Vernon, BC: The Vernon Vipers look to build off a huge come from behind win on Sunday afternoon as they take on the West Kelowna Warriors at Royal LePage Place.
The Vipers (24-18-2-1) come in to the game following a 5-4 come from behind overtime win over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. The win was crucial for many reasons as the group rallied from a 3-goal deficit to come out on the right side of the game. It was the first time all season the team was able to erase a deficit of that margin and win. The Vipers had 5 different goal scorers including Cam MacDonald who had the OT winner with just 10 seconds left. Its a game of formers as Matt Kowalski, who spent 43 games in a Warrior uniform, will play in his 180th regular season game. Also Max Bulawka will play his former team for the first time since being acquired by the Vipers at the trade deadline. Kowalski has a 6 game point streak where he’s had 4 goals and 7 assists in that stretch. JoJo Tanaka-Campbell has points in 8 of his last 9 games. On the blueline, Landon Fuller has 8 goals in his last 7 games.
The Warriors (11-27-5-2) come in after a 5-2 loss at home to Penticton on Tuesday night. They’ve been playing their best hockey of late going 5 and 5 in their last 10 games. They hold key wins over Merritt (3), Alberni Valley, and Cowichan Valley. The roster looks quite a bit different since the last time these two teams played, with plenty of turnover in terms of on and off ice personnel. One constant has been the play of 17 year old John Evans who leads the team in points with 15 goals and 18 assists. The tribe have been bolstered by trade acquisitions as Tyler Cristall and Carter Wilkie (acquired from Chilliwack) are 2nd and 3rd on the team in points. Rookie goaltender Johnny Derrick (former Vipers AP) has stepped in a played big minutes for West Kelowna getting into 29 games thus far.
This is the 3rd of 6 meetings and the first of 4 in the next 4 weeks. The season series is tied at 1 with the Vipers winning the season opener 4-2, then the Warriors blanking Vernon 4-0 at the Showcase in October.
Its the first of a home and home set between the two teams.
You can catch all the action starting at 6:45 on 107.5 Beach Radio, Vernon Matters and HockeyTV.
