Weekend Holds Big Playoff Implications For Vipers:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Weekend holds big playoff implications for Vipers

Published: January 25, 2012

A six-point deficit, two games in hand and one playoff spot – it’s officially crunch time for the Vernon Vipers, who are trying to avoid becoming the franchise’s first team to miss the post-season since 2000-01.

The Snakes’ B.C. Hockey League playoff aspirations boil down to 19 remaining games and two teams they have a realistic shot at catching to secure the fourth and final Interior Conference playoff spot.

Following Saturday night’s 3-1 loss to the Westside Warriors at Royal LePage Place, the Vipers are fifth in the Interior at 19-19-1-2, six points behind both the Chilliwack Chiefs (22-16-1-2) and Prince George Spruce Kings (21-17-2-3).

With three more head-to-heads against the Sprucies – including a double-header Saturday and Sunday at the Prince George Coliseum – and two with Chilliwack, the Vipers control their fate.

“We’ve got to get a win on Friday (against Warriors at Wesbild Centre) and then drive to PG all through the night for two big games,” said Vipers’ head coach Jason Williamson. “We put a good weekend together and we’re right back in it.

“Not a time to panic quite yet, but at the same time we have to start winning hockey games. We need urgency in our game, every game.”

Despite Saturday’s loss, Williamson liked what he saw against Westside (15-21-2-5), calling it “probably one of our most complete efforts of the season. It was high energy, high tempo – a good game.”

Defenceman Marc Hetnik, with his second of the season, supplied Vernon’s lone goal 11:45 into the first period. The Brookline, Mass. product walked the blueline before beating netminder Dwayne Rodrigue with a wrister through a screen at 11:45. Jedd Soleway and Turner Lawson drew assists after starting the play with a good forecheck.

Lawson left the game later in the first period after getting rocked by a hard hit, and did not return.

Williamson credited Westside netminder Dwayne Rodrigue, a former P.E.I. Rocket (Quebec Major Junior), for being the difference in the game. Rodrigue, acquired by Westside from the AJHL Grande Prairie Storm in November, recorded 41 stops for first star.

“He was very good. By far one of the better goaltending performances I’ve seen in the league all year,” said Williamson.

“But you can’t let one player beat you; you’ve got to find a way, whether it’s more traffic or just finding a little bit more in your game.”

Second star Reid Simmonds (8th and 9th) secured the winner at 16:35 of the third period and added an empty-netter with 30 seconds to play.

David Pope (5th), chipping a rebound over Vernon netminder Kirby Halcrow (31 saves) during a second-period powerplay, accounted for the Warriors’ other goal.

In other BCHL weekend action, Vernon’s Tyler Steel recorded 27 saves for third star as Merritt caged the host Victoria Grizzlies 4-1 Saturday at Bear Mountain Arena. Armstrong’s Dylan Chanter, a 16-year-old d-man with the Cents, drew an assist on Chad Brears’ winner in the second period.

Merritt bowed 3-2 to the Nanaimo Clippers Sunday.

Alex Gillies, another 16-year-old, recorded an assist and second star as the host Salmon Arm SilverBacks fell 5-4 to the Trail Smoke Eaters at the Shaw Centre.

SNAKE BITES: Viper blueliner Brett Corkey earned third star against Westside...Williamson said injured forwards Darren Nowick and John Knisley might be ready to return to the lineup in a week. Forward Ben Gamache and d-man Luke Juha are out indefinitely...Former Viper Aaron Volpatti, now with the Vancouver Canucks, will be at Wesbild Centre Friday night to present his signed NHL jersey to a lucky winner as part of the Vipers’ RBC Cup bid promotional fundraiser event.