League scoring champion Jordy Barr and the Vernon Source For Sports Tigers are out to cancel the Kamloops Venom’s two-year title reign.
Barr supplied seven goals as the Tigers trimmed the Venom 13-12 in Game 1 of the best-of-five Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League playoff final Sunday night at Kal Tire Place.
The two teams have met in TOJLL finals action for seven straight years, with Kamloops claiming four victories, including top honours the past two years.
Related: Tigers open finals Sunday vs Venom
Goals in the third period by Kaden Doughty, at 17:10, and by Barr - his seventh goal of the game - 30 seconds later snapped an 11-11 tie for the Tigers. Both goals came with the teams playing four runners aside due to penalties. It was the only time the Tigers led by more than one goal in the whole game. Kamloops pulled to within a goal at 18:44 with goalie Ethan Milobar on the bench for an extra attacker but could not get the equalizer.
Kamloops jumped out to 2-0 lead on their first two shots 2:09 into the game. The Venom led 4-2 after one period and stretched their lead to 5-2 just 92 seconds into the period only to watch the Tigers score four unanswered goals to take a 6-5 lead.
With the score level at 4-4, the game’s next six goals were scored by specialty teams. Vernon scored three powerplay goals while Kamloops scored twice with the man advantage and once shorthanded. Vernon finished with four powerplay goals and one shorthanded marker. Kamloops scored four times with the man advantage and added two shorthanded markers.
It was an even 9-9 after two periods before Vernon got a shorthanded goal by Steele Pelletier at 12:26 of the third to jump ahead 10-9. Pelletier picked up a five-minute backcheck penalty and game misconduct 59 seconds later with Vernon already a man short.
Kamloops answered back with two powerplay goals and snagged an 11-10 lead. Caden Colmorgen tied the game for Vernon with a delayed penalty coming to the Venom and Vernon goalie Kyle McIntosh on the bench for an extra attacker at 14:24.
Quinn Stanhope added two goals for first-place Vernon, while Thomas Landels added a single. Doughty pocketed four assists, Brett Olsen earned three and Jake Pelletier bagged a pair. Kordel Primus and Colton Boomer each had three goals for the second-place Venom, who outshot Vernon 43-37. Trey Dergousoff rang up 3+2 for Kamloops, while Derek Rockvan, Anthony Matusiak and Ryan Dergousoff contributed singles.
The Venom lost Kayden Dempsey with a double minor for backchecking and a change box violation, which carries a game misconduct, at 12:51 of the second period.
Related: Tigers show depth in ice breaker
Game 2 goes Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Kamloops Memorial Arena. Game 3 is back at Kal Tire Place Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
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