Vipers stoked for RBC Cup season
By Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning Star
Published: March 12, 2013
The Vernon Vipers wanted to go out in style and they did exactly that Saturday night at Wesbild Centre.
Brendan Persley netted the double-overtime winner to give the Snakes a 3-2 win over the Merritt Centennials in their final B.C. Hockey League regular season game. It was their fourth straight win.
Persley seemed to have forever and a day as he coolly roofed a rebound over sprawled netminder Tyler Steel in front of 1,800 fans. The rugged power forward joked that he went over some positive energy exercises on the bench before his shift.
“We didn’t have anything to lose; we just went out and worked hard,” he said.
Persley added the Vipers’ strong finish to the season will bode well for next year as they build up to host the RBC Cup national championship.
“Summer is going to be good for everyone to go home, see their families and come back. We’re going to be a force.”
Added Vernon captain Brett Corkey: “We won all four games against some pretty good teams. We proved we had the team it took to make it. It was just a little too late.
“I’m excited for the group next year. Great group of kids. I think they’ve got something special here.”
Mitch McAllister, with his fourth goal in three games, and Andrew Tegeler scored for Vernon in regulation.
McAllister (7th goal) opened the scoring during a five-minute powerplay when his centring pass deflected past Steel off a Merritt defenceman’s leg.
Merritt’s Payton Schaefer earned the major and an early shower for kneeing Vipers’ forward Michael Roberts in open ice. Roberts left the game and did not return.
Tegeler (6th), electing to shoot on a 2-on-1, forced overtime less than a minute after Jeff Wight (13th) had given the Centennials the go-ahead goal 12:38 into the third period.
Merritt d-man John Saunders (2nd) wristed a point shot through traffic for the Cents’ other goal midway through the second period.
Saunders, a former North Okanagan Junior B Knight, played a handful of games as a call-up with Vernon last season. He joined the Cents full-time midway through this campaign.
He said the loss was a blow for the 31-17-3-5 Centennials, who lost home-ice advantage for Round 1 of the Fred Page Cup playoffs with the West Kelowna Warriors (30-13-4-9).
“Westside took over home ice tonight but we wanted to battle hard. We’ve been in a slump lately, the last three or four games, and we couldn’t pull it out tonight.”
Added Merritt head coach Luke Pierce: “These last couple weeks have been tough, just waiting and anticipating getting started in playoffs.
“We’ve played a lot of games against opponents where things don’t really matter and those are tough teams to play.”
Rylan Ferster’s Warriors brushed back the Cowichan Valley Capitals 4-3 in OT Saturday night to relegate Merritt to third in the Interior. The Vipers finished last at 21-25-1-9, six points out of a playoff spot.
Danny Todosychuk made 30 saves for his eighth win of the season. Steel had 27 stops.
Saturday night was the final BCHL game for a trio of graduating Vipers – Corkey, Marc Hetnik and Tegeler.
“I’m proud to be a Viper,” said Corkey, the team's MVP who will join the NCAA Division 1 Colgate Raiders next season. “It’s just all the good times coming to the rink, being with the guys and battling every day on the ice.
“And the fans we have here are unbelievable. All the support we get, we really appreciate it. I’ve got a lot of great memories.”
The Vipers can possibly return 18 players for next season, and since the trade deadline, head coach Jason Williamson has liked what he has seen.
“We heavily relied on a couple guys and once we moved those guys everyone just stepped up and realized this is our hockey club,” he said. “They held each other accountable, we worked hard and kept it simple.
“It’s a sour taste in our mouths, but they’re going to learn how they have to be right from the drop of the puck next season.”
SNAKE BITES: McAllister nearly doubled his season point total last week to earn the BCHL’s Gongshow Player of the Week. The Medicine Hat product had the winner and an assist against Merritt last Wednesday and supplied 2+1 in a 3-2 win over Penticton Friday night to go along with his single against the Cents Saturday...Vernon d-man Ryan Renz was awarded the Wayne Buck Memorial Award in a pre-game ceremony. The award, presented by Buck’s wife Sharon, is given to the Viper who exemplifies work ethic and unselfish play...Vernon’s Harlan Orr had a goal as the Salmon Arm SilverBacks grounded the host Prince George Spruce Kings 5-3 Saturday night in front of 2,100 fans at the Coliseum. The No. 4 ‘Backs will face the No. 1 Penticton Vees to open the post-season...Vernon’s Curtis Lazar had a goal, his 36th, as the Edmonton Oil Kings iced the host Moose Jaw Warriors 4-1 in WHL play Saturday at Mosaic Place. The 49-15-2-3 Kings clinched first overall in the Eastern Conference.
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