A total of 2,418 B.C. Hockey League fans went from expectant to stunned in 11 seconds Friday night at Wesbild Centre.

Shortly after what must been one of the coolest player introductions in Vernon Vipers home opener history – complete with an RCMP escort and a SWAT team member rappelling from the rafters – the Salmon Arm SilverBacks’ Conor Morrison, on a feed from Jason Beattie, spoiled the party, beating first star netminder Andrew Hammond (27 saves) on their first shot.

Fortunately for the Vipers, it proved to be a minor hiccup as the Snakes scored four unanswered goals to stuff the ‘Backs 4-1.

Rookie d-man Adam Thompson recorded his first goal as a Viper at 7:00 on the powerplay. After collecting a pass from Braden Pimm, third star Thompson wristed a high shot from the high slot that beat a screened Bryan Gillis (25 saves) glove side.

“It was good to see it go in,” said Thompson, an 18-year-old Calgary product. “It wasn’t the hardest shot, it was just one of those seeing eye pucks that made it to the net.

“I was a bit nervous at the start, so it was good to get it out of the way. A couple guys were pretty nervous, but as the game went on I think we felt a little better, and we’re just going to get better as the season goes on.”

Regarding the SilverBacks quick start, Thompson added “I think we just brushed it off like we needed to, but it was still kind of a shock.”

Added Vipers head coach Mark Ferner:

“It’s a lesson learned that we have to be ready to play right from the start of the game.

“We were good at times, but at other times we didn’t look that good because we’re trying to do too much with the puck. We need to make sure we’re moving the puck well and not doing anything too fancy.”

The Snakes went on to control the first period, limiting Salmon Arm to one shot in the first 10 minutes.

Gillis made a pair of stellar saves to preserve the tie, first denying John Digness – who played with intensity and was an effective penalty killer – on a shorthanded breakaway, and then robbing Mike Collins on the doorstep with his toenail.

There was little flow throughout most of the game, as both teams took undisciplined penalties. Vipers made the most of their powerplays, scoring three times.

Salmon Arm came out strong to start the second, hemming Vernon in their own end for the first two minutes, but were unable to capitalize.

Vipers’ rookie import Cory Kane notched his first after fellow Californian, Ryan Santana, sprung him into the slot where he snapped a shot that squeaked through Gillis at 5:51.

And then Kellen Jones took over.

Shortly after missing a wide open net, second star Jones redeemed himself by deflecting a Steve Tresierra point shot (score sheet credits Tresierra with the goal).

Just 28 seconds later, Cody Ikkala sent Jones on a breakaway where he out-waited Gillis before tucking the puck behind the sprawled netminder.

“I was feeling kind of tired towards the end there, but it’ll only get better from there,” said Kellen, whose off-season training was hampered by a broken collar bone. “It’s good to get some momentum going into (Saturday’s rematch at the Sunwave Centre). We were all trying to do the same things and everyone was working hard, so it worked out to our advantage.

“If we stay out of the box, we’re better than any team, but if we take penalties, other teams can capitalize on the powerplay.”

Despite the loss, Salmon Arm head coach Rylan Ferster was pleased with his team’s effort.

“Outside of a few minutes in the second period, I though we did some good things. We played hard and I don’t think we got outworked. We played a better second period, yet we gave up three goals. Those are the breaks.

“We break the game down fairly simply – they got three powerplay goals, and we didn’t get any. There’s the difference in the game.

“They certainly have a good team, and full marks to them, they certainly deserved the win.”

Added Morrison: “It’s still early, we’re still learning the systems and a lot of guys are new to it. Other than that stretch in the second period, I thought we played with them.

“We’ve got a lot of speed up front and we’ve got a solid dee core. We won’t get outworked, and our systems will work really well, and if we play them to a tee, we should be very competitive.”

The Vipers visit the Westside Warriors Friday at Royal LePage Place.

Snakebites:

The Vernon Vipers have traded Dallas Goodrunning, 19, to the Olds Grizzlys of the Alberta Junior Hockey League for future considerations. Goodrunning had three goals, eight assists in 52 games last season.

Chris Crowell will serve as the Vipers’ captain for the second straight season, while Cody Ikkala, Kyle Bigos and Steve Tresierra have been named alternate captains.

Netminder Ryan Faragher, a Fort Frances, Ont. product who attended the Vipers camp, has joined the Westside Warriors, while Vernon Products Sawyer Mick and Jeremy Wiebe, who were also at camp, will play with the Chase Broncos of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League this season.

Ferner, 43, and Vipers’ d-man Kevin Kraus, 19, celebrated their birthdays Friday.