Vipers eliminate Maroons

For the second straight game in their first round series against Chatham, The LaSalle Vipers found themselves in a hole, this time trailing 3-0 in game 5.

"Our starts haven't been great but I think we find our game as the game goes on." said Vipers head coach Matt Beaudoin. "We just have this belief that if we get down in a game we're not out of it."

LaSalle got back in the game scoring on three out of four powerplays. Andrew Kotevski scored one in the second and 32 seconds into the third. Ethan Martin tied the game at with at 9:19.

Spencer Lecot scored what turned out to be the game winner at 14:53 with Patrick McManus and Owen Findlay closing out the contest with a pair of empty netters.

"It's a huge character win for us." said Beaudoin whose team beat the Maroons 6-3 to advance to the second round of the Western Conference final. LaSalle will face the Leamington Flyers in the Western Conference final. The Flyers swept Sarnia in their first round series.

"It's gonna be a great series. Every game we played those guys was close. The rivalry makes it special so that's gonna be some exciting hockey coming up."