Gillam Heroic For Chiefs:

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Gillam Heroic For Chiefs

Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - Submitted by Don Klepp

Despite being badly outplayed by the visiting Vernon Vipers, the Chilliwack Chiefs knocked the Vipers out of the playoff race with a 4-2 win on Tuesday.

Goaltender Mitch Gillam was the difference as he stopped 47 of 49 shots, 20 in the third period. He held the Chiefs in the game until they got the eventual winner at 5:13 of the third period.

During a yard sale in and around his crease, Kirby Halcrow lost his goal stick and was beaten low stick side by David Thompson’s 30-footer from the slot. The shot found its way through a mass of bodies in front of the Viper goal.

Josh Hansen’s empty netter at 19:42 put the issue out of doubt.

Earlier in the final period, with the score tied, 2-2, Patrick McGillis had fired the puck past Gillam but hit the post. That’s the way the game went for the Vipers, who generated a season-high 27 scoring chances.

The game started the way it ended; the Vipers dominated the first period but could not beat Gillam whose best effort was a right toe save on Sean Robertson’s low drive.

The Chiefs came out a bit stronger in the second period and took a 2-0 lead on broken plays. Alex Perron-Fontaine registered the ice breaker at 3:51 on a power play that looked more like a bee swarm. He swatted in a loose puck from 15 feet in front of Halcrow.

A minute later, a Kit Sitterley pass bounced off the skate of Trevor Hills past Kirby Halcrow who was wrong-footed by the bounce.

The two-goal lead gave the Chiefs energy and they played the Vipers evenly until Shay Laurent took a boarding penalty at 9:41. From that point, the Vipers took over, starting with Adam Tambellini’s power play goal at 10:16. Darren Nowick and Mike Zalewski drew assists.

Nowick and Zalewski then combined on a goal that came one second after Michael Spring’s penalty expired, at 14:06. Nowick accepted Zalewski’s adroit backhand pass and ripped a wrister over Gillam’s glove hand to tie the game.

In the third, the Vipers had several point blank opportunities but couldn’t squeeze the biscuit past Gillam. His positioning was excellent and the Vipers were unable to hit the small areas that he left open.

Five injured players were out of the lineup, so the Vipers started the game with 16 skaters and lost Jedd Soleway in the first period when he was twisted to the ice. His status is unclear for the final two games this weekend versus Salmon Arm.

Riley Hunt, Max Mowat, Luke Juha, and Turner Lawson will likely miss the weekend action, but Colton Sparrow will return after having served a two-game suspension.