The Westside Warriors scored four unanswered goals in the second period, three in a span of 71 seconds during a convincing 5-2 victory over the visiting Vernon Vipers Friday at Royal LePage Place.
The win was the first for the Warriors over their North Okanagan rival in four meetings this season and the first time they had scored more than two goals against the defensively stingy Vipers.
Trailing 1-0 after one period of play the Warriors erupted early in the middle frame.
Max French with a deft deflection on a Warriors power-play, Devon Hascarl 12 seconds later off a faceoff and Connor Dempsey with his first of two 59 seconds after that on a rebound gave the Warriors all the offence they would need.
Dempsey potted his second of the night midway through the period when a low wrist shot from the edge of the crease trickled in slow motion through Kirby Halcrow's pads and just over the line.
The goal spelled the end of Halcrow's night as he was replaced by rookie Danny Todosychuk.
Reid Simmonds hit the empty net from just over the centre red line in the final minute.
Jedd Soleway and Adam Tambellini replied for the Snakes.
"I think we got a couple of those hockey bounces tonight that we haven't gotten over the last six weeks," says Warriors head coach Rylan Ferster.
"We got a lot of those over a short time and we were fortunate for it."
Ferster says the team was hard on the forecheck all night and it paid off in some good pressure and some timely goals.
"I thought we used some really good structure, got pucks deep and took away some options. When we had to set up our trap I thought guys did a good job at reading where to go."
Friday's game also marked the fifth for forward Marcus Basara and the first against his former teammates.
Basara says it was a sweet victory against his former mates.
"Obviously we came in here and knew they were a strong team but we knew we were a better team," says Basara.
"I think it felt good coming in here and playing a strong game against a strong team and getting the two points."
Basara says the three goal outburst gave the bench a big lift.
"It was huge. Any time you can get three goals in a tight game real quick like that it gives us a cushion to play with and allows to start making more simple plays and shut the game down," says Basara.
"That's what we did tonight. I thought we responded well in the third period and just shut it down and played well."
Both teams finished the night 1-2 with the man advantage.
The Warriors moved into a sixth place tie with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the tight Interior Conference standings.
They'll try to creep closer to fifth place Prince George when they host the Spruce Kings Saturday night at Royal LePage Place.
"We want to play that game right now," adds Ferster.
"It's how we play and I think we're in good shape and we work hard. I look at last weekend and with all that travel and stuff we were just as good on Sunday afternoon in Prince George as we were with energy levels on Friday.
The Warriors played Friday night one player under the 20 man limit after 20-year-old forward Richard Vanderhoek left the club.
Vanderhoek left the team after asking to be traded.
Ferster says he has talked to some teams about trying to accommodate the Langley native who had 12 goals and 27 points in 27 games.
He played the previous four seasons in Surrey scoring 26 goals and 71 points in 55 games last season.
He was acquired just prior to training camp for 19-year-old defenceman Matt Cronin.
Vanderhoek never found his stride offensively until recently when he hit for six goals and 10 points in his last nine games.
Saturday's game against Prince George is teddy bear toss night.
Fans are encouraged to bring a wrapped teddy bear to the game and throw them on the ice when the Warriors score their first goal.
The bears will be donated to the Westside Community Food Bank.
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