Vernon 3 Victoria 1

Vernon 3 Victoria 1

I was at tonights game as Vernon defeated Victoria 3-1 in front of 1,816 fans at the Wesbild Center.

1st Period: Graeme Gordon got his first start as a Viper tonight, after Andrew Hammond has started the Vipers last 14 straight games. The Vipers looked much improved after last nights dissapointing 5-2 loss to Westside, Vernon was skating hard and laying out some good solid checks in the early goings. Vernon carried the edge in play to start the game and was rewarded with an early powerplay just two minutes into the game, the Vipers moved the puck well, getting some good chances in close. Vernon was up in shots early 5-1. Sahir Gill picked up a loose puck in the slot and then missed on a wide empty goal, as the Vipers come very close to going up 1-0. Victoria would kill off the minor and then within a few minutes would get a powerplay of there own but couldnt generate any kind of offence, as the Grizzlies didnt record a single shot while on the PP as the Vipers killed off the minor. Vernon was really buzzing around the Victoria net with some good chances down low, Vipers moved the puck well, getting the shooting lanes open as well as getting a flurry of shots on Anthony Grieco. This was the Grizzlies 4th road game in 4 nights and it showed as the Vipers were all over them. Victoria didnt have much of an attack, only coming up with one good scoring chance when Jordan Heywood wired a shot from the top of the circle but hit the post. Vernon dominated the period with most of the action deep in the Grizzlies zone but couldnt hit the scoreboard. It was scoreless after 20 mins of play. Vipers outshot the Grizzlies 18-4.

2nd Period: Victoria come out strong, getting the puck in deep, creating all kinds of chances in front. The Grizzlies were now the team buzzing around the Vernon net as Graeme Gordon had to be sharpe as Victoria come close to taking the lead, just missing on some glorious scoring chances in front. The Vipers were having troubles with the Grizzlies attack as they had nemerous chances to get the puck out and couldnt. Victoria carried the edge in play for the first four minutes as the Vipers didnt record a shot on goal. But just 5 minutes into the 2nd Vernon finally managed to get the puck in deep, as Bryce Kakoske did all the work down low, making a few nice moves in close & then feeding Ryan DePape in front who beat Grieco putting Vernon up 1-0. This goal seemed to give the Vipers life and really turned around the hockey game as just a few minutes later the Vipers would strike again after Steven Weinstein took a shot from the point, and Captain Chris Crowell would tip the point shot passed Grieco as Vernon jumped ahead 2-0. Victoria played a little better in the 2nd but not much, Vernon was by far the more hard working team, as the Vipers were winning all the races, coming out from the boards with the puck almost everytime. Vipers quit hitting come this period but still carried most of the play. Not many great scoring chances at either ends of the rink. The Grizzlies would get a late powerplay but it was Ryan Santana who was solid on the penalty kill, Santana carried the puck deep into the Victoria zone, and then held the puck along the end wall with four Grizzly players all over him, trying to fight for the puck. The Grizzlies struggled on the late powerplay and couldnt get on the scoreboard as the period ended. Vernon was up 2-0 after 40 mins of play. Vipers outshot the Grizzlies 13-8.

3rd Period: With the Grizzlies still on the PP wich was carried over from the 2nd period, Vernon managed to kill off the minor. Victoria looked like they had some jump to start the 3rd, getting the puck in deep but couldnt seem to get any real quality shots towards Gordon as the Vipers defence did a great job keeping the Grizzlies to the outside and then stealing the puck away. The Vipers struggled early in getting the puck into the Victoria zone but were lucky to keep the play in the neutral zone. Captain Brian Nugent was tossed from the game just two minutes into the 3rd after a check from behind on Ryan Santana. Vernon had a great scoring chance when Chris Crowell snuck in behind the Grizzlies d-men and got a short breakaway but was stopped by Grieco. Ryan Santana cut through the crease, putting a nice move on Grieco but failed to connect fanning on the puck in front. Mike Collins had a parcial breakaway but missed the net on a great scoring chance. Some back & forth action at both ends, but very little scoring chances until Bryce Kakoske took a quick shot from the slot, as Sahir Gill tipped the puck past Grieco putting Vernon up 3-0 with 7 and a half minutes remaining. This goal seemed to take the life out from the Grizzlies. As time was winding down, Mike Collins was caught coughing up the puck at the blueline, Jordan Heywood threw a weak looking floater towards the goal, wich somehow got past Gordon breaking his shutout bid with just 3 minutes remaining. Victoria pressed late but couldnt get control and set any kind of a play up, Grieco headed towards the bench with less then a minute remaining for the extra attacker but Victoria couldnt get the puck out from there own end as the clock would wind down and Vernon would defeat Victoria 3-1. Vernon outshot Victoria 16-7.

Top Players: (Vernon)

The line of Connor Jones, Kellen Jones & Ryan Santana showed lots of energy and jump. The Jones Twins worked hard downlow, creating some exciting chances down low. Santana was a horse with the puck all game, this kid was hard to move off the puck, played well at both ends of the rink. Looked very impressive on the penalty kill.

Sahir Gill (1 goal) For the 2nd straight game Gill looked very impressive, once again this kid was flying with good speed, showing lots of hustle all night. Had some nice moves in the Grizzlies zone. Gill seems to be gaining more & more confidence as the season progresses.

Nick Amies (1 assist) Saw limited icetime, but when the young 16 yr old was on the ice, looked very solid on the Vipers blueline. I really like Nick, a young solid d-man. Made one end to end rush in the 1st and come up with two big defensive plays in the 3rd.

Bryce Kakoske (2 assists) Kakoske looked very strong up front for Vernon. Struggled last night, so was nice to see the Vernon product come back with a solid effort tonight. Looked good on the point while on the PP and was very good down low, another player who was hard to move off the puck.

Ryan DePape (1 goal) Didnt play a full game but showed spirts for the most parts. Looked very good in the 1st & 2nd periods.

Cory Kane didnt do much on the offensive side but showed some good hustle and played physical, was moved down to the 4th line last night, heres a kid who needs to pick up his game.

Top Players: (Victoria)

Anthony Grieco didnt have to make any big saves but played well, dosnt give up many rebounds. Plays his position well, comes out and challenges alot.

Jordan Heywood (1 goal) Looked very impressive on the Grizzlies backend. This kid saw alot of icetime and was by far the best D-man. Carries the puck alot, quick skating d-man.

Myles MaCrae looked good in the 3rd, didnt really notice him alot tonight, but had three or four good solid shifts.Jonathan Milhouse is quick, always with the puck. Creating chances, and buzzing around the net.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Vipers looked very impressive in the 1st, played a heck of a period but couldnt find the back of the net. The goal was to jump on a Victoria team that was playing there 4th road game in 4 nights and they did. Vipers got some timely goals and looked much better after last nights loss. A very well played game, the team was hitting, skating hard and showing lots of hustle and jump. Vernon really worked hard, winning most of the races and battles along the boards. I felt bad for Graeme Gordon who lost his shutout on a turnover at the blueline with just 3 minutes remaining.

Game Thoughts: (Victoria)

I wasnt impressed with Victoria. It may have been the 4 games in 4 nights, but this team didnt look good at all. A quick skating team but not much of an offensive attack, players going in all different directions. The Grizzles couldnt handle the Vipers work ethic and speed down low. Had trouble all night getting shots towards the net along with chances in close. Most of the shots and chances were from the outside. Was impressed with Evin Pighin, looked very lazy all game, when the play was deep in the Victoria zone, Pighin was way up in the Vipers zone, past the blueline, waiting for the long stretch pass. Didnt show much energy or team play all game.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Kevin Kraus
Cole Ikkala
Trent Dorais

Victoria:

Mike Hammond
Lee Baldwin

3 Stars:

1st Star: Sahir Gill (1 goal)
2nd Star: Braden Pimm
3rd Star: Bryce Kakoske (2 assists)