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Vipers set to defend HJHL title at Servus Arena tonight

Mar 25, 2018 | 9:11 AM

The Red Deer Vipers are putting their Heritage Junior Hockey League title defense on the line tonight in a one game winner-take-all scenario at the Servus Arena.

Game three of the HJHL’s best of three league final takes place at 8:30 p.m., with the series currently tied 1-1 following a 4-2 victory for the South Division champion Copperheads in Coaldale last night.

The North Division champion Vipers won the opening game 6-4 in Red Deer Friday night.

Saturday’s game however saw Coaldale get on the board first, as Jedd Horvath lit the lamp at 6:26 to give the home team a 1-0 lead.

In the second, Coaldale extended their lead when Brandyn Howg scored at 7:08 to make it 2-0 Copperheads. That was later followed up with Coaldale’s third unanswered goal at 16:47, courtesy of Ty Abbott to make it 3-0 Copperheads.

Red Deer finally found the net though when Declan Johnston scored at 19:25 to cut the Copperheads lead to 3-1 after two periods of play.

In the third, the Vipers pulled to within one when Kayson Gallant scored at 13:05 to make it 3-2 Coaldale with less than seven minutes to go.

However, in an effort to tie it up and send the game to overtime, Red Deer pulled goaltender Branden Bilodeau from between the pipes with 44 seconds left but it resulted in an empty net goal for Coaldale at 19:56 to make it a 4-2 final.

Tonight’s third and deciding game between the Vipers and Copperheads will see the Heritage Junior Hockey League crown its 2017-2018 champions at the Servus Arena.

Red Deer hockey fans are strongly encouraged to come out and show their support.