Vipers Find New Chemistry:

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Vipers find new chemistry

by Don Klepp | Added 2011-01-15

In a cold Quesnel rink on Friday, Mark Ferner’s chemistry experiment paid off as his Vernon Vipers defeated the Millionaires 4-3.

Following Vernon’s acquisition of Dane Muench at the trading deadline, Ferner placed the former Regina Pat on the right wing with centre Darren Nowick. Dylan Walchuk was moved from centre to left wing to complete the line.

The move paid off when Nowick and Walchuk assisted on Muench’s first BCHL goal in the second period.

Aaron Hadley moved back on a line with John Knisley and Mike Zalewski in a bid to replicate the chemistry that had led to a bunch of goals earlier in the season. They didn’t score in this contest, but they did generate a number of scoring chances.

Patrick McGillis, Trevor Fitzgerald, and Zach McPhee were united for the first time, and they created the winning goal at 3:02 of the third period. The play was initiated by Fitzgerald, whose hustle and diving interception got the puck in front for McPhee. The lanky McPhee promptly placed the disk off the right goal post and over goalie Bryton Udy’s left shoulder.

Udy, playing for the first time against his former club, played well but was burned for four goals in 27 shots.

He was staked to a 1-0 lead at 7:07 of the first period when Taylor Orser won a battle in the Viper zone and fed Daryl DeVries. Derek Huisman pounced on the rebound and roofed the puck over Blake Voth’s left shoulder.

The Vipers equalized at 15:10 when Adam Thompson leaned into a slap shot that beat Udy low stick side. It was Thompson’s fifth power play goal of the year. He was set up by David Robinson from the slot.

In the second period, the Vipers took a 3-1 lead on goals 2:06 apart. First, at 5:04, Kyle Murphy squeezed in a wraparound try. Robinson, who was named the game’s first star, drew another assist on the goal.

Muench then capped a determined shift with linemates Walchuk and Nowick when he flipped in a rebound. After the game, Muench said that he “felt rusty because I haven’t played for three weeks,” but he played with poise and assurance. Also, he threw several hits in the game.

The young Millionaires lost on the scoreboard, but they played a spirited game, giving the Vipers very little space and time to make plays, especially in the first period and in the second half of the third period.

When the Vipers went ahead 3-1, the Mills fought back with a second period goal by Malcolm Gould. He went to the net to get a rebound off Derek Huisman’s shot after Michael Spring had beaten Max Mowat to a loose puck at centre ice.

When McPhee scored to make it 4-2, the Mills once again responded with a third goal from a rebound. At 15:14 of the third period, Blake Voth failed to control a rebound of Shawn Mueller’s long shot, and Spencer Graboski made the Vipers pay.

The Graboski goal set up an exciting finish, during which Voth had to be alert for dangers lurking in scrambles around the Viper net.

The game was also enlivened by an energetic scrap between David Robinson and Quesnel’s David Thompson. The veteran Robinson got in several early punches but the rookie came back with blows of his own.

Game Notes:

• Newcomers Ryan Renz (to Vernon from Prince George on January 10) and Kiefer McNaughton (to Quesnel from Nanaimo at the trading deadline) played well in their first game with their new team.

• Injured Vipers Bryce Kakoske and Philip Patenaude did not make the trip north with their team. Colton Sparrow skated in the warm up, but did not dress.

• Chris Albee and David Ahl did not suit up for Quesnel. Austin Baecker, whom the Mills got from Vernon at the trade deadline, has not reported.

• The Vipers have now won four of five matches with the Mills this year, with one game tied.