Jodoin Boosts Blues In Shootout:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Jodoin boosts Blues in shootout

Published: August 26, 2008 7:00 PM

Vernon minor hockey product Richard Jodoin supplied the shootout winner as the Blues gonged the Whites 6-5 in the Vernon Vipers’ annual intra-squad game Saturday at Wesbild Centre. Overall, it was a highly entertaining, fast-paced match with plenty of physical play and intensity – the lead changed three or four times, which gave the 300 B.C. Hockey League fans plenty to cheer about. “For the Blues, my veteran defensive pairing of Kyle Bigos and Kevin Kraus was stellar,” said Morning Star sports editor Kevin Mitchell, who assumed bench boss duties for the Blues. “They clicked with my big line of (Braden) Pimm, (Chris) Crowell and (Mike) Collins on the powerplay. Pimm’s line scored two quick goals on one shift to give the Blues the lead at one point.” Mitchell flew solo behind the Blues’ bench, and at times, outcoached the KISS FM radio tandem of Rob Abramenko and Joel Knox big-time. “I’ve coached in seven or eight of these scrimmages, and I’m pretty sure this is the first one I’ve won,” said Mitchell. “My impact players did their thing and my third line of Jodoin, (Kory) Roy and (Sawyer) Mick showed a relentless forecheck, some impressive creativity on offence, and some consistent banging. “Jodoin fought rugged Dallas Goodrunning, and while he got jerseyed and lost the scrap, he traded punches well and got our bench pumped up.” A pair of Vernon products, Jeremy Wiebe of the Blues and Trent Dorais of the Whites, also went toe-to-toe in a spirited draw. It was the second time in as many nights the two locals tangled. Ryan Fargher and P.J. Musico played well in the Blues’ net, while the Whites went with three tenders – Anthony Manfredi, Jared Andersen and the Vipers’ projected No. 1 keeper, Andrew Hammond, who played in the third and shootout. With the camp over, the Vipers have trimmed their roster down from the 80 that started to 30 players. Enderby’s Nick Amies (Kelowna Rockets) and Sahir Gill (Vancouver Giants) are trying out with Western Hockey League teams, but could wind up back in Vernon. “We’re definitely in a better spot than we were this time last year,” said Vipers’ assistant coach Jason Williamson. “I think we’re even deeper than we were at the end of last season, so we’re coming together quite well. “We had our own expectations of the players we brought in, and I think they’ve met them. Just from talking to other scouts that were in the building, they said we’re going to be very competitve.” Regarding the Blue & White game, he added: “Sometimes the mental part of the game got away from them, but other than that, I think they were quite competitive.” The Vipers will look to trim their roster even more after the weekend, as players on the bubble will get one last chance to showcase themselves in a pair of exhibition games with the Salmon Arm SilverBacks. The first game goes Saturday at the Sunwave Centre, and the second Sunday at the Revelstoke Forum. The Vipers open the BCHL regular season with a home-and-home series against the gorillas, starting Friday, Sept. 5 at Wesbild, and Sunday, Sept. 6 at Sunwave.