Vernon, BC: The Vernon Vipers closed out their weekend homestand in style, earning 3 of a possible 4 points after a hard-fought 4–2 victory over the Interior West–leading West Kelowna Warriors. The night featured a two-goal performance from Deagan McMillan and a milestone moment for Colton Jugnauth, who picked up both his first win as a Viper and first win in over a calendar year.
McMillan, the hometown product, opened the scoring on the powerplay with his 7th of the season — a fortunate bounce that found its way inside the post.
Late in the second, Dmitrii Kubantsev doubled the lead, jumping on an errant pass from Dylan Krayer and snapping it past Angelo Zol.
Despite outshooting the Warriors through 40 minutes, Vernon couldn’t extend the cushion, and West Kelowna clawed one back early in the third as Noah Garthe notched his first of two.
The Vipers responded quickly with Davids Livsics burying his 4th of the campaign to restore the two-goal edge, but the Warriors continued to push, with Garthe striking again to make it 3–2.
West Kelowna pressed for the equalizer late, but Jugnauth stood tall — highlighted by a massive stop on a 3-on-1 in the dying minutes. He finished the night with 25 saves on 27 shots to secure the win.
Evan Sundar, Leon Bussmann, Tyler Chiovetti, and Teodor Vapenik all recorded assists.
Vernon’s special teams chipped in, going 1-for-6 on the powerplay and a perfect 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
With the win, the Vipers pull even in the season series with the Warriors. The two teams will meet again next Saturday.
Next up, Vernon hits the road Friday night for a divisional tilt against the Trail Smoke Eaters at Cominco Arena.
