This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:
Rookies give Vipers winning jolt
By Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning Star
Published: May 06, 2010
DAUPHIN, MAN. – It was role reversal time for the Vernon Vipers Wednesday afternoon at Credit Union Place. After playing hot potato with third-period leads so far in the Royal Bank Cup, the Vipers went into the final frame of their last round-robin game against the Brockville Braves of Ontario down 2-0.
Whether it was the comfort of knowing they had already locked up a semifinal berth, or because they simply don’t like to lose, the Vipers cranked up their offence with four unanswered goals in a 4-2 win before 1,160 fans.
The win secures second place for Vernon in the round-robin. They will play in the Saturday afternoon semi (noon PT) against the winner of the Braves-La Ronge Ice Wolves game, which goes Thursday night.
As round-robin winners, the host Dauphin Kings opted for the Saturday night semi (5 p.m. PT). The Kings clipped the Oakville Blades 5-4 Wednesday night to finish 4-0. Dauphin will meet the loser of the Braves-Ice Wolves game.
The Vipers’ Sahir Gill jumpstarted the comeback, swatting home the rebound from Adam Thompson’s point shot off the end boards.
The all-rookie line of Pat McGillis, Trevor Fitzgerald and Dylan Walchuk equalized for Vernon less than two minutes later as McGillis tucked a wraparound five-hole on netminder Justin Gilbert.
Fitzgerald, who hadn’t played since the Vipers’ final regular-season game on Feb. 21, won a puck battle in the corner to keep the play alive.
“My game-plan going into today wasn’t anything to do with getting on the scoresheet. It was just every chance I got, dump the puck in deep and see if we could get a forecheck going. It was more to keep it out of our end,” said the 17-year-old Vernon product, who sniped 33 goals with the junior B North Okanagan Knights this season.
McGillis, who has been playing in place of the injured Connor Jones (Jones is expected to play Saturday), has enjoyed the RBC thrill ride.
“I sat out all playoffs for the BCHL so it was definitely nice to come in here and play some games. I like playing in this rink, a new environment, not a lot of pressure. It’s nice just being here with your teammates… who you’re here for, what you’re here for and you’re focused on one thing, and that’s to win a national championship.”
With a semis berth locked up, Vipers’ head coach Mark Ferner wanted to get his taxi squad in the game, dressing Darin Robak and Fitzgerald in place of veterans Bryce Kakoske and Dan Nycholat. Rookie netminder Blake Voth started in place of Graeme Gordon.
Ferner praised the rookies for adding fresh energy to the lineup.
“These kids have been here all year and they’ve worked just as hard as anybody else. We knew adding a few new guys was going to add some enthusiasm and it worked out for us. They were a big part of our success tonight,” said Ferner.
“I thought it was our best effort regardless of what the score was. Finishing off the round-robin with our best effort of the tournament has to make our team feel good.”
Ferner also noted the Vipers played 26 playoff games in 42 days leading up to the RBC, which might explain some of the uncharacteristic mental lapses this week.
Vernon had a great opportunity to take control early with a lengthy 5-on-3 in the opening minutes, but managed just a one shot on Gilbert, who posted a 40-save Game MVP performance.
Rookies give Vipers winning jolt
By Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning Star
Published: May 06, 2010
DAUPHIN, MAN. – It was role reversal time for the Vernon Vipers Wednesday afternoon at Credit Union Place. After playing hot potato with third-period leads so far in the Royal Bank Cup, the Vipers went into the final frame of their last round-robin game against the Brockville Braves of Ontario down 2-0.
Whether it was the comfort of knowing they had already locked up a semifinal berth, or because they simply don’t like to lose, the Vipers cranked up their offence with four unanswered goals in a 4-2 win before 1,160 fans.
The win secures second place for Vernon in the round-robin. They will play in the Saturday afternoon semi (noon PT) against the winner of the Braves-La Ronge Ice Wolves game, which goes Thursday night.
As round-robin winners, the host Dauphin Kings opted for the Saturday night semi (5 p.m. PT). The Kings clipped the Oakville Blades 5-4 Wednesday night to finish 4-0. Dauphin will meet the loser of the Braves-Ice Wolves game.
The Vipers’ Sahir Gill jumpstarted the comeback, swatting home the rebound from Adam Thompson’s point shot off the end boards.
The all-rookie line of Pat McGillis, Trevor Fitzgerald and Dylan Walchuk equalized for Vernon less than two minutes later as McGillis tucked a wraparound five-hole on netminder Justin Gilbert.
Fitzgerald, who hadn’t played since the Vipers’ final regular-season game on Feb. 21, won a puck battle in the corner to keep the play alive.
“My game-plan going into today wasn’t anything to do with getting on the scoresheet. It was just every chance I got, dump the puck in deep and see if we could get a forecheck going. It was more to keep it out of our end,” said the 17-year-old Vernon product, who sniped 33 goals with the junior B North Okanagan Knights this season.
McGillis, who has been playing in place of the injured Connor Jones (Jones is expected to play Saturday), has enjoyed the RBC thrill ride.
“I sat out all playoffs for the BCHL so it was definitely nice to come in here and play some games. I like playing in this rink, a new environment, not a lot of pressure. It’s nice just being here with your teammates… who you’re here for, what you’re here for and you’re focused on one thing, and that’s to win a national championship.”
With a semis berth locked up, Vipers’ head coach Mark Ferner wanted to get his taxi squad in the game, dressing Darin Robak and Fitzgerald in place of veterans Bryce Kakoske and Dan Nycholat. Rookie netminder Blake Voth started in place of Graeme Gordon.
Ferner praised the rookies for adding fresh energy to the lineup.
“These kids have been here all year and they’ve worked just as hard as anybody else. We knew adding a few new guys was going to add some enthusiasm and it worked out for us. They were a big part of our success tonight,” said Ferner.
“I thought it was our best effort regardless of what the score was. Finishing off the round-robin with our best effort of the tournament has to make our team feel good.”
Ferner also noted the Vipers played 26 playoff games in 42 days leading up to the RBC, which might explain some of the uncharacteristic mental lapses this week.
Vernon had a great opportunity to take control early with a lengthy 5-on-3 in the opening minutes, but managed just a one shot on Gilbert, who posted a 40-save Game MVP performance.
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