Viper Special Teams Key To Viper Win:

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Viper Special Teams Key to Viper Win
 
Saturday, October 27, 2012 - Submitted by Don Klepp

Special team dominance helped the Vernon Vipers end a six-game winless streak with a 5-1 home win over the Chilliwack Chiefs.

Viper Coach Jason Williamson believes that the Viper kill of a 74-second five-on-three Chief power play midway through the first period was a key factor in the game: “You have to build off kills like that, and we did. Even though we let up a bit at the beginning of the second period, we stuck to the game plan. Pearce Eviston’s goal at the end of the second rewarded our effort.”

The Vipers opened the scoring just 2:32 into the game on the power play. Pearce Eviston found TJ Dumonceaux in the slot and Dumonceaux beat Mitch Gillam with a quick wrister.

Shots were even in the first period, but the Vipers looked more likely to score.

That momentum shifted in favour of the Chiefs early in the second period, however. The Chief forecheck hemmed in the Vipers. Austin Smith held the fort for Vernon with several fine saves, but after he twice robbed Trevor Hills, Shay Laurent lifted the puck over the sprawled Smith at 11:09.

In the midst of the Chief dominance, Vernon’s Ryan Renz went toe to toe with David Thompson at 2:59. Each heavyweight landed several blows in the entertaining tilt.

The Laurent goal woke up the Vipers who bounced back with a more determined effort. Leading the charge, 16-year-old Logan Mick stole the puck at the Chilliwack backboards and fed Pearce Eviston in the slot for a one-timer at 19:01.

Buoyed by that goal, the Vipers used an increasingly aggressive forecheck in the third period. That strategy paid off with a goal at 7:12, when hard work by Adam Tambellini and Craig Martin led to a Jedd Soleway tap in.

Tambellini, who had three points in the third period, then rifled in a one-timer during a Viper five-on-three power play and Eviston scored again late in the period after a strong forecheck by Logan Mick and Adam Tambellini.

That newly-formed line accounted for eight scoring points in the game, justifying Williamson’s decision to move young Mick from the fourth line to the first line. “He plays with a lot of energy and makes good plays,” says Williamson. 

The Vipers will conclude a three-game home stand next Friday against Nanaimo while the Chiefs, who had won six of eight road games before Saturday’s contest, will continue their Interior swing next weekend with stops in Trail and Penticton.