This is posted on the Vipers website:
Chiefs overwhelm Vipers in third
by Don Klepp | Added 2011-10-15
After the visiting Vernon Vipers opened the scoring in the third period in Chilliwack on Friday, the Chiefs responded with four goals to bury the previously undefeated Vipers 4-1.
Tyler Miller scored the winner on the power play with a screened point shot that deflected upward from a Viper stick at 7:03. Miller’s goal came after Kit Sitterley had equalized at 5:34.
The Sitterley goal came from goalie Kirby Halcrow’s only mistake in the contest. Chris Blessing’s shot from the left wing missed the net to Halcrow’s right and came off the back boards to the goalie’s left. Sitterley was there to shovel the puck through Halcrow, who had overplayed the original shot and could not regain his balance to get square to the second shot.
That goal gave the Chiefs heart and they came in waves from that point on. At 9:24, David Bondra, son of NHLer Peter Bondra, ripped a shot to the top corner after a fierce Chief forecheck had the Vipers scrambling in their zone.
Jaret Babych, son of former NHL defenceman Dave Babych, finished the scoring at 12:50 with a perfect shot that found the inside of Halcrow’s left post about a foot off the ice.
All four Chilliwack lines played hard in this contest, limiting Viper scoring chances, and virtually eliminating second chance shots. Part of that success resulted from a Viper effort that seemed distracted at times.
The Chiefs’ third period outburst came as a surprise because the game had been pretty even until the Miller goal. Although the hosts outworked the Vipers at times in the opening two periods, scoring chances were 7-7 in the first 40 minutes.
The Chiefs had the early jump and felt that they had scored in the first minute when Kit Sitterley believed he had poked the puck under Kirby Halcrow. However, the red light did not go on and referee Jim Storey’s consultation with his linesmen resulted in “no goal.”
Both goalies made big stops in the first 20 minutes; Mitch Gillam denied Mike Zalewski who came in while penalty killing and Kirby Halcrow stoned Chris Blessing on another partial breakaway.
That pattern continued in the second. Halcrow robbed Josh Hansen on a bang-bang play at the goalmouth and then took a goal away from Malcolm Gould. Later in the period, Gillam stuffed Darren Nowick’s breakaway attempt.
When Nowick broke the goose egg with a hard, accurate shot from the right wing at 3:46, it looked like the Vipers might shepherd the game home for their eighth straight win. However, they relaxed with the lead and the hungry Chiefs took advantage.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Chilliwack 4 Vernon 1
PERIOD 1
No Scoring
PERIOD 2
No Scoring
PERIOD 3
Vernon Vipers at 3:46 - Darren Nowick from Marc Hetnik
Chilliwack Chiefs at 5:34 - Kit Sitterley from Chris Blessing and Spencer Graboski
Chilliwack Chiefs at 7:03 (PP) - Tyler Miller from Kit Sitterley and Chris Blessing
Chilliwack Chiefs at 9:24 - David Bondra from Stefan Gonzales and Derek Huisman
Chilliwack Chiefs at 12:50 - Jaret Babych from Garrett Forster and Jeremy Gossard
Chilliwack outshot Vernon 34-25. Mitch Gillam made 24 saves for the win, while Kirby Halcrow made 28 saves in the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977749&link=bchl
(Game Preview) Vernon @ Chilliwack:
Tonight is the second of seven regular season meetings between these two teams as Vernon holds a 1-0 series lead in the season series.
Let's take a look at the season schedule between these two hockey clubs,
Friday, October 7th Chilliwack @ Vernon (Vipers won 4-1)
Friday, October 14th Vernon @ Chilliwack
Saturday, November 5th Chilliwack @ Vernon
Thursday, November 17th Vernon @ Chilliwack
Sunday, December 18th Chilliwack @ Vernon
Saturday, February 11th Vernon @ Chilliwack
Tuesday, March 6th Vernon @ Chilliwack
Tonight is the Vipers first visit to Prospera Centre since a 4-2 victory back on Friday, October 21st 2005 and the clubs second of a three game road trip. The Vipers come into tonight's game at 7-0 and the only undefeated team left in the league as both two teams meet one another for the second time within a week. The Vipers come into play tonight with a 3-0 road record, while the Chiefs are 2-0 on home ice. The Chiefs are playing just their fifth game of the season and the first of a two game home stand before hitting the road for four straight. Chilliwack with just one loss on the year fell 4-1 to the Vipers last weekend in Vernon. You can listen to tonight's game live with Todd Miller and Don Klepp starting with the pre-game show at 6:45pm on 107.5 Kiss FM
Last Game Played:
Saturday, October 8th Vernon defeated Merritt 3-2 in overtime
Saturday, October 8th Chilliwack defeated Westside 4-3
Next Game:
Saturday, October 15th Vernon @ Penticton
Saturday, October 15th Powell River @ Chilliwack
With a return to Chilliwack this season, let's see how the Chiefs have done vs Vernon in past years.
Since 2003 Vernon is 5-0-0-2 vs. Chilliwack
Since 2003 Vernon has outscored Chilliwack 29-20
Since 2003 Vernon is 4-0-0-0 at home vs. Chilliwack
Since 2003 Vernon is 1-0-0-2 in Chilliwack
Since 2003 the Vipers are 4-0-0-0 in their last ten games at home vs. the Chiefs
Since 2003 the Vipers are 1-0-0-2 in their last ten games on the road vs. the Chiefs
Vernons last loss at Prospera Centre was a 5-4 overtime loss back on Saturday, October 9th 2004
The Vipers went 5-0-1-0 last season vs Quesnel (Now Chilliwack) in the regular season.
The Vernon Lakers changed their name to the Vernon Vipers to start the 1995-96 season. Here’s a look at the Vipers all-time regular season record
Games Played: 967
Wins: 625
Losses: 245
Ties: 15
Overtime Losses: 84
For more stats & former Vernon Junior Hockey Team rosters & lineups please visit Paul’s Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
http://members.shaw.ca/vernonfranchise/index.html
Lets take a look at the Vernon Vipers:
Games Played: 7
Wins: 7
Losses: 0
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 0
Home Record: 4-0-0-0
Road Record: 3-0-0-0
Goals For: 29
Goals Against: 14
Standings: 1st Place
Vernon Vipers Returning Players:
Marcus Basara (93)
Brett Corkey (92)
Aaron Hadley (93)
John Knisley (92)
Patrick McGillis (91)
Max Mowat (93)
Darren Nowick (91)
Ryan Renz (93)
Colton Sparrow (93)
Michael Zalewski (92)
Kirby Halcrow (91)
Vernon Vipers Departing & traded players from last years team:
Dylan Walchuk (92)
David Robinson (90)
Bryce Kakoske (90)
Malcolm Lyles (90)
Trevor Fitzgerald (92)
Adam Thompson (90)
Steven Weinstein (90)
Kyle Murphy (90)
Dane Muench (92)
Philip Patenaude (91)
Zach McPhee (93)
Blake Voth (91)
Vernons Home record vs. Quesnel last season:
2-0-1-0
Vernons Road record vs. Quesnel last season:
3-0-0-0
Vernons Powerplay vs. Quesnel last season:
9-33
Vernons scoring leaders vs. Quesnel last season:
Dylan Walchuk (2-7-9)
John Knisley (2-5-7)
Bryce Kakoske (3-4-7)
David Robinson (4-2-6)
Kyle Murphy (3-2-5)
Darren Nowick (0-5-5)
Steven Weinstein (1-4-5)
Trevor Fitzgerald (2-2-4)
Adam Thompson (1-3-4)
Brett Corkey (0-4-4)
Marcus Basara (2-1-3)
Max Mowat (0-2-2)
Michael Zalewski (2-0-2)
Dane Muench (1-1-2)
Patrick McGillis (1-1-2)
Malcolm Lyles (0-1-1)
Colton Sparrow (0-1-1)
Aaron Hadley (0-1-1)
Zach McPhee (1-0-1)
Blake Voth (4-0-1 Record)
Kirby Halcrow (1-0 Record)
Vernons Home record vs. Chilliwack this season:
1-0-0-0
Vernons Road record vs. Chilliwack this season:
0-0-0-0
Vernons Powerplay vs. Chilliwack this season:
1-4
Vernons scoring leaders vs. Chilliwack this season:
Brett Corkey (0-2-2)
Adam Tambellini (1-0-1)
John Knisley (0-1-1)
Aaron Hadley (0-1-1)
Michael Zalewski (0-1-1)
Darren Nowick (1-0-1)
Marcus Basara (0-1-1)
Alex Hagen (1-0-1)
Colton Sparrow (1-0-1)
Luke Juha (0-1-1)
Jedd Soleway (0-1-1)
Kirby Halcrow (1-0 Record)
Let's take a look at the trades the Vipers have made so far this season.
27-Jun-11 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club acquires the CJHL playing rights of Luke Juha (93)(D) from the Burlington Cougars Hockey Club of the OJHL in exchange for future considerations.
02-Aug-11 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Dane Muench (92)(F), Phillip Patenaude (91)(D) and future considerations to the Kindersley Klippers Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Jarryd Ten Vannholt and Justin Elliot.
19-Sep-11 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Jarryd Ten Vaanholt (91)(F) to the Victoria Grizzles Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.
Key’s and Notes to tonight’s game:
-Tonight is the Vipers first visit to Prospera Centre since a 4-2 victory back on Friday, October 21st 2005
-Vernon has the leagues 2nd best powerplay
-The Vipers have the BCHL's 2nd best penalty kill
-Michael Zalewski (6-5-11) is the lone Viper in the leagues top twenty in scoring
-The Vipers are 3-0 on the road this season
-Kirby Halcrow is ranked 2nd amongst the leagues top ten goaltenders with a 5-0 record and a 1.92 GAA
-Rookie Danny Todosychuk is ranked 4th in the leagues top ten goaltenders with a 2-0 record and a 1.98 GAA
Lets take a look at the Chilliwack Chiefs:
Games Played: 4
Wins: 3
Losses: 1
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 0
Home Record: 2-0-0-0
Road Record: 1-1-0-0
Goals For: 18
Goals Against: 12
Standings: 6th Place
Chilliwack Chiefs-Quesnel Millionaires Returning Players:
Malcolm Gould (92)
Spencer Graboski (93)
Stefan Gonzales (92)
Chris Blessing (91)
Derek Huisman (92)
David Thompson (92)
Bryton Udy (93)
Chilliwack Chiefs-Quesnel Millionaires Departing & traded players from last years team:
Skyler Smutek (90)
Chris Kerr (92)
Shawn Mueller (92)
Daryl DeVries (92)
Thomas Hardy (91)
Rigby Burgart (90)
Chris Allbee (92)
Anderson White (91)
Bradley Buckingham (92)
Quin Buckellew (92)
Kiefer McNaughton (93)
Chad Roorda (92)
David Ahl (91)
Austin Baecker (92)
Adam Harris (92)
Chilliwack-Quesnel's Home record vs. Vernon last season:
0-3-0-0
Chilliwack-Quesnel's Road record vs. Vernon last season:
0-2-1-0
Chilliwack-Quesnel's Powerplay vs. Vernon last season:
0-20
Chilliwack-Quesnel's scoring leaders vs. Vernon last season:
Malcolm Gould (4-0-4)
Justin Hogan (1-2-3)
Daryl DeVries (1-2-3)
Derek Huisman (2-1-3)
Skyler Smutek (0-3-3)
Spencer Graboski (2-1-3)
Sam Higgins (0-2-2)
Devin Balness (0-2-2)
Chris Blessing (0-1-1)
Chris Kerr (0-1-1)
Michael Spring (0-1-1)
Shawn Mueller (0-1-1)
Taylor Orser (0-1-1)
Adam Harris (0-2 Record)
Bryton Udy (0-1 Record)
Chilliwacks Home record vs. Vernon this season:
0-0-0-0
Chilliwacks Road record vs. Vernon this season:
0-1-0-0
Chilliwacks Powerplay vs. Vernon this season:
0-4
Chilliwacks scoring leaders vs. Vernon this season:
Josh Hansen (1-0-1)
Michael Spring (0-1-1)
Trevor Hills (0-1-1)
Mitch Gillam (0-1 Record)
Let's take a look at the trades the Chiefs have made this season.
08-Jul-11 The Langley Rivermen Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Josh Hansen (92)(F) to the Chilliwack Chiefs Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.
02-Aug-11 The Langley Rivermen Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Tyler Miller (91)(D) to the Chilliwack Chiefs Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.
19-Aug-11 The Chilliwack Chiefs Hockey Club acquires the playing rights of Shay Laurent (93) from the Fort McMurray Oil Barons Hockey Club of the AJHL in exchange for future considerations.
Key’s and Notes to tonight’s game:
-Chilliwack has the BCHL's 14th best powerplay
-The Chiefs have the league's 11th best penalty kill
-Chilliwack is 2-0 on home ice
-Mitch Gillam is ranked 8th in the BCHL's top ten goaltenders with a 1-1 record and a 2.50 GAA
-Former Vernon Vipers defenceman, Justin Elliott will face his former team for the second time. Elliott was aquired in a trade with the SJHL Kindersley Klippers in early August but was released before training camp.
-Former Vernon Vipers goaltender, Bryton Udy faces his former team for the second time as a member of the Chilliwack Chiefs. Udy was traded to Quesnel last season along with Elliott Richardson for goaltender, Kirby Halcrow.
Here’s a look at the season series between these two teams from this season:
Friday, October 7th @ Vernon: Vipers won 4-1
SCORING SUMMARY
PERIOD 1
No Scoring
PERIOD 2
Vernon Vipers at 2:27 - Adam Tambellini from Brett Corkey and Aaron Hadley
Vernon Vipers at 11:23 - Darren Nowick from John Knisley and Michael Zalewski
PERIOD 3
Vernon Vipers at 2:27 - Colton Sparrow from Marcus Basara and Jedd Soleway
Chilliwack Chiefs at 6:20 - Josh Hansen from Michael Spring and Trevor Hills
Vernon Vipers at 17:29 (PP) - Alex Hagen from Luke Juha and Brett Corkey
Vernon outshot Chilliwack 33-27. Kirby Halcrow made 26 saves in the win, while Mitch Gillam made 29 saves in the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977414&link=bchl
Here's a look at both teams rosters:
Vernon:
Michael Zalewski (6-5-11)
Darren Nowick (5-4-9)
Adam Tambellini (5-3-8)
Marcus Basara (1-6-7)
Patrick McGillis (4-3-7)
Aaron Hadley (1-5-6)
Brett Corkey (0-5-5)
Marc Hetnik (1-3-4)
John Knisley (1-3-4)
Colton Sparrow (2-1-3)
Jedd Soleway (1-2-3)
Ryan Renz (0-2-2)
Alex Hagen (2-0-2)
Luke Juha (0-2-2)
Geoff Crisfield (0-1-1)
Max Mowat (0-1-1)
Connor Hartley (0-1-1)
Turner Lawson (0-0-0)
Riley Hunt (0-0-0)
Kirby Halcrow (5-0 Record, 1.92 GAA)
Danny Todosychuk (2-0 Record, 1.98 GAA)
Chilliwack:
Malcolm Gould (2-4-6)
David Bondra (0-6-6)
Kit Sitterley (2-3-5)
Spencer Graboski (2-3-5)
Trevor Hills (3-1-4)
Garrett Forster (1-2-3)
Josh Hansen (3-0-3)
Derek Huisman (2-1-3)
Mike Berry (1-1-2)
Jeremy Gossard (1-1-2)
Stefan Gonzales (0-2-2)
Tyler Miller (0-2-2)
Chris Blessing (0-2-2)
Michael Spring (0-2-2)
Shay Laurent (1-0-1)
Jaret Babych (0-1-1)
David Thompson (0-0-0)
Justin Elliott (0-0-0)
Alexandre Perron - Fontaine (0-0-0)
Mitch Gillam (1-1 Record, 2.50 GAA)
Bryton Udy (2-0 Record, 3.50 GAA)
Former Viper Pimm Named Hockey East Weekly Top Performer:
This was posted on the Hockey East website:
Hockey East Weekly Top Performer
Braden Pimm, NU (So., F, Fort St. John, B.C.) He forced OT with his game-tying goal vs.UMass with two seconds left and notched three assists in his first two games.
The Northeastern men's hockey team treated Huskies fans to a 3-3 overtime thriller against Massachusetts in both the season opener and head coach Jim Madigan's first-career game as sophomore Braden Pimm netted an extra attacker goal with two seconds left in regulation at Matthews Arena. Friday's contest marked the first time Northeastern and UMass met in the season opener as Madigan went 65 minutes in his introduction to Hockey East. The Huskies unbeaten streak of six games (4-0-2) is the longest against any other squad in the conference. In his first contest as head coach, Madigan's tie marks a program first. No coach has ever skated to a tie in his first game behind the bench. The last time Northeastern opened with a tie was at the Kendall Hockey Classic against Alaska-Fairbanks on Oct. 10, 2008. Junior Justin Daniels broke through in the season opener against UMass by scoring Northeastern's first two goals of the season. It was the Suffern, N.Y. native's first-career two-goal game after suffering a goal-less season in 2010-11. Junior transfer Vinny Saponari joined Pimm and J. Daniels as two-point getters on Friday evening in his first-career game donning a Huskies sweater. Saponari tallied two assists in the opener and followed up that performance with a short-handed goal and assists at Maine on Sunday. Saponari's man-down tally was the first of NU's kind of the season. Sophomore Anthony Bitetto joined the multi-point club in 2011-12 with a goal and an assist at Maine. Bitetto's goal was the first marker by a Northeastern defenseman this season. Heading into Friday's contest against New Hampshire, Saponari, Pimm and senior captain Mike McLaughlin are riding two-game point streaks. McLaughlin assisted in Friday's game and followed it up with his first goal of the season at Maine.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Former Vipers Defenceman Morgan Taking Baseball By Storm In Playoffs:
This is posted on the Brewers website:
T. Plush taking baseball by storm in playoffs
Morgan and his alter ego captivating fans, turning off opponents
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com | 10/08/11
MILWAUKEE -- America, meet Tony Plush.
Depending on your outlook -- essentially, whether you'll wear Brewers blue or Cardinals red during this charged National League Championship Series -- he is either the best thing to happen to this game or the worst. The Brewers insist that if you get to know him, you'll love him. The Cards would rather not know him at all.
The measure of this distaste was best described Saturday by veteran Lance Berkman, one of baseball's all-time most affable, frank and talkative players. Asked about Plush on the eve of NLCS Game 1, Berkman went silent.
"No comment," he said.
The questioner thought Berkman was kidding. He most certainly was not.
"I really don't want to talk about him, to be honest," Berkman said.
So you have to turn to the Brewers, who have a very different view of Nyjer Jamid Morgan, aka Tony Plush, aka this postseason's version of slightly off-kilter Giants closer Brian Wilson.
That Morgan's own teammates would have an alternate outlook is not surprising at all, considering he blossomed in blue after being acquired from the Nationals four days before the season opener, batting .304 for Milwaukee and winning regular duty in center field, and then appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated. At Miller Park, fans throw up their arms in a "T," just like T. Plush does in the outfield. You can hear them when Morgan steps to the plate: "TEEEEEEEE!"
"He's brought some fun back to baseball," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said on more than one occasion this season.
Plush is the kingpin of the myriad personalities inside Morgan's clean-shaven head. He was born years ago when Morgan and some friends became fans of Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack, and wanted alter egos of their own. Morgan adopted Tony Plush, a supremely confident, self-described entertainer, troublemaker and bundle of baseball energy who on Friday night "tickled" -- Plush's word -- a 10th-inning single up the middle to send the Brewers past the D-backs in the NL Division Series.
He ran around during the wild hour or so that followed wearing a S.W.A.T. team helmet -- that's his nickname for Milwaukee's offense -- that has "T. Plush" printed on the back. His nose was bleeding after being dog-piled by his teammates, and his uniform grew more stained as the celebration raged on. Plush hugged Melvin and assistant GM Gord Ash so hard you worried someone would get hurt. Then he sat quietly for a moment, Nyjer again, savoring the Brewers' biggest hit since Cecil Cooper's seventh-inning single in a decisive Game 5 of the American League Championship Series sent Milwaukee to its only World Series.
Then he was up on his feet, Nyjer Morgan transformed back into Tony Plush, dancing and celebrating through the night.
"I still don't have a real feeling of what happened last night," Morgan said Saturday. "It's a new day now, and we're ready to move on and get ready for these Birds."
With that, he laughed. Plush was back. You have to have heard it to know it, a slow, "Haaa, haaa, haaa."
Other personalities emerged as the season went on. There was Tony Gumbel, Morgan's choice for serious, studious moments in postgame interviews. There was Tony Tombstone, conjured by third baseman Casey McGehee the day the Brewers dressed as cowboys for a flight from Houston to St. Louis. There was Tony Hush, when Morgan declined to discuss a dustup with Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter a few days later.
Then there was Tony Clutch, Ryan Braun's creation after Morgan's two-run single amid a five-run rally in Game 2 of the NLDS. Tony Clutch came through again in Game 5 on Friday.
"Nyjer got the biggest hit of his life," Braun said. "One of the biggest hits in Brewers history."
It was Morgan who coined the term "Beast Mode" for the Brewers' wild gestures after their big hits. It started with Prince Fielder's kids, fans of the animated movie "Monsters, Inc.," throwing their hands -- er, claws -- over their heads and growling: "Ahhh!"
The team started doing it on the bases when it got on a roll after the All-Star break, and by the end of the season, fans were in the act, too. One particularly beastly fan dressed as the main character from "Monsters, Inc." -- neon-blue Sulley -- for NLDS Game 1, when the Brewers debuted "Beast Mode cam." Another fan sent the team a three-foot tall stuffed version of Sulley, and he celebrated with the ballclub on Friday night. By the end, Sulley badly needed a bath.
This is generally the type of stuff that would not fly in the Cardinals' veteran-laden, postseason-tested clubhouse, and the teams endured plenty of tension in 2011. Much of it involved Morgan, who was warned by umpire Joe West during a game in August to stop cursing at Carpenter from the dugout and later had words with Carpenter on the field at Busch Stadium after a 10-pitch strikeout, causing both benches to clear.
Morgan took to Twitter that night, referring to Albert Pujols as "Alberta" and saying he hoped St. Louis enjoyed watching Milwaukee in the playoffs. It turns out the Cards will watch up close.
"It's like 'Carp,'" said Brewers right fielder Corey Hart, referring to Carpenter. "He's not a very liked guy because of how he is [on the field], but his teammates might love him. Over here, there is a lot of negativity when you play against [Morgan], but when he's on your team, you love him. You realize how hard he works, and how his antics have a purpose. He gets us going. He gets our energy level high."
And he makes no apologies for that. None of the Brewers do, including 41-year-old Craig Counsell, with two World Series rings the team's most decorated player. Morgan calls Counsell his uncle, and Counsell mostly has no problem with the shows of emotion.
"A lot more of it goes on than we talk about, but for whatever reason, our guys have captured all of the attention," said Counsell, who conceded that one difference is Milwaukee doesn't hide from it. "I don't think we should hide from it. We have guys who thrive on showing emotion. Why should we change that?"
Even Zack Greinke, the Brewers' complicated Game 1 starter, is OK with Plush being Plush.
At least, most of the time.
"Ninety-five percent of the time, he's great," Greinke said. "Everyone else probably likes him 100 percent of the time, but every now and then, he talks too much for me and gets annoying. But I tell him that. Everybody on the team loves him; he has a good heart and he's fun."
Like the early-season off-day on which Morgan, new to Milwaukee, asked his Twitter followers how he should fill his down time. Someone suggested he go fly a kite. So Morgan did, and proved it with photos he posted later that night. The Brewers eventually auctioned the kite for charity.
Morgan does not intend to change. Asked whether he would say anything to Pujols -- the player he called "Alberta" a couple of months ago -- should Morgan reach first base in Game 1 on Sunday, Morgan said he might simply pat baseball's best player on the backside. Maybe not.
"What I said is probably not too cool to the world, but I didn't say anything about the way the man played the game," Morgan said. "He's still a heck of a player. ... At the time, the moment was heated. Maybe I shouldn't have said it."
Morgan is expecting a supercharged NLCS, given the teams' history. He expects a particularly "boo-ey" reception from the fans at Busch Stadium beginning with Game 3.
"But there's the biggest prize at stake, and I don't think any of this foolishness is going to pour over and get into what both teams are trying to do," he said.
"Thanks to Plush," he added, "the TV ratings are going to go up a little higher."
Former Viper Pimm Scores Game-Tying Goal At 19:58 Of Third Period To Give Huskies 3-3 Tie:
Braden Pimm's game tying goal with just two seconds remaining in the hockey game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NAy-q5HzmeI
Braden Pimm's post game interview after a 3-3 tie with Massachusetts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW0xOnNg2fI
This is posted on the Hockey East website:
Friday, October 7, 2011
LATE PIMM GOAL LIFTS NORTHEASTERN INTO 3-3 TIE WITH MASSACHUSETTS
Sophomore forward Braden Pimm collects game-tying goal at 19:58 of the third period for Huskies
The Northeastern men's hockey team treated the Huskies fans to a 3-3 thriller against Massachusetts in both the season opener and head coach Jim Madigan's first-career game as sophomore Braden Pimm netted an extra attacker goal with two seconds left in regulation at Matthews Arena.
Friday's contest marked the first time Northeastern UMass met in the season opener as Madigan went 65 minutes in his introduction to Hockey East.
Junior forward Justin Daniels, who scoreless in 2010-11, tallied the Huskies' first two goals of the net followed by Pimm's heroics at 19:58 of the third period. Junior transfer Vinny Saponari displayed his talents with a pair of assists while senior captain Mike McLaughlin and juniors Garrett Vermeersch and Drew Ellement each recorded an assists. Pimm joined J. Daniels and Saponari as two-point scorers with an assist on J. Daniels' first goal.
Junior netminder Chris Rawlings returned for his third year in net and turned away 36 shots in his season debut. UMass goaltender Kevin Boyle stopped 29 shots in his first career start. The Minutemen outshot Northeastern, 39-32. Each club converted one-of-six chances on the power play.
The first five minutes yielded a couple shots for each team outside the circles until T.J. Syner made a play in the neutral zone and charged Rawlings with sophomore Luke Eibler in pursuit. Eibler busted up the play, but was whistled for a holding infraction at 5:21 for the first call of the game.
The Minutemen controlled from the draw and converted on the power play about a minute and a half in at 6:48. Conor Sheary faked the shot from the right dot and deferred to Colin Shea on the near post. Shea did not get all of the puck and the change-up duped Rawlings for the 1-0 UMass lead.
Rookie Josh Manson put Massachusetts on the power play once again at 10:31, but an Adam Phillips hook at 10:44 quickly negated the call for some 4-on-4 action. Neither team attacked, but at 16:03, Northeastern exploded on a pair from J. Daniels at 16:03 and 17:50, respectively.
J. Daniels made the initial pass between the circles for Ellement to unload on. Boyle was on point to make the stop, but Pimm crashed the net and jostled the puck back out to J. Daniels on the near post. J. Daniels had the entire right side of the net open and buried the opportunity to tie it up, 1-1.
Just over a minute later, Northeastern won the draw and took the lead, 2-1, at 17:50 on a great power play goal (Oleg Yevenko - hitting from behind - 16:03). Saponari split traffic from behind the net and connected with Vermeersch in the open slot. Vermeersch unleashed a wrister that met Boyle's chest protector, but J. Daniels swooped in on the opposite post and cashed in on his second tally in under two minutes.
Massachusetts cancelled out the Huskies' goal nine seconds later on a wrister from Braden Gracel at 17:59. Emerson Auvenshire stripped the puck in the neutral zone and kicked it out to Gracel on the far boards. Gracel let it loose from the right circle to cinch in back up, 2-2.
Ellement was called for interference at 18:28 of the first, but no damage was done for the Huskies. Even strength resumed and Syner's one-timer from Sheary at 4:10 of the second put UMass ahead for the second time of the night, 3-2. Oleg Yevenko made the pass to the near boards and Sheary zipped it down low to Syner for the tap in.
In the later part of the middle frame, Northeastern was bestowed with 30 seconds of 5-on-3 action after Syner and Sheary took seats for boarding and tripping at 11:31 and 13:01, respectively. The Huskies offered a couple shots from the outside but could not attack with the two-man advantage.
Yevenko and Conor Allen took respective tripping and boarding calls at 16:30 and 17:37 to impart another 5-on-3 window for NU, but despite several chances, the Minutemen penalty kill kept Northeastern off the board.
The third period unfolded evenly in terms of chances until the 13:00-minute mark. The Huskies surrounded Boyle and pummeled him with rubber while he was sprawled out, but the Minutemen defense stood together and managed to block the flurry of NU's attack.
Time continued to tick and Madigan pulled Rawlings with 1:12 left on the clock. Northeastern descended upon the net once, but this time, Pimm's stick snuck the puck through the pile with just two seconds left to force the game into overtime at 19:58, 3-3.
Massachusetts controlled the tempo in the extra frame, but neither team was able to find the back of the net to snatch victory.
The Huskies jump immediately back into league action this Sunday, Oct. 9 for their only trip to Orono, Maine for the regular season. Northeastern and Maine drop the puck at Alfond Arena starting at 1 p.m.
A replay of this game is available on GoNUxstream. GoNUxstream is free to all viewers and features live and on-demand video and audio broadcasts, as well as live game stats, and is accessible on PC and Mac computers, as well as on iPhones, iPads and Android phones.
Game Notes
- Tonight marked the first time in program history the Huskies opened the season against Massachusetts.
- Justin Daniels' two-goal output marks a career first and also his first two goals against Massachusetts in his career. The junior forward scored his first goal since a tally as a rookie on March 5, 2010 at Boston University.
- The last time a Husky scored two goals in a game was last season when Brodie Reid potted a pair at Boston University in the Hockey East quarterfinals on March 13, 2011.
- The last time Northeastern scored an extra attacker goal was when Wade MacLeod scored against Boston College in the Hockey East semifinals on March 18, 2011 at the TD Garden.
- Braden Pimm's goal with two seconds left in regulation counted for his first-career game-tying goal.
- Jim Madigan's tie in his first-career game as Northeastern head coach marks a program first. No coach has ever skated to a tie in their first game behind the bench.
- Of all the Hockey East teams, Northeastern's longest unbeaten streak comes against Massachusetts. The Huskies are 4-0-2 against UMass in the last six meetings, including a pair of ties in the last two encounters.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
10 Years Ago Today......
The Vipers would come home to face the Silverbacks with a 2-8 record and win the season opener 3-2 in overtime. Forward, Chad Clower would score the first goal in the brand new Muli-Plex as forward, Mark Nelson would be the hero scoring the OT winner in front of a sold out crowd.
Former Vipers Goaltender Hammond Opens Season With Victory:
Andrew Hammond's post game interview after Friday night's 2-1 victory over the University of Connecticut.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SGFUHm0yQqw
This is posted on the Falcons website:
Falcons Skate To 4-4 Finish With UConn
By John Enright - Athletic Communications Intern
10/9/2011
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University ice hockey team closed out opening weekend this past Saturday with a 4-4 tie against the University of Connecticut at BGSU Ice Arena. In contrast to the previous night’s low scoring affair, each team lit the lamp four times on the way to the highest scoring output of the young season.
The Falcons used a balanced attack against the Huskies as four different skaters registered a goal in the contest. Sophomores Bryce Williamson and Cam Wojtala each registered their second straight goal in as many games, while junior Bobby Shea and freshman Dan DeSalvo each recorded their first goal of the season.
The Huskies jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with two power play tallies in the first ten minutes of the game. Junior Sean Ambrosie and sophomore Brant Harris each scored to put BGSU in an early hole. The Falcons failed to score in the remainder of the first period despite outshooting the Huskies 10-6 in the frame.
The Falcons would respond in the second period however with a power play goal of their own, cutting the Huskies lead to one. Wojtala received the puck off a neutral zone face-off win and carried it towards the UConn net minder before roofing it top corner on the backhand.
Bowling Green continued to pressure throughout the period, working mostly in the offensive zone the entire frame. The pressure would pay off with five minutes left to play in the second period, as DeSalvo rammed home a beautiful pass from sophomore Jake Slot in front. The tally tied the game at two heading into the third period.
Each team would score twice in the final frame, exchanging goals throughout the third period.
Overtime did not yield a winner, and the game officially ended in a tie. While both teams did participate in a shootout culminating in a UConn win, the outcome had no bearing on the standings.
The tie came despite the Falcons dominating in the shot department. BG outshot UConn 45-15 in the game, including a 20-3 mark in the second period. Sophomore Andrew Wallace continued to dominate in the face-off circle as well, winning 12 of 16 draws on the night.
DeSalvo’s second period goal marked the first of his career, while freshman Adam Berkle registered his first collegiate point with an assist in the third period. Carpenter continued to roll along in the early part of the season with two assists in the game. Wojtala, Williamson, and Carpenter are each currently on two game point scoring streaks.
The Falcons are back in action this coming weekend (Oct. 14-15) on the road against University of Alabama-Huntsville.
Snakes Squeak By Cents:
Snakes squeak by Cents
Published: October 12, 2011
Head coach Jason Williamson said the Vernon Vipers are prepared to win one-goal hockey games, and they are proving it.
Saturday night’s 3-2 overtime result against the host Merritt Centennials was the Snakes’ third foray into extra time, and fifth time in seven B.C. Hockey League games they have been on the right side of a one-goal decision.
The 7-0 Vipers are the only remaining undefeated BCHL team and occupy first place, two points clear of the Coastal-leading Powell River Kings (6-2).
“In all three (OT) games we didn’t play well, but we found ways to win. All three of those games were probably our worst games of the season,” said Williamson.
Netminder Kirby Halcrow made 39 saves to earn first star before 640 fans in the postage-stamp sized Nicola Valley Arena. With pretty much anything over the redline considered a scoring chance, the Centennials, seventh in the Interior at 1-4-1-2, fired at Halcrow from all angles.
“It might have taken a few minutes to adjust (to the rink), but I settled down after that,” said Halcrow, 20. “It makes it easier with them shooting from out there, and the guys were letting me see the puck, so that was good.”
And when Merritt did get traffic in front of towering netminder, Halcrow added: “I was fighting through screens and looking around guys to make room to see the puck.”
Mike Zalewski, with his team-leading sixth goal, buried the winner in the second OT period after a nice feed from Darren Nowick. Defenceman Luke Juha made a good heads-up play to spring them on a 2-on-1.
“We were opportunistic. They’re good at home and they threw everything at the net, but Kirby was good,” said Williamson.
"There was no real structure out there, but we found a way to win. Our veterans got it done again.”
After a scoreless first period, the Vipers struck in the second frame when John Knisley carried the puck wide and fired on net. The rebound landed on Nowick’s stick for an open net at 6:50.
Alex Hagen, with his second of the season, made it 2-0 with a crafty play, surprising netminder Lino Chimienti (28 saves) with a shot off a faceoff.
Dustin Lebrun put Merritt on the board three minutes into the third period as he stepped into a loose puck off a faceoff to beat Halcrow high glove side.
Later in the third, after some good movement by the Cents’ on a powerplay, Reece Wilcox walked in from the point and beat Halcow through traffic to force OT.
“It was nice to finally have an effort that I feel we’re capable of. The result was unfortunate, but it was a start,” said Merritt head coach Luke Pierce.
“I thought that Halcrow was outstanding. And they capitalized basically on the one opportunity they got in the OT. You really have to try and minimize the mistakes you make against good teams like that.”
The Vipers are in Chilliwack to face the 3-1 Chiefs Friday night at Prospera Place, and end a three-game road schedule Saturday against the Penticton Vees at South Okanagan Events Centre.
The Vees, second in the Interior at 5-1-0-1, have averaged seven goals a game over their last four games. They fell 5-4 in overtime to the Prince George Spruce Kings Saturday night.
SNAKE BITES: Vernon native Conor Barrie recorded 29 stops and his first-ever BCHL win as the Surrey Eagles outlasted the host Nanaimo Clippers 4-3 Sunday night at Frank Crane Arena...Former Viper Trevor Fitzgerald leads the Clippers in scoring with four goals and five assists in seven games.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Eagles Sign Former Vipers Defenceman Waddell:
Matt Waddell's Player Profile:
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=75413
This is posted on the Eagles website:
17/09/2011 - Eagles, unveiled the first arrivals of new season
Two Canadians (one goalkeeper and a defender) and two Americans (a defender and a striker): these are the first names that come out of the hat Ice Hockey FVG and that would make the Eagles roster of the 2011/2012 season.
The first name is Alex Petizian, young goalkeeper Canadian try-out contract. The twenty-four (born March 9, 1987) has returned from two years of attendance in the American Hockey League with the Rochester Americans. Alex proved very successful in the NCAA (the league university) where he played at St. Lawrence University. In the 2006/2007 season has joined the All-Rookie Team NCAA.
The first defender that has come to be called Pontefract Matt Waddell and he comes from the country of the maple trees. For the 27 year old physique (185 centimeters by 93 kilograms) will be the fourth season in Europe after those played in Sweden with the coat of Boras, Finland
Eagles Sign Former Vernon Viper Tryout Ofukany:
Troy Ofukany's Player Profile:
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=80312
This is posted on the Eagles website:
Eagles Add Two More Forwards in Ofukany & Huculak
08/30/2011
WINDSOR, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles announced today the signing of two more forwards for their upcoming camp as they head into the 2011-12 hockey season, their first in the ECHL. Colorado has signed Troy Ofukany (oh-fuke-uh-knee) & Liam Huculak (hooch-uh-lack).
Ofukany (6-foot, 195-pounds) will be entering his fourth professional season after four years in the WHL that included a league championship with the Kelowna Rockets in 2004-05. He registered 149 points (66-83-149) in 265 WHL games, and has added 49 points (25-24-49) in 111 games in the CHL while playing with the Wichita Thunder & Odessa Jackalopes.
"Ofukany is a well-rounded player who competes all over the ice and has a knack for finding the back of the net," said Eagles assistant coach Greg Pankewicz of the player with more goals than assists in his pro career. "He'll definitely add good depth to our forwards."
Huculak (6-foot-5-inches, 225-pounds) has followed up four years at Colgate University with four years of pro hockey -- the first two in the ECHL with and the latter two in the CHL with the Allen Americans. In 218 pro games, the physical forward has accumulated 66 points (30-36-66) and 501 penalty minutes. He acted as one of his team's assistant captains as a Junior at Colgate University and again last season with the Americans when he set career highs in goals (12), assists (12) & points (24).
"Huculak brings good leadership and a real physical presence to the ice every time he jumps over the boards," said Eagles head coach & general manager Chris Stewart. "Both of these players possess nice intangibles, and will add to the great mix of forwards we'll have at our upcoming camp."
A complete schedule can be found at http://www.coloradoeagles.com/
Individual tickets for all Eagles home games will go on sale in September, and can be purchased at www.ComcastTix.com, the BEC box office, or by calling 1-877-544-TIXX (8499) or 970-686-SHOT (7468). Stay tuned to www.ColoradoEagles.com for soon-to-be-announced ticket information, including new pricing plans and a $16 single-game ticket.
2011-12 Signings To-Date
Patrick Cey (F)
Adam Chorneyko (F)
Jack Combs (F)
Chad Costello (F)
A.J. Hau (F)
Liam Huculak (F)
Kyle Jones (G)
Patrick Knowlton (F)
Anthony Maiani (F)
Riley Nelson (F)*
Troy Ofukany (F)
Alex Penner (F)
Kyle Peto (D)
Nic Polaski (F)
Aaron Schneekloth (D)*
BCHL Trades From The Month Of September:
06-Sep-11 The Salmon Arm Silverbacks Hockey Club transfered the CJHL playing rights of John Stechyshyn (93) and future considerations to the Melville Millionaires Hockey Club of the SJHL in exchange for the CJHL playing rights of Klay Kachur (91).
15-Sep-11 The Alberni Valley Bulldogs Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Konrad Litke (92)(F) to the Flin Flon Bombers of the SJHL in exchange for future considerations.
15-Sep-11 The Cowichan Valley Capitals Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Alex Marcinew (92)(D) to the Bonnyville Pontiacs Hockey Club of the AJHL in exchange for future considerations.
16-Sep-11 The Nanaimo Clippers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Nick Bell (91) and future considerations to the Markham Waxers Hockey Club of the OJHL in exchange for the playing rights of David Iacono (93).
19-Sep-11 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Jarryd Ten Vaanholt (91)(F) to the Victoria Grizzles Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.
19-Sep-11 The Cowichan Valley Capitals Hockey Club transfer the playing rights of Taylor House (92)(F) to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.
22-Sep-11 The Trail Smoke Eaters Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Chase Kaiser (92)(F) to the Victoria Grizzlies Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.
22-Sep-11 The Salmon Arm Silverbacks Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Ryan Crosson (92) to the Estevan Bruins Hockey Club of the SJHL in exchange for future considerations.
23-Sep-11 The Victoria Grizzlies Hockey Club acquire the Jr A playing rights of Kevin Woodyatt (92)(D) from the Newmarket Hurricanes Hockey Club of the OJHL in exchange for future considerations.
26-Sep-11 The Victoria Grizzlies Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Michael Colantone (19)(F) plus future considerations to the Prince George Spruce Kings Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Jesse Ursic (93)(D).
26-Sep-11 The Victoria Grizzlies Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Nick Buchanan (91)(D) to the Penticton Vees Hockey Club for the playing rights of Mike Moran (91)(F).
30-Sep-11 The Merritt Centennials Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Stephen Wall (91)(F) to the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL in exchange for future considerations.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Vipers Ranked 4th In CJHL Standings:
Monday, October 10, 2011 - Submitted by BCHL Media
The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) announced today its Weekly Top 20 rankings in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting. Last week’s rankings and the leagues in which the teams belong to are in parenthesis.
The CJHL Weekly Top 20 as of Monday, October 10, 2011
1. (1) Cornwall Colts (CCHL)
2. (2) Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
3. (4) Winkler Flyers (MJHL)
4. (6) Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
5. (5) Woodstock Slammers (MHL)
6. (10) St. Michael’s Buzzers (OJHL)
7. (7) Les Cougars du College Champlain - Sherbrooke (LHJAAAQ)
8. (8) Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
9. (13) Nipawin Hawks (SJHL)
10. (18) Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL)
11. (9) Soo Eagles (NOJHL)
12. (14) Wisconsin Wilderness (SIJHL)
13. (HM) Amherst Ramblers (MHL)
14. (12) Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)
15. (15) Newmarket Hurricanes (OJHL)
16. (NR) Winnipeg Blues (MJHL)
17. (HM) Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL)
18. (NR) Penticton Vees (BCHL)
19. (HM) Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL)
20. (20) College Francais de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ)
Honorable mention goes to the Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL), Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL), Dauphin Kings (MJHL), Fort Frances Lakers (SIJHL), and the Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL).
The rankings are based upon a variety of factors which includes the league in which the teams belong to, their winning percentage, their win-loss record, total points accumulated, their goals-for versus goals-against ratio, amongst other factors.
The CJHL is an amalgamation of the ten Junior A hockey leagues from across Canada. More information on the CJHL can be found by clicking on the league website. http://www.cjhlhockey.com/
Keeping Up With Former Vernon Viper Nyjer Morgan: A Party-Time Photo Essay:
This was on Yahoo Sports website:
Keeping up with Nyjer Morgan: A party-time photo essay
By David Brown
Sat Oct 08
MILWAUKEE — Baseball seems like the wrong sport for Nyjer Morgan(notes). He has the skills for it; he can run down balls in the outfield and he can swing a bat. But it also requires patience, stillness and an attention span — qualities that, off the field, he doesn't seem to have at all.
But he manages to succeed on the field. On Friday night, Morgan delivered the a game-winning, series-clinching, season-sustaining RBI single for the Milwaukee Brewers, setting them up for a date with the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS.
Morgan was even tougher to stop during the postgame celebration. If you wanted a word with Tony Plush, you had better be ready to get moving.
As confetti and glitter fell from the rafters at Miller Park just a few minutes after his big hit, Morgan mounted the Brewers dugout and gave the Beast Mode signal to the fans. Morgan was so excited, he even let out a few swear words on live TV.
He repeatedly apologized, saying "I'm sorry, I've been cursing a lot. I'm sorry," before adding, "Oh, man, I gotta go!"
He's huge! Morgan went 3 for 16 in the series — a .188 batting average — but he had two hits in Game 5, including the series winner. He said it is an important moment in his career:
"It's a lot, man," Morgan said. "Basically just everything that I've had to overcome, just the stuff that people go out there and perceive about me, everything. Just all my haters. I just wanted to show them that I can play this game, even though I have a fun, bubbly personality. I still come to win, and I'm a winner."
Trying to imagine Nyjer Morgan (or even Tony Plush) in a military setting. Nope, can't do it. At least the combat helmet will help prevent concussions if the party gets too out of hand.
Champagne stings, but in a good way. A year ago, Morgan wasn't anywhere near a playoff party. He had finished a disappointing and troubling season with the Washington Nationals, who liked him but thought he'd be better off — oh — with another team.
"One man's trash is another man's treasure!" Morgan said Friday night, as he has before.
This is the closest to still Morgan got, doing a radio interview for the Brewers' flagship station. Note the chinstrap keeping the combat helmet attached. I wonder if Mr. DeNiro will get a question in?
Brewers' GM Doug Melvin took a chance — but it was a good chance — that Morgan would help the Brewers. Who knows how much his "bubbly personality" contributed to them winning, but his teammates seem to like him. The alter-ego certainly breaks up the monotony of a long season. And if he can get a few big hits, hey, Tony Plush is even more welcome.
The Melvin-Morgan embrace included the GM saying, "I'm going to get a Tweeter like you!" — which hopefully refers to the social media network.
A reflective moment with Pedro Gomez of ESPN. That's blood on Morgan's jersey. He might have bitten his tongue in the scrum with teammates. If not, who knows where it came from?
Thanks to Yahoo! Sports' own Jeff Passan for snapping a picture of a stuffed Sulley — one of the guys from "Monsters, Inc." on which Milwaukee's "Beast Mode" is fashioned. Sulley is filthy, but the eye black is a nice touch.
Ah HA! He does run out of energy. That's a pretty satisfied grin on Morgan's face. That name-brand beer is going to taste good.
Steelheads Sign Former Viper Forward Beller:
Greg Beller's Player Profile:
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=87902
This is posted on the Steelheads website:
Pair of forwards agree to terms with Idaho
ECHL Press Releases
August 29, 2011
Boise, Idaho – Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Hardy Sauter announced Monday that the Idaho Steelheads have agreed to terms with rookie forwards Kyle Reed and Greg Beller.
The 24-year-old Reed made his professional debut with the Steelheads in March following the conclusion of his college career at Ohio State. In four games, Reed had an assist and earned high marks for his skating speed. He had 22 goals over four seasons with Ohio State. The Calgary, Alberta, product has family in the Boise area including his uncle, Gerald Bell, who competed in track and field at Boise State and is now an administrator in the Boise School District.
Beller, also 24, is turning professional after completing his college career at the University of Manitoba in Canada. In three seasons at Manitoba, Beller scored 13 goals and added 23 assists. Prior to attending the University of Manitoba, Beller played two seasons at Yale University and one season of junior hockey for the Vernon Vipers of the British Columbia Hockey League. He was a sixth-round selection of the New York Rangers in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Halcrow Is Superb Again:
This is posted on the Vipers website:
Halcrow is superb again!
by Don Klepp | Added 2011-10-09
Kirby Halcrow Stopped 39 of 41 Shots
Mike Zalewski’s precise wrist shot at 3:55 of the second overtime period gave the Vernon Vipers a 3-2 decision in a game that the host Merritt Centennials felt they should have won.
Viper Coach Jason Williamson summed it up in a post-game interview: “Our guys should wear masks as we leave town because we basically stole that one. They outworked us in the first and third periods and also in the first overtime, to some extent.”
However, the Vipers’ experience showed in the three-on-three component of the overtime. Luke Juha controlled the puck out of his end and headmanned to Darren Nowick, whose speed created an odd man rush. Nowick then fed Zalewski on the right wing.
A big factor in the Viper victory was Kirby Halcrow’s goaltending. He stopped 39 of 41 shots, many from close range as the Centennials shot the puck deep and flooded the offensive zone.
His best save came in the first overtime. Reece Willcox whistled an open wrister from 20 feet that was headed for the top corner, but Halcrow snagged the puck with his catcher. Back in the second period he had robbed Silvan Harper, Brent Fletcher, and Jacob Reichert in one flurry of chances. Later in the middle frame, he stuffed Evan Stack at the goal mouth.
The Centennials finally broke through in the third period. Trailing 2-0, they capitalized on hard work by Payton Schaefer who won an offensive zone draw and tied up two checkers so that Dustin Lebrun could wire a wrister through traffic.
Lebrun also figured in the tying goal at 15:45. On a power play, he got the puck back to Brandon Pfeil who found Reece Willcox open at the left point. Willcox’s low shot made its way through the screen in front.
The Vipers had taken the lead in the second period on goals by Darren Nowick and Alex Hagen. The first, at 6:50, capped a high speed three-way passing play among Nowick, Mike Zalewski, and John Knisley.
Hagen’s power play marker at 11:39 resulted when Jedd Soleway and Hagen combined to dominate an offensive zone faceoff. Hagen whipped a loose puck at Lino Chimienti, who got a piece of the puck but saw it trickle across the line.
The Vipers have now scored at least one power play goal in each of their seven wins in the early season while allowing just two scores in 35 opposition man advantages.
The game featured plenty of hitting by both teams, but the Centennials were the more aggressive team in the offensive zone. Merritt’s fourth line of Payton Schaefer, Dustin Lebrun, and Dylan Chanter was especially active.
Halcrow is superb again!
by Don Klepp | Added 2011-10-09
Kirby Halcrow Stopped 39 of 41 Shots
Mike Zalewski’s precise wrist shot at 3:55 of the second overtime period gave the Vernon Vipers a 3-2 decision in a game that the host Merritt Centennials felt they should have won.
Viper Coach Jason Williamson summed it up in a post-game interview: “Our guys should wear masks as we leave town because we basically stole that one. They outworked us in the first and third periods and also in the first overtime, to some extent.”
However, the Vipers’ experience showed in the three-on-three component of the overtime. Luke Juha controlled the puck out of his end and headmanned to Darren Nowick, whose speed created an odd man rush. Nowick then fed Zalewski on the right wing.
A big factor in the Viper victory was Kirby Halcrow’s goaltending. He stopped 39 of 41 shots, many from close range as the Centennials shot the puck deep and flooded the offensive zone.
His best save came in the first overtime. Reece Willcox whistled an open wrister from 20 feet that was headed for the top corner, but Halcrow snagged the puck with his catcher. Back in the second period he had robbed Silvan Harper, Brent Fletcher, and Jacob Reichert in one flurry of chances. Later in the middle frame, he stuffed Evan Stack at the goal mouth.
The Centennials finally broke through in the third period. Trailing 2-0, they capitalized on hard work by Payton Schaefer who won an offensive zone draw and tied up two checkers so that Dustin Lebrun could wire a wrister through traffic.
Lebrun also figured in the tying goal at 15:45. On a power play, he got the puck back to Brandon Pfeil who found Reece Willcox open at the left point. Willcox’s low shot made its way through the screen in front.
The Vipers had taken the lead in the second period on goals by Darren Nowick and Alex Hagen. The first, at 6:50, capped a high speed three-way passing play among Nowick, Mike Zalewski, and John Knisley.
Hagen’s power play marker at 11:39 resulted when Jedd Soleway and Hagen combined to dominate an offensive zone faceoff. Hagen whipped a loose puck at Lino Chimienti, who got a piece of the puck but saw it trickle across the line.
The Vipers have now scored at least one power play goal in each of their seven wins in the early season while allowing just two scores in 35 opposition man advantages.
The game featured plenty of hitting by both teams, but the Centennials were the more aggressive team in the offensive zone. Merritt’s fourth line of Payton Schaefer, Dustin Lebrun, and Dylan Chanter was especially active.
Royal Bank Cup Bid Committee Interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE0dGZ3OvEE&feature=player_embedded
Retro Jerseys Suit Vipers Just Fine:
Retro jerseys suit Vipers just fine
By Kevin Mitchell - Vernon Morning Star
Published: October 09, 2011
It was Retro Night Friday as the Vipers showed respect for the great Vernon Lakers teams of the 1980s by wearing snazzy orange and blue pro-style jerseys.
A few fans brought out their old Laker duds in support and the Vipers did their best Dave Oliver, Duane Dennis and Jason Marshall impersonations in a 4-1 victory over the Chilliwack Chiefs.
Adam Tambellini, first star Darren Nowick, third star Colton Sparrow and Alex Hagen, with his first B.C. Hockey League snipe, scored for the 6-0 Vipers. Josh Hansen replied for the Chiefs (2-1), who were known as the Quesnel Millionaires last season.
Retro Night brought back memories for Chilliwack head coach Harvey Smyl, the dean of BCHL bench bosses.
“I loved their uniforms,” smiled Smyl. “It brought back some old times from my New Westminster (Royals) days which was many years ago, It’s good to come back to the Junior A hockey capital of the world.”
The Chiefs, who faced Vernon in the BCHL championship four times in five years in the late ‘90s, had eight Millionaires join the re-born franchise in the Fraser Valley.
“We hit a bump tonight,” said Smyl. “I didn’t think we played very well. We had quite a few passengers out there. It’s certainly not something we wanna be out. We wanna be about work ethic and compete, those times of things, and have everybody doing it.”
The Vipers carried the majority of play, especially in the first period when they outshot the Chiefs 12-5.
“They move pretty well; they’re a quick team, but they couldn’t match us in the speed category and we just kept pucks behind them and went after them all game,” said Sparrow, who had a few great scoring chances and somehow found a mico-sized hole over rookie netminder Mitch Gillam’s left shoulder for the goal of the night, coming out of the corner on a sharp angle.
“That (goal) felt pretty good,” said Sparrow, perhaps extra stoked since a few U.S. college scouts were in the crowd of 1,467 at Wesbild Centre. “Obviously, we needed some insurance there so it was nice to get that one.”
Nowick, who was stoned by Gillam’s glove hand from four feet with 6:57 left in the first period, skated miles both ways and lost control of the puck after taking a breakaway feed coming out of the penalty box late in the second period.
He was rewarded with a goal shortly after when he tapped in a loose puck at the side of the crease to make it 2-0 Vipers.
“With Nowy, you’re gonna get the same thing from him every night,” said Sparrow. “That’s just how he is. He’s a hard-working guy who’s relentless.”
Nowick, who has four goals, ignited Vernon’s first line with Mike Zalewski, who shielded the puck down low like he invented the rubber disc, and shifty John Knisley.
“The whole team was clicking and we pretty much outworked them and got the W,” said Nowick, greeted by a college bird-dog outside the Viper dressing room. “It was nice with everyone putting the puck in the net. We were just too fast for their dee down low and we made them pay for it.”
Viper goalie Kirby Halcrow, back from sick bay, looked far better than Roberto Luongo when he calmly went down and stopped Trevor Hills on a penalty shot early in the second period. The Vipers played the Cents Saturday night in Merritt.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Vernon 3 Merritt 2 (Double Overtime)
PERIOD 1
No Scoring
PERIOD 2
Vernon Vipers at 6:50 - Darren Nowick from John Knisley and Michael Zalewski
Vernon Vipers at 11:39 (PP) - Alex Hagen from Jedd Soleway
PERIOD 3
Merritt Centennials at 3:18 - Dustin Lebrun from Payton Schaefer
Merritt Centennials at 15:45 (PP) - Reece Willcox from Dustin Lebrun and Brandon Pfeil
OVERTIME PERIOD 2
Vernon Vipers at 3:55 - Michael Zalewski from Darren Nowick
Merritt outshot Vernon 41-31, Kirby Halcrow made 39 saves in the win, while Lino Chimienti 28 saves in the loss.
For more on tonight's game check out the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977748&link=bchl
Former Vipers Defenceman Nyjer Morgan Sends Crew To NLCS With Walk-Off Single In 10th:
Here is Morgan's hit that wins the game for the Brewers,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuXJOWUcQIo
Nyjer Morgans Player Profile:
http://brewers.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=460579
This is posted on the Brewers website:
Performer of the game: Brewers' Morgan
Outfielder sends Crew to NLCS with walk-off single in 10th
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 10/07/11
MILWAUKEE -- Nyjer Morgan practically bounced off the walls of the Brewers' clubhouse on Friday night. As corks popped and champagne flew all around him, the outfielder could not stop moving, alternating between walking and jogging and yelling.
Then Morgan collapsed to the floor, overcome with a mix of exhaustion and joy.
Only a few moments earlier, Morgan sent a fastball from closer J.J. Putz bouncing into center field for the decisive blow in Milwaukee's 3-2, 10-inning victory over the D-backs in Game 5 of the National League Division Series. Confetti fell, fireworks exploded and Miller Park rocked in the wake of Morgan's heroics.
"Nyjer got the biggest hit of his life," Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun said. "One of the biggest hits in Brewers history."
That is because Milwaukee has not had a similar hit in nearly three decades.
Morgan's base hit propeled the Brewers to their first postseason series win since 1982, when Cecil Cooper's two-run single in the seventh inning of Game 5 of the American League Championship Series defeated the Angels and sent Milwaukee to its only World Series appearance. Morgan was only 2 years old at the time.
The Brewers now sit four wins shy of another trip to the Fall Classic. First, though, Milwaukee is tasked with taking on the Cardinals in a best-of-seven NLCS, beginning at 3 p.m. CT on Sunday.
After jumping into the mob of his Milwaukee teammates on the field on Friday, Morgan headed into the clubhouse to retrieve his S.W.A.T. helmet. Champagne dripped from its edges as he stood wide-eyed, still in shock, trying to come up with some answers for the wave of questions sent his way.
Morgan -- as high-energy an individual as they come -- was asked how he calms himself down.
"I can't," he said before running away while shouting his signature catchphrase. "Ahh. Gotta go!"
Brewers manager Ron Roenicke knew it was best to give Morgan a chance to collect himself.
"Nyjer can't talk right now, he's emotional," Roenicke said with a smile. "He's just -- he's a joy to have."
The Brewers landed Morgan in a trade with the Nationals toward the end of Spring Training. As the season wore on, the center fielder earned more and more playing time. He became a source of energy for Milwaukee's fun-loving squad and a catalyst for the team's sluggers with his play out of the second spot of the lineup.
Morgan slumped some in this Division Series -- the outfielder was only 1-for-11 going into the fifth game -- but his teammates held out faith that he would deliver when it mattered most.
"He's been our sparkplug all year," Brewers third baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. said. "I told him, 'Hey, you're going to do something special for us.' He did it."
Morgan's first contribution on this night was a leadoff double in the fourth inning against D-backs starter Ian Kennedy, an NL Cy Young Award contender coming off a 21-win campaign. Morgan promptly advanced to third base on a wild pitch before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Hairston to pull the game into a 1-1 tie.
Milwaukee held a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning, but closer John Axford surrended a run to knot the score once again, snapping a streak of 44 consecutive saves. In the home half of the 10th inning, Morgan was due up third, following veteran Craig Counsell and outfielder Carlos Gomez.
Mark Attanasio, the Brewers' owner, felt confident with how things were lining up.
"I liked having Counsell and Go-Go and Nyjer," Attanasio said. "Tony Plush, I guess we should say."
Yes, Tony Plush.
After all, that is the stage name Morgan has adopted while on the field.
That was who stepped into the batter's box after Gomez reached with a one-out single.
"That was T. Plush, man," Morgan said. "That was T. Plush all the way."
During Morgan's at-bat, Gomez stole second base to put the winning run 180 feet from home plate. Morgan worked into a 2-2 count before Putz unleashed the 94-mph fastball that added a new chapter to Milwaukee's history book.
"I was looking for something up," Morgan said. "And I had to calm my nerves down. So just slow my whole mind down."
Morgan drilled the pitch back up the middle.
"I just tickled it into the outfield," Morgan said.
Center fielder Chris Young had little chance of throwing Gomez out at the plate.
"Nobody's throwing out Carlos Gomez in that situation," Braun said. "Nobody. I don't care who's in center field."
Gomez slid in safely, and the Brewers poured out of the dugout and partied on the field.
Morgan was right in the middle of things as usual.
"Tony Clutch," Attanasio said with a grin.
As he tried to grasp what had just taken place, Morgan was asked if the helmet atop his head symbolized the Brewers' toughness.
"There you go," Morgan said. "It's a blue-collar town. We're blue-collar kids getting after it. Getting it done."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)