ICE HOCKEY: STILL WAITING FOR VIPERS TO FLAUNT THEIR SPEED, FINESSE.Byline: GIDEON RUBIN Special to the Daily News VALENCIA -- A more strict emphasis on rules regulating physical contact in hockey at all levels figured to benefit teams such as the Jr. B Valencia Vipers, which rely more on speed and finesse fi·nesse n. 1. Refinement and delicacy of performance, execution, or artisanship. 2. Skillful, subtle handling of a situation; tactful, diplomatic maneuvering. 3. than brawn brawn n. 1. Solid and well-developed muscles, especially of the arms and legs. 2. Muscular strength and power. 3. Chiefly British The meat of a boar. 4. Headcheese. . Predictably, the new rules emphasis this year 7/8 the result of a directive from USA Hockey USA Hockey is recognized International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. and affects the way the sport is played from youth level to the NHL NHL Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, see there - has created more power play opportunities for the Vipers. But so far, they haven't taken advantage. Valencia (4-14-1) is fourth in the Western States Hockey League's eight-team Western Division with 190 power play opportunities. But the Vipers have converted just 12.6 percent of those chances, sixth worst in the division. Vipers coach Larry Bruyere made capitalizing on such opportunities practices this week leading up to the weekend's three-game series against the Bay City Bombers of Lakewood (14-5-1), which began Friday. The two teams play at Valencia tonight at 7:30 and Sunday at 10 a.m. ``There are two basic aspects to power plays,'' Bruyere said, ``Getting out of your zone with authority, and coming out with a plan and then setting up and attacking a zone. ``Obviously you have an extra attacker An extra attacker in ice hockey is a forward or, less commonly, a defenceman who has been substituted in place of the goaltender. The purpose of this substitution is to gain an offensive advantage to score a goal. , so you have to be able to take advantage.'' Bruyere said part of the plan involves a shift in strategy, with the Vipers using designated personnel for power plays. Earlier this year, the Vipers spread the opportunities around, trying to get the freshest legs on the ice. He said leading scorer Chris Gale (Highland High of Palmdale) and Anthony Kendryna (Saugus/College of the Canyons), who are the team's two leading scorers, will likely see more ice time in power plays. ``We want to reward results,'' Bruyere said. Shinn back: Josh Shinn, a 15-year-old who's just two years removed from his career as a Pee Wee Pee Wee, Pee-wee or peewee may refer to:
Shinn, the youngest player in program history, scored two goals in first game back with the team on Nov. 17 in a 7-2 victory over the Idaho Rattlers. ``Some of the kids he's playing against are four years older than him, so I think he might have been a little bit intimidated in·tim·i·date tr.v. in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing, in·tim·i·dates 1. To make timid; fill with fear. 2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats. at first, but he's a very talented player and we're happy to have him back with us,'' Bruyere said. Champions: The Valencia Express Pee Wee team won the Pee Wee B Division of its own Toast of the Coast Tournament last Sunday. They were among three Ice Station teams to win Thanksgiving Thanksgiving annual U.S. holiday celebrating harvest and yearly blessings; originated with Pilgrims (1621). [Am. Culture: EB, IX: 922] See : America Thanksgiving national holiday with luxurious dinner as chief ritual. [Am. Pop. tournament titles. The Midget AA team won the Portland tournament, and the Mite Express team (10-and-under) won the Escondido tournament. Travis Reiner scored the game-winning goal in the championship game for Mite team. |
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