The Vernon Home Building Centre Vipers gave the Kelowna Fripps Warehousing Rockets all they could handle in a thrilling Okanagan Mainline Midget Tier 1 hockey championship final before 400 fans Saturday night at Civic Arena.
Trevor Berisoff finished off a 2-on-1 with Cory Hochhausen with 27 seconds left in overtime as the defending B.C. champion Rockets edged the Vipers 5-4 to sweep the series 2-0 and move to the provincials starting March 20 in Nanaimo.
The Vipers came out flying and sustained an inspired effort throughout the entertaining contest as they battled their Okanagan rivals for their playoff lives. Justin Mitchell opened the scoring five-hole from close range, on a nice pass from Eli Longworth, and Colton Thibault, from Trevor Pickett, outhustled a Kelowna defender to give the home team a 2-0 advantage with just over a minute to play in the opening period.
The Rockets cut the lead in half with a buzzer beater before the end of the first period.
After the visitors tied it up in the second, Longworth, from Chris Gillies, restored the lead on a shot from the face-off circle. The Rockets again tied it up in the fast-paced second period before defenceman Jayce Polman-Tuin’s seeing-eye shot from the point, from Braydon Sophonow and Chris Nonis, once again restored the one-goal lead.
The Rockets again tied it up before the end of the second period, setting up an exciting but scoreless third period with both teams having excellent scoring chances.
Michael Hails was once again his steady self in net, turning aside 52 Kelowna shots, and making numerous acrobatic saves to give his team an opportunity to win. The Vipers fired 30 shots on the Kelowna netminder.
“Our team needed to play a game with pressure and we responded,” said Kelowna head coach Brent Gilchrist, a Vernon minor hockey grad. “I thought we showed a lot of patience against Hails, who is the best goalie in the league, and always gives us fits. I thought Vernon played the best game Vernon has played in maybe two years.”
Prince George, Comox, host Nanaimo and a Vancouver entry will join Kelowna in the B.C.s.
“It’s nice to see the boys put everything they learned all year into a 60-minute effort,” said Vipers head coach Jim Armstrong. “I’m very proud of our team.”
The Vipers finished second in the Okanagan Mainline regular season and swept Kamloops in the first round of the playoffs. Vernon also made the championship final in tournaments in Richmond and Calgary.
“The progression from the beginning of the year and the player development all year long was exciting to be a part of,” said Armstrong, who was assisted behind the bench by coaches Pat Field and Ryan Parent and trainer Craig Carter. Pam Sophonow also helped the cause greatly as team manager.
Meanwhile, the Sun Valley Sports Bantam Tier 1 Renegades faced some elite teams in a tournament in Sicamous, hosted by Grand Prairie.
The Renegades opened Friday morning by falling 5-4 to Grand Prairie, giving up the winner with eight seconds left after killing off a 5-on-3.
Linemates Logan Geefs and Dennon Leibel each scored twice for Vernon in front of Austin Goss.
The Renegades bowed 9-1 to the Westside Warriors Friday night with Jacob Dolinar scoring from Don Robinson and Carson Richards. Tyler Landry took the loss.
On Saturday, the Renegades fell 9-1 to Pursuit of Excellence Academy of Kelowna. Blaine Caton connected from Cole Woodliffe, in support of Goss.
Vernon was ambushed 14-3 Sunday by the Notre Dame Argos of Wilcox, Sask.
Dolinar, Leibel and Richards supplied the Renegade offence in front of Landry.
The Vernon Pee Wee Tier 3 Sun Valley Source for Sports Sabres rolled over the Winfield Bruins 11-4 in their final exhibition game of the season Sunday at Civic Arena.
Connor Webb was strong in the Sabre net with several key saves.
Speedy Dex Elders started the scoring for the Sabres, who got hat tricks from Reed Cashato and Brady Marazocco.
Owen Beliveau, with 1+2, Keaton McCune, Nick Luttmerding and Liam Hennig rounded out the Sabres’ scoring.
Relentless forechecking was turned in by Drayden Harshenin and strong defensive efforts came from Grady Caton, Layk Petersen, Mason McLennan and Avery Triggs.
