The Red Deer Vipers made a big statement in their Heritage Junior B Hockey League playoff opener.
After a bye in round one, the Vipers showed no rust in a 6-1 drubbing of the Mountainview Colts in game 1 of the best-of-five series on Saturday night.
The Vipers opened the game with a bang, scoring four times in the opening frame.
Lane Sim notched the first goal before Aidan Wilson, Logan Linnell and Kayson Gallant all found the mark.
Linell added a third period tally for his second of the night and Jordan Volk also added a goal. Branden Bilodeau stopped 35 shots in the victory for Red Deer.
The Blackfalds Wranglers are down 2-1 in their series with the Airdrie Thunder after a 5-4 defeat on Sunday.
Thunder forward Ryan Plante-Crough got the game winner with just 1:17 left after Brody Bolton tied the game at four for the Wranglers.
Ryan Chambers, Shawn Rowe and Tyler Bell all scored for Blackfalds in the loss.
The Vipers play game 4 in Blackfalds on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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