Send your head coach to Arizona. Hold the charity Teddy Bear Toss. Start your red-hot new American goalie.
All of the above paid off for the Vernon Vipers in a 6-1 dispatching of the West Kelowna Warriors before 2,048 B.C. Hockey League fans Friday night at Kal Tire Place.
Kevin Kraus stepped in as bench boss with Mark Ferner away scouting a big Midget tournament in Phoenix and the Vipers didn乌鸦传媒檛 miss a beat while improving to 15-12-3. Kraus was assisted by Kevin Pedersen.
The Vipers (15-12-3) moved into sole possession of second place in the Interior Division, two points ahead of the Trail Smoke Eaters, 4-1 losers to the visiting Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
乌鸦传媒淜rauser could be coach of the year now,乌鸦传媒� laughed newbie net detective Darion Hanson of Minnesota. 乌鸦传媒淗e did great. We respect both of them very much. I thought we started out strong and I乌鸦传媒檓 very proud of how we responded after we gave up an early one and our PK was especially huge in the second period.乌鸦传媒�
A big fan of Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby, Hanson loves playing pick-up hoops in the summer. He used to play baseball and showed some sweet athleticism Friday. He乌鸦传媒檚 high on his new club.
乌鸦传媒淚 really am excited,乌鸦传媒� said the amiable Hanson. 乌鸦传媒淐oming in with these guys, it乌鸦传媒檚 been an awesome opportunity and it seems like a great group. They乌鸦传媒檝e been so nice to me so it乌鸦传媒檚 been an easy transition. That says a lot about them. There are a lot of real good human beings in that locker room. We play hard and I think this is a team that people should watch for. I think we乌鸦传媒檙e built for a playoff run. It乌鸦传媒檚 been fun; these last three games I really couldn乌鸦传媒檛 have wished for anything better.乌鸦传媒�
Niko Karamanis scored twice for the Vipers, while singles went to Jimmy Lambert, Austin Adamson, Brett Stapley and Ryan Brushett. Michael Ryan replied for the Warriors (12-15-1), who have given up 17 goals in their last two games. Karamanis made it rain stuffies for Santa乌鸦传媒檚 Toy Club 97 seconds after Ryan乌鸦传媒檚 snipe.
乌鸦传媒淚t was kind of special to score that goal. Before the game, we were joking about it. It was a geat effort there by both my linemates (Brushett and Christian Cakebread). Ryan made the nice move to get around him and I just took a one-timer. We knew we could beat this goalie (Nik Amundrud) up high being a smaller goalie so it was a good shot and definitely one I乌鸦传媒檒l remember.乌鸦传媒�
Karamanis, an 18-year-old centre out of Courtenay, supplied the winner early in the second period. D-man Sol Seibel drove the length of the ice, cruised behind the net and fed Karamanis for an easy tap in.
乌鸦传媒淚t was definitely a freebie,乌鸦传媒� said Karamanis, who has 11 goals. 乌鸦传媒淚 told him he could have the goal and assist on that one. Great rush by him and go to the net with your stick on the ice and get a tap in.乌鸦传媒�
The Warriors, who have seven returnees from last year乌鸦传媒檚 Royal Bank championship roster, went ahead on Ryan乌鸦传媒檚 fourth 4:22 after the national anthem. They had a goal by Connor Sodergren waved off for a throwing motion and trailed 2-1 after the first period.
乌鸦传媒淚 thought for two periods it was pretty good,乌鸦传媒� said West Kelowna head coach Ryan Ferster, a former Vernon Laker. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 unfortunate that a goal like that has to get called back. I don乌鸦传媒檛 understand how a back linesman can see that going through people. We watched it on tape and it was a call that happened and we could have gone in 2-2. I乌鸦传媒檓 certainly not saying that乌鸦传媒檚 why we lost the game, but we have a young team and it kind of got away from us in the third and full marks to them; they乌鸦传媒檝e got a veteran team, they乌鸦传媒檙e four lines deep and they played well.乌鸦传媒�
Carter Cochrane supplied the winner as the Salmon Arm Silverbacks clipped the first-place Penticton Vees 4-3 in double overtime in front of 2,651 fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre. The Silverbacks share fifth spot with West Kelowna, three digits back of the idle Merritt Centennials.
Vernon visits Penticton Wednesday night.
Adamson took on the much bigger Tyler Jutting in the game乌鸦传媒檚 only scrap, with 4:55 remaining. Neither player landed any major blows.
Meanwhile, Penticton goaltender Mat Robson has committed to the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers for the 2017-18 season.
The Toronto native has had stellar season for the Vees thus far, as he leads the BCHL in wins (18), goals-against average (1.90) and save percentage (.927); he乌鸦传媒檚 tied for second in shutouts (2). Robson says Minnesota is the perfect fit.
