West Kelowna, BC: There was a buzz at Royal Lepage Place on Friday night with Home Town Hockey invading West Kelowna. The Vipers stymied the hot Warrior offense and Elan BarLevWise scored the only goal as the Vipers shut out the Warriors 1-0.
The Vipers started the game shorthanded after a strange call after both teams exchanged pucks into the oppositions goal. The Warriors pushed the pace on the powerplay outshooting the Vipers 4-0 in the early going. The Vipers pushed back in the final 13 minutes of the period finishing with a 15-10 shot advantage. The Vipers opened the scoring as Elan Bar-Lev-Wise cut in down the left wing, busted to the middle and his shot ricocheted off a defender and behind Connor Hopkins to make it 1-0 after 1.
In the second, a pretty even period as both goalies were tested. The Vipers seemed to have the edge in quality chances. Shots finished even 8-8 and still 1-0.
A wild start the the 3rd period saw chances really early in the period and again goaltending was solid. As the pace slowed a bit, it seemed to favour the Vipers as they kept the high flying Warriors to a stand still. The Vipers generated a few turnovers and Ben Helgeson and Will Dow Kenny had great chances to increase the lead, but Hopkins said no. Late in the period with the goalie pulled, the Warriors worked to tie the game, but some saves from Porter and some stellar defense from all Vipers, allowed the goal from the first to stand up as the Vipers win 1-0.
Here’s the scoring summary:
1ST PERIOD
VER – Elan Bar lev wise (5) – Tyler Ho (4), Ben Helgeson (12) – 17:42
2ND PERIOD
NO SCORING
3RD PERIOD
NO SCORING
The Vipers welcome the Prince George Spruce Kings Saturday night at Kal Tire Place.
*Photo Credit – Wayne Moore – Castanet
