J.C. Lipon's excellent WHL preseason continues.
Lipon, a 19-year-old winger from Regina, scored with 12 seconds remaining in overtime Friday as the Kamloops Blazers defeated the Vancouver Giants 5-4 in Ladner. The Blazers, who are 4-0 in preseason play, have one exhibition contest remaining - the Prince George Cougars will visit Interior Savings Centre on Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.
The goal was Lipon's fourth of the preseason, to go along with three assists - and he's only played three games so far.
Lipon, who enjoyed a 19-goal regular season in 2011-12, now has a point in all three exhibition games in which he has played. He had an assist as the Blazers opened with a 4-2 victory over the visiting Victoria Royals, then scored three times and added an assist in a 5-3 victory over Victoria in Maple Ridge on Aug. 31.
He sat out Kamloops' 7-4 home victory over Vancouver on Wednesday, but ended last night's game with a goal and an assist.
Lipon scored the winner on the power play six seconds after Vancouver winger Taylor Makin was sent to the box for interference. Brendan Ranford had an assist on the goal, his second of the night.
The goal capped a third-period comeback by the Blazers, who were down three goals with 17 minutes remaining. Cole Ully started the fun, scoring only 41 seconds after Makin scored to make it 4-1.
Rob Trzonkowski made it 4-3 with 4:35 remaining, before Colin Smith tied the game with 56 seconds remaining.
Rookie Mitch Friesen also scored for the Blazers, while John Neibrandt, Nathan Burns and Riley Kieser scored for Vancouver.
Cole Cheveldave made 32 saves in the victory. Vancouver started Liam Liston, who stopped 18 of 19 shots in 29:43 of work. Rookie Payton Lee came in for the second half, and allowed 10 goals on 14 shots.
JUST NOTES: The Blazers were 2-for-6 on the power play, while Vancouver couldn't convert on its four chances. . . . The Giants made a trade Friday, sending G Jackson Whistle, 17, to the Kelowna Rockets for a third-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft. . . . Vancouver still has three goalies on its roster, with Tyler Fuhr, 17, being the other. . . . Vancouver F Anthony Ast faces a WHL suspension after being assessed a checking to the head major for a hit on Kamloops F Chase Souto. Neither Ast nor Souto played Friday.
