Vipers Look For RBC Cup Three-Peat:

This is posted on the Vipers website:

Vipers look for RBC cup three-peat

by Don Klepp | Added 2011-05-07

Thanks to Bryce Kakoske’s two-goal performance and a 4-1 win over the Wellington Dukes, the Vipers have the opportunity to do what Canadian Jr. “A” hockey team has done: win the national championship three years in a row.

On Saturday, playing the early semi-final match in Camrose, the Vipers won a berth in Sunday’s final against either the host Camrose Kodiaks or the Pembroke Lumber Kings.

The Vernon/Wellington game was close for the first 23 minutes because of the work of goaltender Jordan Ruby, who sensationally denied Bryce Kakoske (twice), Darren Nowick, and David Robinson.

Skating like a man possessed, Kakoske had a breakaway at the 15-minute mark, but Ruby refused to bite on Kakoske’s head fakes. Later, Kakoske put a close-in shot off the bar.

The Vipers out shot the Dukes 17-6 in the first period but were unable to solve Ruby until 19:51. Playing the point on the power play, Kakoske unleashed a wrist shot that beat Ruby high to the glove side.

Then at 3:25 of the second period, Kakoske came off the right boards and ripped another high wrister past Ruby, this time on the stick side.

The remainder of the second period featured tight checking, as Wellington played desperate hockey. Still, their only two scoring chances in the middle frame came on the power play.

Former Viper Elliott Richardson gave the Dukes a breath of life at 7:44 of the final period. On the power play, with his mates changing, Richardson dumped the puck in from centre. It took a high bounce over Kirby Halcrow’s shoulder.

For the next minute, the Dukes applied pressure but the Vipers collapsed to their net and cleared rebounds. After the flurry, the Dukes were unable to penetrate the Viper defence and the Vipers struck back at 10:08.

With his mates applying pressure, Ryan Renz fired a low point shot that Ruby could not smother. Patrick McGillis collected the disk and beat Ruby from 15 feet.

David Robinson’s empty net goal at 19:32, following a couple of courageous shot blocks by Kyle Murphy, sealed the deal.

Robinson, who collected an assist on Kakoske’s first-period strike, was happy with his team’s effort: “That’s the way I know we can play. We didn’t get frustrated with the way Ruby was stopping shots in the first period; we knew someone would break through. Two great shots by Kak got us going!”

Phil Patenaude, who played well on defence, agreed: “The team played a full 60 minutes today. That’s exactly what we’ll need tomorrow, and I know that everyone in our room is prepared to display that effort.”

The final will be played at 5 pm Pacific time, Sunday.