McLeod heads for Vernon down a game

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Wes McLeod is coming home . . . well, he’ll be close to home.
McLeod, who is from Kamloops, and his AJHL-champion Spruce Grove Saints are on their way to Vernon for the remainder of their Doyle Cup series with the BCHL-champion Vipers.
The first three games were played in Spruce Grove, with the Vipers winning 3-2 in double overtime on Sunday to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday, 7 p.m., in Vernon, the home of the defending Canadian junior A champions.
“We definitely deserved a better fate,” McLeod said Sunday night. “We won the majority of the battles. We were moving the puck well. We got as many opportunities as we could on t he power play. We have to continue to play like we did tonight.
“We can’t (be too disappointed). It was a tough way to lose, on what some would say was a (questionable) call at the end of the game.”
For the second time in three nights, a game ended on a power play in overtime.
This time, if was forward Cory Kane scoring on a one-timer at 15:12 of the second extra period.
The Saints opened the series Friday, winning 6-5 on a power-play goal in overtime.
Vernon forward Connor Jones was penalized for kneeing McLeod and forward Scott Allen redirected a slapshot by defenceman Dillon Simpson for the winner.
McLeod, however, went directly to the dressing room after the hit.
“Connor came to hit me and lost his balance right before and came in a took my knee out,” McLeod said. “It wasn’t on purposed by any means.”
It turns out that McLeod has been bothered by a wonky knee since earlier in the playoffs.
“I’ll be OK,” he said. “It’s just really sore again . . . that’s all.”
He has spent a lot of time icing the knee and, after taking a regular shift in Games 2 and 3, said: “It’s good.”
And now it’s on to Vernon.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” McLeod said. “I’ve got a lot of friends and family coming to watch. It should be good.”
JUST NOTES: F Dylan Walchuk, who played for the midget AAA North Kamloops Lions two seasons ago, scored Vernon’s first goal last night. . . . The Vipers’ roster also includes D Kevin Kraus, who once played for the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, and F Sahir Gill, who is on the Blazers’ protected list. . . . Of course, the Vipers are coached by Mark Ferner, a former Blazers coach who also played for the WHL team.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com