The Nanaimo Clippers have captured the Fred Page Cup in dramatic fashion with a 3-2, Game 6 win over the Vernon Vipers at the Vernon Multiplex Tuesday night. It was a Tyler Mazzei tip in with just 34 seconds remaining in regulation that vaulted the Island squad to victory.
The Vipers opened the scoring just 1:38 into the first period as Robbie Short gave the Vipers an early lead. Shawn Overton evened the score just over 4 minutes later as he got one by Nick Olynyk in the Vernon goal at the 5:57 mark. Vernon would take a 1 goal lead into the second period as Justin Brossman tallied for Vernon with less than 7 minutes remaining.
Joe Bitz scored the lone goal of the middle frame while the Clippers were on the power-play at 13:38 to send the game to the final period of regulation knotted at 2.
The teams battled hard through just over 19 minutes of scoreless hockey in the third before Mazzei played hero for the Clippers tipping a point shot past the Vernon netminder to give the Clippers their 2nd Fred Page Cup in 4 seasons.
The Clippers will now face the Camrose Kodiaks for the Doyle Cup and the right to go to the Fred Page Cup which will begin Friday in Nanaimo.
