Abbotsford, BC: The Vernon Vipers dropped their BCHL Showcase opener in a hard-fought battle against the Cowichan Valley Capitals, falling 4-2 on Saturday night.
Will Schumacher netted his third goal of the season, while Carson McGinley found the back of the net on the powerplay. Despite outshooting the Capitals 30-23, the Vipers couldn’t convert enough of their chances to secure the win.
Special teams played a pivotal role in the game, with the Vipers killing off 5 of 6 penalties but struggling on the powerplay, going just 1-for-7. One of the game’s key moments came in the second period when Marko Bilic made a clutch penalty shot save on Ben Portner, keeping the Vipers within striking distance. Bilic wrapped up the night with 20 saves on 23 shots.
The game remained tight into the third period until Carter Dekay broke the deadlock, scoring the eventual game-winner late in the frame. The Capitals then sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.
Noah Grolnic and Darius Bachler also chipped in goals for Cowichan Valley, while Dylan Krick stood tall in net, stopping 29 of 31 shots for the win.
The Vipers will look to bounce back and end their Showcase schedule on a high note when they face the Blackfalds Bulldogs on Monday morning at 10 a.m.
Photo Credit – Garrett James Photography
