Fifteen years ago today (March 23rd 2005) In Game 4 of the 1st round ofthe BCHL playoffs in the best of seven series vs the Penticton Vees, Vernon Vipers forward/captain Mark Nelson scores his second goal of the game at 5:57 of the fourth overtime, giving the visiting Vipers a 3-2 overtime victory over the hometown Penticton Vees. Penticton outshot Vernon 64-63 Jon Olthuis made 62 saves in the win, while Corey Milan made 60 saves in the loss in front of 1,933 fans at the Memorial Arena. With the win Vernon wins the best of seven series 4-0 advanced to the Interior division Finals vs the Prince George Spruce Kings.
Boxscore-Game Summary,
https://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/2440
Mark Nelson's Player Profile:
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=76488
I was at this game and it has to be one of the most memorable Vipers games I have been too. The atmosphere in the old Memorial arena was rocking and as the game went on, I remember the four or five younger gents in front of us, pounding back the cold ones. They were drinking two at a time and piled up the empty cups as the game went on. By the time overtime started, there had to have been twenty to thirty empty plastic cups piled into one another. They left after they quit serving beer and as this game continued fans started leaving the later the game went on. I recall the Vees having at least three breakaways in overtime, but couldn't stop the "Big red machine" Jon Olthuis. I remember both goaltenders stood on there heads. This has to be the longest Vipers game I have attended. I have been to several triple overtime games but I can't recall ever watching four overtimes, until this night. I will never forget Mark Nelson coming out from behind the goal, to beat Corey Milan and send the Vipers bench and Viper fans in the rink into a frenzy. The long drive home well after midnight was worth it. A great memory In Vipers history I will never forget.
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