For the third straight year, the Vernon Vipers have emerged as the best in the BCHL and claimed the Fred Page Cup.
Tuesday night in front of 2,500 fans in Vernon, the Vipers completed a four-game sweep of the Powell River Kings with a 5-4 overtime victory.
Michael Zalewski swept in a rebound with eight minutes gone in the first overtime period to give Vernon’s its sixth Fred Page Cup since 1996.
The win capped a comeback for the Vipers, which trailed 3-0 two minutes into the middle frame.
Vernon scored four goals in a 12-minute span to take a 4-3 lead into the third period.
However, Powell River pulled even when Matt Garbowsky notched his second of the game with five minutes left in regulation time.
It stayed that way until Zalewski settled matters in overtime.
The win sends Vernon, which has won back-to-back Royal Bank Cups, into the Doyle Cup against the Alberta Junior Hockey League champion.
The AJHL final has the Spruce Grove Saints leading the Camrose Kodiaks 3-1. Game 5 is set for Friday night.
The Doyle Cup begins April 15 in Vernon.
The BCHL three-peat has been done before.
The Kamloops Rockets did it from 1962-64, the Nanaimo Clippers from 1977-79 and the Penticton Knights did the trick from 1980-82.