2009 RBC Cup

VERNON OVERWHELMS HUMBOLDT, STAYS UNBEATEN

VICTORIA, B.C. – Fans of the Vernon Vipers call it the Drive for Five, and the team’s quest for a fifth National Junior A Championship is alive and well at the 2009 RBC Cup.

2009 RBC Cup Photo Gallery Post-game audio: PAC - Mark Ferner | WST - Dean Brockman

Rob Short scored once and set up two others and the Vipers opened up a 4-0 second-period lead en route to a convincing 7-1 win over the Humboldt Broncos – last year’s RBC Cup champions – on Monday night at Bear Mountain Arena, taking over first place with a perfect 2-0 record.

The Vipers notched a pair of quick goals late in the first period – Short’s shorthanded marker was followed 2:10 later by a Ryan Santana goal – and goals from Cole Ikkala, Mike Collins and Kellen Jones chased Humboldt starter Mathieu LaRochelle with three goals in less than six minutes in the second to open up a four-goal lead.

Chris Crowell and Sahir Gill also scored goals for Vernon, who are looking to become the all-time winningest team in National Junior A Championship history. They currently sit tied with the Prince Albert Raiders with four national titles.

Joel Belair had the lone goal for Humboldt, which suffered its first loss. The Broncos are looking to make a little history of their own – no team since Vernon in 1990 and 1991 has repeated as national champions.

Vernon is right back on the ice on Tuesday night, facing their BCHL rivals from Victoria in the day’s lone game (7 p.m. PT), while the Broncos see action next on Wednesday, when they face Kingston (2 p.m. PT).

Tickets to all games at the 2009 RBC Cup are available by contacting the Victoria Grizzlies box office at 250-385-1555, or at [email protected]