VERNON, B.C. | DECEMBER 2nd. 2016
The Vernon Vipers kicked off the holiday month in style winning their annual Teddy Bear Toss Game 6-1 over the West Kelowna Warriors. Not only was it a big night for fans who brought in over a 1,000 stuffed toys but it was also a home debut night for a number of newly acquired Vipers. Netminder Darion Hanson, forward Luke Gingras and defenceman Cameron Trott were all in the line-up as well as team captain Riley Brandt who finished serving a 10-game suspension .
It would be the West Kelowna Warriors opening up the scoring in the first period as Michael Ryan would find the back of the net on the power play. The defenceman’s shot thru traffic beat starting goalie Darion Hanson low glove side just 4 minutes into the game. The Vipers however would respond less than two minutes later as Niko Karamanis fired one past Nik Amundrud to tie the game up and launch the stuffed toys over the glass. Karamanis would score his second of the game late in the period to give the Vipers a 2-1 lead.
There would be no scoring in the second period, just great saves by both goaltenders. Viper netminder Hanson was called on to make a number of tough saves to hold on to the 2-1 lead going into the 3rd period.
In the 3rd period the Vernon Vipers lit up West Kelowna scoring four unanswered goals. Jimmy Lambert, Austin Adamson, Brett Stapley and Ryan Brushett also put the puck in the net, Stapley’s goal a highlight breakaway to give the Vipers a 5-1 lead pretty much iced it for the home team.
The Vernon Vipers next action has them on the road on December 10th to take on the Penticton Vees. You can catch all the play by play action on 1075 KISS FM or watch online on Hockey TV.
