Intensity rising in IJHL final
Vipers, Red Wings clash in Game 3 on Sunday
The intensity, animosity and interest appears to be rising in the Island Junior Hockey League final.
The Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers and Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings enter Game 3 at Community Gardens in Kensington on Sunday tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
“It’s good hockey, and it’s only going to get better from here on out because now it’s a best-of-five,” said Red Wings head coach Nathan DesRoches. Both teams held serve on home ice – the Vipers won the opener 5-3 on Sunday, and the Red Wings prevailed 5-2 in Game 2 on Tuesday.
“We are getting into the meat of the series,” said Vipers head coach Wade Waddell. “It’s funny, I didn’t think we were very good in Game 1 and we won, and I thought we were better in Game 2, but we turned the puck over, took some bad penalties and didn’t do a very good job on the penalty kill.
“Besides those things, I really liked our game in Game 2. We were short some bodies, but I felt we played well enough actually to win that game.” Waddell, who says the Vipers will ice their healthiest lineup since the first of February on Sunday, feels Game 2 was the most physical contest between the two arch-rivals this season.
“I see going forward that it’s going to be a physical series to finish off,” said Waddell. “We are really, really looking to come out with a big, big game Sunday.”
As the importance of the games increases, DesRoches notes it is important for the players to maintain their focus, and try not to do too much. “No matter how big the game is it’s the simple plays that matter, and it’s the simple hockey that wins those games,” said DesRoches. “For us the main message for Game 2 was to simplify our game some. I thought we did a good job of working together, keeping things simple and getting back to basic hockey.”
DesRoches has liked the intensity he’s seen from both teams in the first two games.
“There was a little bad blood the last game, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see that roll over,” said DesRoches. “It’s like any series, guys get accustomed to hating one another as time passes by.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see an even better hockey game in Game 3. The crowds are showing just how good of hockey it is. Both games have been played before packed houses.” Waddell noted the Vipers are expecting a crowd of around 1,100 on Sunday.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Waddell. “The whole team is excited, and the town is excited.
“I went out for a coffee the other day and I must have got about 10 questions about the series. The town is buzzing out here in Kensington.”
Jason.Simmonds@TC.TC. Twitter.com/JpsportsJason https://www.facebook.com/jason.simmonds.180