Vipers Keep On Rolling:

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Vipers keep on rolling

by Don Klepp | Added 2011-05-04

Two early goals by Patrick McGillis were matched by Darren Nowick’s two third-period strikes as the Vipers dispatched the Wellington Dukes 5-2 on Wednesday afternoon.

McGillis got the ball rolling with a strong low shot from the left boards that beat Jordan Ruby at 5:04 of the first period. McGillis returned to the lineup after missing the last six games with an injury suffered in the Vipers’ last game at home, April 17.

McGillis continued his fine play with a short handed beauty at 7:11 of the second period. Dylan Walchuk picked up the puck after Steve Weinstein had intercepted a pass at the Viper blue line. Walchuk passed to McGillis, and then hustled to create a two-man breakaway.

McGillis carried into the Wellington zone, used Walchuk as a decoy, and beat Ruby with a quick forehand-backhand-forehand deke. (Aaron Hadley, who was sitting on the bench at the time, received a mystery assist that should have gone to Weinstein.)

The goal made the score 3-1 after the Vipers had taken a one-goal advantage into the second period. Battling in front during a Viper power play, David Robinson had an Adam Thompson shot bounce off and roll past Ruby at 6:55.

Darcy Murphy replied for the Duke at 10:43 when he wheeled from behind the Viper net and fired a wrister that bounced up and over Kirby Halcrow’s shoulder.

The Dukes had Jordan Ruby to thank for being down just one goal after 20 minutes. The Canada East netminder who was sensational during the World Junior A tournament held in Penticton this year, stopped 21 of 23 shots in a wide open period.

The referees intruded into this game, making a series of marginal calls. However, good penalty killing by both teams meant the Vipers went one for seven with the man advantage while the Dukes went one for eight.

The Dukes had plenty of opportunity to get back in the game when all four penalties in the second period went to the Vipers. Those call included back to back penalties that resulted in 1:42 of a two-man advantage that started at 19:11 and carried into the third period.

The Vipers met that challenge, but surrendered a power play strike to Joe Zarbo who rifled a high shot past Halcrow at 2:27 of the third.

Zarbo’s tally made the score 3-2, but the resilient Vipers came back with Darren Nowick’s second and third goals of the tournament at 11:42 and 15:01. Brett Corkey, who assisted on McGillis’s opening goal, got helpers on both of Nowick’s strikes.

The Vipers, who play the Pembroke Lumber Kings on Thursday night, will finish first in the preliminary round if the Kings lose Wednesday to Camrose or Thursday to Vernon.

Notes:

• Darren Nowick and Brett Corkey are now tied with Portage’s Tanner Waldvogel for the tournament scoring lead, each with five points.

• The Vipers outshot the Dukes, 46-26.

• Sean Rudy is the Dukes’ leading point getter, with three assists in three games.

• Former Viper Elliott Richardson had an assist on the Zarbo goal.