Vipers Pumped For Showdown:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Vipers pumped for showdown

Teams keep playing the underdog card against the Vernon Vipers in the B.C. Hockey League playoffs, and the only thing it has done so far is backfire.
Penticton head coach Fred Harbinson used it in the Interior Conference semifinals, only to have his Vees dispatched in five game. Now Salmon Arm SilverBacks’ head coach Rylan Ferster seems all too happy to wear the underdog collar in the Conference finals.
Games 1 and 2 go tonight and Saturday respectively at Wesbild Centre.
“We realize we’re the underdog in this one,” said Ferster. “They’re the best team in the Interior Conference.
“We have to be able to generate some offence, but they’re a very good defensive team. You have to be eager to outwork your opponent.”
It’s difficult to imagine the Vipers will be lulled into a false sense of confidence with the Gorillas, especially considering they were in a battle for first place all season with each team claiming three home and two road wins in their 10-game series.
Both teams feature quality goaltending – Bryan Gillis for Salmon Arm and Andrew Hammond for Vernon – and both have experience dee corps. Vernon’s main advantage appears to be their depth at forward, and their ability to roll four lines to grind teams down.
Vipers’ captain Chris Crowell, who had five points in the Penticton series, was pleased to see the younger players chipping in.
“Some of the younger guys – Kaner (Cory Kane) and (Cole) Ikkala – stepped up big for us, which is good. Right now we have four lines rolling going into Salmon Arm.
“The only difference (between Penticton and Salmon Arm) is their defence is a little more veteran, a little stronger.”
Added Vipers’ forward Braden Pimm: “Ever since Day 1, it’s been a huge rivalry. I definitely don’t like them over there, and I’m pretty sure they don’t like us, so it should make for a pretty good series.
“We just need to simplify everything – chips in, chips out... put a lick on their dee, and it wears them down during the series. As long as all four lines are going, we feel pretty good about ourselves.”
Ferster said Gorillas’ leading sniper Mark Zengerle, who missed the final three games of the Interior semifinal with the Westside Warriors with an injury, will play tonight.
“That top line does a lot of their offence, it’s the key to their powerplay,” said Crowell. “I don’t know who’s going to get the job of checking them, but it’s going to be important to the outcome of this series.”
Another key will be the Vipers’ ability to stay out of the penalty box. The only time they looked vulnerable in the semis was when they took penalties.
But aside from a few spurts of overzealous play against Penticton – resulting in a number of unnecessary penalties – the Vipers settled down as the series wore on.
“We’re kind of a young team, but we’ve figured it out,” said Pimm. “We’ve settled down and we’ve got back in our groove. I’m pretty sure we learned from that, and now we’re just moving forward.
“We just want to keep building on our success from last series, and hopefully this little break won’t be a hiccup like it was last time around.”
While the Vipers tend to worry about their own preparation rather than fixate on what their opponent is doing, they’re fully aware of how dangerous the ‘Backs can be.
“They’ve got a good offensive-minded team and they’re good on the transition,” said Vipers’ assistant coach Jason Williamson. “We’ve got to stay out of the penalty box and limit their opportunities to be successful.
“We have to worry about certain players on their team, but if we protect the puck and grind it out, we’ll be fine.”
Games 3 and 4 go Tuesday and Wednesday at the Sunwave Centre. If necessary, Game 5 will go next Friday in Vernon, followed by Game 6 Saturday in Salmon Arm, with Game 7 going Tuesday, March 31 in Vernon.