Cents Blank Vipers:

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Cents blank Vipers

by Don Klepp | Added 2011-12-04

The Merritt Centennials added to the Vernon Vipers’ recent woes by shutting out the Vipers 2-0 in Merritt on Saturday.

Tyler Steel, a former Viper prospect, played well in the Merritt net and enjoyed a committed defensive effort by his team mates.

Steel essentially earned the shutout with a superb glove save on Mike Zalewski in the second period, after Darren Nowick had won a puck battle behind the net and put the puck right on Zalewski’s stick. Steel guessed that Zalewski would go high glove side and slid over to block the big winger’s one-timer.

The Vipers had another glorious opportunity to break through in the second. Ben Gamache spotted Brendan Persley cruising through the slot, but Persley’s one-timer went off a defender’s stick and just wide.

After a first period where the Centennials directed 19 shots at Kirby Halcrow and scored the only goal, the Vipers had the edge in play for the remaining 40 minutes. However, scoring chances were few and far between. The Vipers had 11 in the game and the Centennials just 7.

Merritt’s only scoring chance in the third came with the Viper net empty. Evan Stack slid the puck in from the Viper blue line after Reece Willcox had cleared the puck off the boards.

The other goal came from the stick of Sean Maktaak at 13:48 of the first period, following one of the few defensive breakdowns in the contest.

Ryan Renz lost the puck to Billy Marshall outside the Viper blue line and Marshall chipped it forward to Maktaak. Covering for Renz, John Knisley backed off, which allowed Maktaak to shoot on net and then bat his rebound past Kirby Halcrow.

The pace was very quick in the first two periods, but slowed markedly in the third as the Cents frequently iced the puck or dumped it out and then clogged the neutral zone. They had a good chance to add to their lead with five minutes remaining. They received a full two-minute two-man advantage when referee Brandon Liefke slapped an unsportsmanlike penalty on the Viper bench. Liefke declined to accept Jason Williamson’s honest opinion of the ref’s decision making.

The Vipers killed that penalty and Brett Corkey’s simultaneous minor infraction but were subsequently unable to break down the Centennials’ stifling defence.

Vernon once again had to call up three affiliated players – Michael Roberts, Cole Sanford, and Phil Bamber. Still, Vernon dressed just 11 forwards because Colton Sparrow, Patrick McGillis, Adam Tambellini, and Pete McMullen all were out with injuries. Defenceman Luke Juha also has a long term injury.

The win consolidates Merritt’s hold on second place in the BCHL Interior Division while Vernon slipped to fourth place, behind the Chilliwack Chiefs who won 2-1 in Trail.