Vipers Raid Millionaires:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Vipers raid Millionaires

Published: January 15, 2011

It was so cold in Quesnel on Friday, Vernon Vipers’ assistant coach Jason Williamson had to buy long johns. Most of the players didn’t venture out of the hotel into the -20C weather until they were forced to hop on the bus.

It is times like this when two points in the B.C. Hockey League standings can feel like a bowl of steamy Campbell’s soup.

The Vipers stopped shivering long enough to ice the host Quesnel Millionaires 4-3 before 650 fans, with Zach McPhee firing the winner three minutes into the third. It was his third goal of the season.

Vernon (24-9-4-8), who trail the Penticton Vees (29-12-2-1) by a point in the Interior Conference, visited the last-place Prince George Spruce Kings (10-34-0-2) Saturday night. They host the Merritt Centennials (16-20-0-6) Tuesday night at Wesbild Centre.

“It was an ugly game, but we won,” said Williamson, of Friday’s game. “We didn’t’ get the best start, but our guys are persistent. They found a way to win.”

The Mills’ Derek Huisman (10th goal) opened the scoring at 7:07 of the first period.

Vernon answered on the powerplay at 15:10 as third star Adam Thompson rifled a point shot past former Viper netminder Bryton Udy, assisted by first star David Robinson and Stevie Weinstein.

The Snakes went up by two with a pair of goals two minutes apart early in the second period.

Kyle Murphy (13th) beat Udy (23 saves) on a wraparound at 5:04, and Dane Muench, acquired from the SJHL Battleford North Stars at last Monday’s BCHL trade deadline, collected his first goal, burying the rebound off a three-way passing play with linemates Dylan Walchuk and Darren Nowick.

Even on Quesnel’s postage stamp ice surface, Williamson said Muench’s ability was evident.

“He’s definitely got a lot of skill. He’s crafty with the puck and he made some real subtle plays,” said Williamson, of the Martensville, Sask. native.

Malcolm Gould (13th) beat Blake Voth (25 saves) with five minutes to play in the second to pull Quesnel (11-28-2-4) within a goal. Mills’ leading scoring Spencer Graboski (13th) completed the offence at 15:14 of the third period.

Robinson went toe-to-toe with David Thompson late in the second period after the Mills’ defenceman floored the Viper captain with a hard hit.

“They just stood there and started throwing,” said Williamson, giving a slight edge to Robinson. “Give that guy credit, he stood in there.”

Early in the third period, the Mills’ Bradley Buckingham earned a misconduct for a blow to the head on the Vipers’ Mike Zalewski. In the ensuing scrum, Quesnel’s Rigby Burgart received a double minor for spearing Trevor Fitzgerald.

Vernon went 1-for-5 on the powerplay while holding Quesnel scoreless on five attempts with the extra man.

In other Interior action Friday night, the Westside Warriors got a pair of goals from Grayson Downing as they roasted the Salmon Arm SilverBacks 6-1 before 1,000 fans at Royal LePage Place.

Trailing by two midway through the first period, the SilverBacks’ Mike Hammond, recently acquired from Cowichan Valley at the trade deadline, recorded the Gorillas’ lone goal, a shorthanded marker at 12:08.

After that, Westside scored four unanswered goals to seal the win. The Warriors went 3-for-4 with the man advantage.

The Vees remained atop the Interior with a 6-4 win over the Langley Chiefs Friday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Penticton got a goal and assist each from Joey Benik and Joey Laleggia.

Jake Baker and Scott Jacklin each posted a goal and assist to lead the Trail Smoke Eaters over the Spruce Kings 5-1.

Former Viper Todd Skirving earned third star in his debut with the Spruce Kings. He was traded for d-man Ryan Renz at the deadline.