SilverBacks upend Snakes in OT
Published: October 14, 2012
The Vernon Vipers came within 10 seconds of a much-needed pair of B.C. Hockey League points.
Instead, they settled for one as the host Salmon Arm SilverBacks ambushed them with a late equalizer and pulled out a 3-2 win in double-overtime Friday night at the Shaw Centre.
With the Vipers up by a goal with 10 seconds to play, they lost a key defensive faceoff, which led to first star defenceman Shane Hanna’s fourth goal of the season, and second of the night, after a scramble in front of netminder Austin Smith.
Salmon Arm keeper Adam Clark (31 saves), who seems to have the Vipers’ number this season, was pulled for an extra attacker. Smith had 28 saves for Vernon.
“Whether it’s the first shift of last shift, you need to be prepared to play,” said a disappointed Vernon Vipers’ head coach Jason Williamson.
“We needed to win a faceoff there and we don’t and it ends up in the back of our net. We’ve got to lock guys down in front of the net.”
Vernon generated several chances in OT, and after Viper forward Pearce Eviston was hauled down as he raced for a loose puck (and would have had a clear line on net), the SilverBacks came the other way and Jason Trott (4th goal) buried the rebound off Hanna’s shot in front of nearly 1,000 fans.
It is the third OT loss for the Snakes (3-4-0-3) in just 10 regular-season games, and it has them tied with Salmon Arm (4-5-0-1) for last place in the Interior Division.
Vernon visited the 6-2-1-1 Chilliwack Chiefs Saturday night at Prospera Centre.
“We were probably the better team, but their goalie played well and made some key stops on us,” said Williamson.
“That’s a strong point on their team and we knew that going in. You just can’t let a good goalie beat you.”
Colton Sparrow (4th), assisted by Brendan Persley and TJ Dumonceaux, opened the scoring in the second period on a goal-mouth scramble in front of Clark. The Vernon product got in behind the towering keeper to tuck home a loose puck at 8:50.
Hanna equalized for the Backs on a third-period powerplay after second-year forward Chris Gillies, a Vernon native, knocked a puck loose in front of Smith.
Aaron Hadley (6th) restored the Viper lead just as a Vernon powerplay expired. The power forward circled from behind the net to beat Clark, top shelf, from the slot. Eviston and Marc Hetnik drew the helpers.
n The league-leading Penticton Vees had their six-game win streak snapped in a 3-2 OT loss to the host Victoria Grizzlies Friday night at Bear Mountain Arena.
Each team converted twice in period one – Michael Rebry and Wade Murphy for the 9-1-0-1 Vees, and Myles Powell and Blake Thompson for the 7-4-0-1 Grizz. Myles Fitzgerald collected the winner 2:34 in to double-OT.
In other Interior action, the West Kelowna Warriors tanked the Langley Rivermen 4-1, and the Trail Smoke Eaters bowed 4-0 to the Coquitlam Express.
SNAKE BITES: Logan Mick (illness) and Mitch Van Teeling (lower body) did not dress Friday night...Hanna, whose brother Brett is captain of Vernon Re/Max Tigers junior B lacrosse team, leads the SilverBacks with 4-4-8 in 10 games...Vernon’s Harlan Orr was called up by Salmon Arm from the KIJHL North Okanagan Knights for Friday’s game.
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