Vipers defeat Maroons in OT

The Lasalle Vipers were on the winning end of a barn-burner with the Chatham Maroons Nov. 14 at the Vollmer Recreational Complex.
The Vipers battled back three times to finally win 5-4 in overtime.
After a very rough first period where 10 penalties were taken in total the Maroons held a one-goal lead. The second period saw much of the same style of rough play with the Maroons taking a 3-1 lead. Midway through the period Vipers goalie Taylor Speed made a big glove save on a break away which seemed to ignite his team. The Vipers stormed back to tie the game with two goals from forward Brendan McCann.

“I was looking to go play my game, see how much I can help out the team. I guess when I’m going, everyone’s going,” said McCann. “Gotta thank my teammates out there for getting me the puck right in the wheel house, it’s hard to miss those.”
The Vipers fell behind again early in the third period after Maroon’s forward and former Windsor Spitfre Brennan Feasey completed his hat-trick.
Once again the Vipers were up to the task and tied the game midway through the game when Eric Noel banged in a rebound from a shot by Vipers forward Dylan Denomme. Before the game Denomme was awarded as the GOJHL offensive player for the month of October.
“I’m having a good season I guess so far, but as long as were winning I don’t really care,” said Denomme.
As time wound down in the third period the score remained 4-4 and extra time was needed to find a winner.

Vipers defenseman Scott Prier walked into the high slot and found the back of the net under the pad of Maroons goalie Darien Ekblad just over four minutes into the extra frame.
Vipers coach Ryan Donally wasn’t allowed to be behind the bench for the game due to a suspension. He said it was a completely different perspective of the game. Donally also said he liked what his team did to get the win.
“Huge win, the guys battled from the start of the game to the end of the game,” said Donally. “I think we sacrificed a little bit more than Chatham did tonight.”
Donally said winning games against local teams always feels a bit better.
“I love it, I mean at the end of the year two points is two points but playing a team that’s 15 and five on the season, those wins are huge,” said Donally.
McCann said as a player, it was not difficult to motivate himself to play well against the Maroons.
“Playing Chatham or Leamington are always big games. We could be ranked one, two, three in the standings or we could be the bottom three, either way everyone gets up for those games, you wanna win those games, always.”