Black Press Sports
Christian Cakebread scored twice as the Vernon Vipers dispatched the Nanaimo Clippers 5-3 in a B.C. Hockey League play Sunday matinee before 900 fans at Frank Crane Arena.
The Shipmen fell behind 5-0 before scoring three quick ones in the last few minutes.
Brett Stapley, with friends and family from Campbell River in the stands, scored the winner six minutes after the national anthem, his first of the season after spending six games on injured reserve. Jagger Williamson and d-man Carter Stephenson drew assists on a powerplay with Sean Buchanan off with a double spearing minor.
“Yeah, we scored some goals late in the third and that’s great, but at the end of the day you need to play 60 minutes,” said Clipper captain and Vernon product Spencer Hewson.
Cakebread connected on the same man advantage, getting his second of the year. Assists went to Jimmy Lambert and d-man Cooper Watson.
Williamson, with his fourth, Levi Johnson, with his first, and Cakebread, tallied before the third period was 11 minutes old.
Vernon native Matt Kowalski (third), Adam Donnelly (first) and Ben Solin (fourth) responded for Nanaimo (4-5) three minutes apart. Solin’s tally came with 55 seconds to play.
Stapley, Cakebread and Vernon captain Riley Brandt were the three stars. Nanaimo outshot Vernon 27-26 with Ty Taylor taking the win and Evan DeBrouwer the loss.
“What you’ve seen early on in the season is kind of what a young team will look like, I think,” said Nanaimo head coach Mike Vandekamp, formerly the Vipers’ bench boss. “There’s been some real good moments, but there’s been some not-so-good moments. So I guess we strive for consistency next.”
He said his team has the capability of winning games against good teams.
“We need some of our players to play with more confidence, both mentally and physically,” said Vandekamp “There’s pressure to win games; you have to be able to handle that … and physically, you’ve got to have the confidence to get in there and compete harder.”
Hewson said the Clippers need to take individual responsibility to always be ready to play.
“It just comes back to a bit of maturity and a bit of professionalism to put your best foot forward each time you step on the ice,” he said.
Kowalski scored Nanaimo’s first goal Sunday as a point shot ricocheted off the end boards overtop of the goal and bounced right into the slot. Donnelly added his first goal as a Clipper on a one-on-one rush and Solin rounded out the scoring on a scramble outside the crease.
The Vipers, who gained a point Saturday night in a 3-2 double-overtime loss to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, are second in the Interior Conference at 5-3-1. The Penticton Vees top the table at 7-1.
Derek Osik and blueliner Shane Kelly supplied the Viper goals before 975 fans at Weyerhauser Arena.
Ryan Steele and Jordan Sandhu replied for the Dawgs in regulation. It was 1-1 after 20 minutes and 2-1 Snakes after 40. Sandhu converted midway through the third period.
Connor Welsh pocketed the winner 24 seconds into the second OT period.
The three stars were: 1. Bulldog goalie Brody Claeys, 35 saves. 2. Viper G Cole Demers with 25 stops. 3. Trevor Cosgrove, Bulldogs, 2A.
Vernon hosts the Surrey Eagles (1-6-1) Friday night and visit the West Kelowna Warriors (4-3)Saturday night.
The Wenatchee Wild (6-0-1) are the only team without a regulation loss. The Wild ambushed the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks 9-0 Saturday night before 1,875 fans at the Toyota Town Center.
