Former Vernon Viper Demico Hannoun had two goals in the Vees sixth straight win 3-1 over the Vipers in Vernon Friday, Oct. 17, 2014.
Image Credit: Cherie Morgan Photography
October 18, 2014 - 10:07 AM
VERNON - Who says goodbyes are hard? Demico Hannoun scored twice against his former team and Hunter Miska stopped 30 of 31 shots, as the Penticton Vees downed the Vernon Vipers 3-1 Friday at Kal-Tire Place.
The win is the Vees sixth in a row, all coming against divisional opponents, and they’re now six points clear of second place atop of the Interior Division.
Hannoun, who traded in the navy blue and copper red of the Vipers for the blue and white of the Vees in the summer, opened the scoring late in opening period. Vipers’ goaltender Jarrod Schamerhorn misplayed the puck behind his net and Tyson Jost centered for Hannoun out front for his seventh at 19:24.
The Vees took a 1-0 lead into the dressing room thanks to some stellar goaltending by Miska early in the game. Miska stopped all 13 shots he faced, including an excellent arm save on TJ Dumonceaux in tight.
Hannoun doubled the Vees lead midway through the second on the power-play. Dante Fabbro fed Hannoun the puck and he cranked a slap-shot from the blue-line past Schamerhorn at 11:06; Hannoun’s second of the game and eighth of the year.
Minutes prior the Vees power-play goal, the Vipers were awarded a penalty-shot after Thomas Aldworth was hauled down a partial break. Aldworth failed to capitalize on the penalty-shot, missing high over Miska’s glove.
Miska also made another excellent save in the middle frame, as he got his arm on a Luke Shiplo rebound attempt. Miska, who was falling forward after colliding with teammate, threw out his arm to knock down Shiplo’s shot that was labeled for the back of the net.
The Vipers made some noise late in the third period, when Aldworth pounced on a rebound. The Vees couldn’t clear the puck and the Vipers quickly turned it into a scoring chance. Liam Coughlin had his shot stopped from the right-circle but Aldworth whacked in the rebound at 16:14 to cut the Vees lead in half.
However, Matt Serratore put the game on ice in the dying moments of the third, as he hit the empty net from centre ice; his fourth of the season at 19:58.
Final Score: 3-1 Vees
Shots: 34-33 Vipers
Power-Plays: Vees 1/5 Vipers 0/1
Three Stars: 1) Demico Hannoun 2) Thomas Aldworth 3) Hunter Miska
Hannoun’s two goals extended his point streak to six games; he has seven goals and 11 points during the streak. Hunter Miska won his fifth consecutive start and now is 7-1 on the season. Riley Alferd’s assist on Serratore’s empty-net goal extends his point streak to five games. The Vees are now 9-1-0-0 and 7-1-0-0 against the Interior Division.
The Vees look to extend their win streak to seven games when they host the Victoria Grizzlies at the SOEC Saturday; puck drop is 6pm. The Grizzlies are coming off a 3-2 win over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Friday. Fans can pick up their tickets at the Valley First box office (at the SOEC) starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. The game be heard on EZ Rock AM 800 or fans can watch online at www.fasthockey.com.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014