much action during last year's playoff run, so to get a second shot at a title has been extra special for them. Weinstein will be one of three returnees that was on the both championship teams (Bryce Kakoske and Adam Thompson are the other two).

"It does feel a lot better. I waited it out last year, did my time. (Last year) was a great feeling, but this is a bit better," said Weinstein, a Los Angeles product.

"Being defending champs there was a lot of pressure on us, but to deliver makes it a little bit sweeter this year."

The Snakes fell 6-5 in overtime to the ANAVET Cup champion Kings to open the tournament more than a week ago, but their play and their confidence steadily progressed throughout the week.

"We got better as the tournament went on," said Ferner. "We didn't start the way we wanted to, but that's fine. We got ourselves in the semifinal game, and that last game against Brockville (Braves) in the round-robin we were good and we just built on that."

The loss was Dauphin's first in 21 home playoff games, just their third all season, and Vipers' captain Kevin Kraus was happy to be the one to deliver it.

"We came to this tournament and all we heard was Dauphin wanted a team that would challenge them, and we did that in both games," said the bearded veteran.

"We had some rough games in the beginning of the tournament, losing some leads, but we weren't going to let that happen with the championship on the line."

Kraus, one of seven Americans on the Viper roster, says Dauphin's decision to take the late semifinal suited the Vipers just fine.

"This was our fourth two o'clock game in the tournament, so we definitely had the advantage there. They've been playing at 7 (p.m.), so it changed up their game-plan."

Dauphin head coach Marlin Murray accepted responsibility for choosing the late semifinal slot (round-robin winner gets to choose), as it may have been a factor in his team's inability to keep up with the speedy Vipers.

"If you need to point fingers, point fingers at me for making that decision. I will take full responsibility for it," said Murray.

Murray added Vernon deserves full credit for the win.

"You gotta give the Vernon Vipers a ton of credit. They've got a helluva team, coached very well.

"It ended up a bit of wash, but earlier on we had chances to score… two real good opportunities by Shamanski and Shane Luke that we just didn't bury the puck."

Once the initial sting is gone, Murray says his club will have a lot to be proud of.

"Overall a real successful season. I'm really proud of the guys, it's been one of my best seasons to be part of a hockey club, playing or coaching."

Suiting up for his first game of the tournament, Connor Jones led the Snakes to a 2-0 win over the eastern champion Braves of Ontario in Saturday's semifinal. Seeing an opening up the left wing, the speedy Kootenay product charged up ice and dangled around Brockville defenceman Scott Dawson before feathering a shot through netminder Justin Gilbert's legs midway through the third period.

"I thought I lost it and just kind of poked it at the last second. He (Gilbert, 33 saves) played a helluva game, you've got to give him total credit," said Jones, who set up twin brother Kellen with a cross-ice pass for a post-and-in insurance marker at 15:51.

Gordon posted 20 saves to earn the only shutout of the tournament.

In the chaos of the gold-medal celebration, Connor took an inadvertent stick to the head while his teammates cleared the players bench, opening up a gash that required stitches from team doctor Gavin Smart.

Ferner says the Vipers fully intend to soak up the excitement this week. They were greeted by a few hundred fans when they returned to Wesbild Centre Monday afternoon. The city hosted a public barbecue Tuesday afternoon at city hall, and the Vipers are hosting a meet and greet with fans tonight (6-7 p.m.) in the media room at Wesbild.

After that, the club will need to address the possibility of a massive personnel changeover as 13 of the 22-man RBC roster could move on next season. Gordon, Jonathan Milhouse, Robbie Short and Kraus will leave the Viper den, as over-age players. Mike Collins (Merrimack), Curtis Gedig (Ohio State), Sahir Gill (Boston University), Cole Ikkala (Union), the Jones twins (Quinnipiac), Dan Nycholat (Dartmouth), Cory Kane (Ferris State) and Braden Pimm (Northeastern) all have college commitments for the 2010-11 season.

Returning players include Kakoske, Walchuk, McGillis, Blake Voth, Noonan, Darrin Robak, Dave Robinson, Weinstein and Thompson. The Snakes have already committed to Vernon's Trevor Fitzgerald and Castlegar's Aaron Hadley for next season.

"Unfortunately at this level you do lose players, but for the players moving on it's just a great feeling for them. When they go to school or go play pro hockey this is something nobody can ever take away from them," said Ferner.

"We work hard at it (scouting), we really do. I'll go home and have a couple days with my family and then I'm off scouting again. You've got to go out and find these players and we know we're turning our team over pretty good, but we expect to be a good hockey team next year."