RBC CUP 2014 The Excitement Returns!
A publication of the Vernon RBC Cup Host Committee
January 20th 2014 Volume 3, Issue 1
This Is Your RBC Cup Team
It's a veteran team, with six 20-year-olds, eight 19-year-olds, and five 18-year-olds. Twelve of the players have secured NCAA scholarships, with more on the way. Four of the players (Mulcahy, Hannoun, Renz, and Sparrow) have played in an RBC Cup and two others (McNicholas and Bryan) participated in last year's Western Canada Cup.
The team has size, speed, scoring talent, and solid goaltending. What's not to like?
And yet the Vipers have been inconsistent at times, within games and from game to game. The good news here is that the players and coaches are well aware of this tendency and are working hard to become a more consistent group that reflects their talent and experience.
The following series of short biographies brings out the players' views of their respective roles in coming together to form an exciting, winning team. Along the way, we'll learn a little more about their personalities.
# 27 – Playing For the Love of the Game
In his last year of Jr., Brendan Persley is healthy and really enjoying his hockey. "It's great to show up at the rink with your good friends every day." After suffering a string of injuries last season, Brendan did "lots of yoga" in the off-season and has continued the program. As a result, he's more flexible and recovers quickly from the knocks and muscle strains that accompany his physical style of play. The 6'2" 214-pounder from Kelowna describes himself as a disturber – "I bang and crash and get the guys excited." He doesn't worry about how opposing players react – "usually when you run a guy through the boards, he's kind of embarassed and doesn't say much." He also has been an effective penalty killer. Not the quickest Viper, he compensates by "getting in shooting lanes and moving in straight lines to get in position quickly."
# 29 – Renzy Reflects
After being named captain of a Viper team that was heading back to the RBC Cup, Ryan Renz was on a high. Then early in the season the injury bug bit him and then bit again. "That was really frustrating," he says, "even more when the team struggled early on, and I couldn't help." Still, he was "around the rink the whole time, telling the guys what [he had] noticed from the stands." A sensitive, thoughtful man, Ryan tried to avoid being critical, choosing his words carefully. Now, he says, "It's really good to be back, that's for sure," even though he's still not fully healthy. Ryan has been through some ups and downs, starting with an NCAA scholarship offer that he received as a young Jr. B player, a scholarship that was later rescinded. "You just have to keep working and improving when that happens," he says. Now, he has another scholly, this time to Lake Superior State, a program currently on the upswing. As captain, Ryan is tapping into his growing maturity. For one thing, he approaches referees differently: "I used to want to be on the ref's case, but now I have to be more smooth and calm with the referee. Being captain requires composure, helping settle things down when emotions run high." He also talks about the off-ice and community responsibilities that come with the captain's role. "It's not whether I want to do something; it's a question of whether it needs to get done."
# 30 – His Best Is Yet To Come
Austin Smith's last playoff appearance was back in Calgary Midget hockey, four years ago. Still, he's confident about performing in the playoffs this year: "every year, I've got stronger as the season progressed and I'm feeling good now." Austin's recent performances support that assessment. In the games he's played since Christmas, he's stopped 126 of 133 shots, a 93.33 save percentage. Last year, his save percentage was a tick under 93 percent over his last five games. The 20-year-old Calgarian is in his fourth Jr. season, his second with the Vipers after two WHL campaigns in Swift Current. He has assumed a leadership role with the Vipers, including an off season initiative to unify and strengthen the veteran Viper leadership group.
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