Vernon 7 Merritt 2

Was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Merritt 7-2 in front of 1,990 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Graeme Gordon
Merritt: Cole Holowenko

1st Period: The Vipers with two glorious chances early, Nick Amies off the post and just seconds later Connor Jones hit the crossbar as the Vipers come very close to opening the scoring. Vernon was all over Merritt in the opening five minutes buzzing in the Centennials zone with many good chances. Cole Ikkala with a great chance in front was stopped by Cole Holowenko. The Vipers with good pressure down low carried the edge in play for most of the period. Connor Jones was stopped by Holowenko in front. The Cents didnt record their first shot on goal until just before the five minute mark. Vernon would get the first powerplay of the night and take advantage. Rob Short beat Holowenko down low at 8:58 putting the Vipers up 1-0. Shorts goal was unassisted. Just under two minutes later Merritt would tie the game on the powerplay. Jonathan Milhouse couldnt pick up the loose puck, Derek Hills scooped up the puck, made a nice pass over to Dustin Johnson who beat Graeme Gordon fivehole tying the game 1-1 at 11:16. Hills with the lone assist. Braden Pimm and Jonathan Milhouse on the two on one as Milhouse was stopped by Holowenko who kept the Centennials in tonights game. Cole Ikkala with his second good chance of the evening was once again stopped in close by Holowenko. Ikkala looked very strong in the opening period. Former Viper tryout David Sabey with a nice tip in front was stopped by Gordon. This was Merritts only real good scoring chance other then the teams goal. Merritt who played very physical against Vernon really laid out some big hits, especially against the Jones Twins who took a pounding all night. The Vipers outplayed the Centennials for most of the 1st period but could only get the one past Holowenko as the game was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Merritt 14-4.

2nd Period: Vernon got off to a bit of a slow start, the Vipers had troubles getting the play deep into the Cents zone as Merritts defence did a great job at clogging up the neutral zone. Alex Valenti snuck in behind the Vernon defence, getting a quick shot off, Gordon with the big save kicked out the rebound as Derek Hills gobbled up the rebound putting it past Gordon into the empty net as the Cents went up 2-1 at 2:48. Vernon was caught with two men inbehind the net as both Hills and Valenti were both left open in front on the play. Valenti & former Viper Steve Tresierra picked up the assists. Merritt kept up the pressure with some hard work in the Vernon zone, getting some chances in close. Once again the Cents played a physical period taking the body to the Vipers. Connor Jones was speared just outside the Vernon bench with no call on the play. Vernon seemed to have trouble with the Centennials physical play and aggresive forecheck. Merritt really forced the Vipers, causing several turnovers in their own end. The Cents come very close to taking the 3-1 lead after a mad scramble in front of Graeme Gordon, somehow a Merritt player was robbed by Gordon after making a goal line save keeping the puck out as the Vipers cleared the zone. Vernon couldnt generate much offence as the Centennials were carrying the better of the play in the first half. Merritt would get its first powerplay of the period but couldnt take advantage as the Vipers killed off the minor. As the penalty expired Cory Kane picked up speed, come across the blueline and then wired a shot as Holowenko made a huge pad save stopping Kane in close. Shortly after Jonathan Milhouse and Braden Pimm went in two on one, Pimm from an almost impossible angle managed to get the shot off, somehow Holowenko got across his crease to rob Pimm on a great scoring chance. The Centennials would get another shot with the man advantage, Dustin Johnson was stopped by Gordon on the PP. Vernon would kill off the minor. The Cents really took it to the Vipers having the better of the play for the first 15 minutes of the 2nd before Vernon seemed to get things going late in the period. The Vipers would get its first powerplay of the period, moving the puck well Mike Collins was stopped by Holowenko. Connor Jones was stopped at the side of the net as the Vipers couldnt beat Holowenko. Merritt would kill off the minor. The Vipers really poured on the pressure in the final five minutes, Mike Collins alone at the side of the net hit the crossbar after beating Holowenko high to the glove side. Cole Ikkala again was stopped, Ikkala couldnt buy a goal. In the final few minutes tempers started to heat up as both teams started pushing and shoving after the whistle. Captain Kevin Kraus and Derek Hills were having words as they both headed off to the penalty box. Kevin Philp was having words with Connor Jones. In the final few seconds Connor and Kellen Jones went in two on one but couldnt beat Holowenko who looked very strong between the pipes. Vernon had several solid scoring chances late in the period but couldnt tie the game as Merritt took a 2-1 lead heading into the 3rd period. The Vipers outshot the Cents 15-12.

3rd period: Off the faceoff the Vipers got the play in deep, before the puck come back to the point where Adam Thompson wired his shot off the post, back come the Cetennials the other way as Alex Valenti tipped a Merritt shot in front that just went wide of Graeme Gordon. Mike Collins walked in from the side wall, in all alone wired his shot high from the circle but couldnt beat Holowenko. On the next draw the puck come back to Garrett Noonan who faked his shot then passed over to Steven Weinstein who walked in and beat Holowenko as the Vipers tied the game 2-2 at 1:38, Noonan and Mike Collins with the assists. Just under two mintues later Vernon product Bryce Kakoske beat Holowenko at 3:33 putting Vernon up 3-2, with their first lead of the game. Patrick McGillis with the lone assist. Kakoske with some great work ethic down low really earned this goal. Just over three minutes later Kellen Jones beat Holowenko at 7:12 putting the Vipers up 4-2 as Cory Kane collected the only assist on the play. The Vipers really turned up the offence in the final period really taking it to the Centennials. Vernon was flying creating all kinds of chances in the Merritt zone, the Vipers speed and skill was just too much for the Cents. Connor Jones was stopped by Holowenko. Cory Kane with a wicked shot was stopped. With the Vipers on the man advantage Connor Jones found the back of the net at 11:03 as Vernon went up by three in the third. Kellen Jones & Kevin Kraus with the assists. Merritt couldnt get anything going, as the Cents started getting frustrated taking some high hits on several Viper players. Matt Mazzarolo slashed Braden Pimm in front of the Cents net, before Pimm crosschecked Mazzarolo from behind as both players headed to the box. The Cents still laying the body, were caught running around in circles in their own zone, as the Vipers were really moving the puck. Vernon with a two on one couldnt find the back of the net as the Vipers had several scoring chances. Joey McEwans night would end late in the period after getting a two minute minor and 10 minute misconduct as McEwan headed to the dressing room early. Jonathan Milhouse with make the Centennials pay scoring on the powerplay at 16:20, Braden Pimm with the single assist. 34 seconds later Connor Jones broke in on the parcial breakaway putting a nice move on Cole Holowenko putting Vernon up 7-2 at 16:54. Jones goal was unassisted. In the final few minutes Dustin Johnson was trying to get several Vipers to drop their mits, Kevin Philp was also running around getting the gloves up in the faces of several Vernon players, trying to get under the skin of the Vipers. Merritt looked to be trying to start a few fights as the Vipers just skated away, not getting involved in any extra activities. In the final few seconds Rob Short went in on the breakaway but was stopped by Holowenko. In the end the Vipers would win its 8th straight game defeating Merritt 7-2. Vernon outshot Merritt 18-0.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Cole Ikkala played one of his best games of the season tonight. Ikkala had a good three or four good chances in the 1st period and then one or two good chances in the 2nd period. Ikkala with a strong forecheck and hard work down low was very dangerous.

The line of Connor Jones (2 goals), Kellen Jones (1 goal & 1 assist) and Cory Kane (1 assist) took a beating but kept going. Both Connor and Kellen Jones took a pounding all game. Both Jones Twins had several good chances. Kane was really skating hard as well, getting a few chances.

Braden Pimm (1 assist), Mike Collins (1 assist) and Jonathan Milhouse (1 goal) played really strong for the Vipers.

Steven Weinstein (1 goal) looked very solid on the Vipers blueline. Weinstein really played well at both ends of the rink. Made some heads up plays.

Garrett Noonan (1 assist) Also played well at both ends of the rink. Noonan really see's the ice well, also made some very smart plays tonight.

Nick Amies another d-man who played well for Vernon.

Bryce Kakoske (1 goal) has really stepped up his play over the last few games. Kakoske played well tonight, looked very strong down low, played physical, was hard to knock off the puck. At one point in the game Kakoske fought off two Centennial players coming out with the puck.

Patrick McGillis also played well tonight, played well down low and in front of the net.

Top Players: (Merritt)

Jeff Zmurchyk looked very strong on the Cents backend. Was good at both ends of the rink, rushed the puck up ice several times. Looked very confident with and without the puck. Very good skater. Was Merritts top d-man.

Derek Hills (1 goal) Another Cents d-man who played well on the blueline.

Dustin Johnson (1 goal) Had some jump up front for the Cents. Created some chances, good strong skater.

Alex Valenti (1 assist) Was driving towards the net all night, didnt back down from the rough stuff.

Kevin Philp a big physical player who looks much older then his actual age. Philp was very physical laid out several big checks. was in the face of many Viper players all game.

Cole Holowenko tried his best to give the Cents just their fifth win of the season. After holding the Vipers at 29 shots and giving up just one goal heading into the 3rd Holowenko couldnt stop the defending National Champions as the Vipers beat Holowenko six times in the final period. Holowenko played very well in the first two periods making 28 saves keeping Merritt in the game. Very quick on his feet, dosnt give up many rebounds.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

This was one of the Vipers toughest games of the season other then a 3-2 road win in Westside and a 2-1 OT road win in Penticton, Merritt gave Vernon all they could handle until blowing the game wide open in the 3rd period. Vernon hit four posts-crossbars tonight getting all kinds of chances in the first two periods but couldnt buy a goal until the 3rd period. The Vipers could only manage one goal on 14 shots after Cole Holowenko kept the Centennials in the game, in the 2nd Period Merritt gave Vernon a good run for their money outplaying the Vipers for most of the period. The Vipers speed, skill and depth took over in the 3rd blowing tonights game wide open with six goals. This is one of the highest scoring Vernon teams I have seen since the 1999 Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers who could score also at will. This years team has a ton of skill and depth and as of late has been putting up some big numbers. Vernon has now won eight straight and have not lost to Merritt now since January 14th 2007 when the Centennials defeated the Vipers 3-2. The Vipers are now 30-7-0-2 against the Cents over the last six years. Overall tonights game was one of the more exciting games of the season with a bit of everything.

Game Thoughts: (Merritt)

Merritt gave Vernon a good run for their money, a big strong physical team that knocked around the Vipers most of the game. When the game got out of hand the Cents started getting a little chippy, laying out some high hits, trying to start fights etc. The Centennials aggresive forecheck and strong physical play almost snapped the Vipers seven game winning streak, almost. Merritt really pounded the Vipers top line laying out some solid checks on the Jones twins. In the end the Cents couldnt stop or handle the Vipers speed, skill and depth. Cole Holowenko could only keep his team in tonights game for so long before the Vipers blew the doors open in the 3rd. The Centennials have a big strong physical team that works very hard with strong goaltending. But need a little more offence, getting no shots in the final period wont win you many hockey games.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Erik Soderlund
Darrin Robak
Drew George

Merritt:

Andrew Pickering
Stephen Wall
Kameran Crawford

3 Stars:

1st Star: Kellen Jones (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Connor Jones (2 goals)
3rd Star: Jonathan Milhouse (1 goal)