Game 5 - Friday April 7^th, 7:45 – Credit Union Centre, Kensington

Game 5 was the first elimination game of the series as the Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers were up 3 games to 1 on the Sherwood A & S Scrap Metal Metros.  Friday night’s game was a little scrappy to begin with as neither team wanted to make a mistake in this important game.  In front of a large crowd, however, the Metros would open the scoring with just 40 seconds left in the first period as Holden Bradley would score with an assist from Shaul Mitton.  The Metros would go into the dressing room up 1 – 0 after the first but being outshot 10-7.  The second period was a much more entertaining as the two teams settled into their games and were playing better hockey.  The result would be the Metros taking a 2-goal lead off a shot from Hunter Bradley that seemed to handcuff Vipers goaltender, Noah Visser.  Assists on the Metros second goal went to Mitton again, and Josh Lund.  Teams exchanged chances for the remainder of the period, however, the vipers would cut the Metros’ lead in half with a goal with 33 seconds left in the second period.  The score remained 2 – 1 after two for the Metros, and the shots were 22 – 13 for the Vipers.  The Vipers came out in the third period smelling blood and had several great chances, but Matt Jelley was equal to the task making several great saves to keep the Metros ahead by one.  However, with 9:34 left in the third period, Nick Reeves would even the score with assist going to Ethan Beaulieu and Carson MacKay.   Then with 7:34 left in the third, Ethan Beaulieu would let a shot go from the point and the puck would deflect off a Metros’ defender into the top corner of the net, putting the Vipers in the lead.  MacKay and Reese Wyand would garner assists on Beaulieu’s goal.  With 2:01 left in the game, the Metros would pull Jelley from the net for the extra attacker, and would apply a lot of pressure, however, Visser was up to the task and would hold on to secure the win and the IJHL Championship in 5 games.

Playoff MVP honors went to the Vipers’ Defenseman, Ethan Beaulieu who had a strong series defensively, but also contributed 4 goals and 7 assists in the 5 game final series.  2 of those goals were game winners.

The Vipers will now represent PEI at the Don Johnson Cup in Liverpool, NS from April 26-30^th.