Vernon 4 Westside 2

Vernon 4 Westside 2

Was at tonights game as Vernon defeated Westside 4-2 in front of 1,378 fans at Royal Le-Page Place.

1st Period: The Vipers come out hitting to start tonights game laying out the first few solid checks of the night. Within the first few seconds Vernon would jump on an early powerplay and it didnt take long before John Digness had a great scoring chance in close but was stopped by Devon Murtagh. Westside would kill off the minor and then shortly after go on a PP of there own. The Vipers managed to kill off the minor with some solid goaltending of Andrew Hammond. Some good flow to start the game with both teams getting some chances, alot of pushing & shoving after each whistle as the Warriors were by far the more fiesty team tonight. Sahir Gill, Trent Dorais & Nick Amies all played there first games of the season tonight in Westside, Gill & Amies both playing in there first BCHL games. On Gills first shift of the game, showed some good hustle, getting the puck over the line and then driving towards the net, getting a quick shot off, Murtagh made the save, while going down on the play, Gill kept banging away at the loose puck before sliding inbehind Murtagh getting his first career BCHL goal as the Vipers were up 1-0 just 5 mins into the 1st. Both teams played well but it was the Vipers who had the better scoring chances in the period. Vernon would go up 2-0 at the midway mark as Nick Amies made a real sharpe play to keep the puck in at the blueline, chipping it in down low as Mike Collins made a nice pass over to Connor Jones who beat Murtagh. Murtagh likes to come out and play the puck alot, really likes handling the puck outside of the crease, but had some troubles letting out big rebounds and looking shaky at times throughout tonights game. On the other end of the rink Andrew Hammond looked very solid-confident between the Vernon nets. Hammond made a real nice pad save keeping the Warriors off the board, when Jordan Gagne was stopped on Westsides best scoring chance of the period. Westside was the more grittier team getting in the face of many Vernon players, after each whistle the Warriors were getting there gloves & elbows up. Vernon on the other hand shyed away from the gritty play, looking a little soft on some shifts. A very entertaining period with the Vipers getting the better scoring chances. Vernon was up 2-0 after 20 mins of play. Shots were even 14 each.

2nd Period: The Warriors come out strong to start the 2nd really skating hard, playing with that edge. Just like last weekend in Salmon Arm the Vipers were having all kinds of trouble in the 2nd clearing the puck. Give Westside full credit, they played with that very aggresive forecheck Viper fans are all use too. The Warriors carried most of the play in the first half as Vernon was hemmed in there own zone. Once again Andrew Hammond had to be sharpe coming up with a few nice saves. Hammond made three big saves one after another after a bad clearing attempt from behind the Vipers net. Westside played physical and in your face hockey really taking it too the Vipers who almost sat back a little getting caught coughing up the puck on many times. Vernon would get lucky getting a break as Cory Kane broke in down the left wing and blasting a shot high over Murtagh putting Vernon up 3-0. This was a bad break for Westside after having the better of the play in the Vipers zone but not being able to beat Hammond. This goal seemed to give the Vipers some life as they managed to get the play out of there own zone and get some of the action in the Warriors end for a few mins. With under 5 mins remaining Vernon would get into penalty trouble taking some undicaplined minors and it cost them as Warrior Captain Ron Kelly battled hard in the slot and with Hammond down and out, Kelly slide the puck along the ice, wich found the back of the net getting Westside on the board, cutting the lead to 3-1. With the Warriors on yet another powerplay just 30 some seconds after getting there first goal of the night, Kelly yet again would set a nice pass over Garrett Watson who stepped over the line and then wired a shot pass Hammond as Westside was right back in the game, 3-2 Vernon with still 3 mins to go. The Vipers looked very sloppy for most of the 2nd. The Vipers would yet again go back to the penalty kill but managed to excape the 2nd and head to the dressing room up 3-2. Westside outshot Vernon 9-8.

3rd Period: Westside started the 3rd with 45 seconds left in the powerplay but the Vipers would kill off the minor. The Vipers would get the puck in deep and take control down low over the next few mins with some great forecheck along the end boards. Ryan Santana & Cory Kane put on a clinic down low, Kane made a nice move around the Westside D-man, dropping the puck off for Santana who wired a wrist high past Murtagh, as Vernon regained there two goal lead now up 4-2 just 3 mins into the 3rd. A much better-stronger performance by the Vipers in the 3rd as they stepped up there play, playing with a bit more physical presence as well as tighting up defensivly. Westside couldnt seem to manage that great forecheck they had going for them in the 2nd as the Vipers seemed to not allow much traffic through the neutral zone. Vernon had a great scoring chance with a two on one but Devon Murtagh come up with a huge pad save keeping the puck out. Murtagh was called apon to make another huge pad save robbing John Digness on a two on one. The Warriors did manage to get a few good scoring chances but former Warriors goaltender Andrew Hammond looked very solid all night. Both teams had a few powerplay chances but couldnt find the back of the net. John Digness then was fed a pass in the slot, putting some unreal moves on Murtagh, Murtagh was down & out and on his back as Digness had a wide open net but rang the puck off the post missing a wide open net. Kellen Jones left the game late in the 3rd heading to the dressing room, but would return to the Vipers bench late in the game but didnt see a shift. Late in the game with about a minute & a half remaining Westside tried to get Murtagh on the bench for the extra man, but couldnt get the puck in deep. With just 37 seconds left Mutagh finally would get to the bench as the Warriors would get the extra man out, but couldnt get any kind of an offensive attack going as the Vipers would defeat the Warriors 4-2. Vernon outshot Westside 11-7.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Former Westside Goaltender Andrew Hammond faced his former team for the first time, looking very solid-confident between the pipes. So far in just 3 games this season Hammond has looked very solid for the Vipers. Hammond played very well in the 1st.

Cory Kane (1 Goal & 1 Assist) Played a big game up front. Kane put on some unreal moves all night.

His linemate Ryan Santana (1 Goal) also looked very strong down low. Santana is very hard to fight off the puck along the boards. Showed alot of hustle all night.

John Digness was by far Vernons best player. Digness has really stepped up his play this season and has looked very strong in all 3 Viper games. Digness was robbed twice in close. Saw alot of icetime on the penalty kill, worked very hard, played with alot of hustle.

Sahir Gill (1 Goal) Played in his first career BCHL Game as well as scoring his first career BCHL Goal. Played on a regular basis looking very good in close. Has some very nice hands down low.

Trent Dorais was another kid who played with alot of hustle, worked hard all game.

Nick Amies who also played in his first BCHL game tonight, played really well for only being 16 yrs old.

Top Players: (Westside)

Captain Ron Kelly (1 Goal & 1 Assist) Looked very strong up front. Played with alot of emotion, was all over the ice all night.

Garrett Watson (1 Goal) played with an edge and physical presence. Was in the face of many Viper players. A big kid who dosnt back away from the corners or rough going. Was always yapping away or getting his gloves up in the face of some Vipers.

Tyler Krause saw alot of icetime, very quick with some nice moves. Reads the ice well. This kid is going to be a solid player in the this league.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Vipers played 40 mins tonight taking the 2nd period off. Looked good in the 1st & 3rd periods. Was good to see the boys regroup after a very sloppy 2nd and come out strong to start the 3rd scoring early, regaining there two goal lead. Vipers looked quick up front but had troubles on the backend, clearing the puck out from there own end. Vipers turned over the puck way too many times tonight in there own end, really need to tighten up in there own end. Had many good scoring chances. Vernon was pushed around most of the night, the Vipers need to play more physical and finish all checks. This team looks good up front but was way too soft tonight, got pushed around on many ocasions. Vernon looked intiminated when it came to the physical play-rough stuff. Overall a pretty good game to watch.

Game Thoughts: (Westside)

The Warriors played good in the 1st but couldnt beat Hammond. Really stepped up there play in the 2nd coming out strong, really taking it to the Vipers for most of the period. Looked very strong on the powerplay. This team plays and is much better when they play with that aggresive forecheck-in your face hockey. Westside really likes to play with an edge, get in your face after the whistles. Alot of pushing & shoving going on after each whistle. The Warriors are a very gritty team who isnt afraid to back down in the corners. Westside couldnt score on there opportunities when needed too. They announced the attendance at 1,378 but the place was half empty, a very quiet crowd who makes very little noise. Penticton Vees Head Coach Fred Harbinson was at tonights game. Saw many scouts also at tonights game.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Kevin Kraus
Kory Roy
Ryan DePape

Westside:

Brendan Ellis

3 Stars:

1st Star: Cory Kane (1 Goal & 1 Assist)
2nd Star: Ron Kelly (1 Goal & 1 Assist)
3rd Star: Andrew Hammond