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CHBC News, Kelowna
An Okanagan junior hockey team are the best in the nation for the second year in a row.
The BCHL Vernon Vipers stole the show Sunday in Dauphin, Manitoba, winning the RBC Cup 8-1 over the hometown team.
While the Vipers scored only one goal in the first, they peppered Kings netminder Joe Caligiuri with 16 shots in the opening 20 minutes.
Vernon went on to make significant gains in the second period.
Dylan Walchuk, Kellen Jones and Cole Ikkala scored goals in a span of 48 seconds early in the second period, turning a 1-0 lead into a 4-0 advantage.
The Kings attempted to respond with their first goal in the second period on a power play, as Bryce Lamb ended Graeme Gordon’s bid for his second consecutive shutout.
But it was far from enough to stop Vernon, who would add three more points in the third to handily win the RBC Cup.
The defending championship Vernon Vipers took back to back national wins when they were the Vernon Lakers in 1990-91 as well.
The champions are set to arrive home at Vernon’s Wesbild Centre around 6pm on Monday.
A community celebration is set for City Hall on Tuesday @ 12 noon.
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Vernon back to back Canadian champs
