Was at todays Royal Bank Cup Semifinals as Vernon defated Kingston 6-3 in front of 2,386 fans at the Bear Mountain Arena.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Andrew Hammond
Kingston: Shawn Sirman
1st Period: Before the game Jarrett Burton was give a ten minute misconduct for something that happened during the warmup. Vernon would get the first powerplay of the game early and it didnt take long for them to capitalize. Just 1:50 into the game Bryce Kakoske would beat Shawn Sirman putting the Vipers up 1-0. Kellen Jones & Sahir Gill with the assists. Just 32 seconds later Cameron Brodie with a blast from the point beat Sirman at 2:22 as Vernon was up 2-0. Captain Chris Crowell & Mike Collins collected the assists. The Vipers were focused and ready to go this afternoon, looking very strong for most of the 1st period. The Vipers really dominated the edge in play as they were all over the Voyageurs. Sahir Gill with a great chance in front, was stopped by Sirman, after getting upended on the play. Kingston had troubles all afternoon staying out of the penalty box, Vernon would get its second man advantage and once again make the Voyageurs pay. Mike Collins beat Sirman at 8:34 as the Vipers grabbed a early 3-0 lead, Kyle Bigos & Bryce Kakoske with the assists. Vernon was up in shots 7-1 at this point and in full control. Kingston's best scoring chance of the period came when Ben Power & Brock Higgs went in two on one but was stopped by Andrew Hammond. The Vipers played most of the period on the powerplay as the Voyageurs gave Vernon five powerplays alone during the 1st. The Vipers looked very good in the opening period really moving the puck well, skating hard, completely dominating the edge in play. The Vipers were buzzing in and around the net getting all kinds of chances. Vernon played physical, laying out some solid checks. Vernon was up 3-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Voyageurs 17-5.
2nd Period: Vernon would get the puck in deep, really using the forecheck down low, creating some early chances. The Vipers were firing everything towards the net, trying to get as many pucks on Shawn Sirman as they could. Vernons defence was solid all period, shutting down the Voyaguers speed and skilled players. Kingston was having all kinds of trouble getting through the neutral zone. Again for the second straight period the Voyageurs took some very undisaplined penalties, but the Vipers struggled on a few of the man advantages. Very limited chances at both ends of the rink, with Vernon playing a very solid defensive period. Kyle Bigos had two great chances on different occasions, Bigos winded up and blasted a shot from the point, just missing the net. Kingston couldnt generate any offensive attack, as the Vipers defence was clogging up nthe neutral zone. Kingston with just one shot on net in the first 12 minutes of the 2nd period. Late in the 2nd Cory Kane would put Vernon up 4-0 at 16:59 with Bryce Kakoske & Cameron Brodie collecting the assists. Just over a minute later with Vernon on another man advantage Cameron Brodie with his second of the afternoon, with Mike Collins and Kyle Bigos collecting the assists. Brodie's blast from the point beat wich looked like a screened Sirman in front. The Vipers in full control were up 5-0 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Kingston 9-2.
3rd Period: Cody Rosen started the 3rd between the pipes for the Voyageurs after Shawn Sirman was given the yank after allowing five goals on 26 shots. This was Rosen's first RBC action. The Viper defence got a little sloppy and allowed Justin Levac to walk in and beat Hammond at 1:17 getting the Voyageurs on the scoreboard. Anthony Geldart picked up the lone assist. Kingston didnt quit, putting on some good presure as the Vipers were back on their heels early to start the 3rd. The Voyageurs with some good chances in close, had Andrew Hammond busy. Jacob Chiblow with a shot from the slot was stopped in close by Hammond who had to be sharp. Vernon now having troubles getting out of their own end, as the Vipers were running around chasing the Voyageurs. Vernon would get into some penalty trouble and it cost them. Ben Power on the powerplay beat Hammond at 7:34 as the Voyageurs cut the lead to 5-2. Just three minutes later on another man advantage, Jeff Blackburn beat Hammond at 10:43 as Kingston was making a game of this, with the Vipers 5-0 lead now down to 5-3. Kingston with another undisaplined penalty, gave Vernon what they needed. Bryce Kakoske at the side of the net, tapped the loose puck home at 14:53 for his 2nd goal of the afternoon. James Kerr & Adam Thompson with the assists. Kingston with a late powerplay would pull Rosen with just under three minutes remaining for the extra attacker but it didnt work in their favor. Sahir Gill with a shot at the empty net from just past centre hit the post, as the play went into the corner, Gill would get another shot at the empty net but would hit the post for the second time. In the dying seconds Bryce Kakoske going for his third goal of the game, tried twice for the empty net but couldnt hit it. In the end the Vipers would defeat the Kingston Voyageurs 6-3 moving onto the Royal Bank Cup Final Sunday afternoon vs the Humboldt Broncos. Vernon now moves to 5-0 in the RBC while Kingston was eliminated fell to 1-4 in the tournament. The Voyageurs outplayed the Vipers for most of the 3rd but come up short. Kingston outshot Vernon 9-8 in the 3rd. Vernon has now won 10 straight games.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Bryce Kakoske (2 goals & 2 assists) What can you say about Kakoske, after sitting out in yesterdays game vs Kingston Bryce comes back with a solid effort picking up 2 goals and 2 assists. Kakoske made some real nice plays all afternoon, looking very strong up front.
Kyle Bigos (2 assists) played another solid game for the Vipers on the backend. Bigos looked very solid defensivly.
Mike Leidl played a very solid defensive game. Come up with a few big block shots.
Cameron Brodie (2 goals & 1 assist) Brodie was a monster on the Vipers blueline, scored two goals both wicked shots from the point that found the back of the net. Brodie played his best game of the RBC, looking very solid.
Sahir Gill (1 assist) Played a strong game up front. Was knocked around good down low and in front, but didnt back down. Was in and around the Kingston net on several occasions.
Mike Collins (1 goal & 2 assists) Played very good. Scored once on the PP. Was skating hard.
Top Players: (Kingston)
Scott Harington (2 assists) This young kid has a great hockey future ahead for himself. Just 16 yrs old but dosnt show it. Very good skater, moves the puck well, makes those quick decisions, smart hockey player. Played very well for the Voyageurs.
Dustin Walsh (1 assist) This kid can skate, has very soft hands. Very nice to watch. Always a threat when on the ice.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The Vipers come ready to play and it showed especially in the first period. Vernon was all over Kingston for most if not all the 1st and very similar in the 2nd period. The Vipers were skating hard, really moving the puck well and throwing everything on net. Vipers played a very disaplined game until taking some dumb penalties in the 3rd. Up until the 3rd the Vipers penalty kill looked very strong, at one point Vernon was killing off a two man advantage but it was the Vipers who carried most of the play, Kyle Bigos held off three Voyageur players in the corner, while on the penalty kill. This was almost a carbon copy of the Vernon-Summerside game on Sunday. With the Vipers up 5-0 and in full control going into the 3rd, Vernon took their foot of the gas, Mark Ferner played his 3rd and 4th lines alot in the final period. Nice to see the 3rd and 4th lines get some playing time, especially in a 5-0 game. Both lines even saw some PP time. When this team is focused and ready to go, they are very deadly. Other then Humboldt I dont think the rest of the teams in the Royal Bank Cup saw the real Vipers. In the end Kingston was no match for the Vipers. Congrats to the boys for moving on to the RBC Final on Sunday! All week I have seen Clippers head coach-gm Bill Bestwick, Vees head coach-gm Fred Harbinson, former Vernon Vipers head coaches, Bernie Pimm & Joe Oliver. I also saw former Viper d-man Brad Cook in attendance.
Game Thoughts: (Kingston)
This game was over after the 1st period. Kingston couldnt handle the Vipers forecheck, skill and overall strength down low. In the end the Voyageurs were left with having to haul guys down, just to try and stop them. Kingston took some very undisaplined penalties and it cost them. This team has some speed and skill up front, but Ive said it before, very weak on the blueline and between the pipes. Two shots on goal in the 2nd period, wont win you hockey games.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Nick Amies
Steven Weinstein
Trent Dorias (AP)
Kory Roy
Players of the game:
Vernon:
Bryce Kakoske (2 goals & 2 assists)
Kingston:
Scott Harington (2 assists)
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