VIPERS CLIPPED BY THRASHERS

VIPERS CLIPPED BY THRASHERS

Red Deer drops 4-3 decision to Three Hills.

For Immediate Release

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Red Deer, AB – On a Sunday evening at the Red Deer Arena, the Red Deer Vipers looked for their sixth consecutive victory as they entertained the Three Hills Thrashers. The home side turned to Mack Patchett between the pipes, while the Thrashers countered with Greg Pols.

Three Hills jumped out to the early advantage less than five minutes into the opening frame as a point shot bounced onto the stick of Rylan Plante-Crough in the blue paint who converted the easy tap-in pasted an outstretched Patchett. Red Deer looked to respond halfway through the period as forward Colton Weseen found himself alone on a shorthanded breakaway, but saw his shot turned aside by Pols.  The save proved crucial as the Thrashers found their second of the night minutes later as Cody Keith converted on a turnover in front of the Vipers’ net. The home team would respond with their first goal with two minutes to play in the period as defender Brett Marsoillier deked past three Thrashers’ players before sliding the puck through the legs of Pols for the highlight reel tally. The first period ended with Three Hills leading 2-1.

The Vipers looked to tie the game early into the second period as Declan Johnston walked into the Thrashers’ zone and wired a shot on goal, but found it ring off the post back into the play. Red Deer continued to press for the tying marker as halfway through the period Connor Veroba threaded a cross-crease pass to Kevin Pinsent, but Pols slid across to make the diving blocker save to keep it 2-1 in favor of Three Hills. The Vipers relentless pressure finally paid off as they found the game tying marker on a powerplay with seven minutes to go in the first. From the left point, Veroba fed a pass over to Jonathan Finnigan on the right point who rifled a shot that beat Pols cleanly through the wickets. The Red Deer attack continued and with seconds left in the period found their first lead of the game off another highlight reel goal courtesy of Matt Krusky. The speedy forward burst down the right wing and made a nice deke past a Three Hills defender before outwaiting Pols as he tucked the puck past the outstretched pad of the Thrashers’ goaltender for the 3-2 lead. The Vipers would take the 3-2 advantage into the final period.

Three Hills looked to pull even early into the final period as they were rewarded an extended five-on-three man advantage, but some strong penalty killing highlighted by several point blank stops by Patchett kept the visitors from collecting their third goal of the night. With 12 minutes to play, the Thrashers would tie the game 3-3 as Michael Lougheed found his point shot beat a screened Patchett. Three Hills then retook the lead five minutes later as Tom Vanderlinde finished off Plante-Crough’s centering as they took the 4-3 lead. With two minutes to play, the home side pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker, but couldn’t find the tying marker as Three Hills held on for the victory. Thrashers 4 Vipers 3.

Red Deer outshot Three Hills 40-30.

The Vipers will now travel to Didsbury on Wednesday, December 16^th to play the Mountainview Colts. Red Deer will then return home to the Red Deer Arena on Saturday, December 19^th to square off with the Blackfalds Wranglers at 8:00 PM. Saturday’s game has been billed as “Alumni Night” as the Vipers celebrate all the alumni to come through the organization, including the 2006 Western Canadian Championship winning team.

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.