The Vernon Vipers headed to north-central Washington with a surprising 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven B.C. Hockey League quarterfinal series with the Wenatchee Wild.
The Vipers dispatched the Wild 3-1 before 2,059 fans Saturday night at Kal Tire Place. Games 3 and 4 go tonight and Wednesday at the Town Toyota Centre, where the Vipers went 1-2 in the regular season.
The Wild posted the best home record in the league at 24-4-1-0 in the luxurious 4,300-seat Toyota Town Centre. Vernon recorded the second-best road mark at 18-9-0-2.
Viper captain Jagger Williamson says the Wenatchee arena gets rock-concert loud.
“I wouldn’t say it’s intimidating, but the atmosphere is by far the best in the league,” said Williamson. “When they pack that building, there are 3,500 guys screaming at the top of their lungs. It’s going to be fun; the boys are excited. It would be nice if we could steal one or two.”
League points king Jasper Weatherby, a prototypical power forward, at 6-foot-4, 216 pounds, carried the much smaller Williamson on his back in Games 1 and 2, going pointless as the Wild scored just twice. They averaged a league-best 4.15 goals per game in the regular season.
“We didn’t get the bounces we were looking for,” said Weatherby, moments after Saturday’s tilt which they dominated at times. “It shows we can play a full 60 with these guys. I’m proud of the guys in that room so far. We’re headed back to Wenatchee where we’ve been a good team so we’re looking to carry that on. Vernon did a really good job of sticking to us so credit to them. We’ll have to take it to them in our building.”
Weatherby, an Oregon product who rang up 37 snipes in the regular season, sported a wide grin when talking about skating on home ice.
“I give a lot of credit to our fans. Whenever we have a good crowd, things seem to go our way. They’re like the Seahawks’ extra man.”
Wenatchee head coach Bliss Littler liked what he saw for the final 50 minutes. There were only five penalties assessed, but Littler expects that to change at home.
“I think this was prison rules, for both teams. The American officials call it a little tighter so we’ll have to get our powerplay going down there.”
Rookie d-man Mitch Andres, who had three regular-season snipes, converted once on a screened top-cheddar blast and banked another point slapper off Jesse Lansdell’s skate as the Vipers counted snipes 16 minutes apart in the first period Saturday.
“The first one was just a nice pass by (Brett Stapley) Stapes and giving it back to me and I just tried to find a seam through some of the guys,” said Andres, 19, of Minnesota. “The second one, I saw some guys going to the net and I tried getting it to them and it worked out.”
Williamson was not shocked at Andres’ offensive outburst.
“He was outstanding. He’s got really good skill and if he can get the puck through, he’s got a really nice release.”
Wenatchee left winger Josh Arnold was denied by goalie Ty Taylor on a breakaway with 5:30 to play in the opening 20. Centre Sam Morton was robbed by Taylor on a nifty redirect in the deep slot with 2:20 remaining, while Taylor flashed leather to stymie blueliner Cooper Zech from four feet with 49 seconds to play in the same period.
Captain AJ Vanderbeck buried a rebound off Taylor’s shoulder 1:50 into the second stanza to give Wenatchee some life. D-man Chad Sasaki earned the assist.
Just three minutes later, Wild goaltender Austin Park registered a stellar save off Niko Karamanis in front after a feed by Lansdell.
Wild centre Sam Morton missed the net after receiving a gift-wrapped pass from Viper D Cameron Trott with 45 seconds left in the period.
Williamson took a penalty for tripping Weatherby with one second left in the first period. Weatherby had seconds earlier stapled Vernon D Michael Young into the corner boards from behind, Weatherby was assessed an unsportsmanlike minor.
Littler gave huge props to Williamson for holding Weatherby pointless in 120 minutes.
“Their captain is their MVP,” said Littler. “He’s not out there to score. He’s out there to stop No. 14 and he’s done a good job of doing that, and he’s pointing. Coach (Mark) Ferner has to be ecstatic about that.”
Wenatchee carried the majority of play in the third period but couldn’t finish or solve Taylor. Derek Brown, who had four goals as Vernon swept the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in Round 1, had the Vipers’ first Grade A scoring chance of the final frame but shot right at Park’s crest from the slot at the midway point.
Williamson brought the loudest house of the season down when he beat Park five-hole after taking a breakaway dish from Lansdell at the Wenatchee blue line. Williamson went five-hole and then crashed head-first into the end boards for the shorthanded tally which came just nine seconds into a hooking penalty by Josh Latta, an infraction which prevented a shot on goal from close range.
Jimmy Lambert just failed to connect on a partial breakaway on the same penalty kill. Williamson was stopped by Park on yet another five-hole breakaway attempt with 2:15 to play.
Williamson, who earned the Fortis Energy Player of the Game, said moving the huge Weatherby out of the way is not an easy chore.
“It’s been a tough two games. He’s a really good player. Give him lots of credit, he’s strong down low. I was trying to stay on the right side of him all the time. Those two wingers (Vanderbeck and Murphy Stratton) are scary, dynamic players too. They can create stuff on the rush so we really have to be aware of them.”
Williamson also gave huge props to Taylor, who registered 34 saves for first star.
“Ty’s been dominant for us. You can tell he’s tracking ther puck and he’s showing why he’s the best goalie in the league. It gives us confidence and we know he’s going to be there for thre big save.”
Viper centre Jordan Sandhu drew some close attention from the Wild after he knocked Zech from behind into the side wall late in the third period. Sandhu was not penalized.
Andres also expects the Wild to bring their five-star game in The Apple Capital of the World.
“They’re a great home team; it’s tough to win in that building, but I think we can do it. They play hard and they have a lot of good players. We just gotta be ready and come back with a push.”
Game 5, if required, would go Friday in Vernon. The banner-winning Penticton Vees lead the Trail Smoke Eaters 2-0, the Surrey Eagles are up 2-1 on the Prince George Spruce Kings and the Powell River Kings are in front of the Victoria Grizzlies 2-1.
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