VIPERS TAKE DOWN CUBS

VIPERS TAKE DOWN CUBS

Colton Weseen and Drew Joslin each score twice in Red Deer’s 5-3 win over Medicine Hat.

For Immediate Release

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Red Deer, AB – On a Saturday night at the Red Deer Arena, the Red Deer Vipers welcomed the Medicine Hat Cubs for their annual Pink in the Rink night. The Vipers gave Rylan Bardick the start in net, while the Cubs countered with Cole Schafer.

Red Deer looked to take control of the game early on as they built up an 11-2 shot lead through the opening half of the first period. The continued pressure paid off as the Vipers found the breakthrough at the 13:13 mark of the frame. On the man advantage, Marc-Antoine Viens through a shot on net from the left point that found the stick of Colton Weseen who converted the easy tap-in just outside the blue paint. Red Deer continued their onslaught for the remainder of the period, but Schafer stood tall as he turned aside 24 shots to keep the score 1-0 in favor of the home side.

The start of the second saw the Vipers continue their barrage of shots as they built up a 36-9 advantage through to the middle part of the game. The constant play in the offensive zone would pay dividends as Red Deer scored back-to-back goals halfway through the period to jump out to a 3-0 lead. First, Nick Glackin banged home a puck in the crease before Drew Joslin took a feed in tight and threw a backhand over the glove of Schafer. Medicine Hat responded only seconds after the Vipers third marker as Keegan Bartram converted on a play to the left of Bardick. Red Deer took their 3-1 lead to the dressing room after 40 minutes of play.

Red Deer grabbed their fourth goal of the game only 24 seconds into the final period as Joslin broke in along and rifled a shot over the glove of Schafer to stretch the Vipers lead to 4-1. Weseen would add a fifth for the home side with seven minutes left as he converted on a funny play in the Medicine Hat zone. Then only seconds later, the Vipers’ Tyson Maton and Cubs’ Colby Sadler dropped the gloves in a spirited tilt that saw Maton deliver several heavy blows to score the take down. Medicine Hat got two late goals from Eric Meyer and Kyler Goldade, but it was too little too late as the Red Deer held on for the victory. Vipers 5 Cubs 3

Red Deer outshot Medicine Hat 56-31.

The Vipers will now embark for four games on the road that will see them play the Wheatland Kings, Blackfalds Wranglers, Airdrie Thunder and Coaldale Copperheads. Red Deer will then return home on Sunday, October 25^th when they host the High River Flyers. Puck drop is set for 6:45 PM at the Red Deer Arena.

The Red Deer Vipers are proud to host the 2016 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships taking place March 31^st – April 3^rd, 2016. Head over to the Vipers website at www.reddeervipers.com for more information.