Viper Vault

A 3-0 win by the Merritt Centennials in Merritt extended the Vernon Viper losing streak to four games and their road winless streak to 10 games.

Lino Chimienti registered his third shutout of the season as he put in a solid effort between the pipes. However, it was the dogged defensive effort by his teammates that decided this game.

Still, the Vipers played as hard and as well as the Centennials, except for the opening four minutes of the contest and a stretch in the third period when the Vipers’ frustration boiled over.

Merritt had scored just once in 18 power plays against the Vipers in the season series, but capitalized twice in four tries in this game.  Meanwhile, they held the Vipers scoreless on five Viper power plays.

Newly-acquired Carter Shinkaruk notched the only goal the Cents would need at 13:41 of the second period, with Vernon’s Turner Lawson serving a charging penalty for challenging Brandon Bruce after Bruce had blindsided Max Mowat.

Billy Marshall’s point shot through a maze of players was stopped by Kirby Halcrow, but Shinkaruk muscled in the second rebound.

Evan Stack’s two third-period goals salted the game away for Merritt. He intercepted a pass at the Viper blue line and broke in on Halcrow. His initial shot was stopped by Halcrow but Stack beat the Viper defender to the rebound at 8:51. 

Stack’s second goal was another power play marker that resulted from a furious scramble in front of the Viper net.

Hit hard by the injury bug all season, the Vipers lost leading goal scorer Darren Nowick early in the first period. Later in the period, Sean Robertson went down with a leg injury while blocking a slap shot. He eventually returned to play a few shifts in the third period.

Already missing injured forwards John Knisley and Ben Gamache, and without Adam Tambellini, who was away on a College visit, the Vipers were forced to juggle their lines all evening. Their best trio included Jedd Soleway between Brendan Persley and Turner Lawson.

Newcomer Colton Cyr also turned in a spirited effort for the Vipers.

Big Jacob Reichert was a physical presence for the Centennials as he used his 230-pound frame to separate opposing players from the puck. Overall, though, the Vipers outhit the Cents, 35-27 in a playoff-style game.

If the Centennials’ play in this game was any indication, they will be tough in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Vipers are struggling to get into a playoff position as their squad continues to be plagued by injuries.