Vipers Land Hometown Talent:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Vipers land hometown talent

By Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning StarPublished: September 18, 2008 6:00 PM

It took a mammoth long distance phone bill and an elaborate set of trades to ship Bryce Kakoske just one hour up Highway 97. The end result is the 18-year-old winger will finally play in his hometown with the Vernon Vipers.Kakoske is the younger brother of Viper grad, Ryan, but you wouldn’t guess that by watching them abuse one another in B.C. Hockey League action last season, when Bryce played with the Westside Warriors.Viper fans can probably recall some heated battles along the boards, and in front of the net between the two at Wesbild Centre.Vipers’ GM/head coach Mark Ferner certainly can.“He’s always been good against us. There was certainly no love lost there (between Bryce and Ryan). They put the family thing aside, and that just shows the character of both these kids.”Ferner had been discussing Kakoske with Warriors’ head coach/director of player personnel Mark Howell over the past few months, but couldn’t reach an agreement.Ferner thought he’d lost out on Kakoske altogether when the Warriors dealt the Vernon product to the Surrey Eagles, in exchange for defenceman Michael Quinn.But Ferner got on the horn and ended up orchestrating a four-team deal to bring Kakoske to the Vipers’ den.To get him, Ferner first had to deal rookie forward Brett Switzer and future considerations to the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in exchange for forward Danny McSween.The Snakes then dealt McSween to the Eagles in exchange for Kakoske and futures.Additionally, Surrey sent McSween to the Quesnel Millionaires to land forward Christopher Santiago.Kakoske played two seasons with the Warriors, and in 52 games last season, the speedy winger recorded 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points.“Bryce has got great puck skills and he sees the ice very well,” said Ferner. “We know what he can do, and we just hope he can do those things for us. It’s always a positive when you can bring back a local, talented kid.”Added Kakoske: “It (the trade) just kind of happened out of nowhere. I knew that something had to happen and that there were going to be changes, but I didn’t know it was going to be me.“I always got up against Vernon, it being my home town. I’m just going to work hard and hopefully put a few pucks in the net. I always work hard, and that’s what I’ll bring to this team.”Kakoske’s first game with the Vipers just happens to be against the Warriors, tonight at Wesbild (7:00). Considering he never eased up on his own brother, it’s a safe bet he won’t spare his former teammates.The Snakes then travel to Salmon Arm Saturday night to face the SilverBacks.“He just wants to win,” said Vipers’ captain Chris Crowell, of Kakoske. “That’s the best thing about him – he competes hard every night. Everybody knows what his brother was all about for three years here, and he’s the same thing.”Kakoske practised with the Vipers for the first time Tuesday, and then on Wednesday, when the players were expecting a dryland training session, Ferner surprised them with an outing to Bushwackers Paintball for some team bonding.Ferner said with all the trades – Switzer, Brian Elser and Dallas Goodrunning were all recently shipped to other teams – over the past two weeks, he thought it was important to let his squad unwind with a bit of fun.After the early going, Crowell and Braden Pimm seemed to have come up with some unique strategies – legal and otherwise – on the course.“Me and Pimmer were untouchable out there,” deadpanned Crowell. “I don’t want to sugarcoat it – we were the best.”More seriously, Crowell added: “It’s good to get everybody out here and get away from the rink for a day. It’s an easier atmosphere to get more comfortable with each other.”