After being bounced 6-2 by the Seafair Islanders in the round-robin of the Vernon Home Building Centre Midget Vipers tournament at Civic Arena Saturday, the Tier 1 squad had something to prove against the same Richmond squad in the semifinals Sunday morning.
And the Vipers came out flying with Trevor Pickett, from Conor Payne, giving the Vipers a 1-0 lead in the second period that looked like it might stand up in the fast-paced contest.
However the Islanders pulled their goalie with 90 seconds left in the third period and finally solved a rock-solid Max Brown on a rebound with 43 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.
The intense four-on-four session solved nothing but the Islanders again scored another dramatic heartbreaker with 26 seconds left in the three-minute, three-on-three session to win 2-1 and advance to the championship game.
The Islanders went on to lose 5-3 to the Prince George Cougars, including an empty-netter, in the final. The Cougars also needed overtime to beat the Sylvan Lake Lakers 4-3 in the other semifinal.
The Vipers secured their semifinal berth with a 2-1 record in preliminary play to finish third in the six-team tourney.
In Saturday night’s loss to the Islanders, the Vipers fell behind 4-0 after two periods before game MVP Pickett got the offence going with a pair of goals, assists going to Logan Geefs and Payne.
The Vipers earlier Saturday grounded the Calgary Rangers 8-2. Vernon fell behind 2-0, but took a 6-2 lead after 40 minutes.
Patrick Dove led the offence with 2+3, while Braydon Sophonow chipped in with 1+3. Game MVP Justin Mitchell, Cody Hendrickson, Curtis Sexsmith, Pickett and defenceman Ryley Booth also scored, while defenceman Austin Garrington contributed two helpers. Brown earned the victory in a relief role.
Coke boys bow to OHA
The Coca-Cola Midget Tier 2 Vipers lost a 3-2 heartbreaker Saturday to the Okanagan Hockey Academy (OHA) of Penticton at Wesbild Centre.
The Vipers outplayed OHA for most of the game, but a couple of bad bounces and some fantastic goaltending by OHA kept the Vipers from getting the win.
The Vipers got goals by Griffen Fried and Taylor Hamilton-Gee, with assists to Chad Thomas (2) and Jacob Dolinar.
On Sunday, the Vipers bowed 7-1 to the host Salmon Arm Silvertips.
The Silvertips jumped on a few loose pucks and converted them to goals, despite some great goaltending by Bruin Stair.
The Vipers made it 3-1 on a goal by Chad Thomas, set up by Jacob Dolinar, but a fluky bounce in the defensive zone a minute later sealed the game for the Tips.
POE pounces on Renegades
The Vernon Sun Valley Source For Sports Renegades lost 8-3 to the Pursuit of Excellence, and 6-3 to the Kamloops Jardine’s Blazers in Bantam Tier 1 league play.
Hayden Chase, from Jordan Rea and Jorden Dewing, opened the scoring at 6:09 of the opening period to give the Renegades the early advantage versus first-place POE Saturday at Prospera Place.
POE responded shortly after with three goals in 95 seconds. Chase, from Carson Richards, closed the gap to one early in the second period, but POE pumped three quick goals by Bryce Dyck to put the game out of reach.
Richards, from Braydon McCarthy, scored for the Sun Valley boys in the third. Both teams took just 10 minutes in penalties in the tame affair.
On Sunday afternoon at McArthur Island Arena, the undermanned Renegades got goals from Richards, McCarthy and Dewing in front of Louis Springer.
Machine Vipers snuff Blazers
The Vernon Machine Vipers Tier 3 Bantams rolled home with two wins, stopping the Kamloops Blazers 5-2 Saturday, and then stuffing the Salmon Arm Silvertips 7-2 at the Shaw Centre Sunday.
Richard Thompson opened the scoring in Kamloops on a nice pass from Austin Dixon. The Blazers tied it up a few minutes later, but Brian Ferguson, with an assist to Colton Skead, and Austin Derkach, assisted by Kaden Black and Josh DeCoffe, made it 3-1 at the end of the first period.
Kamloops pulled to within one midway through the third. Thompson, assisted by Austin Dixon, and Black, from Ferguson rounded out the scoring.
Thompson pulled the hat trick as the Vipers iced the Tips. Black added 2+2, while Bryton Stead and Austin Derkach each earned 1+1. Josh DeCoffe and Austin DeCoffe provided two assists each.
Pee Wee girls shade Mystix
In Pee Wee Girls Rep play, the Vernon Sladen Moore Lakers edged the Kamloops Royal Purple Mystix 2-1 Saturday at Priest Valley Arena and then earned a 4-3 Sunday win over the Kelowna Atom Development Team #2 at the Wesbild Centre.
The Lakers had to work extra hard to beat the always-tough Mystix with Jenna Fletcher and Emily Clarke, shorthanded, scoring the goals. Goaltender Samantha Head contributed her usual energy to stop 26 shots for the win.
In Sunday’s win, Andie Kaneda (2), Makenna Hoffman and Clarke handled the offence.
Cassidy Marshall and Kaneda supplied stellar puck-handling up front, while d-men Tylee Cooper (2) and Courtney Graves provided clutch assists.
Head had a super 23-save showing.
