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Photo Credit - Kallum Rae-Langlois
By Graham Turnbull
Vipers blank Smoke Eaters for first win

Vipers blank Smoke Eaters for first win of season

Sep 19, 2026 | 11:34 PM

Trail, BC:  The Vernon Vipers have their first win of the 2026-27 BCHL season.

Sammy DiBlasi stopped all 28 shots he faced as the Vipers shut out the Trail Smoke Eaters 4-0 Saturday night at Cominco Arena.

DiBlasi earned his first BCHL victory and shutout while also contributing an assist.

Mykolas Skadauskas, Jed Lake and Ben Trebicky each scored their first BCHL goals in the victory. Aaron Zulinick added a powerplay goal in the third period.

Vernon went 1-for-2 on the powerplay and has scored with the man advantage in each of its first two games. The Vipers also killed off both Trail powerplay opportunities.

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Chayse Johnson stopped 21 of 25 shots for the Smoke Eaters.

The shutout was Vernon’s first in regular-season play since October 25, 2024, when Colin Reay made 31 saves in a shutout victory over Salmon Arm.

Lake, DiBlasi and Skadauskas were named the game’s three Star Selections.

The Vipers improved to 1-1, while Trail dropped to 0-2.

Vernon concludes its season-opening road trip next Friday in Salmon Arm against the Silverbacks.

by Graham Turnbull
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Vipers blank Smoke Eaters for first win
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