Vipers Complete Amazing Comeback:

This is posted on the Vipers website:

Vipers complete amazing comeback

by Don Klepp | Added 2011-10-02

In a comeback that was as improbable as it was dramatic, the Vernon Vipers defeated the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings 5-4 in overtime on Saturday.

Adam Tambellini scored the winner 1:46 into overtime. He recalls Aaron Hadley’s contribution to the goal this way: “Hads had all kinds of energy at the end and he was all over their D-men at their blue line, so I sneaked in and stole the puck. The goalie gave me a little room up on his glove side, so I tried to go there and it went in.”

Tambellini, who had drawn an assist on Patrick McGillis’s first period power play goal, was named the game’s first star.

Late in the third period, trailing 4-1, the Viper cause looked hopeless because the Viper offence had been listless through the first two periods. In the third, the Vipers created a lot more chances, but they either missed the net or were stymied by goaltender Marcus Beesley, who robbed Marcus Basara, Colton Sparrow, and Luke Juha near the midway point of the period.

Despite being outshot by a wide margin in the last 17 minutes of the third, the Spruce Kings scored the only goal, the third of the game for Paul De Jersey. He took advantage of lax Viper defending and came off the left sidewall to surprise Viper goalie Danny Todosychuk at 8:44.

Patrick McGillis’s second goal of the game started the Viper comeback at 17:33. A strong forecheck by Colton Sparrow and Marcus Basara resulted in a one-on-one at the PG goalmouth. McGillis went forehand-backhand to slip the disk past Beesley.

Energized by the McGillis strike, the Vipers poured into the Spruce King zone after a Darren Nowick faceoff win. Mike Zalewski streaked behind the net and fed Aaron Hadley in front for a powerful finish at 18:03.

Now, the Vipers were in full flight and they tied the game on Zalewski’s hard snap shot at 18:59. Hadley was in on that goal as well. He replaced John Knisley on the right wing for the Vipers’ late burst.

Up until the Vipers’ late blitzkrieg, Prince George had the game well in hand, thanks to well-travelled Paul DeJersey. His hat trick propelled him into the BCHL goal scoring lead, with seven in four games.

He opened the scoring at 14:59 of the first period after the Vipers gave the puck away twice in their zone. He added a second that squeaked through Todosychuk’s pads after Jujhar Khaira had stripped a Viper defender along the left boards.

Earlier in the second period, Sean Landrey had given the Spruce Kings a 2-1 lead on an odd man rush that resulted when a Viper defender tripped and fell while trying to cover Connor Tiechko.

Game Notes:

• Prince George was without injured players Ben Waterfield, Jared Crossan, Cody Bardock, and Jeff Earnest.

• Vernon played without injured players Alex Hagen and Max Mowat. Ryan Renz returned to the lineup. Affiliated player Tom Swales, who toils for the North Okanagan Knights, saw his first BCHL action on right wing and on defence.

• De Jersey leads the BCHL scoring race with 9 points. Mike Zalewski and Adam Tambellini now have 7 points each.