Penticton 5 Vernon 1

Was at tonights BCHL game as Penticton defated Vernon 5-1 in front of 1,944 fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

1st Period: Former Express Cameron Brodie & Mike Leidl made there Viper debuts tonight. Brodie was wearing Ryan DePapes old jersey #7 while Leidl was wearing Steve Tresierras old jersey #6. Both teams got off to a bit of a slow start tonight, it looked as if both teams were trying to feel one another out, the play went back and forth in the early opening minutes with no scoring chances. The Vipers had the games first real good scoring chance five minutes into the game, Mike Collins snapped a quick shot from the slot but Jordan White kicked out the puck with a big toe save. Vernon would get an early powerplay, the Vipers with some good puck movement couldnt get any quality shots through the maze of Vees players, Kyle Bigo's shot from the point was the Vipers only real good chance. Pentictons penalty kill was superb blocking the shooting lanes, forcing the Vipers shooters to move the puck quickly, not giving them anytime to setup for that good shot. The Vees would kill off the minor. As the game went along the Vipers seemed to get there legs going, and really forcing the cycle down low, Penticton was having all kinds of trouble with Vernons cycle, wich resulted in hauling guys down. Vernon would get back to back powerplays getting the games first three powerplays, but couldnt take advantage. These next two powerplays the Vipers didnt look that great, no good real chances with very little shots towards the net as the Vees penalty kill was once again very strong, killing off both minors. This didnt stop the Vipers, as they really forced the attacking zone with some good chances in close, with a scramble in front of White, Vernon would hit the crossbar. Braden Pimm was stopped by White at the side of the goal after a close scoring chance. Penticton looked flat footed and couldnt generate any kind of an attack, having all kinds of trouble getting the play deep in the Vernon zone. Connor Jones was stopped in close by White who looked sharpe. The Vipers fired a ton of shots on White, getting some great chances but couldnt hit the scoreboard. Vernon dominated the Vees for most of the 1st but the game was still scoreless 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Penticton 15-0. The Vees did record three shots on goal in that period, but for some odd reason, the shots didnt register.

2nd Period: In the opening minute of play, Brodie Reid missed a wide open net, the puck come out from the corner, into the slot where Reid was wide open, with Andrew Hammond out of position, Reid couldnt hit the empty goal. Penticton started skating, really moving the puck well in the early goings. Some good play at both ends of the rink in the first five minutes, as the Vipers got the puck in deep, Jordan White skated way out to collect the loose puck, White coughed up the puck right on the stick of Sahir Gill who blasted his shot into the empty net, putting Vernon up 1-0 scoring on there 19th shot. On the next play after the faceoff, Chris Crowell & Braden Pimm with a turnover at the Vipers blueline, cost them. Garrett Milan collected the loose puck, made a nice feed over to Denver Manderson who put a nice move on Andrew Hammond, tying the game 1-1 even though the Vipers were up in shots 19-3. This goal seemed to turn the tides as now Penticton had the momentum and ran with it. The remainder of the period was all Vees. The Vees started taking the body, playing with a little more energy then Vernon. The Vees were winning most of the battles, winning all the races, outplaying Vernon. The Vipers would get into some penalty trouble going down two men, with Penticton on a two man advantage it didnt take long, after some nice passing from Denver Manderson & Zac Josepher, the puck come back to the point where Curtis McKenzie blasted his shot past Hammond putting Penticton up 2-1. The Vipers couldnt seem to connect on a pass coming out of there own end, and were being outhit. Vernons only real good scoring chance came when Cory Kane & Bryce Kakoske went in on the two on one, Kane made a crease pass over to Kakoske who fired wide. Late in the period Adam Zamec wired a shot from the slot, as Hammond made a nice shoulder save. Penticton outplayed Vernon for most of the 2nd period, up 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. The Vees outshot the Vipers 11-7.

3rd Period: The Vees carried on right from where they left off, on the opening rush Joey Holka took a shot from in close, wich just about snuck through the legs of Hammond, Hammond had to lift up his skates to find the puck, between his feet. Just four and a half minutes into the 3rd Brodie Reid would tip Denver Mandersons shot past Hammond as Penticton went ahead 3-1. Vernon was having all kinds of trouble getting out of there own end, getting just one shot on goal within the first seven minutes. Just two minutes later with the Vipers in some more penalty trouble Brodie Reid would hit the back of the net for his second of the night as Penticton went up 4-1 and now in full control. Vernons penalty killers were all collapsing down low, this giving the Vees all the time and room in the world, to setup and then hit the back of the net. Vernon was still shorthanded down two men, with the Vees on another two man advantage James Kerr with some good hustle come up with a greaqt scoring chance shorthanded but couldnt beat White shortside. Ryan Viselli would then beat Hammond on the next rush up ice putting the Vees up 5-1. Kevin Kraus sat most of the 3rd in the penalty box, taking 14 minutes in penalties. The Vipers looked very disorganized, having all kinds of trouble with the Vees powerplay. A very strong Penticton powerplay put this game away in the early goings of the final period. Captain Chris Crowell decided to drop the gloves with Curtis McKenzie. Late in the period the Vipers on a powerplay had a few chances in close but Jordan White was there to make the save. White looked much better tonight, having control of his rebounds. In the second half of the period Penticton played dump and chase trying to widdle down the clock, Vernon did manage to get control of the play and carry the edge in play in the final four to five miuntes, but at this time it was too little too late, The Vipers didnt show much in the 2nd and 3rd periods as Penticton would get its first win over Vernon this year with a big 5-1 victory. The Vees outshot the Vipers 11-7.

Top Players: (Vernon)

James Kerr had a few chances, showing some good hustle at times but didnt play shift to shift with the energy the Vipers needed.

Sahir Gill (1 goal) Was buzzing in the 1st period, showing some energy and some good cycle down low but wasnt noticed much in the 2nd and 3rd periods.

Top Players: (Penticton)

Devon Krogh (1 assist) looked very impressive on the Vees blueline.

Denver Manderson (1 goal & 3 assists) killed the Vipers tonight. Manderson was all over the ice, buzzing around the Vernon net. Looked very solid up front.

Zac Joespher (2 assists) Was another d-man who looked and played very good on the Vees backend. Joespher laid out a few solid checks tonight.

Brodie Reid (2 goals) Reid looked very good up front, really carried the play at times, saw alot of icetime. The Vipers couldnt stop Reid, who was very dangerous around the net.

Jordan White (28 saves) looked much better compared to the last time Vernon faced the veteran goaltender. White really controlled his rebounds well, come up with some big saves in the 1st period. Didnt look so hot outside the net, had all kinds of trouble handling the puck.

Garrett Milan (1 assist) Milan played well, was shifty all game. You could hear the small forward always calling for the puck. Had some nice setup plays cutting through the neutral zone.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Tonights game started out a little slow but once the Vipers got things going, they looked very good. Had some good chances, getting 15 shots on net but couldnt take advantage going 0-3 on the powerplay in the 1st, wich was a turning point. The Vipers could have burried a flat looking Vees team but didnt, allowing them to hang in giving them a chance at winning tonights game. The Vipers didnt look good nor play good in either of the 2nd and 3rd periods. No hitting, some very poor passes, and gave up way too many turnovers in the middle frame. A very dissapointing loss, after playing back to back not so good games. Vipers need to be more physical with a team like Penticton, they also need to stay out of the box, the Vees powerplay will make you pay every chance they get and it showed tonight. Vernon didnt look good tonight, they need to play better then this. Cameron Brodie & Mike Leidl made there Viper debuts tonight, both looked a little nervous, both didnt really look very comfortable. Both made a few errors, coughed up the puck, overskated the puck etc. Leidl was teamed up with Kevin Kraus as Cameron Brodie was partnered with Kyle Bigos. Brodie did have one good check in the 3rd, overall both kids didnt stand out.

Game Thoughts: (Penticton)

I thought the Vees started out a little slow, like the Vipers but then couldnt seem to get much going, looking very flat footed. A huge penalty kill in the 1st period, killing off three Vernon powerplays. Pentictons penalty killers are very good at shutting down the shooting lanes, foring the d-men with that aggresive forecheck, wich makes it tough to get any quality shots through towards the net. Specialty teams was obviously a big difference in tonights game, as the Vees score three powerplay goals. Penticton moves the puck well, and very quick, then gets that quick shot off with a guy in front for the tip or screen. A very deadly looking powerplay. After not looking so hot in the 1st the Vees really turned things around come the 2nd stepping up there play laying the body, dishing out some huge checks in the middle frame. Really started to skate well, moving the puck quickly cutting through the neutral zone, setting up some nice plays. The Vees seemed to shut down the Vipers forecheck in the 2nd and 3rd periods, really playing a very solid defensive game. Penticton has been playing some of its best hockey as of late and it showed tonight. Give credit for coming up with the win over a Vernon team they havnt been able to solve all season.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Kory Roy
Steven Weinstein
Nick Amies

Penticton:

Matt Ridley
Ryan Johansen
Elias Grossmann

3 Stars:

1st Star: Denver Manderson (1 goal & 3 assists)
2nd Star: Jordan White (28 saves)
3rd Star: Devon Krogh (1 assist)