Vipers overwhelm Smoke Eaters
by Don Klepp -
Nov 14, 2009 / 8:21 am
Exhibiting no signs of triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13), the Vipers polished off the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters 8-4 on Friday.
Back from the World Jr. “A” Challenge, the Jones twins each recorded a goal and an assist. They were among 15 Vipers who registered one or more points on the score sheet.
On the opening night of Parents’ Weekend, the Vipers put 50 shots on goal as they controlled play for much of the game. However, the Smokies kept tying the game with opportunistic goals, and as late as 14:38 of the second period the score was knotted at 4-4. That’s when Connor Jones put the Vipers ahead for good.
The game’s tone was set early in the first period. The Vipers came out flying, controlling play for the first 1:38, at which point Trail’s Travis St. Denis was penalized. The Viper power play converted at 2:14, when Cole Ikkala gathered a shot that rebounded off the back boards and deposited the puck behind Kiefer Smiley.
Despite being outplayed, the Smoke Eaters tied the score on their first shot on goal. Travis St. Denis surprised the Viper defence with his speed and he went in alone on Graeme Gordon, whom he beat at 5:09. Once again, at 7:56, Vernon surged ahead courtesy of a Braden Pimm goal. He was set up by a precise cross-ice backhand pass by Bryce Kakoske. Not to be outdone, Trail tied the score again at 11:02. Sam Mellor collected a strange bounce in front of Gordon and put it in the net before Gordon could react.
Before the period was over, Drew George once more put the Vipers ahead, as he converted Patrick McGillis’s pass after McGillis had won a puck battle behind the Trail net. Early in the second, Dan Nycholat’s power play marker gave the Vipers a two-goal lead, but once again Trail responded.
Travis St. Denis potted two power play goals, at 7:23 and 11:13, and the Viper lengthy winning streak seemed shaky. However, the Jones line came to the rescue. Connor’s goal made the score 5-4 at the end of the second period.
In the third, the Vipers once again controlled play, with no Viper defensive breakdowns. Instead, they scored three times, two of them coming from the Walchuk line. First, Dan Nycholat scored his second power play goal of the game, with Dylan Walchuk and Rob Short assisting. Then Short fired his 9th goal of the season, with assists to Walchuk and Ikkala. Kellen Jones closed out the scoring at 11:12.
In addition to all the scoring, the game proved to be a challenge for the score keeper as referee Brett Barnes issued a number of penalties in the second period. Many of them came at the 19:27 mark when the Vipers’ Kevin Kraus and Braden Pimm fought Ben Matthews and Graeme Strukoff. Matthews was assessed an extra two minutes for instigating the battle, and both he and Kevin Kraus were tossed from the game.
Smoke Eater Josh McEwan had been spoiling for fight all game, and he finally got his wish when Garrett Noonan accepted McEwan’s invitation at 12:36 of the third period.
Game Notes:
•The Viper winning streak now stands at 16, dating back to October 4. During that stretch, Vernon has out scored the opposition, 103-27.
•Fourth-liners Drew George and Patrick McGillis continued their hot streak. Together with Darrin Robak, the rookies have contributed nine goals and 23 scoring points in the past five games. In tonight’s game, Sawyer Mick skated on the wing with McGillis and George.
•Dan Nycholat now leads the Vipers with 4 power play goals.
by Don Klepp -
Nov 14, 2009 / 8:21 am
Exhibiting no signs of triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13), the Vipers polished off the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters 8-4 on Friday.
Back from the World Jr. “A” Challenge, the Jones twins each recorded a goal and an assist. They were among 15 Vipers who registered one or more points on the score sheet.
On the opening night of Parents’ Weekend, the Vipers put 50 shots on goal as they controlled play for much of the game. However, the Smokies kept tying the game with opportunistic goals, and as late as 14:38 of the second period the score was knotted at 4-4. That’s when Connor Jones put the Vipers ahead for good.
The game’s tone was set early in the first period. The Vipers came out flying, controlling play for the first 1:38, at which point Trail’s Travis St. Denis was penalized. The Viper power play converted at 2:14, when Cole Ikkala gathered a shot that rebounded off the back boards and deposited the puck behind Kiefer Smiley.
Despite being outplayed, the Smoke Eaters tied the score on their first shot on goal. Travis St. Denis surprised the Viper defence with his speed and he went in alone on Graeme Gordon, whom he beat at 5:09. Once again, at 7:56, Vernon surged ahead courtesy of a Braden Pimm goal. He was set up by a precise cross-ice backhand pass by Bryce Kakoske. Not to be outdone, Trail tied the score again at 11:02. Sam Mellor collected a strange bounce in front of Gordon and put it in the net before Gordon could react.
Before the period was over, Drew George once more put the Vipers ahead, as he converted Patrick McGillis’s pass after McGillis had won a puck battle behind the Trail net. Early in the second, Dan Nycholat’s power play marker gave the Vipers a two-goal lead, but once again Trail responded.
Travis St. Denis potted two power play goals, at 7:23 and 11:13, and the Viper lengthy winning streak seemed shaky. However, the Jones line came to the rescue. Connor’s goal made the score 5-4 at the end of the second period.
In the third, the Vipers once again controlled play, with no Viper defensive breakdowns. Instead, they scored three times, two of them coming from the Walchuk line. First, Dan Nycholat scored his second power play goal of the game, with Dylan Walchuk and Rob Short assisting. Then Short fired his 9th goal of the season, with assists to Walchuk and Ikkala. Kellen Jones closed out the scoring at 11:12.
In addition to all the scoring, the game proved to be a challenge for the score keeper as referee Brett Barnes issued a number of penalties in the second period. Many of them came at the 19:27 mark when the Vipers’ Kevin Kraus and Braden Pimm fought Ben Matthews and Graeme Strukoff. Matthews was assessed an extra two minutes for instigating the battle, and both he and Kevin Kraus were tossed from the game.
Smoke Eater Josh McEwan had been spoiling for fight all game, and he finally got his wish when Garrett Noonan accepted McEwan’s invitation at 12:36 of the third period.
Game Notes:
•The Viper winning streak now stands at 16, dating back to October 4. During that stretch, Vernon has out scored the opposition, 103-27.
•Fourth-liners Drew George and Patrick McGillis continued their hot streak. Together with Darrin Robak, the rookies have contributed nine goals and 23 scoring points in the past five games. In tonight’s game, Sawyer Mick skated on the wing with McGillis and George.
•Dan Nycholat now leads the Vipers with 4 power play goals.
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