MERRITT – In an opening night that featured a little bit of everything from a fight off the puck drop to crushing checks, powerplay goals and a penalty shot, the only thing missing for the Vernon Vipers was two points.
The Vipers fell 6-5 in double overtime to the Centennials Friday night in their B.C. Hockey League season-opener before 650 fans at the Nicola Valley Arena.
Justin Wise scored the winner 35 seconds into the second OT frame (3-on-3) after the Vipers launched the initial attack in the wide-open overtime. Vernon earned a single point for the regulation tie.
“It seems like the home team always gets the bounces and tonight they (Cents) certainly got a lot of them,” said Vipers’ head coach Mike Vandekamp. “All in all we played well tonight. We were the better team when it was 5-on-5. There were some really good signs tonight, especially from our core guys. I thought our vets played very well tonight.”
Merritt took a 2-0 lead five minutes into the first on powerplay goals from Blair Riley and Shane McCormick to chase Vernon starter Brandon Chalazan, who had no chance on either goal.
The Vipers battled back to tie it up with Mark Nelson scoring on the powerplay with a patient move at the side of the net. Les Reaney potted his first of three five minutes later after some gritty work down low by linemates Dustin Claffey and Mike Santorelli.
Viper 20-year-old goalie Eric Bourbeau made two key saves late in the first to keep the game deadlocked.
Nelson gave Vernon their first lead 4:56 into the second with Reaney adding his second just 14 seconds later after a set play off the face-off.
“We started off strong in the second (period), but once we got ahead by two goals we lost our focus and got away from the system,” said Reaney. “We just didn’t stay focused for 60 minutes. We’ve got a lot of new guys who have to learn the system. We played much better tonight, but we still have a ways to go.”
McCormick scored his second of the night midway through the second to cut the deficit to 4-3.
In the third Mac Rines tied the game with a screened wrist shot from the high slot followed by Aaron Conlon’s shorthanded goal four minutes later. Conlon pushed a puck through a crowd as Bourbeau was buried under a pile of players and left the game with a knee injury.
With 4:41 remaining, Vipers’ captain Jake Wilkens was awarded a penalty shot after being hauled down on a breakaway. Wilkens tried to go five-hole on the free pass, but was turned away by Cents’ starter Brandon Cross.
Vernon continued to pour on the pressure late with Reaney scoring the tying goal with 2:31 remaining after picking up a rebound off a Mark Wilson point shot.
Both teams had good chances in the first OT period, with Chalazan coming up with two big stops early.
“It was key to get the win because it creates excitement for everyone,” said Cents’ sniper McCormick. “We have a lot of young guys who were playing in front of their hometown crowd and were nervous. Getting the first win is huge for them. The older guys have been through games like this before, but for the younger guys it was key to comeback the way we did in the third and then win it in overtime.”
The Cents went 2-for-5 on the powerplay, while the Vipers scored once on their four chances. Vernon outshot Merritt 37-32.
Viper assistant captain Andrew Lord hammered Merritt’s Steve Sankey in a fight off the opening face-off, while Wilkens battled Riley to a draw in the game’s other bout.
The Vipers entertained the Prince George Spruce Kings Saturday night in their home-opener.
SNAKE BITES: Vernon goalie Mark Sibbald and forward Ryan Bullock were scratched from the line-up. Sibbald served the first game of a five-game suspension dating back to last year’s playoffs in Ontario. Bullock is still recovering from an injury which has slowed him throughout camp.
