VIPERS BLANK STAMPEDERS IN GAME ONE

VIPERS BLANK STAMPEDERS IN GAME ONE

Colton Weseen, Declan Johnston & Jonathan Finnigan each score twice in Red Deer’s 7-0 Game One win over Ponoka.

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Red Deer, AB – The Red Deer Vipers welcomed the Ponoka Stampeders to the Red Deer Arena for Game One of their Heritage Junior Hockey League North Division Quarter-Final matchup. The Vipers started Cole Sears in net, while the Stampeders looked to Carter Gendreau.

Red Deer got off to a strong start as they controlled a majority of the play for the opening half of the first period. The continued pressure paid off as the Vipers opened the scoring just past the halfway mark of the frame. From the left point, Brett Marsollier threw a shot on net that was deflected by Colton Weseen past the outstretched glove of Gendreau for the 1-0 lead. The home side would continue to attack and found their second tally minutes later as Declan Johnston jumped on a loose puck in the blue paint and slotted it past the Ponoka goaltender. Weseen then collected his second of the night before the end of the period as he pounced on a rebound from Jonathan Finnigan’s point shot on the powerplay to push the home side’s lead to 3-0. The Vipers took their three goal lead into the second period.

Red Deer started the second period where they ended the first as Johnston scored his second of the night less than four minutes in as he batted a puck into the net with his back to play to push the Vipers lead to 4-0. The onslaught continued as Finnigan wired a rocket off both posts from the left circle past Gendreau for the 5-0 lead before the halfway mark of the game. Zeke Leuck replaced Gendreau after Red Deer’s fifth marker. Ponoka had their first good scoring chance with five minutes to go in the period as Kwyn Hiebert broke in alone on the shorthanded breakaway, but found his shot turned aside easily by Sears. The teams headed into the second intermission with the Vipers leading 5-0. 

Matt Krusky added the home side’s sixth tally of the game seven minutes into the final frame as he walked to the front of the net and buried a shot between the legs of Leuck. Finnigan added his second and the Vipers seventh goal of the game with seconds left on the clock to seal the Game One victory. Vipers 7 Stampeders 0.

Red Deer outshot Ponoka 50-24.

Game Two of the best-of-three matchup takes place tomorrow, Wednesday, February 10^th in Ponoka. Game time is set for 7:45 PM. If necessary, the Vipers will host Game Three on Saturday, February 13^th at the Red Deer Arena. Puck drop would be set for 8:00 PM.

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.