Vernon, BC: Cam MacDonald had his first career BCHL Playoff hat trick and Dawson Holt racked up 5 points as the Vipers downed the Wenatchee Wild in Game 4 of the best of seven series.
It was an even first 10 minutes as both teams played responsibly in the offensive and defensive zone. The Wild opened the scoring as Quinn Emerson deflected home a pass from the left wall to make it 1-0. The Wild added another as a point shot from Noah Lugli got through traffic to make it 2-0. Just 38 seconds later, Ben Helgeson stole and spun a puck at the net where Connor Sleeth was able to deflect it home to make it 2-1 after 1.
The Wild had a ton of pressure and time of possession but it would be the Vipers forecheck and transition game that stood out. The Vipers got out of their zone in a hurry as Marritt sent Dawson Holt in and he found the five-hole to tie the game up at 2 just over 5 minutes in. Holt wasn’t done as Cam MacDonald caused a turnover then set up Holt for his 2nd of the night to give the Vipers their first lead of the night at 3-2. Late in the period another forecheck, this time it was Holt setting up MacDonald who made no mistake to make it 4-2 Vernon after 2 periods.
The Wild chipped into the deficit as Brian Adams scored his 2nd of the series while shorthanded to make it 4-3. The Vipers again responded as they transitioned with speed as Holt set up Cam MacDonald who made it 5-3 with his 2nd of the night. That would hold up until the final minute when Tyler Young poked in a loose puck with the goalie pulled making it 5-4. On the next shift with Chenard out again, Holt ragged the puck with Marritt before setting up MacDonald for his hat trick into the empty net making the final 6-4.
The Vipers now lead the series 3-1 and will look to punch their ticket to the 2nd round when they face the Wild in Game 5 in Wenatchee on Friday night.
