Morning Star Staff
The Vernon Coca-Cola Vipers shaded the Merritt Centennials 5-4 in a deciding thriller Game 3 of the Okanagan Mainline Midget Tier 3 Hockey League playoff series Sunday at Priest Valley Arena.
The line of Chris Moore (3+2), Lincoln Connor (2+2) and Landon Currie (3A) propelled the Coke crew with defenceman Ethan Joe adding two helpers. Jordan Foster was stellar in net.
Merritt took the second game 7-4 Saturday before a packed house at Shulus Arena with Cam MacKenzie, Jaden Foster, Zayne Hanke and Currie supplying goals in front of Dylan Blazek.
Vernon finished at 8-8-2, while Merritt was 6-9-3. The Vipers’ second-round opponent will be announced later this week.
Home Building Centre boys explode
The Vernon Home Building Centre Vipers ambushed the Kamloops Blazers 10-1 in Game 1 of their opening Midget Tier 2 playoff series Saturday night at Civic Arena.
Damian Coljee-Fehr (2), Eric Noren (2), Kyle Sherwood (2), captain Dylan Sedlacek, Connor Johnston, Mika Burns and Dex Elders handled the Vernon offence in front of Ty Sedlacek. Vernon held period leads of 2-0 and 6-1. Kamloops took 30 of 46 penalty minutes in a chippy affair.
Vernon topped the league at 14-2, while Kamloops was last at 1-12-3. Game 2 goes Saturday in Kamloops at Memorial Arena.
Teja Sheldrake was sensational in net as the Vernon Fix Auto Vipers grounded the Winfield Bruins 5-2 in Bantam Tier 3 second-round playoff action Sunday at Kal Tire Place.
Game 2 goes Saturday in Lake Country.
Ronac Chauhan went end-to-end for his first of three goals, while Jacob Green and Cody Beckner produced singles.
Trevor Moore, Ryan Vandesande and Ben Reinhardt pocketed clutch assists. Vernon ended up in third place at 11-3-2, just ahead of Winfield (10-4-1).
The Vernon Valley Wood Venom fell 10-3 to Penticton in Atom Development B league play Saturday at McLaren Arena. Hudson Kibblewhite (2) and Ollie Reid tallied for the Venom.
Chiefs ambush Rockets twice
The Vancouver NE Chiefs stormed the Okanagan Rockets 10-2 and 5-0 in B.C. Major Midget Hockey League play at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton.
Ethan Leyh pulled the hatrick as the Chiefs won by a bundle Sunday.
Ethan Trampuh and Jeffrey Karpowich answered for the Rockets.
Christian Buuno bagged a pair of goals, while Kolby Matthews registered the shutout in Saturday’s tilt.
Vernon’s Coleton Bilodeau leads the Rockets with 20 goals, 52 points and 78 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder has played seven games for the BCHL Vernon Vipers. He turns 17 in April.
The Chiefs are second in the 10-team circuit at 26-5-0-3, six points ahead of the Rockets, who are 23-8-0-3. The Cariboo Cougars of Prince George are tops at 28-5-1-0. The Rockets host the South Island Royals Saturday, 3 p.m., at the Capital News Centre.
