Cranbrook’s B.C. Hockey League team couldn’t buck the trend of losing to the red-hot Vernon Vipers.
The Snakes won their ninth straight Saturday, Feb. 5, in the East Kootenays, downing the expansion Bucks 2-1 in a shootout. The win completed a weekend doubleheader in Cranbrook for Vernon, both victories coming via the shootout. Vernon scored a 3-2 decision Friday, Feb. 4.
The Vipers, who have won the first six of a season-long seven-game road trip, have seven straight wins in extra time and are now 7-7-2-3 away from Kal Tire Place.
Seiya Tanaka-Campbell scored his first goal of the season Saturday, and Ethan David stopped 34 of 35 shots to give the Vipers the extra point.
Johnny Johnson scored a buzzer beater with less than a second left in the opening period to give Cranbrook the 1-0 lead.
In the second, David made a stellar save to keep it 1-0. The Vipers equalized later as Seiya Tanaka-Campbell knocked home a rebound to even the game up at 1-1.
Liam Hansson scored first in the shootout and the Vipers’ Zack Tonelli had a rare miss. Tyson Dyck was stopped by David and Seiya was thwarted by Bucks goalie Nathan Airey. Noah Quinn was stopped and Luke Buss had to score to keep the shootout going for Vernon, which he did.
Zeth Kindrachuk was stopped and Anthony Cliche would get the opportunity to win it for his team. The D-man made a nice move to the backhand and the Vipers were once again victorious.
Cranbrook’s record stands at 19-15-1-1 for fifth in the Interior, Vernon is sixth at 16-14-3-3, two points behind.
The Vipers will wrap up the road trip Wednesday night in Penticton. The Vees have won seven in a row.
The Bucks are winless in their last three contests.
SNAKE BITES: Clarke has been named the BCHL’s second star of the week. He ended the week with a .955 save percentage, 1.92 goals against average and won both games while facing a combined 88 shots. Clarke, from Cloverdale, is on a personal seven-game win streak dating back to Jan. 14, while the team is riding a nine-game streak. His record has improved to 11-10-4 in 25 appearances to go along with a .909 save percentage and a 2.85 goals-against average.
The first star is Penticton Vees forward Josh Nadeau, who led all BCHL players with four goals last week and tied for the lead in points with six in three games. The third star is Salmon Arm Silverbacks goalie Owen Say, who went 1-1, stopping 77 of 80 shots faced and had a 1.51 goals against average.
This story was updated Monday, Feb. 7, at 12:15 p.m. with the addition of the BCHL stars of the week
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