Penticton 2 Vernon 0

Was at tonights BCHL game as Penticton defeated Vernon 2-0 in front of 2,052 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Graeme Gordon
Penticton: Sean Bonar

1st Period: Both teams come out hitting feeling one another out with some big checks. The Vipers got a scare early on as Dylan Walchuk was hit hard deep in the Vernon zone and looked to have maybe took a knee on knee with a Vees forward, Walchuk was slow to get up and head off the ice before being helped to the Vernon dressing room. Walchuk seemed to be ok as he returned to the bench just before the midway mark and finished the hockey game. Vernon with some good early pressure cycled the puck well down low but couldnt come up with any real solid scoring chances. The Vipers would get the first powerplay of the game just a few minutes into the period up 5-0 in shots the Vernon defence got a little sloppy at the blueline, wich resulted in a turnover, Vees Captain, Denver Manderson & Eric Filiou went in two on one shorthanded as Grame Gordon was forced to make three saves as Penticton come close to opening the scoring. Penticton would kill off the minor. The Vipers looked good as they went back to work in the Vees zone but once again most of the shots were coming from the outside as Sean Bonar was able to make the easy saves. Penticton would get its first powerplay of the night and with some good puck movement The Vees with a few early chances also couldnt connect on the man advantage. Adam Thompson with the Vipers best scoring chance wired a shot from the top of the circle that just missed the far top corner. Joey Holka with a great chance for the Vees was stopped by Gordon. Vernon would get two late powerplays but would struggle with the man advantage getting very few shots. Give credit to Pentictons strong penalty kill, the Vees forwards really challanged the Viper d-men into rushing the puck, wich caused several turnovers. Penticton did a great job all night blocking the shooting lanes wich the Vipers were oppted to go for the pass instead of getting off a shot. Vernon would get one good chance as Captain Kevin Kraus jumped up into the play, after recieving a pass from the corner, but couldnt beat Bonar down low. The Vees would kill off both minors. Vernon carried the better of the play for most of the period but come up with very few real good scoring chances. Penticton was having trouble staying on their feet, as the Vees seemed to keep falling down in their own end, not sure if it was a problem with the ice or their skates. It was scoreless after the first 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Penticton 10-4.

2nd Period: The Vipers would get the puck in deep off the opening draw and come close to taking the lead after two quick shots from the point were deflected in front just missing the net. The Vees seemed to pick up their game and finally generate some offence, after getting two good chances in front. A bit of a delay took place after the Vipers door on the teams bench wouldnt close. Vernon would get its fourth powerplay of the night but once again couldnt take advantage. The Vipers were having all kinds of trouble with the strong forecheck of the Vees, Penticton was forcing the Vipers to the outside, not giving them any time or space. Penticton would kill off the minor. Mike Collins with a great chance to put Vernon ahead was robbed at the side of the net, after Braden Pimm setup Collins with a nice crease pass. Sean Bonar come sliding across the crease to rob Collins with the pad keeping the Vipers off the board. Penticton would get its second man advantage of the period, Beau Bennett thought he had put Penticton up 1-0 but somehow missed at the wide open net shooting high and wide. A quick shot from the point just about caught Gordon off gaurd after making the last minute pad save. With the Vipers on a late powerplay, Connor Jones made a poor pass back to Dan Nycholat who couldnt keep the puck in, Denver Manderson went in for the breakaway with Jones chasing him down, Manderson went top shelf on Gordon putting the Vees up 1-0 at 16:58 the goal was unassisted. The Vipers were unable to tie things up after Penticton killed off the minor. The Vees would get a late powerplay wich carried over into the 3rd. A fairly even period but the Vees did have the better of the scoring chances & were up 1-0 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Penticton 11-5.

3rd Period: After Vernon killed off the remainder of the minor, Braden Pimm, Mike Collins and Jonathan Milhouse went in three on one, Pimm setup Collins for the onetimer who rang his shot off the far post, back come the Vees, Alex Szczechura battled hard with Nick Amies, knocking him off the puck, stealing it and getting a quick shot off as Gordon had to be sharp making the big pad save but couldnt control the rebound as Joey Holka slid the puck past Gordon into the empty net putting Penticton up 2-0 at 1:53. Szczechura got the lone assist. Specialty teams once again took over the final frame as the Vees went back on the man advantage but it was the Vipers who had the best scoring chance shorthanded. Connor Jones & Garrett Noonan went in two on one, Jones tried making the pass over to Noonan but the Penticton d-man made a strong defensive play to break up the pass. The Vipers looked very good on the penalty kill having better control of the play killing off the minor. Both teams exchanged penalties and neither team could score. Vernon didnt quit but was having all kinds of trouble trying to break through the neutral zone, as the Vees were really clogging up the middle. The Vipers did carry most of the play in the 3rd getting some chances as Sean Bonar played very well between the pipes for the Vees. Vernon was also making it look easy for Bonar at times as the Vipers shots were coming from the outside with no traffic in front, as Bonar was seeing everything. Connor Jones & Kellen Jones with a two on one couldnt beat Bonar after Kellen was stopped. Late in the game Vernon looked to be trying a little too hard as the bounces just wernt going the Vipers way. Mark Ferner would pull Graeme Gordon with two minutes remaining as the Vipers had the extra attacker out, with some good pressure down low the Vipers couldnt buy a goal, as time was winding down Vernon would get a late powerplay but it was too late as Penticton defeated Vernon 2-0 giving the Vipers their first loss of the season and ending their 22 game winning streak (going back to last years Playoffs). The Vees coaching staff was giving high fives to one another after leaving the bench, as this was one excited group. The Vipers outshot the Vees 13-6.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Connor & Kellen Jones played fairly well, really moved the puck well tonight, once again buzzing in and around the Vees net.

Mike Collins played very well up front, Collins hit the post once and was robbed at the side of the net getting some great chances. Collins really worked hard tonight, played in the grey areas and wasnt afraid of going into the corners.

Top Players: (Penticton)

Sean Bonar (34 saves-Shutout) Played very well, was seeing everything making it look easy. The Vipers also didnt make things any easier by shooting from the outside, with no traffic in front. Give credit to Bonar for shutting out the Vipers.

Eric Filiou & Denver Manderson (1 goal) played very well together. When with the puck, both kids are very dangerous. Two very skilled hockey players. Manderson showed good hustle on his shorthanded goal, scoring a real nice goal high and over Gordon.

Joey Holka (1 goal) Was very impressive tonight, had several good chances in front. This kid is big, can skate and handle the puck well.

Beau Bennett also played well for the Vees up front. Another bigger kid who is deadly with the puck. Had a great scoring chance on the Vees powerplay, but missed an empty net.

Matt Paltridge played very solid on the Penticton blueline.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Well the Vipers 22 game winning streak comes to an end (going back to last years Playoffs) and the team losses its first game of the season. Maybe this was a good loss. The Vipers didnt play all that bad, but then again didnt play all that great. Vernons defence was having all kinds of troubles in their own end, coughed up the puck several times, some poor decisions caused turnovers and also cost them a goal or maybe two? The Vipers looked and played good in the opening period having the better of the play, just couldnt get any real good scoring chances. Outshooting the Vees 10-4 after the first 20 minutes the Vipers should have burried the Vees then when they had the opportunity, letting this team hang around for too long isnt good, and it showed tonight. Vernon looked very good on the draw in the first two periods but then lost many in the 3rd. Specialty teams was the difference, going 0-7 on the powerplay isnt going to win you hockey games, the Vipers like last night struggled with the man advantage. I thought the Vipers didnt have the same jump and energy tonight, like they normally do. Was it the hard fought 4-3 comeback win last night in Westside that tired them out? Not sure but they didnt get a full 60 minutes from a few players tonight. Vernons fourth line was having lots of troubles against the Vees and as the game went on, Mark Ferner was changing up his fourth line. Vernon also wasnt getting the bounces. The Vipers will have re group and get ready for another tough game tomorrow vs Burnaby.

Game Thoughts: (Penticton)

Penticton is big and has some dangerous players up front but overall the Vipers carried the better of the play. I was really impressed with the Vees specialty teams, Penticton moves the puck well on the man advantage and is very strong on the penalty kill. The last few years Fred Harbinson makes the forwards come out and challenge the d-men, wich results in turnovers or the other team to make the pass, instead of getting the shot off. Penticton really shuts down the shooting lanes, giving the Vipers very little time and space. Give full credit to the Vees, they scored on their chances and took advanatge on missed opportunities. When the Vees did have the puck in the Vipers zone, they looked very dangerous, a very quick puck moving team. I thought the Vipers gave them a good run for their money. A very greasy road win tonight.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Darrin Robak
Rob Short (Injured)
Patrick McGillis

Penticton:

Adam Zamec

3 Stars:

1st Star: Sean Bonar (34 saves-Shutout)
2nd Star: Denver Manderson (1 goal)
3rd Star: Garrett Noonan