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Vernon Vipers get back in win column with 7-4 victory against Blackfalds

The Vipers got goals from seven different players in Friday night's win
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Vernon Vipers captain Erik Pastro battles for the puck in front of the Blackfalds net in a 7-4 win over the Bulldogs Friday, Dec. 13, 2024.

The Vernon Vipers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 7-4 win over the struggling Blackfalds Bulldogs at home Friday night, Dec.  13. 

The Vipers got goals from seven different players while goaltender Jari Kykkanen — who the Vipers signed from the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League last month — made 30 saves on 34 shots for the win. 

The Vipers had a strong first period with Corban Almen firing a puck into a gaping Bulldogs net for an early 1-0 lead. Captain Erik Pastro then put home a nice cross-crease pass from Will Schumacher to double the Vipers' lead. 

Early in the second, Charlie Kresl further extended the Vipers' lead after Blackfalds goaltender Dylan Adams came out to play the puck in the slot, and Kresl was able to poke it past him and into the net. 

The Bulldogs made a push later in the period as Gates Omicioli scored right at the end of a powerplay to make it 3-1. The Vipers then caught a break as another Blackfalds goal went to video review and was called back. However, the Bulldogs would get their second goal not long after, courtesy of Tyler Chiovetti.

The teams then traded goals to end the period, with Jakob Galnor scoring for the Vipers with a shot low glove side, and Omicioli answering on a powerplay for the Bulldogs with 24 seconds left in the period to make it 4-3 heading into the third period. 

Early in the third, Vipers forward Dennis Lominac scored his first BC Hockey League goal with as shot blocker side. About seven minutes later, Simon Binkley tallied his second goal of the season on a nice passing play to make it 6-3 Vipers.

The Bulldogs got a late goal from Jared Langdon, but the Vipers sealed the game with an empty net goal from Noah Grolnic. 

The two teams are in the basement of the Interior East standings, but with the win the Vipers (9-14-4-0-0) moved into a tie with the Okotoks Oilers with 22 points, though the Oilers have three games in hand. The Bulldogs (2-22-1-0-0) have only managed five points in 25 games. 

The Vipers don't play again until after the Christmas break, when they have a home and home against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Dec. 28 and 29. 

The Bulldogs are back on the ice tonight, Dec. 14, on the road against the Trail Smoke Eaters. Puck drops at 7 p.m.

The Vipers swung a trade with Blackfalds on Dec. 5, sending forward Lucas Brennan to the Bulldogs in exchange for future considerations and the BCHL playing rights to Layne Loomer and Rylan Bonkowski. Brennan was then traded to the Sherwood Park Crusaders for future considerations the next day. 

 



Brendan Shykora

About the Author: Brendan Shykora

I started at the Morning Star as a carrier at the age of 8. In 2019 graduated from the Master of Journalism program at Carleton University.
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