The night after Halloween, the Vernon Vipers delivered their fans a treat.
The Snakes’ offence hit double digits in a 10-2 B.C. Hockey League romp Wednesday, Nov. 1, over the Cranbrook Bucks before a mid-week crowd of 1,472 at Kal Tire Place (KTP).
It’s Vernon’s first 10-goal output at home since a 10-3 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters on March 23, 2022. The Vipers hung double digits on the Merritt Centennials to close out the 2022-23 regular season in a 14-1 thrashing at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena March 25.
The Bucks were down 3-0 before the game was six minutes old Wednesday.
Noah Dorey and Lukas McCloskey scored 38 seconds apart at 3:05 and 3:43, each their first goal of the year, and Adam Csabi’s first of three goals on the night at 5:44 chased Cranbrook starting goalie Carter Capton, replaced by Danick Leroux.
Csabi and Erik Pastro scored before the end of the opening frame to make it 5-0 Snakes.
Csabi completed his hat trick at 7:41 of the second period. The native of Karvina, Czechia, leads the Vipers with 11 goals on the year.
Jaxon Fuder got Cranbrook on the board six minutes later before newly acquired Nick Mikan – playing his first home game for Vernon – scored the first of his three goals to make it 7-1 after 40 minutes.
Mikan, with two, and Isaac Tremblay completed the Vernon scoring in the third period. Fuder added a second goal for the visitors.
Vernon is now 3-0 against the Bucks this season.
Cranbrook outshot Vernon 36-35 on the night. Ethan David picked up the win in goal for the Vipers, who improved to 10-4 on the year, good for second place in the Interior Conference, two points behind the defending league champion Penticton Vees.
The Bucks remain in the basement of the conference at 3-10-1.
Vernon continues its three-game homestand Friday, Nov. 3, with a game against the Prince George Spruce Kings, 7 p.m., at KTP. Cranbrook visits Penticton Friday.
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