Viper Vault

_{Ryan Renz checks Malcolm Gould on this play, but Gould had two points. File photo: Roger Tepper, Edge Photography}In a showdown for fourth place in the BCHL’s Interior Division, Chilliwack’s big guns outplayed Vernon’s big guns as the hometown Chiefs beat the Vernon Vipers 3-1 on Saturday.

Malcolm Gould and David Bondra, Chilliwack’s top two goal scorers, each had a goal in the win while Viper snipers Mike Zalewski, Darren Nowick, and Adam Tambellini were kept off the score sheet by a hungrier and more alert Chilliwack squad.

Mitch Gillam made splendid saves on Nowick and Tambellini during second period and third period power plays to ensure that the Chiefs did not squander a lead that was fashioned by opportunistic play. He was also fortunate that three Viper shots, one in each period, hit iron.

Malcolm Gould opened his account with a splendid individual effort in the first period. He stripped the puck from Brett Corkey at the Chiefs’ blue line, dashed down the left wing and beat Kirby Halcrow with a high shot to the glove side at 3:37.

Although the Chiefs pretty well owned the opening 10 minutes, the Vipers bounced back in the second half of the period and finished with more scoring chances than the Chiefs after 20 minutes. 

Chilliwack extended its lead to 2-0 at 5:43 of the second period after dispossessing a Viper defenceman at centre ice. Defenceman Anderson White joined the rush as four Chiefs flooded the Viper zone. Kirby Halcrow made a couple of good saves but David Bondra cashed in the second rebound.

Vernon responded with a Jedd Soleway goal at 11:14. Soleway cruised through the crease to deposit a Marc Hetnik rebound behind Gillam._{Jedd Soleway. File photo: Roger Tepper, Edge Photography.}

However, two minutes later another Viper centre ice miscue gave Spencer Graboski another Chilliwack breakaway, this time on the right wing. Once he got to the faceoff dots, he swerved left. Kirby Halcrow attempted a poke check but fell forward and lost his stick. Graboski, who had been forced very wide, had no difficulty lifting the puck over the sprawled goaltender.

The third period was evenly played, with the Vipers creating six scoring chances and the Chiefs five. Each team had a goal disallowed, although replays showed that the respective coaches had cause to question the referees’ decisions.

With their deserved victory, the Chiefs ease past the Vipers into the fourth and final playoff spot. Meanwhile, Prince George crept closer to second place Merritt with a 4-2 win in Trail.  Each of the three contenders for the third and fourth playoff places have 11 games remaining in the regular schedule.