Vernon 2 Quesnel 0

Was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Quesnel 2-0 in front of 1,914 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Graeme Gordon
Quesnel: Kirby Halcrow

1st Period: The Vipers would get the puck in deep off the opening draw, with some good puck movement Vernon was buzzing early in the Millionaries zone. Steven Weinstein snuck up the middle and then walked in but was stopped by Kirby Halcrow. Shortly after Cory Kane setup Kellen Jones in front who was stopped by Halcrow. 5:02 into the period Dylan Walchuk made a nice pass up the middle catching Drew George who went up the middle, in all alone for the breakaway beating Halcrow as Vernon jumped up 1-0. Assists going to Walchuk & Kevin Kraus. Quesnel's best and only real good scoring chance was when Taylor Holst tried putting a move on Graeme Gordon, Gordon dove across the crease and was down and out, Holst took a long shot from the corner and missed on the emoty net as Gordon was caught way out of position. Vernon come very close to going up 2-0 after a shot from the slot hit Halcrow in the pads and was lying in the crease, with a mad scramble in the crease the puck was still loose as no Viper was able to bang the puck home. Vernon carried the better of the play for most of the 1st, as the Vipers were up 11-3 in shots at the midway mark. The Mills would get the first powerplay of the game but it was the Vipers who with some solid penalty kill only allowed Quesnel to get one shot on net on the man advantage. Nick Amies broke up a Mills scoring chance, after a great defensive play on the backcheck. Cory Kane was stopped in the slot on another good scoring chance by the Vipers. Vernon was up 1-0 after the first period, outshooting Quesnel 16-7.

2nd Period: The Millionaries come out with some good jump to start the 2nd period, carrying the early edge in play. The Vipers were back on their heels a little as Quesnel moved the puck well, generating some offence. Trevor Hertz was stopped in close by Gordon. Gordon made several key saves in the middle frame to keep Vernon in the hockey game. Vernon would get into penalty trouble taking back to back minors, former Vernon Vipers defenceman, Eliot Raibl's quick point shot gave Gordon a little trouble but managed to make the save. The Vipers would kill off both minors. Dylan Walchuk & Sawyer Mick went in two on one, Walchuk with a little spin a rama move, made a nice backhand pass over to Mick in front, who couldnt connect on the pass as the Vipers come close to going ahead by two. Quesnel had the better of the play in the first half of the period outshooting the Vipers 7-1. The play got a little scrambly at times, with some poor passes. The Vipers made two poor plays coming out of their own end, Adam Thompson's pass ended up right on a Mills player, wich resulted in a scoring chance. Steven Weinstein's pass in his own end also ended up on a Mills stick, two bad plays wich could have cost Vernon a goal. In the second half of the period Kellen Jones hit the far post from inside the circle after beat Halcrow but couldnt beat the post. The Vipers seemed to get their game going late in the 2nd getting some chances and getting back in the shot department. Once again with a scramble in front of Kirby Halcrow the puck was loose in the crease, as the Vipers banged away before Halcrow covered up the loose puck to stop the play. The Millionaries had the better of the play in the 2nd period after a scoreless period. Quesnel outshot Vernon 10-9.

3rd Period: The Vipers turned it on early to start the 3rd buzzing around the Quesnel net. Dan Nycholat with a nice long pass over to Connor Jones who turned on the jets, flying down the wing, and then drove towards the goal, but was stopped by Halcrow before Cory Kane banged home the game winner at 1:45. Jones & Nycholat would collect the assists. Vernon looked very strong in the first five minutes getting some good chances, Braden Pimm outworked his man and then cut towards the net but was stopped by Halcrow. Jonathan Milhouse beat his man downlow, but couldnt beat Halcrow. Shortly after the play would go back and forth, Erik Hansen with a quick shot from the circle was stopped by Gordon who made the big pad save. Former Victoria Grizzly Jonathan Milhouse setup Mike Collins in close, as Halcrow robbed Collins. The play would go back the other way as Taylor Holst, Trevor Hertz & Oliver Koo went in three on one, Holst setup Hertz who was stopped by Gordon who looked very sharp all night. Matthew Herskovitz looked very strong on the Millionaries backend, Herskovitz carried the puck alot tonight, especially in the 3rd. At times Vernon had troubles clearing the zone, as the Mills forecheck was hard at work. Patrick McGillis who played with alot of energy plowed his way through the Quesnel zone, getting a quick shot off from the circle as Halcrow made the save. The Millionaries would get the puck in deep, Erik Hansen thought he had a breakaway, before Graeme Gordon come racing out from his crease towards the Vernon blueline to shoot the loose puck away, breaking up a good scoring chance for Quesnel. Vernon would get back to back powerplays, Quesnel looked very good on the first penalty kill killing off the minor, the Vipers with some good quality shots from the point and slot couldnt beat Halcrow who looked very solid as the Mills got a big boost killing off both minors. Late in the 3rd the Vipers who looked very strong with the puck downlow, generated some good chances. Quesnel would call a late timeout and with thirty seconds remaining would pull Kirby Halcrow for the extra attacker, but it was the strong play from Jonathan Milhouse would kill off the final few seconds off the clock with some strong forecheck down low inbehind the Mills goal. Vernon would improve to 5-0 with a 2-0 victory over the Quesnel Millionaries. Graeme Gordon would make 29 saves for his first shutout of the season. Shots were even 12-12 in the final twenty minutes.

Top Players: (Vernon)

The Vipers 2nd line of Mike Collins, Jonathan Milhouse and Braden Pimm looked very strong and very dangerous all night. Collins & Milhouse were the most impressive Vipers tonight. Pimm once again was a workhorse downlow, was very hard to knock off the puck. Pimm had several scoring chances. Milhouse played his best game as a Viper. Was very good downlow, very hard to get off the puck, made some very smart plays all game.

Drew George (1 goal) looked very good in the 1st period but wasnt as noticable in the 2nd and 3rd periods.

Dylan Walchuk (1 assist) Once again looked very dangerous up front. made a few real nice passes, wich resulted in a scoring chance.

Steven Weinstein looked very good on the Vipers blueline. Come very close to opening the scoring just minutes into the game. Stevie played very well at both ends of the rink, coughed up the puck once.

Nick Amies also played a very solid game on the backend. Was physical, didnt give the Mills much room down low.

Patrick McGillis played with alot of energy this evening. McGillis showed alot of spark and hustle most of the game, was involved in the play getting some chances.

Graeme Gordon (29 saves-1st shutout of the season) Gordon looked very sharp, made some key saves early into the 2nd period keeping Vernon in the game. Looked very confident between the pipes.

Top Players: (Quesnel)

Matthew Herskovitz looked very strong and solid on the Mills blueline. This kid has some size, likes to move the puck and get involved in the play. Good skater, very good puck handler.

Trevor Hertz always plays well against Vernon. Played good tonight, was skating hard, had some good chances.

Taylor Holst also played well up front for Quesnel. Has some speed and good hands. Was stopped by Gordon on a three on one in the third.

Erik Hansen had several chances, but couldnt find the back of the net.

Kirby Halcrow (35 saves) Played very well between the pipes for Quesnel. Made some key saves early in the 1st and in the 3rd to keep the Millionaires in the hockey game. Needs some work controlling his rebounds, gave out alot of big rebounds. Got lucky on a few plays when the puck was lying loose in the crease but no Viper could slide the puck home.

Tyler French looked fairly good up front. Was involved in the play several times.

Eliot Raibl played well at both ends of the rink. Jumped up into the play on several plays. Played his position very well.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Vernon looked very strong and good in the opening period outplaying Quesnel for most of the first. The Vipers with several good scoring chances couldnt get more then one past Halcrow in the first two periods. At times the Vipers made some poor passes, coughing up the puck a few times but played fairly well to get the win. The Vipers at times had troubles defensively but looked very dangerous offensively. The Vipers speed and depth up front was too much for Quesnel, as the Mills had troubles containing and shutting down Vernons offence.

Game Thoughts: (Quesnel)

Quesnel gave Vernon a good run, but in the end, didnt have the finish in and around the net. The Mills couldnt stop the Vipers speed and depth up front, as Halcrow gave the Mills a chance to win. The Millionaires have played all of the top Interior Division teams very well, coming up short in all four games. (4-3 loss to Westside, 4-3 loss to Penticton, 3-2 OT loss to Salmon Arm and then tonights 2-0 loss to Vernon) Quesnel has a fairly quick team with some veteran kids up front. Tonights game reminded me alot like last Saturdays Vipers 5-1 win over Trail. A bounce here or there and we have a different hockey game. If the Mills connect on one of their scoring chances early in the 2nd we have a tied hockey game and who knows what happens next. Quesnel played hard but in the end couldnt match the Vipers four lines. I was fairly impressed with the Mills, a much better looking team then past years. This team didnt quit and showed alot of hustle. I like the Mills new away jerseys, at times it was hard to tell the two teams apart, when two players got tangled up with one another, both jerseys blended in looking alike.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Eroc Soderlund
Darrin Robak
Brendan Persley
Rob Short (Injured)

Quesnel:

Brandon Watson
Chris Kerr
Tyler Billon

3 Stars:

1st Star: Graeme Gordon (29 saves-1st shutout)
2nd Star: Connor Jones (1 assist)
3rd Star: Drew George (1 goal)