Silverbacks Spoil Vipers' Party:

Silverbacks spoil Vipers' party

by Don Klepp

Sep 11, 2010

The Vernon Vipers started their home opener at the Wesbild Centre by showing last year’s hardware and raising their 2010 national championship banner.

But the Salmon Arm Silverbacks spoiled the celebration with a solid 4-1 victory.

The Vipers scored first, with a Dylan Walchuk power play marker at 12:55 of the opening period.

Captain David Robinson won a puck battle behind the net and found Walchuk for quick one-timer that gave goalie Kris Moore no chance.

The Walchuk goal capped off some good work by the young Vipers, but then the ‘Backs came on strong.

Strong physical play keyed their effort.

They were led by veterans Josh Manson, Jayson Reardon, and Brett Knowles.

Manson, in particular, threw his body around.

The son of former NHL tough guy, Dave Manson, he registered four big hits in the first period.

The first Salmon Arm goal came on a broken play.

Devin Muller, who holds Swiss and Canadian citizenship, collected a bouncing puck and ripped it past Blake Voth from the left wing at 13:45.

The goal seemed to spark the visitors because they carried much of the play for the remainder of the period.

Their second goal, at 16:51, directly resulted from a big hit by Brett Knowles, who rocked Steve Weinstein at centre ice.

Knowles joined the counterattack as the ‘Backs outnumbered the Vipers going into the Viper zone.

Knowles finished off a smooth three-way passing play with Jayson Reardon and David Killip.

Early in the second period, the Silverbacks once again looked dangerous, but Blake Voth kept the score close with a fine save on Killip.

For much of the middle frame, the Vipers’ speed gave the Silverbacks fits, but a combination of poor finishing and some heroics by Kris Moore prevented scoring.

The home team had a fine chance to equalize when back-to-back Silverback penalties led to a 5-on-3 power play for a minute and 14 seconds.

Sensing that the game was at a critical juncture, Coach Mark Ferner called a time out to marshal his troops.

Still, the Vipers looked tentative, and the Silverbacks played a very aggressive penalty kill, so the Vipers created only one scoring chance during the 1:14.

Salmon Arm was clearly the more poised team in the third, and they struck for two goals within a minute.

At 7:01, Jayson Reardon’s point shot deflected off a stick in front during a Salmon Arm power play.

The goal was credited to Jarryd TenVaanholt, although the puck seemed to carom off a Viper stick.

At 8:06, Taylor Fauchoux notched his first BCHL goal as he swept in from the left wing to convert a pass from Brandon Mistal.

The big difference in this game was the play of the respective blue line groups.

Led by Jayson Reardon, Josh Monk, and Charlie Vasaturo, the Silverback rearguards made very few mistakes and gave up hardly any second chance shots.

The Viper defencemen looked less assured and frequently turned the puck over in the neutral zone.

Although each team recorded 30 hits in the game, Salmon Arm’s physical play had more of an impact on the game.

Also, the Silverbacks dominated the faceoff circle, winning 34 of 51 draws.

The two teams resume their rivalry Saturday in Salmon Arm.