On Easter Sunday, Ethan David and his defence rose again.
The Vernon VipersÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ goalie had to make just 14 saves for his second shutout of the series as the Vipers eliminated the West Kelowna Warriors 3-0 in B.C. Hockey League Interior Conference quarterfinal action April 9 before 2,303 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Vernon wins the best-of-seven series 4-2.
The sixth-place Snakes held the third-place Warriors to just one goal in the final three games of the series, with David going 4-0.
All three goals Sunday came in the first seven minutes, four seconds of the second period, courtesy of Thomas Tien, on a powerplay, Julian Facchinelli, and Reagan Milburn.
Vernon fired 38 shots at West Kelowna goalie Cayden Hamming.
The Vipers will now face the fourth-place Salmon Arm Silverbacks in Round 2 of the conference semifinals. That matchup was made possible courtesy of the seventh-seeded Wenatchee Wild, who completed their first-round upset of the second-place Cranbrook Bucks Sunday, with a 4-2 win in Washington state.
The Wild win the series 4-2 and face the regular-season champion Penticton Vees in Round 2.
The Coastal Conference semifinals will see the first-place Nanaimo Clippers taking on the fifth-ranked Chilliwack Chiefs, while the second-seeded Surrey Eagles will play the third-ranked Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
The leagueÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s second round of post-season play is slated to begin Friday, April 14.
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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