The Vernon Vipers didn't start the season the way they wanted but that comes with the territory when you have a brand new young team. Nerves will be settled and the team will start to get to know each other and the Vipers should be back on track.
“We have to be patient with them, but at the same time the expectation doesn’t change. We have a lot of work to do." Coach Mark Ferner said earlier to the Vernon Morning Star. “We like our group – it’s young, we’re going to have some growing pains, but we have a good group of kids here.” And after the home opener lost Ferner was quoted saying "“It was a big night for our hockey team, for our fans. I’m pretty sure there were guys in there who couldn’t feel their legs. It’s a pretty unbelievable opportunity to be able to go through something like that,” he said, of the banner raising ceremony before the opening face off.
“I will take ownership for this loss because obviously I didn’t have them prepared.”
Dylan Walchuk, an 18-year-old McBride product, didn’t think the hype around the banner raising was an acceptable excuse for the Vipers’ poor showing. “It maybe brings a little nervousness, but it doesn’t really factor in because it’s a whole new season,” he said. “We just didn’t show up as a team and we didn’t have a very good effort. But we’ve got to go through those growing pains. It was wake-up call for us.
“We’re going to have to gel here as a group pretty quickly and just come out every night with a better effort.”
The Vipers will be practicing at the Civic this week due to being locked out of the Wesbild Centre and they will be getting ready for their home and home against the Penticton Vees. "We are going to put last weekend behind us," said Coach Jason Williamson "and we are going to focus on the games this weekend against the Vees."
Saturday night's game is sponsored by KISS FM and presented by On Side Restoration. Be sure to get your tickets to the game and show the Vipers your support, with 6 Championship Banners in the rafters the Vernon teams have done the fans proud...now it's time for the fans of Vernon to do the team proud!
Vipers Put Weekend Behind Them
