Vipers Hungry For Interior Seed:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:


Vipers hungry for Interior seed

Published: February 12, 2009

With three shutouts in their last four games, the Vernon Vipers are in the running for home-ice advantage in the B.C. Hockey League playoffs.
A few weeks ago, Vipers’ staff were a little subdued, saying top-two in the Interior Conference – and along with it, a bye to the conference semifinals – was the goal. But with six BCHL games left and with just one point separating the Vipers (38-12-1-3) and the league-leading Salmon Arm SilverBacks (39-14-1-2), the message has changed.
“We’re going to go for it,” said Vipers’ assistant coach Jason Williamson. “We’re right up there with everyone, so why wouldn’t we?”
Vipers’ netminder Andrew Hammond made 28 saves the day before his 21st birthday to shut out the Merritt Centennials 6-0 Tuesday night at Nicola Valley Arena.
Williamson was pleased with the energy the Vipers brought against the cellar-dwelling Cents (10-42-0-3).
“We always talk about not worrying who we play, it’s about how we play. They’re a dangerous team because they’ve got nothing to lose.
“We had scoring from all four lines, and our guys worked pretty hard and stuck to the game-plan. We talk about competing with each other. If one line goes out and has a good shift, we want our other guys to match it.”
Forward Kellen Jones (15th goal), on a backdoor pass from 16-year-old rookie Sahir Gill, opened the scoring at 8:02. Braden Pimm (26th) completed the first-period attack.
Gill (14th), a Terrace product, kept the Vipers rolling when he batted a loose puck out of midair to beat netminder Kyle Nielsen (32 saves) at 12:51 of the second frame.
Vipers’ veteran Ryan Santana (10th) collected the first of his two goals late in the second.
“You always want to get the ball rolling again, and a win like that helps,” said Gill, referring to Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Westside Warriors. “You want to give yourself every advantage you can, and we’re working hard to get that first seed in the playoffs.”
Despite the lopsided score and being outshot 29-13 over the first two periods, the Cents never gave up, outshooting Vernon 15-9 over the final 20 minutes.
“We got away from our systems in the third, but Hammy (Hammond) was there to make the big save,” said Williamson.
Rob Short (14th) and Santana (11th), on the powerplay, rounded out Vernon’s offence.
“Santana had a couple hard working goals,” said Williamson.”
With the Vipers getting production from all four lines, Gill, who turns 17 in April, knows they’ll be a handful for other teams.
“It makes it that much tougher for other teams to make lines, especially come playoff time.”
The Vipers, who have two games in hand on Salmon Arm, wrap up their four-game road trip tonight against the Trail Smoke Eaters (25-25-2-2) at Cominco Arena. It’ll be their third straight Friday-nighter against the Smokies. Vernon hosts the Prince George Spruce Kings (23-24-3-6) Saturday night at Wesbild Centre.
“This is the third Friday in a row now, so we’ve had a bit of practice,” laughed Gill. “But it’ll be nice to play a home game – it’s been about two weeks now.”