In a Game 7 befitting the closest Fred Page Cup Finals series in a decade, the Vernon Vipers scored a pair of late goals to clinch a 3-1 home ice win and back-to-back Championship campaigns for the British Columbia Hockey League's regular season leaders.
With five minutes remaining in regulation and overtime looming, the Vipers' top line of Connor and Kellen Jones and Sahir Gill combined on their biggest goal of the season, with Gill beating Kings' netminder Josh Watson for the game winner. Vernon then stunted a potential final minute comeback when Jonathan Milhouse added insurance at the 19:07 mark of the third period.
Powell River had taken a brief lead following a scoreless first period when Chad Niddery broke the ice three minutes into the middle frame. But the defending champs wasted little time evening the score when Milhouse counted his first of the evening at 8:06 of the second.
While Milhouse and Gill provided the offence for the Vipers, it was goaltender Graeme Gordon who stole the show. The 20-year old made 28 saves in the victory, including 11 in the first period and nine in the third when his team was outshot by their visitors.
Monday's victory for the Vipers brought the back-and-forth series to an appropriate close. Vernon had trailed two games to one in the series before turning the tide with consecutive 4-2 triumphs on Tuesday in Powell River and on Thursday at the Wesbild Centre. But the Kings forced the series the distance with a victory of their own at the Hap Parker Arena on Saturday.
The Vipers will now travel across the Rocky Mountains to face the Alberta Junior Hockey League champions for the Doyle Cup and the right to advance to the RBC Cup, which is Canada's National Junior A Championship. The Spruce Grove Saints and Fort MacMurray Oil Barons are tied at three games apiece with Game 7 set for Tuesday in Spruce Grove. The best-of-seven Doyle Cup series begins on Friday.
