The LaSalle Vipers split their two games this past week against the Strathroy Rockets, but took three of the four available points overall.
On Wednesday night in LaSalle, Jake Eaton’s second goal of the season late in the second period stood to be the game-winner, with captain Spencer Lecot adding an insurance marker in the third period in a 3-1 victory over Strathroy. Carson Woodall opened the scoring in the first period on what was the third straight game with a goal for the rookie defenseman, while Tre Altiman made 28 stops to pick up his sixth win of the season in goal.
On Saturday night, the two teams faced off again in what was a low-scoring affair in Strathroy. Trailing 1-0 in the final seconds of regulation, the Vipers won an important faceoff and the puck ended up on the stick of Brady Hamlin who buried a wrist shot home to tie the game with nine seconds left on the clock and send the game to overtime. It was the first-year defenseman’s team-leading 10th goal of the season and it helped the Vipers rescue a point. The Rockets would however go on to win the game in overtime on a goal by a fine rookie of their own in Dylan Richter.
The Vipers will have a chance to regain fourth-place in the Western Conference standings with two games in the upcoming week. They will host the Sarnia Legionnaires on Wednesday night before heading to Komoka on Saturday night to take on the Kings.