Vernon, BC: No lead was safe on Wednesday afternoon as both teams relinquished two goal leads in search of their 4th wins. In the end it was a Zack Tonelli OT winner that gave the Vipers a crucial 6-5 win in the extra frame.
It was a game of lead changes that started in the first period as Salmon Arm struck first on a powerplay goal from Kieran Ruscheinksi. Hunter Donohoe equalized unassisted to make it 1-1. Danny Ciccarello responded for SA making the score 2-1 SA after 1 period.
In the second Ciccarello tallied his second of the afternoon potting home a rebound off of James Porter Jr. making it 3-1 for the Backs. The Vipers were then put in a tough spot finding themselves shorthanded. JoJo Tanaka-Campbell scored the 3rd SHG for the Vipers after a great effort from Zack Tonelli to set him up making it 3-2. Seth Bafaro tied the game up minutes later with his 2nd of the season and it was even after 40.
Luke Pakulak gave the Vipers their first lead of the day as he poked home a loose rebound off of Owen Say. Tanaka-Campbell came a second away from his second shorthanded goal of the game as he finished off a breakaway to give the Vipers a 5-3 lead. Mat Bourgault cut the Salmon Arm deficit to 5-4 after a rebound in front of the Viper goal. In the last minute of the period Hunter Sansbury tied the game up at 5.
In overtime, Zack Tonelli snapped home his first BCHL goal to give the Vipers the 6-5 overtime win.
The Vipers are next in action on Friday night as they play the West Kelowna Warriors at 7pm
