Oilers win intense series with Monsters

by Bruce Tippets

BTippets@cherryroad.com

The rivalry between the Vernal Oilers and the Fresno Monsters just keeps getting better, featuring fast-paced play and dramatic swings in momentum.

Vernal won two out of three games vs. the Monsters at the Uintah County Western Park.

The Oilers took the series opener 5-3. Vernal followed it up with a 4-0 win in the second game.

In the third contest, Fresno claimed a 10-1 victory over the Oilers.

It was the first time Vernal has lost a regular season game since Feb. 18, 2024.

That was an incredible 61 consecutive regular season wins.

Even more impressive it was Vernal’s first home regular season regulation loss since Nov. 4, 2023.

“It was one that we circled on the calendar,” Vernal coach Ryan Howse said. “Every time we play Fresno it’s very good hockey.”

Vernal is now 15-1 on the season. The Oilers remain first in the Northwest Division.

“At the end of the day, these guys are young men,” said Howse. “They are learning. I told people before that my label is the coach but I’m more of a teacher. We are teaching these guys to move on and be good young men. We want to take away positives from learning. That is huge. We have to respect the game.”

The first two battles were played in front of sold out crowds.

“The fans that we have are amazing and they are passionate,” said Howse.

In the two-goal win, the Oilers jumped out with a 2-0 lead after the first period.

Derrick Henson and Ivan Janak each had goals.

Vernal extended the cushion to 3-1 in the second on a goal from Zach Baumann.

Fresno scored twice in the third, but Nikolas Cervenka put one in the net.

“Friday night was back and forth,” Howse said. “That is what we expected.”

Vernal goalie Viggo Boston registered 33 saves.

Vernal’s stellar defense was the difference in the second game.

The Oilers were up 1-0 after a first period goal from Cervenka.

In the second period, Vernal’s Logan Powers and Cameron Roth each fired a goal into the net.

Roth and Milan Klein put the game away in the third period with one goal apiece.

“We just stuck together as a group,” Henson said. “We feed off the energy from the crowd. We just did the little things right and got rewarded.”

Boston had the shutout with 39 saves.

“Viggo is playing up in Grand Junction in the league above us,” said Howse. “He needed to get some games in because he wasn’t starting there. The funny story about Viggo was that we lost to him at nationals. He was in the net. It was nice to have Viggo here. He is such a good human.”

In the series finale, Fresno was up 4-1 after the first period and never looked back.

“I think the better team won on Sunday,” Howse said. “I give all the credit to Fresno. They are a very good hockey team and very talented. I just think we were a little bit under prepared, starting with myself. As a coach, you have to be the leader of the team. We went into the game a little too comfortable.”