Was at tonights BCHL exibition game as Vernon defeated Westside 4-3 at Royal Le Page Place. (Attendance wasnt announced)
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Graeme Gordon
Westside: Chris Kingdom
1st Period: Both teams got off to a bit of a slow start, the Vipers got a few early shots on Chris Kingdom but no real good scoring chances. Westside would get the first powerplay of the night early into the opening period, but some strong penalty kill by Vernon and the Vipers would kill off the minor. The Vipers first solid scoring chance came about five minutes into the game when Mike Collins worked hard down low, made a nice pass from the corner to the top of the circle where Kevin Kraus wired a quick shot but Kingdom stood tall making the save. It took a while before the play really opened up, as both teams couldnt seem to get much going in the first half. Vernon was hitting almost everything in site, playing a physical 1st period. The Vipers would get their first powerplay of the night and didnt waste anytime, just ten seconds into the man advantage, newcomer and Vernon product, Sawyer Mick in his first game as a Viper would make a nice pass to the slot where Dylan Walchuk wired his shot shortside past Kingdom putting Vernon up 1-0 on the PP at 10:00. Shortly after the Vipers would get another powerplay, with some good puck movement Vernon had some chances but couldnt find the back of the net. The Warriors would kill off the minor. Vernon seemed to finally start rolling, carrying the edge in play in the 2nd half of the period, Braden Pimm wiffed on his shot after a glorious scoring chance as Pimm & Jonathan Milhouse went in two on one. Pimm would get his revenge after the Vipers with some nice passing down low, Pimm would beat Kingdom at 14:33 putting Vernon up 2-0. Mike Collins & Jonathan Milhouse with the assists. The Vipers were really skating hard, moving the puck very well, with some real nice setups down low. Vernon looked very good down low in the Westside zone with some crisp passing, creating some good chances. The Warriors didnt generate much of an offensive attack, but looked much better compared to last nights 6-3 loss in Vernon. Rob Short, Mike Collins & Braden Pimm looked very good for the Vipers in the first period, all three kids worked very hard, winning most of the one on one battles down low. Vernon had the better of the play and chances, as the Vipers were up 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 11-8.
2nd Period: Mike Collins & Jonathan Milhouse with a two on one early into the 2nd period, Kingdom come up with a big save off Collins. The Warriors couldnt clear the zone as the Vipers peppered Kingdom with a good four or five straight shots, as Kingdom had to be sharp making some key saves early on keeping the Warriors in the game. Westside seemed to settle down as both teams with some back and forth play before Vernon took over once again, the Vipers really stepped up the physical play in the first half of the period laying out some big checks. Trevor Bailey seemed to give the Warriors some spark with a few solid checks, really battling hard down low. Bailey with two solid shifts, snuck inbehind the Vernon defence, put a nice move on Graeme Gordon and then roofed his shot over Gordon putting Westside on the board at 7:46, cutting the lead to 2-1. Cam Reid with the lone assist. This goal seemed to light a fire under Westside as the Warriors kept up some good presure, Bailey would get another great scoring chance, missing on an open net. Westside would get into penalty trouble and it would cost them. With the Warriors down two men, the Vipers would get two powerplay goals in just under two minutes. Former Warrior Bryce Kakoske beat Kingdom at 11:50 with Dan Nycholat picking up the lone assist and then Braden Pimm with his 2nd goal of the night at 12:26 put Vernon up 4-1 as Mike Collins collected the only assist. Both powerplay goals seemed to sink Westside as the Vipers took over posetion for the remainder of the period. Vernon was up 4-1 after 40 minutes of play, as the Vipers outshot the Warriors 15-7.
3rd Period: With the Vipers on the powerplay wich was carried over from the 2nd period, it was the Warriors who had the best scoring chance, off the draw Trevor Bailey & Cam Reid went in two on one shorthanded, Bailey made a nice pass over to Reid who was robbed by Gordon who come across the crease to make the huge toe save. Westside would kill off the minor. Westside with lots of jump early on poured on the presure, Grayson Downing just through the puck towards the goal and somehow it found its way to the back of the net, beating wich looked to be a screened Graeme Gordon as the Warriors cut the lead to 4-2 just 1:43 into the 3rd. Izaak Berglund with the assist. This goal seemed to turn the tables as the Warriors didnt quit and on the next rush Cam Reid & Jacob Perich went in two on one as Reid was stopped by Gordon. Westside come very close to making it a one goal game after, Matt Maher through the puck towards the net with a screened shot from the point, but somehow Gordon made the save with lots of traffic in front. James Werner with a nice move over the blueline was stopped by Gordon who made a nice glove save. Jacob Perich made a soft pass up the middle to catch Quinn Gould who snuck inbehind the Vipers defence, putting a nice move on Gordon, going fivehole at 6:41 cutting the lead to 4-3 with lots of time left. The Vipers who played a solid defensive game in the first two periods were now having all kinds of trouble in the 3rd containing the Warriors speed. Westside was really moving the puck well, creating all kinds of chances down low, the Warriors were now the ones who started throwing around their weight, laying out some solid hits. Tempers started to flare up as Cory Kane & Alex Grieve started pushing and shoving in front of the Vipers bench, both players fell into the bench where a scrum started in front of the Vernon bench. Words were now being exchanged between both benches. Westside had a great chance to tie the game as Grayson Downing was stoned by Gordon in close. Gordon played very well and had his most action all game in the 3rd. Dylan Walchuk with a breakaway with just under five minutes remaining couldnt get the puck up and over Kingdom before running out of space, Walchuk managed to get the puck back out front but Kingdom was quick to cover up and stop the play. This was Vernons best and only real solid scoring chance in the final 20 minutes, as Westside carried the better of the play. The Warriors would get a late powerplay with just under four minutes left but couldnt capitalise on the man advantage as the Vipers killed off the minor. Westside would pull Kingdom for the extra attacker but couldnt seem to get the puck in deep, for a chance to tie the game. As the buzzer sounded players gathered in the corner in the Vernon zone as some pushing and shoving started. Joel Woznikowski was very upset, trying to get at a Viper, Woznikiwski looked as if he may have shoved one of the linesmen as they were trying to get him back to the benches. Kevin Kraus was also involved in the scrum at the buzzer, yapping back and forth with the five other Warriors on the ice. After the dust settled the Vipers would hang on for the 4-3 victory finishing the pre season at 4-0 as the Warriors fall to 0-2 with still three exibition games remaining. Westside outshot Vernon 9-4.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Rob Short worked very hard all night, was really hustling, battling hard in the corners and in front of the net. Was a true work horse tonight for the Vipers.
Mike Collins (2 assists) Played very well all night. Collins setup two real nice goals, was very dominate down low in the 1st and 2nd periods. Collins was hard to knock off the puck down low and in and around the goal.
Braden Pimm (2 goals) Looked very solid tonight. Pimm had many chances all night, fanned on a two on one with Milhouse in the 1st period. Was very good with the puck, had some good chances.
Dan Nycholat (1 assist) Played in just his 2nd game as a Viper and looked very solid on the blueline. Made some real heads up plays at both ends of the rink, was solid defensively, broke up a few scoring chances.
Jonathan Milhouse (1 assist) I thought had his best performance since coming to Vernon (training camp and pre season) Milhouse looked very good and dangerous with the puck. Very smooth skater who has some soft hands.
Garrett Noonan played well on the backend. Im very impressed with this young fellow so far. Dylan Walchuk (1 goal) This kid is going to be a treat to watch, the moves this kid has and can do is incredible. Played very well again tonight.
Graeme Gordon (21 saves) Played his best game as a Viper this pre season, Gordon wasnt overall busy in the first two periods but had to be sharp and good in the 3rd making some key saves getting the Vipers the win.
Top Players: (Westside)
Trevor Bailey (1 goal) Was the Warriors best player, Bailey who is knowen for his superpest role stuck to hockey tonight and was dangerous with the puck at all times. Looked very good up front.
Grayson Downing (1 goal) Looked very strong for the Warriors, had some good chances.
Cam Reid (1 assit) Was another solid player for Westside tonight, looked very good up front playing along side Trevor Bailey. Was robbed by Graeme Gordon after making the huge two on one save.
Chris Kingdom (26 saves) Played well between the pipes for Westside. The Vernon product who was called up as an "AP" to be the backup goaltender for the Vipers a few years back, made some key saves at key times to keep the Wariors in the game. Dosnt give up much if any big rebounds. James Werner played well.
Jacob Perich had some good chances, played well most of the night.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The Vipers looked and played very good in the first two periods, laid out some good checks, looked very good with the puck down low, some very nice crisp passes, and was very solid defensively. Up 2-1 heading into the 3rd the wheels seemed to come off and the team had to hang on to the 4-3 victory. Vernon who shutdown the Warriors offence for most of the first two periods, gave them too much time and space in the final period giving up two goals and many quality scoring chances. Tonights game was by far the toughest of the four exibition games the team played in. With the pre season coming to an end, Vernon finishes at 4-0 looking fairly impressive. I was very surprised to see former Portland Winterhawk, Sawyer Mick in tonights lineup. Todays Morning Star Newspaper noted he had been cut by the Winterhawks and was joining the Kelowna Rockets. Im not too sure what the deal on Mick is? Mick made a real nice pass to setup Dylan Walchuk on Vernons first goal of the night, and then didnt see a single shift in the 2nd period, but did look fairly good in the 3rd, played physical and saw a regular shift.
Game Thoughts: (Westside)
This was a much better performance and effort tonight compared to last nights 6-3 loss in Vernon. The Warriors had some chances but still were outplayed in the first two periods, but didnt quit and battled back in the 3rd to make a very exciting finish. The Warriors went with a few more veterans tonight. With veteran goaltender, Kevin Jebson returning as the teams #1 tender, both Chris Kingdom and Michael Smith have both played extremly well putting in dibs on the backup job. I was fairly impressed with the attendance tonight, for it being a Wednesday night game and still the pre season, I was a little surprised at tonights attendance. In all the Vernon-Westside games I have attended the Warriors dont seem to draw very well.
Vernons Lineup:
Bryce Kakoske 90
Dylan Walchuk 92
Sawyer Mick 91
Mike Collins 90
Braden Pimm 89
Jonathan Milhouse 89
Patrick McGillis 91
Jesse Halikas 91
Drew George 91
Brendan Persley 93
Cory Kane 90
Rob Short 89
Kevin Kraus 89
Darrin Robak 91
Dan Nycholat 89
Nick Amies 89
Adam Thompson 89
Garrett Noonan 91
Graeme Gordon 89
Blake Voth 91
Westside Lineup:
Trevor Bailey 89
Cam Reid 91
Alex Grieve
James Werner 90
Grayson Downing 92
Quinn Gould 90
Andrew Wiebe 91
Shawn Hochhausen 92
Chris Volonino 89
Jacob Perich 91
Max French 92
Jamie Russell 92
Joel Woznikowski 89
Izaak Berglund 91
John Petrash 91
Kelsey Vonk 92
Matt Maher 90
Caylen Walls 91
Michael Smith 91
Chris Kingdom 90
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