Last-minute antics taint Vipers' win

Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning Star Published: April 19, 2009 1:00 AM

It was a celebration turned ugly for the Vernon Vipers in Game 2 of the Doyle Cup regional championship Saturday night at a sold out Civic Arena. With 26 seconds separating the Snakes from a well-earned 6-2 victory over the Grande Prairie Storm in their best-of-seven series, tempers skyrocketed as Storm enforcer Elias Grossmann caught Vipers’ forward Bryce Kakoske with an elbow into the boards, starting a melee. Grossmann lost his cool trying to pick a fight with the other Vipers on the ice, who, realizing Hockey Canada’s one-fight rule was in effect (meaning they’d miss the next game), declined. Instead, Grossmann had to be restrained by linesman Brandon Liefke, who ended up getting manhandled, and actually wrestled with the enraged forward on the ice at one point. As Grossmann was being forcibly escorted off the ice by Liefke, he spat in the linesman’s face. Referee Andrew Guest handed the former Penticton Vee a match penalty.

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With the two-game sweep, the Vipers have forced the series back to Grande Prairie for Game 3 Tuesday night, followed by Game 4 Wednesday. If necessary, Games 5, 6 and 7 will go Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively in Alberta. The winner advances to the Royal Bank Cup, May 2-10 in Victoria. “We’re going up there for five (games) now, and the disappointing thing for me is we’re not going to have last change... for five games,” said Ferner. “We’re thrilled we’re going there 2-0, but we’ve got a lot of hockey left and we know they’re a good team. It’s only going to get tougher from here on in.”