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Tigers use powerplay to stop Venom

The Vernon Sun Valley Source For Sports Tigers used a leathal powerplay to stop the Kamloops Venom
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Jake Pelletier of the Vernon Tigers drives to the net against Jake Faraday of the Kamloops Venom in the Tigers’ home opener Saturday at Kal Tire Place. (Lisa VanderVelde/Morning Star)

With leading scorer Jordy Barr sidelined with a broken leg, the Vernon Sun Valley Source For Sports Tigers were forced to tweak their powerplay.

The moves have clicked as the Tigers stretched their winning streak to three games by stopping the Kamloops Venom 12-10 in Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League play Saturday night at Kal Tire Place.

Vernon (4-1) was up 5-1 after the first period and 8-5 after 40 minutes. Kamloops (3-2), undermanned due to injury, had 15 runners. They were without injured top pointgetter Riley Petersen (10-10-20).

Brothers Jake and Steele Pelletier marshalled the powerplay with Jake pocketing 4+3 and Steele adding 2+2. Vernon counted four man-advantage goals.

“Our powerplay has been very good the past few games,” said Tiger assistant coach Tyler Plante. “We’ve got some moving rather than the stagnant perimeter powerplay we had done in the past. It’s still a bit raw, but it’s definitely 10 times better than that it was.”

Plante said Brett Olsen (2+2) nicely quarterbacks the powerplay with the Cats throwing out two different players with Olsen and the Pelletiers on each PP chance.

“Jake and Steele have that brotherly connection; they are always aware of each other and looking for one another,” said Plante.

Vernon head coach Chris Scabar brought in Armstrong senior Shamrock veteran Ryan Williamson to fine-tune the powerplay for the young Tigers.

“I have a real defensive background so I brought Ryan in and he has really helped me out with my offence,” said Scabar. “The kids are all buying into the offensive systems.”

The Tigers, who ruined the defending champion Venom’s home opener with a 6-5 victory at Memorial Arena on April 22, also got two goals from Chris Inscho and singles from Connor Webb and Eric Reid. Rookie Tanner Gilbert and Thomas Landels each had two assists.

Kamloops got hat tricks from Eric Bunce and Mac Stead. Marcelo Bose collected 1+3, while Riley Lawyrk and Quinn Williamson produced singles. Colton Boomer bagged three assists, while Tyler Seabrooke earned two helpers.

The Tigers took 42 penalty minutes and Kamloops was assessed 35 PIM.

Vernon is scheduled to face the Kelowna Raiders tonight at Kal Tire Place. Kelowna is in last place at 0-5. The Tigers rattled the Raiders 13-6 May 4 in Kelowna.

The Raiders lost 12-7 to the South Okanagan Flames Thursday night and then postponed Friday’s scheduled tilt in Armstrong against the Shamrocks due to a lack of players.

Kamloops was scheduled to play the South Okanagan Flames in Penticton on Monday night, but decided not to make the trip, citing a lack of players due to injuries.