Vernon wins the RBC Cup

Press Release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Drive for Five is complete – the Vernon Vipers are Canada’s first five-time national Junior A champions.

Andrew Hammond turned aside 27 shots for the shutout and Braden Pimm’s second-period power play goal stood up as the game-winner as the Vipers blanked the Humboldt Broncos 2-0 on Sunday afternoon to win the 2009 RBC Cup.

Despite losing captain Steve Crowell and top-six forward Ryan Santana – both to checking-from-behind majors – the Vipers passed the Prince Albert Raiders as the winningest Junior A franchise, their title in Victoria joining ones won in 1990, 1991, 1996 and 1999.

After a scoreless first period the Vipers struck first just shy of the 13-minute mark of the second, as Pimm crashed the net and popped the puck over Humboldt Mathieu LaRochelle for a 1-0 advantage.

Bigos capped off an MVP tournament with an MVP-style goal late in the third, undressing three Broncos and tucking the puck around LaRochelle for the insurance marker. The six-foot-five defenceman stepped up his game after the loss of Crowell late in the first period, showing why he was the tournament’s Top Defenceman.

Hammond was at his best in the second period, making 13 saves as Humboldt swarmed the Vernon net looking for the game’s first goal. He was a deserving winner of his team’s Player of the Game award, as was LaRochelle, who took home the honour after a 22-save performance.


(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)