Teddy Bear Toss, Saturday night and the Penticton Vees were the ingredients for a fantastic performance from start to finish for the Vernon Vipers. Niko Karamanis scored the teddy bear toss goal and Ty Taylor stopped all 20 shots he faced for his third shutout to propel the Vipers to a 4-0 win.
There was an enery in the building to start the hockey game and it really looked like it impacted the home team in the first period. The Vipers were flying in the period, putting 15 shots at the Penticton goal and drawing 4 penalties including a lengthy 5 on 3 powerplay. The Vipers weren’t able to convert on the first three, but what they were able to do was get momentum on their side. Adam Scheel was very solid in net stopping 14 of 15, but the last shot of the period was the one that went in as Niko Karamanis tipped in a point shot for his 7th of the year and marked the second straight year that he caused the flurry of teddies that followed and give the Vipers a 1-0 lead after 1 period.
The Vipers were able to duplicate their effort from the first to the second periods. The Vipers pressure paid off as Jagger Williamson increased the lead ripping home his 11th of the year from the slot to make it 2-0. The Viper forecheck was front and center through the first 40 and it directly led to the third goal as Brandon Whistle caused a turnover and fed Sam Anzai for his 2nd of the year to make it 3-0. Just 14 seconds later, Jimmy Lambert slid in his 14th of the year after being hauled down. He pushed the puck at the net and it fooled Adam Scheel to make it 4-0.
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In the third period, the Vipers dialed up the defense as they minimized the Penticton Vees scoring chances. Ty Taylor was sharp when needed turning aside all 8 shots in the frame. It was simple hockey from a team that had a lead forcing Penticton to come the full 200 feet for their scoring chances. Despite a late gasp by the Vees to break the shutout bid, the Vipers withstood it and skated off with a 4-0 win for their 23rd win of the year and 51st point.
The Vipers will now welcome the Merritt Centennials for the first time to the friendly confines on Friday night.
