Gamache latest Vipers’ casualty
By Kevin Mitchell - Vernon Morning Star
Published: January 04, 2012
Jason Williamson never studied a medical dictionary in four years at Niagara University in New York.
Too bad because learning the difference from a MCL and an ACL or a high-ankle sprain and a concussion would have come in handy.
“Five top core guys out now,” sighed Wiliamson, after the Vernon Vipers’ practice Tuesday at Wesbild Centre. “We’ve never seen this many injuries.”
Latest casualty is Ben Gamache, who had five goals and 12 points in nine games before taking a knee-on-knee hit from one-time Viper Taylor Love in Friday’s 6-4 win over the Salmon Arm SilverBacks.
“He’s seeing a specialist today and it looks bad,” said Williamson, of Gamache, who was on crutches after the game.
Williamson has sent B.C. Hockey League officials video of the hit – Love was a given a minor penalty – but as of Tuesday, 2 p.m., had not heard back from the league. Love and Gamache were Midget teammates with the Notre Dame Hounds in Wilcox, Sask.
The Vipers visit the league-leading Penticton Vees tonight before hosting the Victoria Grizzlies (Friday) and Merritt Centennials (Saturday).
“There is a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Williamson. “We had Patty (captain Patrick McGillis) on the ice today and he looked OK. We just have to convince the guys we are a good team with these five guys out, and realize how much better we will be when they come back.”
D-man Luke Hildebrand of the Revelstoke Grizzlies will be called up tonight with either Turner Lawson or Marc Hetnik moving up to the wing from the back end.
McGillis is still a week away from playing. The captain had 4-3-7 in six games before going down with an ankle injury.
Rookie d-man Luke Juha has been out with a concussion and then a broken hand since the World Junior A Hockey Challenge in November. Forward John Knisley and d-man Max Mowat are also on the shelf.
Leading scorer Darren Nowick (24 snipes) says the Vipers will be serious contenders once the wounded players return.
“It shouldn’t take too much longer,” said Nowick, after scoring twice Friday night. “(Dylan) Walchuk, Jedd (Soleway) and Gamache are a great line, and hopefully, Gamache gets better. Once Patty, Mowy and Juha get back, we’ll be back on track.”
The SilverBacks, meanwhile, traded their second-leading scorer, Brett Knowles ,to Cowichan Valley for Travis Stephens and future considerations.
Knowles, 20, has 10 goals and 37 points in 34 games up front, while Stephens, 18, has eight goals and 19 points in 34 games.
Salmon Arm also dealt the playing rights of D Matt Brown (91) to the AJHL Calgary Mustangs in exchange for future considerations.
The Vipers ended 2011 by spotting the SilverBacks three goals before battling back hard for the win before 2,153 fans.
Vernon holds fifth spot in the Interior Division at 17-13-1-2, four points back of the Prince George Spruce Kings. Salmon Arm dropped to 12-17-0-6.
“We’re never happy with a loss, but it’s good to come back from that loss and pretty much take it to them in our barn,” said Nowick, who took three stitches to his lip courtesy of a high stick by Devin Muller.
“We’re not satisfied, but we’re happy to get the two points we got tonight.”
Nowick netted two beauties, first making it 4-3 Vipers in the second period when he re-directed a powerplay slap pass from d-man Brett Corkey. Nowick scooped a loose puck near centre and with Knowles hard in pursuit, beat Kurt Williams with a backhander, roof daddy, to bring the house down in celebration of his shorthanded goal.
Vernon’s line of Adam Tambellini (2+1), Brendan Persley (1+1) and Colton Sparrow (3A) had a fabulous night, combining for eight points and enjoying a few other scoring chances while working the puck well down low.
Corkey, with a wrister from the point which slid past Williams off the left post, completed the Viper offence.
Myles McCauley, who once skated on a line with Tyler Seguin (Boston Bruins) with the major junior Plymouth Whalers, beat starting Vernon goalie Danny Todoyschuk on a wrister from the right slot 95 seconds into the game. McCauley went top shelf from the mid-slot eight minutes later on a powerplay.
Vernon product Alex Gillies fooled Todosychuk with a high wrister from the left wing to make it 3-0 SilverBacks 1:23 later, chasing Todosychuk, who the night before had replaced starter Kirby Halcrow.
“Obviously, we would have liked the four points, but tonight was a good effort by all the guys,” said Walchuk, robbed in tight by a Williams’ glove save in the final minutes. ‘“We came out with a bit of a slow start and kind of let Danny hang out to dry there for a couple. Luckily, we came back and regrouped from the first period and played a solid 40 minutes and were able to score some goals. The crowd was loud and gave us more energy and got the guys excited.”
The SilverBacks, who closed to within one when Morgan Zulinick finished off a bang-bang play with 8:57 left, took a too many men penalty a few minutes later, and Tambellini converted with 22 seconds left in the minor.
‘“This is a tough pill to swallow because if we win this one, we’re three points back of them so we didn’t make any ground up on the weekend,’’ said Salmon Arm 21-year-old assistant coach Jayson Reardon, of Lumby. “We have a really good team in there and it’s a matter of finding the pieces and guys finding their roles. It’s a tough loss because we’re a young team.”
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