VIPERS COMEBACK TO BEAT COLTS

VIPERS COMEBACK TO BEAT COLTS

Avery Weenink caps off Red Deer’s 4-3 come from behind victory over Mountainview.

For Immediate Release Monday, January 11, 2016

Red Deer, AB – The Red Deer Vipers welcomed the Mountainview Colts to the Red Deer Arena for a rare Monday night matchup. The Vipers looked to Cole Sears between the pipes, while the Colts went with Thomas Della Siega.

The home side got off to a positive start as they controlled a majority of the play for the opening five minutes that was highlighted by a shot that rang off the post from defender Brett Marsollier. Red Deer continued to press and found the game’s opening marker seven minutes into the period. Forward Kale Lapointe circled the zone and threw a shot on net from the high slot that eluded Della Seiga and found the back of the net for the early 1-0 lead. The Vipers would then double their lead on the man advantage with six minutes to play in the frame as Captain Connor Veroba fired a shot on net from the right point that beat the screened Colts’ goaltender cleanly over the glove. Jake Carlson took over for Della Siega in the Mountainview net after Veroba’s tally as Red Deer’s 2-0 lead held for the remainder of the first period.

The second opened with the Colts pulling one goal back six minutes into the period as Tyson Schmidt pounced on a loose puck in the Vipers’ crease to cut the lead to 2-1. Mountainview then completed the comeback just after the halfway point of the period as Jacob Vander Zaag broke into the Red Deer zone shorthanded and put a shot on net from the right circle that eluded the blocker of Sears to tie the game 2-2. The middle period continued the way of the Colts as with five minutes to play they took their first lead of the game. On a five-on-three man advantage, Vander Zaag collected his second goal of the game as the puck found his stick to the right side of the net for the easy tap in past Sears. The teams headed into the final period with Mountainview leading 3-2.

The Vipers quickly opened the third frame with the game tying marker just over four minutes in. Forward Avery Weenink burst into the Colts’ zone on the partial

breakaway before centering the puck for Anthony Neurauter who quickly fired it between the legs of Carlson to knot the game up three all. The two teams continued to battle as the period progressed, but both goaltenders continued to stand tall to keep the game tied. However, with four minutes to play in the game, the Vipers found the go-ahead marker. After continued pressure in the Colts’ zone, the puck found the stick of Avery Weenink in the slot who quickly shot past a screened Carlson to put Red Deer in front 4-3. Mountainview looked to pull even with the netminder pulled in the final minute, but the Vipers held on for the victory. Vipers 4 Colts 3.
Red Deer outshot Mountainview 35-32.
The Vipers will now welcome the Airdrie Thunder to the Red Deer Arena on Thursday, January 14th. Puck drop is set for 8:00 PM.
The Red Deer Vipers are proud to host the 2016 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships taking place March 31st – April 3rd, 2016. Head over to the Vipers website at www.reddeervipers.com for more information.