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Vernon Vipers take down road-weary Chiefs

Three third period goals helped the Vernon Vipers dispatch the visiting Chilliwack Chiefs in BCHL action Saturday night.

Pearce Eviston scored twice and set up another as the Vernon Vipers grounded the Chilliwack Chiefs 5-1 Saturday night before 1,300 B.C. Hockey League fans at the Wesbild Centre in Vernon.

Adam Tambellini, brother of former Chief Jeff Tambellini, added one goal and two helpers with  TJ Dumonceaux and Jedd Soleway also scoring for the Vipers.

The Chiefs had trouble getting past Vernon keeper Austin Smith, who turned in a rock-solid 30-save performance.

Shay Laurent was the only Chief to put a puck behind him, netting his first of the season to briefly tie the game at 1-1 midway through the second period. The Vipers scored three in the third period to put the game away.

Though they ended on a down note, the weekend was far from a total loss thanks to a 4-1 win over the Coquitlam Express Friday.

Austin Plevy scored a pair for the Chiefs, getting the scoring started with a power play goal at 4:42 of the first period.

Plevy doubled the Chilliwack lead at 18:03 of the second period, and Josh Hansen scored a shorthanded goal at 19:32 to send the Chiefs into the third period with a 3-0 lead. Kiefer McNaughton scored his first BCHL goal 1:58 into the final frame.

Philip Zielonka was the lone Express player to slip a puck past Chilliwack netminder Mitch Gillam, who stopped 32 of 33 shots.

The Chiefs come out of the weekend at 10-4-1-1, good for second spot in the Mainland division.

The Prince George Spruce Kings hold top spot at 11-4-1-1, two points ahead of the Chiefs, who do hold one game in hand.

Chilliwack is now five games into a seven game road stretch. They have one more weekend away from Prospera Centre, visiting the Trail Smoke Eaters (7-11-0-1) Friday and the Penticton Vees (13-2-0-2) Saturday.

They finally return home Nov. 7 to face the Langley Rivermen at Prospera Centre.

 

l The Chiefs slipped a notch in the latest Canadian Junior Hockey League national rankings.

After ranking 20th last week, Chilliwack dropped to honourable mention status this week.

The Spruce Kings replaced them in the 20th spot.

The Victoria Grizzlies moved up two spots from 12th to 10th and the Vees dropped from fifth to sixth.

Find the rankings at cjhlhockey.com

 

l Austin Plevy is at the the Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary this week, trying to make the Canada West roster for the 2012 World Junior A Challenge.

Plevy was the only Chief invited to the selection camp.

Sixty players from the BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba junior A leagues are vying for a spot in this year’s tournament, which takes place Nov. 5-11 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

Get info at hockeycanada.ca