The Sun Valley Source for Sports Vipers lost 5-3 to the Port Moody Panthers in their Snake Pit Bantam Tier 2 Hockey Classic opener at Civic Arena.
The Source for Sports crew got behind early, but tied things up late in the first on a Corbin Hanson goal, assisted by Lee Christensen.
Port Moody capitalized on a pair of power plays in the second period. Vernon player of the game Gavin Fleck put the Snake within a goal late in the second on a tipped Cam Moger point shot.
Vernon controlled most of the third period, but got outscored. Fleck potted his second, set up by Lucas Wood, to round out the attack.
The Calgary Bronks iced the Edmonton Maple Leafs 4-3, the St. Albert Blues bounced the Kelowna Rockets 4-2 and the Sherwood Park Leafs toppled the Airdrie Lightning 7-3 in other Friday games.
Vernon faced Calgary and Edmonton in Saturday preliminary games. The A final goes today, 12:45 p.m., at Civic.
