Morning Star Staff
The Vernon Home Building Center Midget Tier 2 Vipers swept the Castlegar Rebels with a patchwork roster last weekend, winning 5-4 Saturday night and 4-3 Sunday afternoon.
Vernon was missing several regular starters and called up four players from the Tier 3 Coca-Cola Vipers who filled in admirably.
Castlegar scored first Saturday at Civic as a slapper from the point eluded Isaac Waldemaras and trickled through just over a minute in. The Kootenay squad doubled their lead at 15:02.
The Rebels went ahead 3-0 three minutes later and Vernon responded quickly when Connor Johnston recorded his first of three at 10:59, assisted by Eric Noren.
Johnston cut the lead to one scoring at 5:43 off some sweet offensive zone work and a pretty set up by Kyle Sherwood. Vernon levelled things early in the third as Lee Christiensen sniped a seeing-eye shot from the point
Castlegar re-took the lead at 11:36 but the Home Builders crew responded with the tying goal by Dex Elders at 6:34, assisted by Caden Bracken. Johnston put the Vipers ahead for good with his hat trick marker, assisted by Sherwood and Lucas Wood.
In Sunday’s rematch at Kal Tire Place, the Vipers jumped out to the early lead as Johnston connected at 11:06 of the first with an assist from defenceman Grady Caton.
Damian Coljee-Fehr put the Vipers up 2-0 at 7:58 with Caton and Caden Bracken picking up helpers.
Castlegar cut that lead in half at 6:41 off a rebound on the powerplay when a forward was left alone in front of Ty Sedlacek untouched.
The Rebels equalized early in the second and took the lead at 9:42 on another power play.
Vernon dug deep getting some good forchecking from Kyle Sherwood and Johnston resulting in Sherwood’s tying goal with just under 7 minutes left.
Elders banged home the winner off a low blocker-side slapper as he burst into the offensive zone with 2:45 left.
Call-ups Lincoln Connor, Gavin Fleck, Cam Mackenzie and d-man Noah Debalinhard turned in stellar showings in both tilts. Vernon is 7-1, Castlegar 4-3-3.