Coming off a 6-3 loss only 4 days ago, the Lasalle Vipers were back home to face the reigning Sutherland Cup Champions, the Listowel Cyclones. The Cyclones are new to the Western Conference and are visiting the Vollmer Culture R.C for the first time this season. In this high scoring game, we saw 14 combined goals, 7 of them being powerplay goals.
Adriano Tonin opened the first period scoring only 5 minutes into the game. Listowel then took a charging penalty which led to Connor Chartrand’s first goal of the period. Not long after, Chartrand found the back of the net again sending us into intermission up 3-0.
A total of 6 goals were scored in the second period. Nick Graniero scored the fourth Vipers goal shorthanded after Captain Owen Findlay was given a cross-checking penalty minutes before. At 10:17, Listowel was handed a hooking call which gave Julian Gignac a chance to add one to the tally. Gignac’s sixth of the season puts him at second in scoring just behind Jak Thiessen. Up 5-0 halfway through the game, Adriano Tonin received 2 penalties for cross-checking and charging. Jake Windbield playing in his fourth game of the season protected his net until Listowel’s first goal slipped past him during this penalty kill. Another Listowel powerplay goal was scored moments later. 5-2. Heading into the last 5 minutes of the period, the Vipers were on the powerplay again. Jak Thiessen took the opportunity to score at 16:20 and because it seemed to be the trend of the game, Thiessen goes on to score his second goal in the same period at 19:00. 7-2 heading into the final frame.
Listowel took control of the third period scoring three goals at 3:49, 8:12 and 8:59 bringing the score to 7-5. At 16:44, Matteo Vilardi expended our lead by one, assists to Kyle Greene and Noah Caswell. Minutes later, rookie forward Joe Gingras took a cross-checking penalty which resulted in Listowel’s sixth goal. Despite the Cyclones 6 on 5 attempt, the Viper held their lead and won this one 8-6.
The Vipers are back on Wednesday October 23 for a rematch against the Kitchener-Waterloo Siskins.