Heading into the 2010 RBC Cup in Dauphin, MB, many hockey pundits predicted a Championship Final between the Vernon Vipers and the host Kings. But few would have guessed the lopsided result that played out on Sunday, as the Kings scored three goals in just 46 seconds in the second period en route to an 8-1 victory and their second consecutive RBC title.
Cory Kane scored the lone goal of the first period, beating Joe Caligiuri at the 14:28 mark to give the Vipers a lead heading into the middle frame. And Vernon broke out in the second, as a fine solo effort from Dylan Walchuk was quickly followed by strikes from Kellen Jones and Cole Ikkala. Dauphin's Bryce Lamb brought his team within three briefly, but Patrick McGillis replied moments later to put the BCHL champs ahead by four entering the third.
Vernon continued to score with ease in the final 20 minutes, as Sahir Gill, Kellen Jones and Garrett Noonan wrapped the scoring. Jones, who was named Vernon's Player of the Game, finished with two goals and an assist while being named the tournament's Most Sportsmanlike Player.
Walchuk and Gill each added a goal and an assist in the win, while Adam Thompson set up a pair of Vipers' markers.
Gordon Graeme, who had been beaten for six goals when he faced the Kings in the round-robin last weekend, stood tall with 23 saves on the night. Many of those stops were of the highlight variety, including back-to-back pad stops in the second that quickly led to Walchuk's momentum-shifting goal. The Vipers, meanwhile, poured 36 pucks on Caligiuri.
With the win, the Vipers became the first team in Canadian Junior A history to win six National Championships, and the first since 1991 to win back-to-back titles. Vernon had triumphed over the Humboldt Broncos by a 2-0 score to win the 2009 RBC Cup in Victoria.
