Vipers Rally Late To Defeat Silverbacks 3-2

The Vernon Vipers came into the weekend riding a small high.  They defeated the Cowichan Capitals a week prior to end a slump and played very well in the process.  The key to any successful team is to sustain that play and that was what the Vipers were hoping to do as the rival Salmon Arm Silverbacks came to town.  It was a very entertaining game with a ton of emotion in front of over 1700 fans at KTP.  The Vipers were able to score first which is always nice, but they were also able to come from behind and get the game winner late in the game.  Defensively the team was very solid and in goal Jarrod Schamerhorn continued his great play for his second straight win.

The Vipers struck first in the opening period as Luke Voltin would make a strong power move to the net.  He would be poked checked, but following up was Anthony Latina and he would slide it into the open cage.  The Silverbacks had a quick response however as Taro Hirose would finish off a well executed 3 on 2 rush to even the game up at 1 after 1.

The Silverbacks would take the lead for the first time on a powerplay as a seeing eye wrist shot from Chase Priskie would find its way through a maze of players and behind Schamerhorn to make it 2-1 Salmon Arm.  The momentum swung back in the Vipers favour and it came shorthanded as Thomas Aldworth stole a puck at center and went in on a partial breakaway and despite a Silverback player draped all over him still managed to snap it over Redmond to make it 2-2.

The third period was all Vernon as they limited Salmon Arm to just 1 shot through 18 minutes.  Angus Redmond was tested often in the final period, but he couldn't stop them all as Liam Coughlin snapped a wrist shot past him inside the final 2 minutes to give Vernon a 3-2 lead.  The Backs didn't quit as they put 5 shots on net in the last few seconds, but Jarrrod Schamerhorn was up to the challenge and the Vipers would hold on for a 3-2 win.

Here is the scoring summary:

Period 1

Vernon Vipers - Anthony Latina (4) - (Voltin, Guenther) - 8:24
Salmon Arm Silverbacks - Taro Hirose (4) - (Maruya) - 11:48

Period 2

Salmon Arm Silverbacks - Chase Priskie (2) - (unassisted) - 1:29
Vernon Vipers - Thomas Aldworth (3) - (Fidler) - 8:58

Period 3

Vernon Vipers - Liam Coughlin (3) - (Aldworth) - 18:02

Shots - Salmon Arm 23             Vernon 30

Powerplays - Salmon Arm 1 for 5        Vernon 0 for 3

The Vipers have a big challenge on Saturday as the Chilliwack Chiefs come to town for the first and only visit.  Puck drop is 6pm from KTP