Was at this afternoons Royal Bank Cup as Vernon defeated Summerside 4-2 in front of 1,514 fans at the Bear Mountain Arena.
1st Period: Both Vernon and Summerside played their first games of the RBC and first time meeting one another since the 1989 Cetennial Cup. The Vipers waisted very little time as Braden Pimm tipped Mike Collins shot past Alex Dupuis at 13 seconds. Collins with the lone assist. Vernon would get the first early powerplay but struggled on the man advantage as the Capitals killed off the minor. Summerside looked very aggresive on the penalty kill. Kevin Kraus & Ryan Santana went in two on one, but Santana couldnt connect on Kraus's pass. With the Vipers shorthanded Connor Jones put Vernon up 2-0 at 6:40 with Kellen Jones & Mike Leidl collecting the assists. Vernon looked very good in the early going with some good puck movement down low. Will Johnston was robbed by Andrew Hammond after being alone in the slot, Hammond made one of his unreal pinwheel saves to rob the Caps player in front. Shortly after Hammond come up with his second big save of the period making a huge toe save off Mike MacIsaac down low. The Vipers had four straight powerplays but really struggled as the Caps penalty kill looked good stopping Vernons powerplay unit on all four powerplays. Kyle Bigos had Vernons only real solid scoring chance on one of the four powerplays, but rang his shot off the post. Late in the second half a ton of minors were called as both teams played three on three. The Vipers come close to scoring with just seconds remaining, Cameron Brodie's point shot was deflected in front, just about finding its way through a maze of players in front. Vernon was by far the better of the two teams up 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Capitals 8-7.
2nd Period: Summerside would get an early powerplay, but it was Kellen Jones with a great shorthanded scoring chance, Dupuis just got a glimpse of the puck as it snuck through his pads and out the other end. On the same rush, James Kerr with a chance from the slot was stopped by Dupuis. The Vipers would kill off the minor looking very strong on the penalty kill. Vernon really stepped up their physical play, really taking it to the Caps. Josh McKinnon took a huge check in behind the Summerside goal, and had some troubles getting off the ice with wich looked like a hurt shoulder on the play. Chris Crowell laid out the biggest check of the period just outside the neutral zone. Vernons physical play really wore down the Capitals. The Vipers were all over Summerside in the 2nd as the Caps had just one shot on net in the first seven minutes of the period. Kellen Jones with a great chance was stopped by Dupuis. Connor Jones at the side of the net, pulled Dupuis way out from the crease, Connor went around the net, going for the wrap around but couldnt tuck the puck in past a diving Summerside d-man who come out of no where to stop the puck from going in. Cory Kane with a shot from the circle went off Dupuis's mask, during the stopage in play, Dupuis had to check his mask twice after Kanes rocket shot. The Capitals offence was no where to be seen, as Vernons defence wasnt giving any room for the Caps to get pucks through or towards the net. Just after the midway mark Kevin Kraus made a heck of a pass up ice to feed Connor Jones who went in all alone for the breakaway, beating Dupuis at 11:17 putting Vernon up 3-0. Kraus and Mike Leidl picked up the assists. Just seconds later Mike Collins beat Dupuis at 11:43 as the Vipers were in full control up 4-0. Braden Pimm & Kraus collected the assists. The Vipers really dominated the play for most of the 2nd, getting a ton of good scoring chances. Summerside couldnt seem to get much of anything going. Late in the period James Kerr went in all alone but was stopped by Dupuis. Hammond had a fairly easy middle frame making just four saves. The Vipers got a bit of a scare late in the period, Chris Crowell took a huge check along the side boards and come up limping, Crowell would head to the bench favoring his leg-ankle, but would return to the 3rd and see a regular shift. Vernon was up 4-0 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Capitals 21-4.
3rd Period: A bit of a slow start to the final period with both teams having some troubles getting things goinng. Some real scrambly play at times as Summerside had the only shot of the period almost eight minutes into the period. Mark Ferner sat his 1st and 2nd lines for most of the period as the Vipers let off the gas and sat back on a 4-0 lead. The Vipers would get into penalty trouble taking three straight minors and it would cost them. Nathan DesRoches would beat Hammond over the blocker on the powerplay at 7:01 putting Summerside on the board. Brad Smith & Parker Deighan would pick up the assists. Rob Short with a good burst of speed, beat his man to the outside, cut towards the net, going in on the breakaway but couldnt get the puck past Dupuis, going high just over the crossbar. With Vernon sitting back for most of the final period, you think you would see more from the Caps, but this wasnt the case. Summerside couldnt seem to generate much offence. Daniel Whelan with a great chance but was stopped after Hammond come up with the big glove save. The Vipers come close to going up 5-1 after Kevin Kraus's point shot hit the post. Chad Locke with a great chance went in all alone on the breakaway but was stopped by Andrew Hammond, on the same rush the puck would come back out front and then shortly after Josh McKinnon would beat Hammond at 16:43 cutting the lead to 4-2. Chad Locke & Nathan Snowie collected the assists. Vernon would pick up its first victory at the RBC moving to 1-0 as Summerside would fall in its first game, moving to 0-1. Summerside outshot Vernon 10-9.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Andrew Hammond wasnt tested often but come up with a few big saves in the first period and then stopped Chad Locke on the breakaway in the final period. Hammond looked very focused all afternoon.
Kevin Kraus (2 assists) Looked very strong defensivly & offensivly. Kraus played very well making some nice plays all game.
Kyle Bigos played a very solid game for the Vipers. Bigos was moving the puck well afternoon. Looked very good in the defensive zone.
James Kerr played with alot of energy, had lots of jump. Had a great chance late in the 2nd period but was stopped on the breakaway.
Connor Jones (2 goals) Looked very good up front for Vernon. Connor was flying all afternoon, really skating hard. Scored two real nice goals.
Kellen Jones (1 assist) Had some good chances, especially in the middle period. Braden Pimm (1 goal & 1 assist) Played well, nice tip on the first goal of the game. Won alot of draws this afternoon.
Top Players: (Summerside)
Alex Dupuis (34 saves) Played very well, Dupuis was under fire in the 2nd period with the Vipers dominating the play, firing 21 shots in the middle frame. Dupuis kept his team in the hockey game at times.
Mike MacIsaac was by far the Caps best player. MacIsaac has some good wheels, always going to the net. Was robbed twice by Andrew Hammond.
Brad Smith (1 assist) Looked very good up front for Summerside. Has some nice hands.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
I was very impressed with the Vipers play this afternoon. Vernon really took it to Summerside, especially in the 2nd period. The score could have been alot worse if it wasnt for Vernon struggling on the powerplay. The Vipers could have easily blowen this game wide open, but laid off the gas in the 3rd. Vernons physical play in the 2nd really took a toll on the Caps, after a few kids were limping off the ice. Vernon was really skating hard, moving the puck well and overall, really dominated the play. The Vipers do need to work on their powerplay though, really struggled. Nice to see a big turnout of Vernon fans at todays game.
Game Thoughts: (Summerside)
I didnt see much in the Summerside Capitals. Didnt get much going all afternoon, very limited scoring chances. Not an overall physical team, that really had troubles with the Vipers strong physical play. Summerside couldnt seem to muster much of an offensive attack against the Vipers d-men, were having lots of trouble getting pucks towards the net for most of the afternoon. Even when the Vipers led off the gas in the 3rd, the Caps still couldnt generate much, nor carry the better of the play.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Steven Weinstein
Nick Amies
Kory Roy
Trent Dorias (AP)
Player Of The Game:
Vernon:
Connor Jones (2 goals)
Summerside:
Brad Smith (1 assist)
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