Was at this afternoons Exibition game as the BCHL Vernon Vipers defeated The Under 17 Sweden National Team 2-1 in a shootout in front of 2,332 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Before the game both teams exchanged gifts with one another, players and coaches.
1st Period: Some good flow early with very little checking coming from both teams. Adam Larsson had Swedens real first good scoring chance, Larsson cut towards the goal, but was stopped by Andrew Hammond. Kellen Jones had the first scoring chance for the Vipers but was stopped by Johan Gustafsson. Very few scoring chances in the 1st period with both teams skating well with action at both ends of the rink. Sweden is a strong skating team, moves the puck well, very quick and hard to fight off the puck. In the 2nd half of the period Sweden carried the better of the play but couldnt generate much of an offensive attack, but carried the edge in play. James Kerr was stopped by Gustafsson in the slot. Vernon would get the first powerplay of todays game but didnt capitalize. A very quick period with very few stopages in play. It was scoreless after 20 minutes of play, Sweden outshot Vernon 12-8.
2nd Period: Sweden would get an early powerplay but couldnt capitalize, as the powerplay came to an end, Steve Weinstein jumped out of the box, picked up the puck going in two on one with Ryan Santana, Weinstein would fed a pass over to Santana who beat Gustafsson putting Vernon up 1-0 just over three minutes into the period. The physical play picked up in the middle frame with both teams starting to feel one another out, making a little more contact. Some even flow for both teams in the early goings, with some good cahcnes at either ends of the rink. The Vipers were having troubles in there own end this afternoon, as Sweden was very quick on the puck, causing a few turnovers in the Vernon zone. Erik Thorell with a nice move in the slot, was stopped by Hammond. Hammond wouldnt allow a goal on 18 shots, leaving the game midway through the second period as Graeme Gordon come into goal for Vernon. Sweden seemed to turn up the notch as there speed and puck movement seemed to be too much for the Vipers. Sweden carried the better of the play in the 2nd half, getting some quality shots, as Gordon was busy. Mattias Granlund had a nice chance from the slot but was stopped by Gordon. Vernon had a great chance, Steve Weinstein with a screened shot from the point, somehow got through the traffic in front, as Gustafsson just got his toe on it, making the save. The Vipers had troubles getting shots on goal, as they didnt record a shot on net for a good seven or eight minutes. Vernon was up 1-0 after 40 minutes of play. Sweden outshot Vernon 17-9.
3rd Period: Sweden got the play in deep, with some nice passing down low, they finally would hit the back of the net. Henri Snall made a nice pass across the crease, David Rydell was robbed in front by Graeme Gordon, Gordon couldnt handle the rebound and was down and out, Sebastian Ottosson then roofed a shot over Gordon to tie the game 1-1 just a few minutes into the final frame. Sweden had the early presure, buzzing around the Vipers net with some good chances. Swedens speed and passing is unreal, a very slick moving team. Vernon would turn the game around and now get some presure of there own, with some good chances coming back the other way. Braden Pimm went in all alone for a breakaway, Johan Gustafsson lost an edge and was falling down on the play, but still somehow come up with the pad save. Mike Collins with a glorious chance from the slot but fired a shot off the post. Some good action in the second half of the 3rd with both teams skating hard. The Vipers would get a late powerplay but couldnt connect, as Sweden excaped killing off the minor. The game was tied 1-1 after 60 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Sweden 12-10.
The game would go to a shootout with five shooters each. In sudden death Kyle Bigos would score the shootout winner giving the Vipers the 2-1 victory.
Vernons Shooters:
Mike Collins
Sahir Gill
Kellen Jones (scored)
Bryce Kakoske (Hit the crossbar)
Connor Jones (Hit the post)
Braden Pimm
Kyle Bigos (scored)
Swedens Shooters:
Adam Pettersson
Mattias Granlund
Erik Thorell (scored)
Adam Larsson
Victor Ohman
Ludvig Rensfeldt
Erik Thorell
Top Players: (Vernon)
Ryan Santana (1 goal) Showed lots of hustle, carried the play alot this afternoon, was hard to knock off the puck. Was involved in the play alot.
Steve Weinstein (1 assist) Played his 2nd straight good game on the blueline. Weinstein skated well, held his own on the backend. Had a few nice shots from the point, wich were good scoring chances.
Braden Pimm looked very good up front for the Vipers. Was stopped on a breakaway in the 3rd period.
Top Players (Sweden)
Adam Larsson played a very physical game, was solid on the Sweden blueline. A very big kid who likes to rush the puck up ice. Very mobile who can through his weight around. Likes to get involved in the play offensivly.
Mattias Granlund has some quick wheels, nice puck handler.
Adam Pettersson is probaly the fastest skater for Sweden but isnt the greatest puck handler. Erik Thorell was Swedens best player all afternoon. Very quick skater, nice hands, always buzzing around the net.
Victor Ohman also played well for Sweden. Had a few chances in close.
Johan Gustafsson played well between the pipes. Plays the butterfly style, always down but gets up quickly, very fast on his feet.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
I dont think the Vipers nor the fans thought it was going to be as physical as it was. Sweden took the body for most of the game, as the Vipers laid off the checking atleast for the first period, started to take the body come the middle frame. Overall a very entertaining hockey game with very few whistles. The Vipers had troubles with Swedens speed and puck movement, especially containing them in there own zone. Great to see such a large crowd on hand, especially for a Sunday afternoon game. The attendance was announced at 2,332 there is noway that was correct. A very large crowd wich almost filled most of the seats, there was easily close to 2,800 people there today.
Game Thoughts: (Sweden)
Watching this team in warmup was a treat. It was pretty funny watching these kids skate over the centre line, going for loose pucks in the Vipers zone, when skating they would take the real wide skate through and over the centre line. Some very nice passing drills worked on during warmup, very interesting to watch. After the final buzzer to end warmup, most of the Sweden players stayed on the ice still shooting pucks, skating around. It was pretty funny to watch. Some very unique drills during warmup. When coming onto the ice to start the game, they all huddled in and around the goaltender, belted out some kind of a chant and then headed to the bench, ready to start the game. These kids can sure play hockey, a very skilled team with a ton of speed, unreal passing and puck movement. Watching there breakout plays was unreal. So quick going from there zone, and into the Vipers zone. Almost never touched on every single breakout play. Some of these kids skated circles around the Vernon players, you could sure tell the Vipers had some troubles with there speed and puck skill. Very creative with the puck in and around the goal. During the shootout, Johan Gustafsson would head to the bench everytime, when his team was shooting.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Steve Tresierra
Cory Kane
Sweden:
They didnt announce any scratches for Team Sweden
Swedens Roster:
D Johan Alm
D Victor Berglind
D Fredrik Claesson
D Joel Ostman
D Karl Johansson
D Adam Larsson
D Viktor Nasland
F Mattias Granlund
F Gabriel Landeskog
F Johan Larsson
F Daniel Mannberg
F Sebastian Ottosson
F Adam Pettersson
F Ludvig Rensfeldt
F David Rydell
F Henri Snall
F Erik Thorell
F Felix Eriksson
F Victor Ohman
G Johan Gustafsson
G Oskar Sehlstedt
Manager Christer Hoglund
Head Coach Anders Eriksen
Assistant Coach Jan Ericson
Goalie Coach Krister Holm
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