Vernon stung by quick strike in OT

VERNON The Vernon Vipers were on the verge of a stirring comeback win that would dramatically shift the momentum of their Interior Division semifinal series against the Trail Smoke Eaters.

Then, sudden-death overtime started, and 12 seconds later Owen Ozar scored and the Smokies were celebrating a second straight victory Saturday at Kal Tire Place, a 5-4 triumph that gave them a 2-0 lead heading home for Games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday at the Cominco Arena.

Trailing 4-2, Connor Marritt scored a power play goal for Vernon with 1:06 left. With goalie Aidan Porter on the bench for an extra attacker, Michael Young tied the game for Vernon with just 35 seconds left.

Braeden Tuck, who set up Ozar for the winner that stunned 2,063 fans, had a goal and three assists. Trevor Zins, Carter Jones and Kyle Budvarson also scored for the Smokies, who finished in last place in the Interior Division in regular season play.

Young had a goal and two assists, Teddy Wooding and Matt Kowalski also scored and Jack Judson had three assists for the Vipers, who had won three straight overtime games in their five-game opening round victory over Salmon Arm.

The Vipers, who dropped the opener 3-1 on Friday, outshot the Smokies 30-21.

In the other Interior semifinal, former Penticton Vees forward Matt Gosiewski had two first-period goals and an assist as the Wenatchee Wild doubled the visiting Cowichan Valley Capitals 6-3 to even that series at 1-1.

The Wild scored three goals in a span of 3:44 late in the second period to blow open a 2-2 game.

The upstart Capitals – who shocked the Vees in Round 1 — edged the Wild 3-2 Friday in Wenatchee.

Games 3 and 4 go Tuesday and Wednesday in Duncan, with Game 5 Friday in Wenatchee.

In the Mainland Division, regular season champs Chilliwack Chiefs lost Games 1 and 2 at home for the second straight series, falling 7-0 and 3-2 to the Prince George Spruce Kings. The next two games are tonight and Tuesday in P.G.

In the Island Division, Ben Berard scored at 16:09 of overtime as the Powell River Kings edged the Victoria Grizzlies 6-5 to even the series at 1-1.

Games 3 and 4 go tonight and Tuesday in Powell River, with Games 5 set for Friday back in Victoria.