A three-game losing streak had the Brooks Bandits in a festive funk.
And they took their frustration out on the road against the hometown Vernon Vipers.
The Bandits scored five times on 20 first-period shots, and cruised to a 6-3 B.C. Hockey League win over the Snakes before 2,320 fans at Kal Tire Place Friday, Dec. 6.
Caden Drury, with his first two goals of the season, including one on the powerplay, Nathan Brown, AJ Lacroix, and Nathan Peluso scored in a 12 minutes 18 second span before Will Schumacher got the Vipers on the board in the final minute of the opening frame with his ninth of the year.
Drury, who hails from the hockey hotbed of Carrot River, Sask., (population 946, located in east-central Saskatchewan, 25 minutes east of Nipawin), was acquired by the Bandits this week from the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's Melville Millionaires. The 20-year-old played three seasons in Melville, collecting 37 goals, 69 assists, for 106 points in 132 regular-season games.
Vernon starting goalie Jari Kykkanen was replaced after the period by Marko Bilic, who allowed only Drury's hat trick goal in the second period.
Corban Almen and Landon MacDonald scored for Vernon in the middle frame.
There was no scoring in the third period.
Bilic and Kykkanen combined to make 36 saves for the Vipers while Montreal Canadiens 2024 draft pick Mikus Vecvanags stopped 25 Vernon shots for Brooks.
The Bandits improved to 19-4 on the year with the win, and sit two points behind the Penticton Vees in the battle for top spot in the Interior Conference. The Vees were 3-2 winners over the Sherwood Park Crusaders in Penticton Friday.
Vernon (8-13-4) sits ninth in the Interior, three points behind the Spruce Grove Saints, who defeated the Okotoks Oilers 7-3 Friday.
The Vipers don't have long to lick their wounds.
They return to action Saturday, Dec. 7, when they host the Cranbrook Bucks in the team's annual Teddy Bear Toss game, which begins at 6 p.m. at Kal Tire Place.
Fans are asked to bring a stuffed toy/animal to toss onto the ice following the Vipers' first goal.
All the stuffies are donated to local charities.
Vernon will try to snap its own three-game losing skid.
