Vernon 4 Penticton 3 (Double Overtime)

Vernon 4 Penticton 3 (Double Overtime)

Was at tonights game as Vernon defeated Penticton 4-3 in double overtime in front of 2,067 fans at the new South Okanagan Events Center.

1st Period: Vernon got control of the play early but didnt sustain any real solid presure, the Vipers were getting alot of quick shots from the slot off, most of the shots Jordan White managed see with no traffic in front. Vernon played a very physical game as both Connor & Kellen Jones laid out two solid checks early in the hockey game. Just a few minutes into the game Vernon would get the first powerplay and would take advantage. Andrew Hammond fired a long pass up ice catching the Vees on a bad linechange, Connor Jones would collect the puck, and then cut over the Vees blueline, making a nice pass across ice to a wide open Kellen Jones who put a nice move on White, waiting for White to go down and then roofing a shot high and over putting the Vipers up 1-0 just four and a half minutes into the period. Vernon looked very good in the early goings and were up 7-1 in favor of shots. The Vipers were firing shots towards White from almost anywhere, as White looked very shaky between the pipes for Penticton, letting out some wild rebounds. Vernon carried the better of the play for the first nine minutes outshooting the Vees 10-3. Rob Short & James Kerr went in two on one, as Short made a nice pass over to Kerr but White come up with the big save. Just before the midway mark, Penticton would finally get control of the puck, getting in deep in the Vernon zone, Colton Jobke took wich looked to be a harmless wrist shot from the point, wich beat Andrew Hammond low to the ice, going in off the post, tying the game 1-1. Hammond looked to have been screened on the play. Vernon couldnt seem to regroup after the Vees goal as Penticton stepped up there game looking much better in the 2nd half of the 1st. Penticton come close to taking the lead after Logan Johnston was stopped in close by Hammond. The Vees would get there first powerplay of the night and didnt waist anytime. Garrett Milan & Denver Manderson cut across the Vipers blueline, Milan took a shot from the slot, where Andrew Hammond made the first save but couldnt control the rebound and speedy Ryan Viselli made a nice move beating a down and out Hammond to give the Vees the 2-1 late in the 1st. Vernons defence was having all kinds of trouble clearing the puck in the 1st, coughing up the puck five or six times wich resulted in a turnover and a Penticton scoring chance. Hammond had to be sharpe as the Vees were buzzing, really carrying the play. Vernon gave up way too many odd man rushes. Penticton come close to taking a 3-1 lead late in the period but couldnt connect on two chances in close. The Vees were up 2-1 after 20 mins of play. Vernon outshot Penticton 16-8.

2nd Period: The Vipers would start the 2nd with a two man advantage but couldnt generate any quality shots or scoring chances. Pentictons penalty kill was very strong as the Vees killed off the two man advantage. Vernon looked good really moving the puck well, getting lots of shots towards White. White once again looked very shaky kicking out huge rebounds along with some very poor puck control. The Vees were keeping the Vipers to the outside, where most of Vernons shots were coming from. Pentictons best scoring chance came when Curtis McKenzie wired a shot from the point, but Hammond come up with the blocker save. The Vipers held the better of the play but couldnt capitalise on the big rebounds from White. With just over six minutes left in the period Cory Kane while falling to his knees wired a lazer wrist shot top shelf high over White tying the game 2-2. White didnt even see the shot. Off the insuing faceoff Captain Chris Crowell would get the puck in deep, Braden Pimm would have a scoring chance in close as White was down and out, Mike Collins was alone in front and would hit the empty net as Vernon took a 3-2 lead with two goals in about a minute. Late in the 2nd the Vees would go on a powerplay and with some nice passing from Denver Manderson & Matt Paltridge, newcomer Erik Slemp was stopped in close by Hammond, Hammond once again couldnt control the rebound and Slemp was there to get the second shot passed Hammond tying the game 3-3 with just over four minutes remaining. Vernon was the better team in the middle frame but the game was tied 3-3 after 40 mins of play. Vipers outshot the Vees 19-13.

3rd Period: Ryan Viselli would sneak inbehind the Vernon defence a minute and a half into the 3rd, going in all alone for the breakaway but Hammond come up with the huge toe save keeping the score tied. The Vees looked very strong and deadly in the Vipers zone as the poured on the presure, creating all kinds of chances in close. Penticton was flying, skating hard, really taking it to Vernon as the Vipers were being outskated, and outplayed for most of the final period. Andrew Hammond had to be ready as he was facing alot of rubber in the 3rd. Vernons defence was having all kinds of trouble with the Vees forecheck and quick puck movement. Matt Paltridge got a quick shot off from the circle but Hammond just got a piece of it. Hammond was the difference keeping the Vipers in the game, making some very tough saves with lots of white jerseys at the top of his crease. Vernon couldnt generate any offence, and when they did get the puck in deep, the Vees defence didnt give them much room for any real solid chances. Late in the 3rd the Vees would get a powerplay but couldnt beat Hammond. Penticton looked very strong on the breakout, using there speed and quickness to create chances. The Vipers were very lucky to excape the 3rd not giving up a goal, getting just two shots in the final six minutes of the game. The game was tied 3-3 after 60 mins of play. Penticton outshot Vernon 15-6.

Overtime: Some good flow at both ends of the rink, as the Vipers had some early chances, coming close on a scramble in front as Kellen Jones was stopped in close by Jordan White. With just over two minutes remaining in OT the Vipers would be called for a penalty giving the Vees a great chance to end tonights game. Penticton had all the time in the world to move the puck and setup a play as the Vipers sat back, as everyone was positioned in a small box in front of Andrew Hammond. The Vees worked the puck around good, trying to set up the bottom forward at the side of the net, but Vernons defence played very well, not giving the bottom forward anyroom to pick up the pass. The Vipers couldnt get the puck out on the penalty kill as Penticton had three or four big onetime shots from the point but all missed going high and wide. James Kerr was a rock on the penalty kill coming up with two huge blocked shots. In the final few seconds of the powerplay, d-man Devon Krogh had a wide open net as Hammond was down and out, but Krogh fired high and wide, missing the empty goal to end the game. Vernon was very lucky killing off the minor and excaping the first Overtime still tied 3-3.

Double Overtime: Penticton won the draw, Connor Jones stole the puck from the Penticton player, getting inbehind him and going in for the breakaway, Jones was hauled down as the Vipers were going to be rewarded with a penalty shot, but the play continued as the Vees didnt touch the puck, Kellen Jones was left all alone at the side of the Vees net, putting the puck passed White just ten seconds into OT as Vernon defeated Penticton 4-3 in Double Overtime. The Vipers are now 2-0 against the Vees this season. Vernon outshot Penticton 1-0.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Connor Jones (1 assist) & Kellen Jones (2 goals) played a heck of a game tonight. Both Jones twins played with alot of jump, skating hard, playing a physical game. Both Connor & Kellen really worked the puck well down low, as they were very hard to get off the puck inbehind the Vees goal.

Rob Short played another strong game for the Vipers. Short played his rugged style for most of the game, had some chances throughout the night.

Andrew Hammond (1 assist) Had troubles controlling the rebounds on the Vees 2nd and 3rd goals but played very solid in the 3rd, facing alot of shots from the slot and in close. Hammond made a nice tow save on Viselli's breakaway early to start the 3rd. Hammond looked very focused and played with a ton of confidence all night. Had lots of traffic in front of him in the 3rd but still somehow managed to see the puck through all that traffic. Hammond was the difference in the 3rd keeping Vernon in the game.

Mike Collins (1 goal) played a strong game up front. Collins showed some good hustle, driving to the goal most of the night.

Top Players: (Penticton)

Devon Krogh played a very defensive game on the Vees blueline. Jumped up into the play alot during the game, reads the ice well, likes to sneek in front the point, and get off a quick shot from the circle. Smooth skater.

Matt Paltridge (1 assist) Played a very offensive game, was always involved in the play down low, in front of Andrew Hammond. A very strong offensive minded d-man.

Denver Manderson (2 assists) looked good up front. Hard to fight off the puck, very creative. Ryan Viselli (1 goal) this kid has some wheels and nice hands. Was buzzing all over the ice in the first two periods. Had a great chance to give the Vees the lead early in the 3rd but couldnt beat Hammond on the breakaway.

Erik Slemp (1 goal & 1 assist) Looked good for most of the game. Not the biggest kid but didnt shy away from the physical game.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

The Vipers started off the game with alot of quick shots from the slot, but didnt have many quailty shots or scoring chances throughout tonights game. With Jordan White giving up big rebounds, the Vipers should have had guys driving to the net, looking for the rebounds. Vipers struggled on the powerplay and in there own end. The defence was having all kinds of trouble clearing the zone, coughing up the puck and giving up way too many odd man rushes. Some poor passing when breaking out from inbehind the goal, wich resulted in a turnover and a Vees scoring chance. Vernon needs to play better defensively in there own end. With the Vees just four pts back before tonights game, this was a big win for the Vipers.

Game Thoughts: (Penticton)

Penticton is a quick team with alot of speed and good puck movement. Real nice breakout, had alot of odd man rushes. The Vees have one if not the best powerplay in the league, scored two PP goals tonight. Penticton dosnt give you much room create chances or setup, as they play a very tight checking game, most of Vernons shots were from the outside, as the Vees defence did a great job at keeping the Vipers to the outside for most of the night. Penticton had many chances to win tonights game in the 3rd and the first Overtime but couldnt beat Hammond. Missed some great chances in OT missing the net shooting high and wide. I wasnt impressed with Jordan White at all, this kid looked very shaky throughout tonights game. Gives out huge rebounds on almost every shot, has alot of trouble handling the puck as well. Like I said before, most of the Vernon shots he faced were not very quality shots, most taken from the slot with no traffic in front. This was a great game to watch, very entertaining and well worth the drive down. I thought I heard someone say this was the Vees first loss at home?

Scratches:

Vernon:

Steve Tresierra
Cole Ikkala
Trent Dorais
Kory Roy

Penticton:

Nicholas Goyens
Brad Reid

3 Stars:

1st Star: Kellen Jones (2 goals)
2nd Star: Connor Jones (1 assist)
3rd Star: Jordan White

This was my first visit to the new South Okanagan Events Center. Wow what a incredible rink you fans got in Penticton, great job, you deserve it! Im in love with the huge jumbotron scoreclock and nice looking restaraunt. I think $16 a ticket is a little much for Junior A Hockey, along with the $8 beer, wow! I do have to say there wasnt much for lighting inside, the ice surface looked very dark up the middle and in the corners along with behind the nets. This rink dosnt nearly have the same amount of lights as the Vernon Wesbild Center. I also have to say its very dark inside, the dark coloured seats along with all the grey concrete and dark coloured trim. I much more prefer and like the bright blue seats and coloured roof at the Wesbild Center, very bright and colourful inside. I also wasnt a big fan of not being able to eat inside at the restaraunt-pub. You can only eat-get into the Vault as they call it, only if you have club seats at $21 each and then $20 for a buffet, thats a little much I think. I was looking forward to having dinner before the game in the restaraunt, but because I didnt have a club seat, I couldnt get in. It was pretty empty inside before the game, they should allow any fans who want to eat, to be able to come inside and enjoy a nice meal. Just my thoughts. A great rink overall! Best in the league by far!