Vipers Defeat Vees Again:

This is posted on the Vipers website:

Vipers defeat Vees again

by Don Klepp | Added 2010-09-18

Rob Short's No. 20 Was Retired Prior to the Game

The Vernon Vipers and Penticton Vees are now both 2-2 on the season as the Vipers outscored the Vees 4-1 in Vernon on Saturday.

Replicating the script from the previous evening in Penticton, the visiting team had more jump early in the game. Led by five thumping hits by big Logan Johnston and a13-3 dominance in the faceoff circle, the Vees initiated much of the play, especially in the opening 10 minutes.

That dominance eventually resulted in a goal, at 13:34. Joey Laleggia was surrounded in his end, but he spun to escape and propelled the puck forward. Joey Benik corralled it and sped away on the left wing. In the Viper zone, he swerved to avoid a check and fired a shot that Blake Voth did well to parry with his left pad. The rebound came straight to a hustling Brad Robbins and the California native had his first BCHL goal.

The Vipers regained their composure to match the Vees in shots (9) and scoring chances (4) in the first period.

The second period presented a different story as the Vipers increased their intensity level. They won the majority of the faceoffs; they outhit the Vees; and they scored three unanswered goals.

Mike Zalewski notched his first BCHL goal, a neat tip of a low Brett Corkey point shot after centre John Knisley had won a draw.

The Vipers forged ahead at 11:53. David Robinson knocked down Laleggia behind the Vee net and Dylan Walchuk pounced on the loose biscuit. He wheeled in front and whipped an 8-footer past Joel Rumpel on the short side. Robinson, who was perhaps fortunate not to get called for cross checking, was credited with an assist on the play.

The third goal came on the power play, the Vipers’ first with the man advantage in their last 16 opportunities. Playing the left point, Bryce Kakoske took Steve Weinstein’s point-to-point pass and ripped a slap shot past Rumpel.

The Vipers’ final goal of the game, at 14:57 of the third period, was also a special teams tally. With Bryce Kakoske in the penalty box, Dylan Walchuk stole the puck from Troy Stecher behind the Vees’ goal and fed David Robinson in the low slot for the Vipers’ first short handed goal of the year.

It was a fitting ending on a night when Rob Short’s number 20 was retired to the Wesbild rafters. Short, who played 309 games as a Viper, had many memorable goals against the Vees in his three seasons, and several short handed markers. The amiable Vernon product leaves Wednesday for a tryout with the Texas Brahmas of the Central Hockey League.

Game Notes:

• The Vees dressed Lane Werbowski, recently acquired from the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League. He joined another ex-Oil King, Tyler Hlookoff, on the Vee blue line.

• Viper defenceman Adam Thompson missed his third game of the young season with concussion-like symptoms. Experienced D-man Malcolm Lyles also sat out because of injury.

• When veteran D-man Elliott Richardson went down with an apparent leg injury early in the second period, the Vipers were left with just one experienced BCHL defenceman, Steve Weinstein. However, rookies Brett Corkey and Taylor Love swallowed up Richardson’s minutes. Philip Patenaude and Bennett Hambrook also performed well on the Viper back end.

• Although he’s not a physical presence, Penticton’s Laleggia once again showed why he’s considered one of the league’s premier defencemen.

• Walchuk, Robinson, and Kakoske were named the game’s three stars.