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Vernon Vipers drop home-opener after OT loss to West Kelowna

The Vipers have dropped their opening four games on the BCHL season
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Vernon Vipers defenceman Marko Stojkov (centre) squeezes between a pair of West Kelowna players, including Warriors' captain Landen Hilditch (6) during the Warriors' 4-3 OT win in BCHL play Saturday, Sept. 28, at Kal Tire Place.

Overtime heroics from West Kelowna's Carter Oakenfold helped the visiting Warriors defeat the Vernon Vipers on Saturday night from Kal Tire Place.

The Highway 97 rivals were playing the second of a home-and-home, with the Warriors winning Friday's tilt, 2-1.

On Saturday, Dylan Krayer got the party started for West K, scoring twice in a four-minute span. Vernon's Will Schumacher answered back with his second of the season two minutes later, as the Warriors went into the period break up 2-1.

The teams would trade goals in the second, with West Kelowna's Callum Hughes notching his second to restore their two goal lead. However, despite being down a man late in the frame due to a check-to-the-head misconduct, veteran Georgios Stavrianeas would score his first of the season short-handed, to make it 3-2. 

In the third, the Viper power play finally got going, as Charlie Kresl's goal six minutes in would tie the game up. After a spate of four-on-four action that yielded no goals, overtime was needed to decide the winner. In the extra frame, Carter Oakenfold would score his second in as many nights to lift the Warriors to the 4-3 victory. 

Krayer's two goals led the Warriors, as Dawson Labre stopped 30 shots for his first win of the year. Vipers goalie Colin Reay, despite 31 saves, dropped his second game of the season. 

West Kelowna (2-1-1) will be in Trail next, on Friday, Oct. 4 to battle the Smokies in a home-and-home. 

Meanwhile, the Vipers (0-4) are still searching for their first win of the season. They head to Salmon Arm on Friday to battle the Silverbacks. 

 



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