Unlikely Hero Sinks Vipers:

This is posted on the Vipers website:

unlikely hero sinks Vipers

by Don Klepp | Added 2010-05-01

Matthew Backhouse’s goal 42 seconds into the first overtime gave the host Dauphin Kings a 6-5 decision over the Vernon Vipers.

The winning goal represented the first time the Kings had the lead in the game, as they came from behind three times in front of 2135 fans at Dauphin’s Credit Union Place. The Vipers fashioned leads of 2-0, 4-2, and 5-4, but the Kings outscored the Vipers 3-1 in the third period to send the game to overtime.

After a tentative opening five minutes, the Vipers started to take control in the opening period, and they cashed in with a Kellen Jones goal at 10:08. Playing in place of Connor Jones, Jonathan Milhouse set up Kellen for a quick low shot that beat Joe Caligiuri stick side.

Braden Pimm doubled the Viper advantage with a power play marker at15:06, as he deflected a Curtis Gedig point shot. The defending national champions were looking good, but the Kings’ down-low power game closed the gap a minute after Pimm’s goal.

Cody Esposito, the former Red Deer Rebel, scored a tying goal at 6:17 of the second period. On the power play, Patrick Kozyra, the former Prince Albert Raider, deked Braden Pimm at the left point and Kozyra’s diagonal pass found Esposito unmarked 15 feet from Graeme Gordon’s net.

Then, at 7:27 Kellen Jones finished off a superb three-way passing play with Jon Milhouse and Sahir Gill to put the Vipers ahead again. Another high-speed Viper line rush, this time by the Pimm line, restored the Viper two-goal lead at 11:14. Ikkala dished to Pimm, whose low shot was parried by Caligiuri straight to Mike Collins for a crisp tap-in.

Again the Vipers appeared to be in control, but the Kings would not go away. They came out for the third period with guns blazing and scored 24 seconds into the period. Cody Esposito was involved again with Troy Hunter and Mitch Czibere as they stormed the Viper crease. Hunter banged in an Esposito rebound.

That line tied the score at 4-4 at 5:12, when Esposito swept in a Mike Boese pass during a line rush. By now, the momentum had swung decisively in Dauphin’s favour.

Gradually, though, the Vipers regained their poise and David Robinson once again put the Vipers in front when he hammered away at the puck in front of Caligiuri and punched it through the three-year WHL vet at 12:36.

Once again, the Kings equalized. After a dump-in, Mitch Czibere, a veteran of four seasons with the Vancouver Giants and the Regina Pats, crashed into Dan Nycholat on the Viper back boards. Czibere fed Zeanan Ziemer in front for a one-timer at 14:20.

In the remaining 5:40, both teams had excellent scoring chances, but Gordon and Caligiuri stood their ground and the game proceeded to overtime and set the stage for Backhouse’s wrister to find its way through traffic. Backhouse had scored just once in 77 previous games this year, so his goal came as a major surprise.

Thus, Dauphin won its first game in its very first appearance in the national Jr. “A” championship tournament. Meanwhile, Vernon lost for the first time in overtime at the RBC. The team’s had won its first five overtime contests in the national championships.

Cody Esposito and Kellen Jones were named the game stars for their respective teams.

The Vipers will next face the La Ronge Ice Wolves, who dispatched the Oakville Blades 3-2 on a Dan Conacher overtime goal in the afternoon game on the opening day of competition.

Connor Jones, who missed the game with an undisclosed injury, is described as "day-to-day" by the Vipers.