Halcrow Is Superb Again:

This is posted on the Vipers website:

Halcrow is superb again!

by Don Klepp | Added 2011-10-09

Kirby Halcrow Stopped 39 of 41 Shots

Mike Zalewski’s precise wrist shot at 3:55 of the second overtime period gave the Vernon Vipers a 3-2 decision in a game that the host Merritt Centennials felt they should have won.

Viper Coach Jason Williamson summed it up in a post-game interview: “Our guys should wear masks as we leave town because we basically stole that one. They outworked us in the first and third periods and also in the first overtime, to some extent.”

However, the Vipers’ experience showed in the three-on-three component of the overtime. Luke Juha controlled the puck out of his end and headmanned to Darren Nowick, whose speed created an odd man rush. Nowick then fed Zalewski on the right wing.

A big factor in the Viper victory was Kirby Halcrow’s goaltending. He stopped 39 of 41 shots, many from close range as the Centennials shot the puck deep and flooded the offensive zone.

His best save came in the first overtime. Reece Willcox whistled an open wrister from 20 feet that was headed for the top corner, but Halcrow snagged the puck with his catcher. Back in the second period he had robbed Silvan Harper, Brent Fletcher, and Jacob Reichert in one flurry of chances. Later in the middle frame, he stuffed Evan Stack at the goal mouth.

The Centennials finally broke through in the third period. Trailing 2-0, they capitalized on hard work by Payton Schaefer who won an offensive zone draw and tied up two checkers so that Dustin Lebrun could wire a wrister through traffic.

Lebrun also figured in the tying goal at 15:45. On a power play, he got the puck back to Brandon Pfeil who found Reece Willcox open at the left point. Willcox’s low shot made its way through the screen in front.

The Vipers had taken the lead in the second period on goals by Darren Nowick and Alex Hagen. The first, at 6:50, capped a high speed three-way passing play among Nowick, Mike Zalewski, and John Knisley.

Hagen’s power play marker at 11:39 resulted when Jedd Soleway and Hagen combined to dominate an offensive zone faceoff. Hagen whipped a loose puck at Lino Chimienti, who got a piece of the puck but saw it trickle across the line.

The Vipers have now scored at least one power play goal in each of their seven wins in the early season while allowing just two scores in 35 opposition man advantages.

The game featured plenty of hitting by both teams, but the Centennials were the more aggressive team in the offensive zone. Merritt’s fourth line of Payton Schaefer, Dustin Lebrun, and Dylan Chanter was especially active.