Vipers Tee Up Team Bonding In Doyle Preparation:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Vipers tee up team bonding in Doyle preparation

By Kevin Mitchell - Vernon Morning Star

Published: April 13, 2011

Americans Steve Weinstein and Malcolm Lyles had huge trouble getting off the tee as the Vernon Vipers went golfing Saturday at Spallumcheen Executive Course.

They fared much better as the B.C. Hockey League champions played some baseball up at the DND diamonds Friday afternoon.

With no serious action in two weeks, the Vipers went out and organized their own games to stay loose preparing for the Doyle Cup. The Vipers meet the Alberta champion Spruce Grove Saints in Game 1 Friday night at Wesbild Centre.

“We had a nice baseball game at the army camp for two hours after practice,” said third-year defenceman Adam Thompson. “Me and (David) Robinson hit a couple of dingers. Kak (Bryce Kakoske) hit a few. (Zach) McPhee’s good obviously, because he plays baseball. He actually made a couple of errors so the guys were making fun of him.”

Viper head coach Mark Ferner, who scouted the Saints’ Game 5 series-clinching victory Friday night over the Camrose Kodiaks in the Enerflex Cup, was glad to hear about his team’s off-ice frolicks.

“As the week goes on, they’re going to get a lot more focused, but I think it’s important that they also enjoy what they’ve accomplished,” said Ferner. “They went and played some golf, they had a team dinner, they played some baseball, and are constantly trying to build that team camaraderie and culture away from the rink is important. They know what’s at stake and what’s ahead that they’re going to play a very good hockey team.”

Injured winger Colton Sparrow carded a 1-under-par 34 to rule the golf outing ahead of Kakoske, Bryce McGillis and Aaron Hadley.

On the ice, Thompson, a Calgary product, faced Jesse Slobodian of Lethbridge in Midget hockey and recognizes some other names on the Saints’ roster.

“The closest one to me would be (Brett) Switzer,” said Thompson. “I’m been buddies with him for a long time. He actually came to Vernon with me, too, so it’ll be interesting to play him. I know I wanted to play him last year. I was getting excited to get on the ice against him, but he was injured.”

Thompson, a scholastic superstar who has committed to the Yale Bulldogs next fall, hasn’t wagered anything with Switzer.

“I don’t wanna jinx anything,” he laughed. “We’ve been talking a lot and we’re really excited to battle one another on the ice for once.”

Thompson, who has shattered the end glass with his point shot, said playing for a third straight Doyle Cup doesn’t get old.

“Never. We always joke around. It’s pretty funny when you get out of the rink and it’s like 20 degrees out, it’s sunny and everyone’s wearing shorts and sandals but yah, it never gets old.”

The smooth 6-foot-1, 190-pounder expects the Saints to bring a boom-boom-pow style to the Wesbild Centre Friday night.

“Sort of the same thing as Powell River. I think they’re just going to work really hard and get the pucks in deep and things like that. It’ll be interesting because they’ll be really similar to us. I think the AJHL is normally a different league than our league. They’re usually a bit bigger, a bit meaner, but we’re used to it. Our speed, I don’t think they’ll be able to keep up with us but we’ll just play our game and not worry about theirs, I guess.”

Ferner, 45, was at Grant Fuhr Arena Friday night making notes on the No. 1 Saints, who only gave up 99 goals in the regular season.

“They’re obviously a very good hockey team,” said Ferner, a 10th-round Buffalo Sabres 1983 draft choice. “They’re ranked No. 1 in the country for a reason. They’re older, they’re experienced, they’re relentless on pucks, just a very good hockey team.”

The Saints, who have eight players back from last year’s team which bowed in seven games to Vernon, bring a well-rounded roster to the ice.

“They do some different things that we’ll talk about. They run a little bit of a different powerplay. The one thing that I like about their hockey team is their work ethic. They’re built a lot like us. They’re deep, they’ve got mobile defencemen and good goaltending. It’s just a real tough two teams and two leagues, but we know we’re going to have our hands full.”

Spruce Grove head coach Jason Mckee 31, replaced Al Hamilton in the off-season when Hamilton joined the WHL Edmonton Oil Kings as an assistant.

“I think we’re more of a physical team and have a more physical element throughout the entire lineup,” said Mckee, who played two years at Michigan Tech and one with the Seattle Thunderbirds before spending one year in the ECHL.

“Everyone seems to have a way of contributing to the team. We don’t have any flashy superstars. We didn’t have anyone in the top-10 in league scoring. We just have a real team approach.”

Returnee David Glen, 20, said his club’s work is only partially done after winning their second straight AJHL championship, and he is looking forward to the Doyle re-match.

“Last year, it was kind of like this (the AJHL championship) was the major goal,” said the Fort Saskatchewan product. “This year we know we can go further and we’re excited to do that.”

Having been down this road before is going to help immensely, he noted.

“It’s always going to help to have that experience on our side,” he said of last year’s battle with the Vipers. “I know they’ve pretty much overhauled their whole team there, that they have a good goalie, play good systems and are well-coached, but we’ll be ready for them this time.”

SNAKE BITES: The Minnesota Wild have signed former Viper defenceman Chay Genoway to an entry-level NHL contract. Genoway, 24, captained the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux to the WCHA regular-season and playoff championships, and a spot in the NCAA Frozen Four. The Morden, Man. native had six goals and 31 assists in 36 games this season as a fifth-year senior and posted 127 points in 168 career games.