The Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers and Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings will meet in what has become an annual and popular day-after-Christmas contest. This year, the venue will be the Evangeline Recreation Centre, with the opening faceoff set for 2 p.m.
The Vipers have won seven of their last eight games, and their lone loss during this stretch was a 5-4 overtime decision to the Red Wings on Dec. 2.
The Red Wings, meanwhile, have dropped four of their last five games, and will be looking to get back on the winning track against their arch-rivals. However, a win will leapfrog the Red Wings from fifth place to third.
Fifth meeting
This will mark the fifth meeting of the regular season between the Red Wings and Vipers, who hold a 3-1 advantage. The Vipers won 5-0 on Oct. 13, 5-4 in overtime on Oct. 28 and 4-1 on Nov. 13.
The Red Wings, who are 7-9-1 (won-lost-overtime/shootout losses) are one point behind the Holland College Hurricanes ( 8-11-0) and Montague Maniacs (8-11-0).
The Vipers (13-3-1) hold a two-point lead over the Sherwood A&S Scrap Metal Falcons (12-4-1) atop the league standings.
Games between the Red Wings and Vipers have drawn good crowds to both the Evangeline Recreation Centre and Community Gardens. The Red Wings are expecting a big holiday crowd.
