They Did It! They Did It!

Wow! Wow! Wow! I am still sooooo excited about Sundays amazing win for the Royal Bank Cup! Congratulation Vernon Vipers!! What a way to close out an unreal year! Very well deserved!! Now the guys are back in Vernon for a few more days and we are sending them off with a wrap-up party at the Wesbild on Wednesday from 4-6pm! Everyone...and I mean EVERYONE is welcome!!

I will have a few more interviews with players to talk about how they feel now and what it was all like!!! So stay posted and see you Wednesday!

RBC Awards Night

The 2009 RBC Cup, Canada's 39th National Junior A Championship, held its awards banquet on Saturday night at the Westin Bear Mounatin in Victoria. The recipients of all six individual awards were announced at the banquet.
After an amazing meal the first award was presented to the Top Goalie of the tournament which was rewarded to net minder Anthony Grieco from the Victoria Grizzlies. After that the Vernon Vipers sat proudly as they heard fellow team mates named for the following awards; Top Forward: Connor Jones, Top Defensive Player: Kyle Bigos, Most Sportsmenlike Player (Tubby Smaltz Trophy): Ryan Santana, The RBC Cup Legacy Scholarship for the Vernon Vipers: Mike Leidl and Most Valuable Player (Roland Mercier Trophy): Kyle Bigos.
In addition, Portage Terriers (Manitoba Junior Hockey League) forward Eric Delong was presented with the 2009 RBC Canadian Junior Hockey League Player of the Year award, which was originally announced on May 5th. In his second season with the Terriers, during which he served as team captain, Delong finished seventh in MJHL scoring with 93 points (46 goals, 47 assists) and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player, along with earning a spot on the MJHL First All-Star Team and receiving the league’s RBC Junior A Scholarship. He also was named Portage’s MVP and Outstanding Team Player, and was named recipient of the Fan Appreciation Award while appearing in the MJHL All-Star Game for the third season in a row.
Kevin Ross of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (British Columbia Hockey League) was on hand in Victoria to receive the RBC National Junior A Scholarship. Ross was chosen from the 10 finalists – one from each of the Canadian Junior Hockey League's member leagues – to receive the $5,000 scholarship.
The RBC Cup Legacy Scholarships were also handed out at the awards banquet. Established following the 2004 RBC Royal Bank Cup in Grande Prairie, AB and contributed to following successful National Junior A Championships in Weyburn, Sask. and Prince George, B.C., these $500 scholarships are awarded to one graduating 20-year-old player from each of the five participating teams.
The RBC Cup Legacy Scholarship winners are:

Vernon Vipers – Mike Leidl

Humboldt Broncos – Steve Schroeder

Kingston Voyageurs – Tyler Hill

Victoria Grizzlies – Anthony Grieco

Summerside Western Capitals – Nathan Snowie

After five days of round-robin action and Friday’s semifinals, the Vernon Vipers and Humboldt Broncos will go head-to-head on Sunday, May 10 in the championship game of the 2009 RBC Cup. The game can be seen live on TSN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on tape delay on the main TSN network at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT.

VERNON TO FACE HUMBOLDT IN RBC CUP FINAL

FROM THE TSN WEBSITE
THE CANADIAN PRESS


VICTORIA -- The Humboldt Broncos are on the verge of joining a very exclusive club.
Shawn Hunter's scored 19:57 into overtime Friday as the Broncos beat the Victoria Grizzlies 3-2 to book a spot in the final at the RBC Cup.
The Broncos, who won the 2008 edition of the tournament in Cornwall, Ont., are attempting to repeat as champions. The 1990-91 Vernon Lakers and the 1981-82 Prince Albert Raiders are the only teams to win back-to-back titles in the Junior A championship's 38-year history.
Humboldt will face Vernon in the final after the Vipers beat the Kingston Voyageurs 6-3 in Friday's other semifinal.
Hunter poked the puck after into an empty net after a shot dribbled through Victoria goalie Anthony Grieco's legs and stopped just before the goal-line.
"Scotty Schroeder just threw it on net, a nice hard shot, and it just trickled through," said Hunter. "I was skating through the crease and just whacked (the puck) in. I almost missed (it) actually. I was a little excited too early maybe."
With the Broncos focused on repeating, the host Grizzlies nearly played spoiler.
Derek Lee opened the scoring for Victoria at 8:23 of the first with a quick shot from the slot on the power play, before Matt Kirzinger replied for Humboldt at 14:54 of the second to tie the game 1-1.
Justin Courtnall, the son of Grizzlies coach and former NHL player Geoff Courtnall, gave Victoria the lead again at 2:32 of the third, but Brady Wacker equalized for Humboldt less than three minutes later.
Victoria outshot Humboldt 40-31 on the night, with Humboldt goaltender Mathieu LaRochelle turning aside 11 shots in overtime.
"He was the difference," Humboldt coach and general manager Dean Brockman of LaRochelle. "If he didn't play as well as he did tonight, we don't win the hockey game. He was outstanding."
Victoria defenceman Jeff Forsythe felt his team deserved a better fate.
"It sucks losing that way, with two seconds left, especially with this team," he said."We thought we could or should have beat them and should be in playing Sunday against Vernon."
Brockman praised his team's effort to battle back and get the win.
"It's a game of seconds," said Brockman. "If you're a second too early or a second too late, it may cost you the hockey game. That's why you've gotta play right to the bitter end."
Wacker said the Broncos are excited at the prospect of repeating as RBC Cup winners.
"To do it last year and have a chance to do it again, it's a great feeling," said Wacker. "We want to do it for us (veterans) and the younger guys and the guys that haven't been here and let them experience it as well."
In the other semifinal, Cameron Brodie and Bryce Kakoske each scored twice as Vernon defeated Kingston.
Mike Collins and Cory Kane also scored for the Vipers.
Justin Levac, Ben Power and Jeff Blackburn replied for the Voyageurs, who represented Kingston at a national Junior A tournament for the first time in 42 years.
Kingston started the game in the penalty box as Jarrett Burton, one of the Voyageurs' top scorers at the tournament, received a 10-minute misconduct in the pre-game warm-up for crossing the centre-ice red-line. Tyler Hill then took a roughing penalty at the 58-second mark of the first.
Kakoske and Brodie proceeded to each score their first goals of the night as the Vipers buried on two of their first three shots on Kingston starting goaltender Shawn Sirman.
The Vipers led 3-0 after the first period and 5-0 after the second before Kingston scored a pair of power-play goals in the third.
Vernon went 4-for-10 on the power play, while Kingston went 2-for-7.
The Vipers outshot Kingston 34-16 while limiting the Voyageurs to just seven in the first 40 minutes. Cody Rosen replaced Sirman at the start of the third and allowed one goal on eight shots.
Vernon goaltender Andrew Hammond, a forgotten man most of the game because of his inactivity, recorded 13 saves.

VIPERS HEAD TO FINALS!!!

Big Bad Brodie On The RBC

"The RBC experience has been overwhelming really. Just the hotel and the games, everything is high class and it's been a lot of fun.

I've mostly just have hung out at the hotel, going to the hot tub and swimming pool. I just want to take it easy and be ready for the semi-finals. This type of tournament is different because you make it past the round robin and all it takes is one loss so I want to stay on my mental game as well.

The game against Victoria was very humbling, they came out strong and once we fell behind we realized we had to dig deep and we had the intensity and motivation to win, and we did.

In the forth game a lot of guys made their debut at the RBC which was great. I'm sure their nerves were getting them, it can't be easy to jump out after sitting but they can't wait to contribute themselves. We have a great team.

Our fans have been great. It's amazing how many of them made the trip, it shows us we have to appreciate our fans that much more.

This is my last year in Junior Hockey and it means everything to be here. I've been playing for five years and never made it close to this. It makes it that much more special and having a great group of guys and the effort they've put into this year in unreal.

As a team we all get along and we are great friends off the ice and that reflects on the ice. It's easy to play with the team and we have a lot of fun with each other.

I room with Biggy (Kyle Bigos) and we are really comfortable around each other which is great. We've been good friends since I joined the team and we have a great bond.

Being my last year I know I will stay in contact with these guys, and I know I will be playing against guys like Pimmer (Braden Pimm) and the Jonsey's (Kellen and Conor Jones) so I look forward to that as well"

Local Boy Bryce Kakoske Talks About RBC

"The RBC is a once in a lifetime experience for most guys and teams and it's been pretty amazing. The way everything is put together and you don't have to worry about anything. We can just focus on playing our games.

The fan support has actually been pretty good! I didn't know that we would have so many fans come and make the trip to Victoria. It's been a great surprise and it's great to look into the stands and see the fans.

Since I've been here most of my time has been spent at the hotel or at the rink but on our day off a few of us went on a school visit. I went with Biggy (Kyle Bigos), Amies (Nick), Trent (Dorais) and Kaner (Cory Kane) to play floor hockey in front of a whole elementary school. We played floor hockey with three different groups and talked to the kids. No other hockey team had ever visited the school before so they were pretty excited and all the students and teachers said they would be cheering for us at the RBC.

My family is here in Victoria as well which is special. I've had a chance to hang out with them a bit and it's really nice to see my jersey in the stands!

As for the hockey games or rituals we are all just taking it like it's a normal hockey road trip, we want to stay focused and play how we've been playing all year.

Being called the team to beat has made it a bit harder with some added pressure as teams really come out hard to play us but again we just have to focus and just play our game. In the game against Victoria we were down by two goals going into the third but in the dressing room we could tell we weren't done yet and we knew we could do it...and we did!

One on One with Number Two!

Kevin Kraus has never played hockey in May and is sure glad he is this year! I had a chance to talk to the Vipers Defence man and he told me all about his RBC experience.

`The first couple of days at the RBC was a real eye opener! It took a little bit to settle down, but after we played the first game we really focused on getting back to business and playing hockey. It`s an unreal feeling being here and playing hockey in May. We worked hard as a team all year, going to the gym, all the games and it payed off for us but we still have a lot of hockey left!

We haven`t done much since we`ve been here. We are focused on playing hockey and have been at the hotel for most of the time. We get up, eat and head to the rink, either for practice or games. Most of my time has been spent at the hotel or on a bus going back and forth to the rink. The hotel (Bear Mountain Weston) is the nicest hotel I think I`ve ever been in though! The rooms are unreal and the beds are awesome.

I did go downtown Victoria on my day off. Myself and Mike Liedl, who I room with, went downtown with his parents but we ended up just having lunch and heading back because it was raining so much.

Having a day off after playing 3 games in 3 nights is nice, some of us are tired but we are in good shape, we will get our rest today but we are excited to get to our next game and the rest of the tournament.

Last night`s game against Victoria was definitely an eye opener and when their fourth goal was scored we realized we had to get our act together and pick it up and get on our game. When the second period was over we were in the dressing room talking about how we have come back before and we can do it again. We were pumped to get back out on the ice and make our come back.

It`s great to hear our fans as well. There are a few big sections with a group of our fans and to look up and see their jersey's and hear them is great.

We are all enjoying our time here in Victoria and getting a chance to enjoy a few things around us, like swimming in the pool here at the hotel, but we are here to play hockey and that is our only focus and we are concentrating on our games.`

Keep posted for more player one on ones on my blog!

A Close One...But It's Still A Win!

So far it was the best game of the round robin series at the RBC! Vernon took on the Victoria Grizzles and it started of great for the snakes! Cory Kane and Mike Collins set up a goal for Captain Chris Crowell and the Vipers had a 1-0 lead going into the second period....where the chant of the Vipers fans turned into the roar of the Grizzlies players and fans! Victoria would tie up the game at one a piece and Bryce Kakoske would set the Vipers up to be up again by a goal but then before anyone knew it the Grizzlies would strike 3 times in less then three minutes and the Vipers were looking at a 4-2 score going into the final period...and not in their favor! The Vipers fans never gave up cheering and the Vipers never gave up in the ice and Mile Collins and Kellen Jones would tie up the game and send it into overtime! Now I will be honest...I am not a big fan of overtime hockey...every single fan was sitting on the edge of the seat and no one could predict what was going to happen as both teams were putting in their all...and both teams wanted the win! A win for the Vipers would mean a guarantee into the semi-finals and a loss to the bears would mean only one win in three games played. But the Vipers came out strong, fast and determined and Ryan Santana and Rob Short would assist on Cole Ikkala`s overtime thrilling goal!

The game goes to show that ANYTHING can happen at the RBC and every team wants this and don`t count any team out...specially the Vipers! I`m looking forward to the next game...game 4 vs Kingston on Thursday night!!!

Vipers Beat Humboldt

Each game is a big game here at the RBC, but when you are playing the defending champions there is always a little added pressure....BUT the Vernon's played just like they know how to and as a team they came together and beat the Humboldt Broncos 7-1. Once again the Vipers fans were loud and proud and cheering on the Vipers all the way...in fact even more were there tonight...and I even heard our fans cheering all the way from Vernon!

Another big game set for Wednesday night against the host, the Victoria Grizzlies. Victoria may have lost their first game, but when they hit the ice for their game number two, they showed everybody why they deserve to play in this tournament and it should be a great battle between the two BCHL teams.

All the Vipers are doing great and still very much enjoying their stay here in Victoria...Coach Mark Ferner was also seen on A Channel News!!! I would also like to give a BIG hello to all the Vipers parents that were able to make the trip out to sheer on their boys! And I heard their are still a few on their way!

GOOOOOOOOOOOO VIPERS!!!!!!!!

RBC Is Great!

Hey Viper fans! The RBC has been so great! I want to that the organizers for inviting me and the rest of the mascots to take part in this event! It's great to be able to walk around the Bear Mountain Arena and see alot of Vipers fans and cheer on the team! There is a lot going on all day here...the have a "Cub House and Spirit Den" set up outside with live music, an arcade, BBQ and fun hockey games and I am meeting alot of people and fans from all over cheering on their teams and soaking in the RBC experience! The weather was awesome on Sunday...the sun was fighting the clouds all day...and the Vipers game was very exciting! The Vipers scored just 13 seconds into the game and I think it surprised everybody in the rink as it happened so fast...no one sure how it happened! I know we have a lot of fans cheering from home and I want to thank all the Vipers fans who were able to make the trip to Victoria! The players are so grateful to have such great fans! Talking to the players they are all having a great time, their hotel is very, very nice and during the days the players are trying to relax, have fun and play their best! Don`t forget to listen to all the Vipers games on 107.5 Kiss fm with Todd Miller, who by the way is also having a great time broadcasting for everyone!

GO VIPERS GO! GO VIPERS GO! GO VIPERS GO! GO VIPERS GO! GO VIPERS GO!

Vernon's Andrew Hammond comments on RBC-opening win

From BCHL Website

British Columbia Hockey League insider Garrett James had a chance to catch up with BCHL Goaltender of the Year Andrew Hammond after his Vernon Vipers began the RBC Cup with an impressive 4-2 win over the Summerside Western Capitals.
GJ: How did you feel about tonight's game?
AH: I thought we played a good two periods to start it off and kind of in the third let off the gas pedal a little bit. We definitely played a good 40 minutes and the second period was probably as good hockey as we've played all year.
GJ: How does it feel to be playing in the RBC Cup?
AH: It's special. There's 143 teams that start out and we're fortunate to be one of the five that are left. We couldn't ask for anything more.
GJ: How do you deal with playing in a high-profile event like the RBC Cup?
AH: I think it can only benefit you. Obviously if you play well your stock will go up and if you don't play so well it will go down, but there aren't many guys on our team who are worrying about that. We're focussed on a team first appraoch and winning the championship at the end of the day.
GJ: What were your thoughts on Summerside?
AH: I think they were a little bit surprised. I think we kind of put them on their heels a bit with that quick first goal. I think a lot of teams are surprised by our cycle game, but overall they had spurts where they were very solid. They battled back (with a pair of goals) near the end.
GJ: What do the Vipers need to work on?
AH: I think we need to play 60 minutes. You don't really know what the difference is going to be in the game and luckily for us there were two penalties that put us on the power-play at the end of the game. Otherwise, it's a two-goal game and if they get a quick one they're one goal away.
GJ: How are you feeling in net?
AH: I felt pretty good today. I didn't have too many shots but I've felt pretty good since playoffs started so I'm kind of riding out a hot streak.