Sprucies punish Snakes on powerplay
By Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning Star
Published: September 30, 2012
The Vernon Vipers looked like a team possessed for 20 minutes, and then one completely disinterested for the remaining 40 Friday night at Wesbild Centre.
The problem is, they never scored in that opening period – even when they were gifted three consecutive powerplays – and ended up falling 5-2 to the workmanlike Prince George Spruce Kings in front of 1,500 B.C. Hockey League fans.
The Kings, who have just six returning players, including third-year netminder Kirk Thompson (28 saves), connected three times on the man advantage. It’s actually four if you count their opening goal by Cam Lawson in the second period. He collected the first of his two goals with a top-corner shot past a screened Austin Smith, just as Bryce Eviston returned to the ice after serving an interference minor.
Lydon Martell, formerly of the WHL Regina Pats, and Sean Landrey, each with a goal and assist, completed the 4-0-1-1 Spruce Kings’ attack.
“Eight rookies, so a lot of new faces, but we’re meshing as a team,” said Kings’ first star defenceman Brad Ryan, who ended the night with a goal and three helpers.
The 6-foot-5 Ryan and 6-foot-4 defence partner Trevor Esau were stellar in their own end, shutting down Vernon’s top line of Adam Tambellini, Aaron Hadley and Craig Martin.
TJ Dumonceaux was the only real standout up front for the 2-2-0-2 Vipers, recording the opening goal in the second period with a surgeon-like blast just inside the post from the top of the circle. The 18-year-old Kelowna product set up Mitch Van Teeling for a consolation snipe late in the third frame.
“Two points in a game where all he did was work and do the things we asked – simplify our game, shoot pucks on net and give an honest effort,” said Vipers’ head coach Jason Williamson.
Vernon’s composure deteriorated as the game wore on, and despite a couple borderline blow-to-the-head calls, and a missed slashing penalty that led to the Kings’ opening goal, Williamson placed the responsibility squarely on his players.
“We put ourselves in some bad spots and took too many penalties,” he said.
“It’s a man’s game – you’re going to get bumped, you’re going to get hit so you’ve got to be willing to pay a price, and we weren’t.”
Smith recorded several all-world stops among his 41-save performance, including a couple nice glove saves and a penalty shot by Coltyn Hansen late in the first period.
“Those were probably our two bright spots (Smith and Dumonceaux),” said Williamson. “He made some big stops.”
Four of the Kings’ five goals were top-corner blasts, a couple of them through screens. Ryan suggested it was by design.
“We scout the goalies before we play them, and our goalie was watching their goalie in warmup and said ‘Try to shoot high on him,’ so that’s what we were doing,” he said.
Last season, Spruce Kings’ head coach Dave Dupas could rely on the firepower of forwards Paul De Jersey, Jujhar Khaira and Jarryd Ten Vaanholt. He doesn’t have that luxury this year.
“I don’t know if we have a top line,” admitted Dupas. “We’ve got four lines that are going pretty well and that makes us a little tougher to beat. We can’t just rely on one line to win us games. We’re going to have to grind away.”
The Vipers visited the 2-5 Trail Smoke Eaters Saturday night at Cominco Arena. They visit the 5-1 Penticton Vees Friday night.
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