This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:
Vipers shut down young Swedes
By Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning Star
Published: January 06, 2009
It may not have had the magnitude of the gold-medal game between Canada and Sweden at the World Juniors, but the exhibition between the Vernon Vipers and the Swedish Under 17’s provided a first-rate demonstration in puck skill between two talented hockey teams.
Tied 1-1 after regulation, it took 14 skaters to decide the game in a shootout, with Kyle Bigos going forehand-backhand to seal the win for the Vipers before 2,332 fans Sunday at Wesbild Centre.
From the start, the Swedes used their vaunted puck-possession style, reading the ice well and moving the puck smoothly with clever passing.
The Vipers responded with a solid cycle game posing problems for the young Swedish defenders in the corners.
The best early chance came when Sweden’s Mattias Granlund collected a loose puck off the sidewall and was all alone in front of netminder Andrew Hammond, but fired the puck at his chest.
Late in the period on a Vipers’ powerplay, Swedish netminder Johan Gustafsson stymied Connor Jones in close.
With no B.C. Hockey League points up for grabs, Vipers’ head coach Mark Ferner played with his line combinations and made sure everyone got in the game.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime for a lot of our guys,” said Ferner. “Not everyone’s going to get an opportunity to play an international game against a good young hockey team.
“It’s a different style of hockey, but they came out and they were physical and a they’re a good puck possession team. It was an eye-opener for some of our guys because they are young, but they’re also very talented.”
The Vipers’ Cory Kane and Steve Tresierra didn’t play as both were recovering from injuries sustained in the Snakes 5-1 win over the Westside Warriors Friday night.
At the end of a Swedish powerplay early in the second frame, the Vipers’ Ryan Santana showed great determination to intercept the Swedes on the blueline and feed Steve Weinstein coming out of the penalty box. Breaking in 2-on-0, Weinstein set up Santana for a nice one-timer to open the scoring.
Despite being outshot 29-17 after 40 minutes (39-29 overall), the Vipers carried the lead into the third frame.
“We knew they were going to be good, but I don’t think we expected them to come out the way they did,” said Santana.
“It was definitely good to play a team like that, that moves the puck so well. It really challenged us.
“Our team got better today by playing a team with that much skill and speed... and the craftiness they have, and our ability to answer back.”
Sweden’s David Rydell did some good work to crash the net, and nearly scored himself, but it was Sebastian Ottosson who converted the rebound to beat Graeme Gordon – who played the second half – at 2:59 of the third period.
The game wasn’t overly physical, but both teams did come up with some solid hits.
One of Sweden’s best came when captain Gabriel Landeskog stapled Jones to the boards as he charged down the right wing.
“I thought it was going to be more physical, but they were pretty hard to meet,” said Landeskog, who idolized Peter Forsberg as a youngster. “It was hard for us forwards to get in on their goalie because they were clearing everything. They were good.
“To win a game like this, we have to get more traffic and more players on the net so the goalie can’t take them (shots). That’s one of the things we mentioned in the (intermissions).
“Our hopes were pretty high, and I think the Vipers stood up to them. It was a good game.”
Late in the game, Gordon made a good reaction save after Swedish d-man Adam Larsson’s point shot was deflected. Minutes later, Gordon stopped Victor Ohman on a wraparound.
Bigos then sent Braden Pimm on a breakaway with a long stretch pass, but the Fort St. John product couldn’t get the puck over Gustafsson.
In the shootout, Sweden’s Erik Thorell faked Gordon and went high blocker side, but Kellen Jones responded for Vipers.
“For the first time playing here, it was a good game for us,” said Sweden head coach Anders Eriksen. “I’m proud of the guys.
“For their size, they’re quite fast, and when they go for the goal, it’s hard to stand up to them. We’re not used to that from Sweden.
“We want to win gold in the junior championships, both 18 and 20... we can’t not go here and win the gold. We have to go here and educate the guys. That’s why we’re here now – to learn about your hockey.”
The Swedes would have liked to be playing at the Under 17 World Hockey Challenge in Port Alberni, but Eriksen explained politics got in the way.
An official on the Swedish ice hockey association declined an invitation a few years ago, which hampered subsequent years of Swedish participation in the tourney. Erikson hopes they can compete next year.
Meanwhile, the Vipers grounded the Trail Smoke Eaters 4-1 before 1,835 fans Saturday night at Wesbild.
Rob Short (11th), Kellen Jones (ninth), Mike Collins (16th) and Chris Crowell (11th) scored for the Vipers, who outshot the Smokies 40-22.
Steve Koshey scored his third of the year for 23-16-2-1 Trail, who mustered just nine shots through 40 minutes.
“It was awful,” said Smokies head coach Jim Ingram. “We’re very inconsistent right now, and when we get a challenge in front of us, we’re not meeting it. We’re showing our youth in areas, and we’re showing our inconsistent play all over. Not fun.”
The Smokies thumped the last-place Centennials 9-1 Sunday in Merritt.
The Vipers (28-10-1-2) host the Cents (7-32-0-3) Friday night before visiting the Penticton Vees (23-13-0-6) Saturday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Tied 1-1 after regulation, it took 14 skaters to decide the game in a shootout, with Kyle Bigos going forehand-backhand to seal the win for the Vipers before 2,332 fans Sunday at Wesbild Centre.
From the start, the Swedes used their vaunted puck-possession style, reading the ice well and moving the puck smoothly with clever passing.
The Vipers responded with a solid cycle game posing problems for the young Swedish defenders in the corners.
The best early chance came when Sweden’s Mattias Granlund collected a loose puck off the sidewall and was all alone in front of netminder Andrew Hammond, but fired the puck at his chest.
Late in the period on a Vipers’ powerplay, Swedish netminder Johan Gustafsson stymied Connor Jones in close.
With no B.C. Hockey League points up for grabs, Vipers’ head coach Mark Ferner played with his line combinations and made sure everyone got in the game.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime for a lot of our guys,” said Ferner. “Not everyone’s going to get an opportunity to play an international game against a good young hockey team.
“It’s a different style of hockey, but they came out and they were physical and a they’re a good puck possession team. It was an eye-opener for some of our guys because they are young, but they’re also very talented.”
The Vipers’ Cory Kane and Steve Tresierra didn’t play as both were recovering from injuries sustained in the Snakes 5-1 win over the Westside Warriors Friday night.
At the end of a Swedish powerplay early in the second frame, the Vipers’ Ryan Santana showed great determination to intercept the Swedes on the blueline and feed Steve Weinstein coming out of the penalty box. Breaking in 2-on-0, Weinstein set up Santana for a nice one-timer to open the scoring.
Despite being outshot 29-17 after 40 minutes (39-29 overall), the Vipers carried the lead into the third frame.
“We knew they were going to be good, but I don’t think we expected them to come out the way they did,” said Santana.
“It was definitely good to play a team like that, that moves the puck so well. It really challenged us.
“Our team got better today by playing a team with that much skill and speed... and the craftiness they have, and our ability to answer back.”
Sweden’s David Rydell did some good work to crash the net, and nearly scored himself, but it was Sebastian Ottosson who converted the rebound to beat Graeme Gordon – who played the second half – at 2:59 of the third period.
The game wasn’t overly physical, but both teams did come up with some solid hits.
One of Sweden’s best came when captain Gabriel Landeskog stapled Jones to the boards as he charged down the right wing.
“I thought it was going to be more physical, but they were pretty hard to meet,” said Landeskog, who idolized Peter Forsberg as a youngster. “It was hard for us forwards to get in on their goalie because they were clearing everything. They were good.
“To win a game like this, we have to get more traffic and more players on the net so the goalie can’t take them (shots). That’s one of the things we mentioned in the (intermissions).
“Our hopes were pretty high, and I think the Vipers stood up to them. It was a good game.”
Late in the game, Gordon made a good reaction save after Swedish d-man Adam Larsson’s point shot was deflected. Minutes later, Gordon stopped Victor Ohman on a wraparound.
Bigos then sent Braden Pimm on a breakaway with a long stretch pass, but the Fort St. John product couldn’t get the puck over Gustafsson.
In the shootout, Sweden’s Erik Thorell faked Gordon and went high blocker side, but Kellen Jones responded for Vipers.
“For the first time playing here, it was a good game for us,” said Sweden head coach Anders Eriksen. “I’m proud of the guys.
“For their size, they’re quite fast, and when they go for the goal, it’s hard to stand up to them. We’re not used to that from Sweden.
“We want to win gold in the junior championships, both 18 and 20... we can’t not go here and win the gold. We have to go here and educate the guys. That’s why we’re here now – to learn about your hockey.”
The Swedes would have liked to be playing at the Under 17 World Hockey Challenge in Port Alberni, but Eriksen explained politics got in the way.
An official on the Swedish ice hockey association declined an invitation a few years ago, which hampered subsequent years of Swedish participation in the tourney. Erikson hopes they can compete next year.
Meanwhile, the Vipers grounded the Trail Smoke Eaters 4-1 before 1,835 fans Saturday night at Wesbild.
Rob Short (11th), Kellen Jones (ninth), Mike Collins (16th) and Chris Crowell (11th) scored for the Vipers, who outshot the Smokies 40-22.
Steve Koshey scored his third of the year for 23-16-2-1 Trail, who mustered just nine shots through 40 minutes.
“It was awful,” said Smokies head coach Jim Ingram. “We’re very inconsistent right now, and when we get a challenge in front of us, we’re not meeting it. We’re showing our youth in areas, and we’re showing our inconsistent play all over. Not fun.”
The Smokies thumped the last-place Centennials 9-1 Sunday in Merritt.
The Vipers (28-10-1-2) host the Cents (7-32-0-3) Friday night before visiting the Penticton Vees (23-13-0-6) Saturday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
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