They got to Vernon late after their bus broke down, but the Langley Rivermen didn’t miss a beat in stopping the Vipers 5-2 in B.C. Hockey League action Saturday night before 1,762 fans at Kal Tire Place.
The game was delayed almost an hour as the Rivermen rushed to get dressed and take a proper warmup.
Will Cook (12th) and Evan Anderson (1st) supplied powerplay goals 85 seconds apart midway through the first period with Vernon’s Liam Coughlin serving a double minor for high sticking.
The Vipers responded four minutes later when Brett Mulcahy netted his 28th of the year, on a powerplay. Michael McNicholas and Coughlin drew assists.
Langley, who took over sole possession of first overall, at 32-12-2-5, went in front 3-1 on Kevin Kilitsoff’s eighth of the season late in the second. The Vipers had one goal waved off with officials ruling that Coughlin had interfered with goalie Brock Crossthwaite.
Coughlin fired his 17th, from McNicholas and Josh Bryan, on an early second-period powerplay.
Zach Urban made it 4-2 Rivermen with his fourth of the season, four minutes into the third. Marcus Vela added an empty-netter with 82 seconds to play.
Vernon dropped to 25-16-4-6, good for third spot in the Interior Division, three points ahead of the Merritt Centennials, 4-2 winners over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The Salmon Arm SilverBacks were upset 7-4 by the visiting Chilliwack Chiefs and slid into fifth place, one point behind Merritt.
The Vipers, who had Austin Smith in net, outshot Langley 34-25. Mulcahy struck the crossbar and Dexter Dancs was stoned by Crossthwaite as the Vipers pressed hard in the final minutes.
Please see Wednesday’s Morning Star for further Viper coverage.
