Homestand ends with a split against interior opponents

It was the final two games of a season long 5 game homestand for the Kings as they hosted a pair of old rivals in the Vernon Vipers and Penticton Vees.

The Vipers made their way to the Hap Saturday evening, to wrap up a 3 game Coastal Conference trip, while the Kings were coming off 3 straight loss to begin the homestand.

It would be the home side striking first on Saturday 7:12 in when Michael Mardula went for a sharp angle shot and managed to sneak it between the post and Vipers goalie Marko Bilic to score his fourth of the season. Now up, the Kings hung on to that one goal cushion all they way into the third period.

In the third the Vipers where eager to tie the game and the Kings were looking tTheo add to their lead. It would be the Kings who got their wish. Just before the midway point Michael Mardula drove to the net, his shot would be stopped but the rebound would be knocked in by affiliate Nico Bromley who was playing in his first BCHL game and his first goal extended the lead to two. The Vipers then game everything they had trying to get back in the game but with the help from the Kings defence and Vincent Lamberti in goal, they minimized the Vipers chanced and hung of for the 2-0 win.

Vincent Lamberti made 38 saves for his second career BCHL shutout and his first since his debut.

The Kings then looked to follow up a great performance on Sunday when the Penticton Vees rolled into town for an afternoon showdown.

The always dangerous Vees controlled most of the play but, the Kings kept them close. Penticton would score late on a power play in the period to take the one goal lead into the second. In the middle frame the Vees took complete control scoring five times to extend their lead to six. They would go on to add one more in the final moments of the third to win by a score of 7-0.

The Kings are now 5-16-2-1 on the year with the midway point coming up this week when the Kings are on the Lower Mainland for 3 games against the Eagles, Rivermen, and Express Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The are back at home December 13th and 14th against the Coastal Conference leading Chilliwack Chiefs which will be the final two home games of 2024. Both games are at 7pm