West Kelowna, BC: The Vernon Vipers got back in the win column Friday night in West Kelowna. Josh Latta and Brendan Kim had a pair of goals and Aidan Porter stopped 34 shots as the Vipers defeated the Warriors 6-3 at Royal LePage Place.
The Vipers faced adversity in the opening minute of the period as a Wyatt Head slap pass was deflected off the post and in, by Cavin Tilsley and the Warriors had a 1-0 lead. The Vipers responded less than three minutes later as Josh Latta wrapped a puck around from behind the goal and it went off the post and in to tie the game up at 1. Seven minutes later, the Vipers won a faceoff and Brendan Kims point shot went through a maze of bodies to give Vernon a 2-1 lead on his first BCHL goal. In the last few minutes of the period the Warriors converted on a 3 on 2 as Willie Reim shot home his 12th of the season to tie it up at 2. Just 24 seconds later, Michael Young sprung Josh Latta on a partial breakaway, as he was being hauled down, he batted home his own rebound to give the Vipers a 3-2 lead after 1 period.
In the second, the Viper PK came out strong killing off an early West Kelowna powerplay. Aidan Porter came up with 5 big saves and the Vipers were able to maintain their one goal advantage. Midway thru the period the Vipers got a bit of a lucky bounce as a centering pass bounced off the skate of Matt Kowalski to give the Vipers an important 4-2 lead. The Vipers took advantage of a goaltender miscue as Brock Baier mishandled a puck and Garrett Worth poked home his first BCHL goal to make it 5-2 Vernon. That score would hold up after 40 minutes.
In the third period, the Vipers increased their lead as Brendan Kim followed up on his own rebound for his second of the night and a 6-2 Viper lead. While on a PP the Vipers surrendered a rare defensive zone turnover and Bennett Norlin scored his 10th of the year to make it 6-3. The Vipers killed off a late West Kelowna powerplay and after the final buzzer, saw their winless streak snapped at 4 thanks to the 6-3 win.
Here’s the scoring summary:
1ST PERIOD
WK – Cavin Tilsley (2) – Wyatt Head (19) – 0:56
VER – Josh Latta (7) – Matt Kowalski (10), Alex Swetlikoff (11) – 3:23
VER – Brendan Kim (1) – Teddy Wooding (8), Ben Sanderson (5) – 7:20
WK – Willie Reim (12) – Chase Dubois (19), Austin Chorney (4) – 17:07
VER – Josh Latta (8) – Michael Young (4) – 17:31
2ND PERIOD
VER – Matt Kowalski (7) – Jagger Williamson (11), Jesse Lansdell (6) – 9:13
VER – Garrett Worth (1) – unassisted – 9:58
3RD PERIOD
VER – Brendan Kim (2) – Teddy Wooding (9), Connor Marritt (7) – 2:50
WK – Bennett Norlin (10) – unassisted – 11:44 (SHG)
The Vipers now return home for a 5 game homestand starting Sunday afternoon when the Victoria Grizzlies come to town.
*Photo Credit – Wayne Moore (Castanet)
