Was at tonights Royal Bank Cup as Vernon defeated Victoria 5-4 in Overtime in front of 1,631 fans at the Bear Mountain Arena.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Andrew Hammond
Victoria: Anthony Grieco
1st Period: Just a minute into the game Victoria would get an early powerplay but some strong penalty kill by Vernon, would kill off the minor. The Grizzlies would get a second chance on another man advantage shortly after but once again the Vipers would kill off the penalty. Victoria looked very good in the early going, with some good speed, getting the play in deep, and really forcing it to the Vipers. Vernon didnt have the same jump nor did they have their legs going unlike last night. The Grizzlies were buzzing in and around the Vernon zone getting some quality chances. Vernon would get their first powerplay of the night, but struggled as the Grizzlies would kill off the minor. It was all Victoria in the first half, as the Grizzlies were outshooting the Vipers 7-3, carrying the better of the play. Trever Hertz with a quick shot from the circle had a chance but was stopped by Hammond. The Vipers couldnt generate any offence and seemed to be having troubles with the quick speed of the Grizzlies. Jonathan Milhouse & Derek Lee went in two on one, Milhouse kept the puck and shot but was stopped Andrew Hammond made a nice save keeping Vernon in the game. With Vernon on a late powerplay, Mike Collins did all the work in along the side boards, making a nice pass over to Cory Kane who fed Chris Crowell in front who beat Grieco at 16:57 putting Vernon up 1-0. Assists going to Collins & Kane. The Vipers were very lucky to be up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play, after being outplayed most of the period. Vernon outshot Victoria 9-8.
2nd Period: Jonathan Milhouse with a great chance from the slot in the first few minutes was robbed by Hammond. Kevin Kraus with a bad turnover inside the line, coughed up the puck, as Evan Pighin scooped up the puck, feeding Cody Bremner who beat Hammond at 2:41 tying the game up at 1-1. Pighin with the lone assist. Both teams went back and forth with no real chances before the play became scrmabled as the puck was on edge at times through out tonights contest. Back come Victoria with some good presure as they were really taking it to the Vipers, creating some good scoring chances. Andrew Hammond had to be sharp as the Grizzlies were firing everything at the veteran goaltender. The Vipers seemed to finally get some presure with some good work down low, Cory Kane would feed Bryce Kakoske would beat Grieco out front at 6:52 to take the lead 2-1. Kane & James Kerr would collect the assists. Vernon would get into some penalty trouble taking three straight minors, but it was the Vipers who had the early chances, Kyle Bigos with a good rush up ice, stepped over the blueline and then wired a quick shot just wide of the far corner. Connor Jones then shorthanded with a shot from the slot was stopped by Grieco. Ryan Santana & Rob Short went in two on one shorthanded, Santana made a nice pass over to Short who went in on the parcial breakaway but couldnt beat Grieco. With the Grizz still on the powerplay Kyle Bigos with a bad pinch at the blueline, the Grizz rushed up ice, Brian Nugent beat Hammond at 11:38 tying the game 2-2. Derek Lee & Jeff Forsythe would collect the assists. Just two minutes later Sam Higgins beat Hammond at 13:22 as Victoria jumped ahead 3-2. Dustin Mowrey and Justin Courtnall picked up the assists. Not even a minute later a bad pinch by Cameron Brodie sent Jonathan Milhouse & Derek Lee in on the two on one, Milhouse would go in and beat Hammond at 14:21 as Victoria would go up 4-2. Lee & Brian Nugent would get the assists. Vernon looked very tired, this was the Vipers third game in three days and it was starting to show. The Vipers were having all kinds of trouble containing the speed of the Grizzlies. Alot like last nights Vernon-Humboldt game, it was the Vipers tonight who were doing all the hooking-holding trying anything to slow down Victorias speedy forwards. Victoria was all over Vernon for most of the 2nd. Mark Ferner would call a timeout to try and rally his troops. Late in the period Vernon was sitting back playing a more defensive style, trying to shutdown Victorias speed and skill. Vernon didnt look good in the middle frame giving up way too many odd man rushes as Victoria was up 4-2 after 20 minutes of play. The Grizzlies outshot the Vipers 15-8.
3rd Period: Vernon would come out with some good early presure, getting the puck in deep, getting pucks towards the goal. The line of Kellen Jones, Connor Jones and Sahir Gill looked very strong down low, creating some good chances. The Grizzlies seemed to be back on their heels a little as the Vipers slowly started skating, getting some chances. Kellen Jones would get Vernon back in the game after some nice passing cutting through the zone, Jones beat Grieco at 6:05 cutting the lead to 4-3. Connor Jones & Sahir Gill would get the assists. It was now Victoria who were the ones who couldnt seem to get much going, as the Vipers defence really tightened up in the final period. Victoria would get a few good rushes but no real quality chances. Vernon didnt quit, really putting some good presure in the Grizz zone. Grieco had to be sharpe as it was now the Vipers who were throwing pucks towards the net. The Vipers would get a great chance with a powerplay but before the minor expired Vernon would take a minor. Now with Victoria on a late powerplay Jeff Forsythe had two real great chances, one was a quick point shot that was stopped by Hammond and the other, Forsythe moved in from the point and then with a quick shot from the slot somehow was stopped by Hammond who kicked out his left leg at the last second, Hammond didnt even see the puck on the screened play. The Grizz had some real solid chances but couldnt beat Hammond as the Vipers would kill off the minor. With time running down and Hammond looking towards the bench, Chris Crowell did all the work down low, setting up Cody Ikkala, who fed Mike Collins in the slot who beat Grieco at 18:11 to tie the game 4-4 as the Vipers bench and fans erupted. Ikkala and Crowell would collect the assists. Vernon was the better team in the 3rd carrying the better of the play. It was tied 4-4 after 60 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Victoria 8-7.
Overtime: This was the first overtime of the RBC. The Vipers come out strong, once again getting the play in deep and really forechecking hard down low. Braden Pimm with a wrap around, wich just about snuck in, come back out front with a mad scramble in close, before Grieco covered up the play. Victoria's offence couldnt seem to get past the strong forecheck of the Vipers, as Vernon's defence also stepped up their play in the final two periods. The Vipers would get a scare as Rob Short showing some good hustle went crashing into the end boards, getting up limping to the bench. Short seemed to walk it off and was back out their next shift. Shortly after the Vipers would get another scare as Captain Chris Crowell took a big hit along the side boards and seemed to be in some discomfort holding his shoulder-arm. Crowell would finish his shift but would head to the bench in some pain. Crowell seemed to shake it off and was back up on the bench. Rob Short & Ryan Santana with some hard work down low, setup Cole Ikkala who got two chances in front and beat Grieco at 9:17 of overtime to give the Vipers the huge 5-4 comeback win. Santana and Short would both get the assists. Vernon now moves to 3-0 as Victoria falls to 1-2.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Cody Ikkala (1 assist) Played a very well defensive game. Ikkala looked very solid all night, really shutdown the Grizz top lines.
Cory Kane (2 assists) Was one of Vernons better players. Kane was really flying all night, had some nice moves cutting through the neutral zone. Looked very dangerous with the puck. Very smooth skater and puck handler.
Braden Pimm was a work horse tonight for the Vipers. Pimm once again looked very good on the draw, was really skating hard, showing alot of muscle down low in and along the boards.
Rob Short (1 assist) Played another solid game. Short had a parcial shorthanded breakaway in the 2nd but couldnt find the back of the net. Showed alot of hustle tonight.
Chris Crowell (1 goal & 1 assist) What can you say about the Vipers captain. Crow showed alot of heart and determination tonight with some good hustle, played physical. Looked very strong down low and in front of the net.
Cole Ikkala (1 goal) Played a good game up front. Dosnt score many goals but is one of the hardest working kids on the team. Played physical, took a few big checks, but didnt back down. Had a few good chances.
The line of Connor Jones (1 assist), Kellen Jones (1 goal) & Sahir Gill (1 assist) all played well.
Andrew Hammond made some big saves late in the 2nd period and late in the 3rd to give the Vipers a chance at winning tonights game. Hammy looked very good down low, was the Vipers best penalty killer.
Top Players: (Victoria)
Jonathan Milhouse (1 goal) Was by far the Grizzlies best player, this kid is a treat to watch. Had some very good scoring chances. Had two two on ones, scoring on one of them. Very smooth skater and puck handler.
Derek Lee (2 assists) The former Salmon Arm Silverback is always dangerous with or without the puck. Lee looked very good for most of tonights game.
Brian Nugent (1 goal & 1 assist) Was another big game player for the Grizzlies tonight, really looked dangerous up front. Nugent was down on the ice in the 2nd period heading to the bench looking very woozy but managed to return to the hockey game.
Jeff Forsythe (1 assist) Played a heck of a game. So far in the three games I have seen this kid play, he has looked very impressive. Has a quick shot, likes to get pucks towards the goal, good skater and very solid d-man.
Anthony Grieco played well between the pipes for Victoria. Made a few key saves at times to keep the Grizz in it. Myles MacRae also played well.
Cody Bremner (1 goal) Was impressive tonight. Had some chances.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Vernon was lucky to win tonight, but also give them credit for battling back down 4-2 going into the 3rd. The Vipers were outplayed and outchanced for most of the 1st period but got lucky and were up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon looked very tired (3 games in three days) in the 2nd period, getting into penalty trouble, along with giving up way too many odd man rushes. Vipers d-men were caught on several occasions making some bad decisions, allowing the Grizzlies the odd man rush. Vernon with just three shots on net in the first ten minutes of the first, and then just a few shots on goal in the first ten minutes of the 2nd. I dont think I have seen Vernon give up three goals in about four minutes all season, Victoria scoring three goals in about four minutes in the 2nd. Vernon didnt look very good at all in the first two periods but played much better in the 3rd, actually the Vipers were the team who outplayed and outchanced Victoria in the final two periods. Give this team credit, they never say die and always seem to find ways to gut one out, wich they did tonight. Vernon now gets a much needed day off tomorrow, and comes back with a 2pm game vs Kingston Thursday.
Game Thoughts: (Victoria)
I have said it right from the start of the RBC, for a team that has been off the past month (knocked out in 7 games by Powell River) this Grizzly team sure looks good in the RBC. A tough loss in the opening game to Humboldt (2-1 loss) but come back with a solid effort in routing Kingston 5-0 in Game 2 before losing a heartbreaker tonight to Vernon. Victoria has some speed and a ton of skill up front, some good strong, big d-men on the backend and solid goaltending in Anthony Grieco. After last nights 7-1 Vernon win, I was really looking forward to tonights all BCHL matchup. The Grizzlies looked good in the opening period and very impressive in the 2nd period (scored 4 goals) had many chances to put Vernon away but couldnt and it cost them. I really like the Victoria powerplay, move the puck well, keep it simple. A tough loss but dont count these kids out. Where are all the Grizzly fans? Another very small crowd tonight, I did notice as the game went on, a few more bodies flowed into the rink. But with the BCHL's two best teams playing at the RBC, I would have thought the game was soldout. So far I have been very dissapointed in the crowds at the RBC. Ive been out and about while not at the rink and so far have seen just one lone RBC Cup poster at one of the local pubs in town. No advertising, posters, signs etc no nothing in and around town. Today while out and about I talked to many people who had no idea what the RBC Cup was, nor did they even now it was in town. Thats crazy!
Scratches:
Vernon:
Steven Weinstein
Nick Amies
Trent Dorias (AP)
Kory Roy
Players of the game:
Vernon:
Cole Ikkala (OT Winner)
Victoria:
Brian Nugent (1 goal & 1 assist)
No comments:
Post a Comment