This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:
Video time for Vipers
Nov 9, 2016
Morning Star Staff
No Slap Shot. No Youngblood. No Miracle on Ice. No D3:The Mighty Ducks.
It was all B.C. Hockey League videos for the struggling Vernon Vipers Monday at Kal Tire Place, one day after losing 8-4 to the last-place Surrey Eagles to finish a road trip at 0-3.
“We had extended video sessions,” said Viper head coach/GM Mark Ferner. “We walked them through the weekend. I told some of them they might have forced my hand here. We’re not going to panic though. If we make a move, we have to have a partner.”
The Vipers, who lost 3-0 to the Grizzlies Saturday night in Victoria, dipped to 9-10-2 and into a share of third place in the Interior Division with the Merritt Centennials.
Vernon begins a home and home series with the league-leading Penticton Vees Friday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre. The teams meet Saturday, 6 p.m., at Kal Tire Place.
The Vipers will be without alternate captain Jimmy Lambert after he sustained a head injury after an ugly hit from Victoria veteran Cole Pickup midway through the third period. The BCHL has suspended Pickup, 20, four games.
“He did everything wrong: it was blindside, hands to the head and he left his feet,” said Ferner, of the Pickup major. “We still haven’t heard on our appeal of (Riley) Brandt’s 10-game suspension.”
Steven Jandric fought Pickup after the hit.
Brandt was assessed the lengthy penalty for a hit on Merritt’s Michael Van Unen, who was unhurt on the play.
The Vipers gave up two shorthanded goals in Victoria and one in Surrey.
“Basically, their (Victoria) penalty killers were better than our five guys on the powerplay,” said Ferner. “We didn’t work hard enough. We took it for granted because our powerplay has been very good.
“It was a grind in Victoria; one of those struggles where neither team was giving up a lot.”
Niko Karamanis (8th), Jandric (7th), Christian Cakebread (5th) and Hunter Zandee (3rd) counted Viper goals versus Surrey.
D-man Chris Jandric rolled an ankle in Victoria and is on injured reserve.
Mirror image of last season when Ferner picked his team .duncan wake up soon please.
ReplyDeleteMark Ferner has been here before,lets us give him alittle slack to change this team around.
ReplyDeleteSorry Graham but I agree with the first comment. It is time for Duncan to make a coaching change as Ferner has "lost the room again". This team has talent & speed but is not being coached for "today's game". The trading of Oliver for Landsell was horrible, up there with the bonehead move of trading Meek for his own son last year. Sorry Mark, you may be a nice man & have had an NHL career but all of that does not matter. What now matters is consistency, success & developing players. Far too many players come to Vernon with huge potential and become mediocre players. Unfortunate for Viper fans Duncan couldn't find the moxie to fire Williamson until far too late so will probably not deal with Ferner until the arena is empty.
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