Vipers Finish On High Note:

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Vipers Finish on High Note

Sunday, March 11, 2012 - Submitted by Don Klepp

Vipers Finish on High Note
Several graduating Vipers went out in style in their final game of the season, bombing the host Salmon Arm Silverbacks 10-1.

John Knisley, on his way to Cornell next year, had two goals among his five points. Three times in the third period he had chances for his first Viper hat trick but zipped the puck just over the net each time.

Captain Patrick McGillis scored on a penalty shot in his last game of Junior hockey and Darren Nowick, who is bound for Northern Michigan next year, had four assists. McGillis said that “It’s been a disappointing year for us, especially on the road, so we wanted to win this one for our coaches and our fans.”

That commitment was evident early in the game as all six Viper 20-year-olds were on the ice for the opening shift. Constant pressure from each of the lines finally resulted in Michael Zalewski’s opening goal at 6:38. Kurt Williams, who was also playing his final BCHL game, was surprised by Zalewski’s quick release from a Nowick setup.

Brendan Persley’s quick backhand at the crease and John Knisley’s first-timed snap shot gave the Vipers a 3-0 lead going into the first intermission.

Early in the period, Brendan Persley notched his second of the evening as he deposited an Adam Tambellini rebound beyond Williams’s reach at 1:39, but then Devin Muller’s floating backhand that sailed over Kirby Halcrow’s shoulder gave the home fans a bit of hope.

The wide open style of play continued for the rest of period without scoring until 14:48 when Patrick McGillis was hauled down as he broke free toward the Salmon Arm net. On the ensuing penalty shot, he faked forehand and then slipped a slick backhand past Williams.

That play seemed to open the floodgates, because the Vipers scored three more times before the end of the period. In their attempts to make things happen, both teams took chances in the neutral zone, but the Vipers made the most of their opportunities.

On odd-man rushes, Aaron Hadley set up his cousin Adam Tambellini and then Darren Nowick did the same for John Knisley. Hadley notched his first BCHL short handed goal when sprung loose by Ben Gamache late in the period and the rout was official.

Colton Sparrow, who was sent into the clear by Brett Corkey’s precise long diagonal pass, made the score 9-1 in the third period. Then, Geoff Crisfield, the only Viper without a goal this season, was given lots of extra ice time by his coaches. That move finally paid off at 11:52 of the final period when Crisfield was set up beautifully by Mike Zalewski for a power play goal.

Lost to some extent in the scoring outburst was Kirby Halcrow's fine goaltending in his last Jr. A game. He made two fine saves during a Salmon Arm power play while the game was still close in the first period and he did the same in each of the two remaining periods.

The Silverbacks, who had only three 20-year-olds at the end of the season, will return most of their players next year while the Vipers expect 12 to 14 players to be back. Underage players Mike Zalewski, John Knisley, Luke Juha, and Marc Hetnik have all committed to U.S. colleges for next season. Kirby Halcrow, Sean Robertson, Darren Nowick, Colton Cyr, Patrick McGillis, and Ben Gamache have used up their Jr. eligibility.