Like it or lump it, the Vernon Vipers are going old school as they host the Grande Prairie Storm for Games 1, 2 and possibly 3 of the Doyle Cup regional championship.
Games 1 and 2 go tonight and Saturday respectively at the Vernon Civic Arena. A sweep by either team would send the series back to Grande Prairie's Canada Games Arena for the remaining games, starting Tuesday. A split would see Game 3 played Sunday at Civic, with Game 4 going Wednesday in Alberta. The winner advances to the to the RBC Cup, May 2-10 in Victoria.
Combine the old Boston Garden-like ice surface at Civic and the physicality of both teams, and this series could very well be a war.
“It could be good for us because we have a big, physical defensive corps,” said Vipers assistant coach Jason Williamson. “Things are going to happen in a hurry, and it's going to come down to good goaltending and strong defence.”
Williamson, who played under Storm head coach Mike Vandekamp when he was the bench boss for Vernon in 2001-02, has a pretty good idea of what to expect.
“He'll have some skilled guys up front, but he'll also have a bunch of players who can grind it out,” said Williamson, of Vandekamp's crew. “They've obviously got a good team… there's a reason why were playing them (in the Doyle Cup).”
The smaller ice surface will also mean less room for Viper forwards Conner and Kellen Jones, who have been through more cycles more than a Maytag washer.
However, after watching the twins practice at Civic this week, Williamson isn't too concerned.
“They're (Storm defence) going to have to contain them, and it could be challenging trying to do that in those tight little corners.”
For a pair of Vipers, Civic Arena will be a homecoming of sorts. Vernon products Rob Short and Bryce Kakoske logged a lot of minor hockey minutes there over the years. Aside from his junior lacrosse games with the Vernon Tigers, Short hasn't played in Civic since he was in Midget.
“It's going to be a throwback for a lot of people,” said the 19-year-old winger. “We should have the advantage we get to practice in there all week and get used to the bounces and the angles. The blueline feels like the top of the circle in (Wesbild).”
Added Kakoske: “I always liked playing there in minor hockey. It can get pretty loud in there. In front of the Zamboni door, its like a worn-out highway… its almost like a ski jump there. I dont think it'll change our systems so much, but our powerplay and penalty kill might need some tweaking.”
As of Thursday afternoon, the Vipers had sold 1,800 tickets and were well on their way to selling out Game 1, and marketing director Heidi Schrader noted this could be the first time she's had to turn hockey fans away.
“The atmosphere is going to be electric (in Civic),” Williamson says. “It's going to be loud and our guys should be able to build off that.”
