Sparrow Snipes Pair For Vipers:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Sparrow snipes pair for Vipers:

Morning Star Staff

Sunday, November 24, 2013

After going a month without scoring, Colton Sparrow now has three goals in as many B.C. Hockey League games for the Vernon Vipers.

Sparrow, a 20-year-old Vernon minor hockey product, pocketed a deuce for first star as the Snakes torched the host Trail Smoke Eaters 4-1 Friday night at Cominco Arena.

Sparrow's first goal came on a tremendous solo effort 7:16 into the second period, when he pick-pocketed a Trail defender and went in alone on a breakaway to beat Riley Corbin with a backhander, five-hole.

"He was playing with energy, moving his feet and playing the way he should be playing," said Vernon head coach Jason Williamson.

Tyler Povolfskie (2nd goal) had given the Vipers the lead in the first period with a five-hole blast when a Trail defender gave him an open lane to shoot. TJ Dumonceaux and d-man Jared Wilson drew assists.

Dexter Dancs, with his 10th of the season, pocketed the 3-0 goal 4:18 into the third frame, set up nicely by linemate and team scoring leader Michael McNicholas on a 2-on-1 rush.

Sparrow (4th goal) capped Vernon's attack less then a minute later, jamming home the rebound off a Chase McMurphy shot.

Netminder Austin Smith, who finished with 27 saves and second star, was 31 seconds away from his first shutout of the season when Adam Wheeldon stepped into a bouncing puck in the slot for his fourth of the season.

"It's tough; Smitty played well," said Williamson, of the spoiled shutout.

The Vipers (14-7-2-4) held a share of first place with the Merritt Centennials (16-9-1-1) heading into their Saturday night tilt with the fifth-place West Kelowna Warriors (14-9-0-2). Just four points seperate the top five seeds, while the Smoke Eaters lag behind in sixth at 7-17-2-1.