The Vernon Home Building Centre Vipers fell 3-1 to host Port Coquitlam in Midget Tier 1 hockey play Friday night.
Darien Grace opened the scoring with assists to Conner Johnston and Bryce Pyle, however Vernon ran into some penalty trouble in the second period and Port Coquitlam punished them with three powerplay goals.
The Snakes’ Stephane Richard had a chance to pull his team within a goal on a shorthanded breakaway, but rang his shot off the post. Josh Evans recorded 20 saves for Vernon.
The Vernon Watkin Motors Mustangs opened the Seafair Pee Wee Tier 1 tournament with a fast-paced 1-1 draw against the St. Albert Blues on Friday.
The Alberta boys had Vernon on its heels for the first 10 minutes before the Mustangs found their legs.
Cayden Hamming was solid in net, with the Blues finally solving him just before the ice clean. Steel Quring snuck a shot five-hole to tie it. Assists went to Scott Gilowski and Connor Elliot.
The line of Trevor Kennedy, Cole Boyarski and Lachlan O’Keefe had a strong game.
Meanwhile, the Nixon Wenger Pee Wee Tier 2 Vipers bounced Kelowna 5-3 to jumpstart their home tournament Friday night.
Trailing by three at the ice clean, Vernon connected on a pair of shorthanded goals, both by Ronac Chauhan, assists to Isaac Thomas and Jacob Green.
Maisun Ang-Hamilton tallied in the third period of the penalty-filled affair, with help from Maddex Minard and Jacob Wettlaufer. Aidan Spraggs was stellar in goal for Vernon.
