Vernon 8 Trail 4

Was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Trail 8-4 in front of 2,236 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Graeme Gordon
Trail: Kiefer Smiley

1st Period: The Vipers would get an early powerplay and take advantage. Cole Ikkala driving to the net bangs home the loose puck at the side of the crease beating Kiefer Smiley at 2:14 Rob Short & Adam Thomspon added assists. Shortly after the Smoke Eaters come back with a two on one, but Steve Weinstein with a solid defensive play, stayed with the shooter, breaking up the pass. The Vipers carried the early edge in play but didnt get any real good scoring chances. A defensive let down in Vernons zone gave room for former Viper Travis St. Denis who beat Graeme Gordon at 5:09 on Trails first shot on goal tying the game 1-1. Darnell Dyck and Nick Sandor collected the assists. Vernon come right just under three minutes later after Braden Pimm beat Smiley at 7:56 putting the Vipers up 2-1 with Bryce Kakoske and Mike Collins collecting the assists. Vernon moving the puck well started creating some good chances, Dan Nycholat and Adam Thompson both wired quick shots from the point going high on Smiley but over the net. Cory Kane was stopped in the slot on a good chance. The Vipers were really moving the puck well outshooting Trail 10-2 at the midway mark. After the Vipers took the edge in play to the Smokies, Sam Mellor beat Gordon in close tying the game 2-2 at 11:02 (unassisted). Trail seemed to pick up their game and come back with some offensive attack of their own. The play was a little more even as both teams were playing a very wide open style of play. The Smokies who used their speed caught the Vipers d-men napping several times, breaking in on the odd man rush. Back come Vernon as Drew George beat Smiley at 16:24 putting the Vipers up 3-2 regaining the lead for the third time of the night. Patrick McGillis & Sawyer Mick picked up the assists. The Vipers moved the puck well down low getting some decent chances but couldnt beat Smiley. Vernon looked very good down low with the puck. In the last minute of play Graeme Gordon got caught way out of his crease coughing up the puck as the Smoke Eaters come very close to sliding the puck into the empty net. Vernon was up 3-2 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Smoke Eaters 17-8

2nd Period: Vernon come out strong getting the puck in deep and come out with some good chances in the first few minutes. Dylan Walchuk with a wrap around come close to giving the Vipers a two goal lead. Connor Jones was stopped in front. Kiefer Smiley come up with some big saves early keeping Trail in the game. Vernon would get its second powerplay of the night and with some good puck movement Dan Nycholat roofed his shot over Smiley putting the Vipers up 4-2 at 3:44 with Bryce Kakoske and Kevin Kraus drawing the assists. Dylan Walchuk and Rob Short then come in two on one, Walchuk setup Short who was robbed by Smiley who made the big pad save, as the puck went in behind the net the play would eventually come back out front where Short was once again stopped by Smiley after a quick shot from the slot. Trail would then get its first powerplay of the night but it was Braden Pimm with some great indivual effort ragging some key time off the clock and then the Vipers had the best scoring chance with Connor Jones, Kellen Jones and Garrett Noonan with a three on one couldnt beat Smiley after Connor Jones made one too many moves and couldnt get off a shot. Back come the Smokies as Travis St. Denis beat Gordon at 7:23 on the man advantage with just one second remaining on the powerplay. A goal Gordon would like to have back. St. Denis's goal was unassisted. Some very sloppy play occured over the next several minutes as either team could get much of anything going. Trail was by far the more physical team laying out some good checks. The Smoke Eaters would head back to the powerplay, Sam Mellor somehow was robbed by the shaft of Gordons stick. Mellor was all alone at the side of the net, shooting at a wide open goal, Gordon dove across and somehow slide his stick across the ice robbing Mellor on the powerplay. Shortly after Travis St. Denis would score his third of the night beating Gordon at 11:13 as Darnell Dyck and Mitch Kaufmann picked up the assists. Trail battled back down two goals to tie the game 4-4. Vernons defence was giving the Smokies way too much room to move, creating scoring chances. Just over three minutes later Connor Jones with a great effort in close beat Smiley at 14:38 giving Vernon the 5-4 lead. Dan Nycholat and Kellen Jones picked up the assists. Another wide open period with both teams given lots of room to move out their. In the two minutes of the period the Vipers would get a late powerplay, with Vernon on the man advantage Ben Matthews went after Braden Pimm in front of the Smokies net, Matthews started throwing punches at Pimm before dropping the gloves and going after the Vipers veteran forward. Another Viper come flying in running into Pimm before Captain Kevin Kraus come flying into the fight and going after Matthews. Now a mini scrum erupted in front of Trails net as Graeme Strukoff now dropped the gloves as pushing and shoving started with everyone involved in the small melay. Strukoff was tossed from the game as well as Kraus who was given two game misconducts. Vernon was up 5-4 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Smoke Eaters 19-8.

3rd Period: The Vipers started off the 3rd with a two man advantage but couldnt capitalise as the Smokies penalty kill was superb blocking the shooting lanes as the Vipers were forced to keep the puck to the outside. Cory Kane with the Vipers only good chance rang his shot off the crossbar. Trail would kill off both minors before heading back to the box shortly after. This time the Vipers wouldnt take anytime making the Smokies pay. Dan Nycholat wired his 2nd goal of the night topshelf high over Smiley at 5:32 Rob Short and Dylan Walchuk picked up the assists. Just under three minutes later Rob Short used his speed and beat Smiley at 8:09 after Cole Ikkala and Dylan Walchuk collected the assists. The Vipers really started to click and took control of the game in the final period. The 3rd was all Vernon as the Vipers dominated play for most of the period. Connor Jones was robbed in front after Smiley made a big save. Vernons speed and skill took over as the Vipers had several odd man rushes in the final period. Kellen Jones would put Vernon up 8-4 at 11:12 with Cory Kane & Steve Weinstein adding the assists. Trail couldnt generate any offensive attack as the Vipers defence tightened up playing a much more defensive game in the 3rd. After a stopage in play some pushing and shoving took place with nothing come out of the deal. In the second half of the 3rd Vernon took its foot off the gas. Garrett Noonan then decided to drop the gloves with Josh McEwan. Noonan would go to the Vipers dressing room after the fight but would return several minutes later. Rob Short who played well all night had a good chance in close but was stopped by Smiley. In the end Vernon would win its 16th straight game defeating Trail 8-4. The Vipers outshot the Smoke Eaters 14-5.

Top Players: (Vernon)

The line of Mike Collins (1 assist), Braden Pimm (1 goal) & Bryce Kakoske (2 assists) played very well for the Vipers. Pimm was skating hard all game, was very dangerous down low and in and around the net. Trail seemed to be after Pimm all night, either laying the body on the veteran forward or giving him the odd wack or hack during the play. Pimm had several words with the Trail bench at times through tonights contest. Kakoske played very well. Nice to see Bryce step up his play as of late, looked very good on the Vipers 2nd line. Had some good chances, was hard to knock off the puck down low.

The line of Connor Jones (1 goal & 1 assist), Kellen Jones (1 goal & 1 assist) and Cory Kane (1 assist) was another dangerous line for the Vipers. Both Jones and Kane were really skating hard, creating lots of chances down low. Both Jones Twins were being checked fairly tight but still able to move and create chances. Connor took a pounding through out tonights game.

Dan Nycholat (2 goals) Played a strong game for the Vipers at both ends of the rink. Nycholat jumped up into the play on several chances. Scored two real nice goals, both wich were on the man advantage.

Adam Thompson (2 assists) played well on the Vipers backend. Looked good on the powerplay.

Patrick McGillis (1 assist) Has really had the chance to blossom now getting some playing time on a regular night. McGillis once again looked strong down low, this kid works hard and isnt afraid to get in the corner and work for the puck. Anither Viper who was hard to knock off the puck down low.

Rob Short (1 goal & 2 assists) Played a heck of a game. Short had several good scoring chances and made some real heads up plays tonight. Was stopped on the two on one with Dylan Walchuk in the 2nd period but was rewarded with a goal in the 3rd. Short worked hard all night.

Top Players: (Trail)

Kiefer Smiley (42 saves) Smiley gave up 8 goals but faced 50 Vernon shots. This kid gave his team a chance to win in the 2nd period making some big saves early when the Vipers could have opened a two or three goal lead. I was surprised they kept Smiley in for the remainder of the game once the score got out of hand.

Travis St. Denis (3 goals) Was very dangerous in the first two periods. St. Denis was given way too much space to move and create chances, scoring on his chances. This kid see's the ice well and has some nice hands.

Darnell Dyck (2 assists) Played well up front for Trail. Dyck setup St. Denis on two of his three goals. Another kid that played well tonight.

Sam Mellor (1 goal) had some good chances but only managed to score one. Mellor created chances and moved the puck well. A good skater who reads the play well.

Tye Lewis looked good with the puck, was always involved in the play.

Scott Jacklin looked good up front, carried the puck lots but couldnt burry his chances.

Nick Sandor (1 assist) played well up front. Sandor was involved in the play on several occasions.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

The Vipers allowed the Smokies a chance to win when in the end Trail shouldnt have even been in tonights game. Vernons defence had a few bad breakdowns wich led to Trail scoring chances or even goals. The Vipers d-men didnt have their best game, gave up a few odd man rushes and didnt give Graeme Gordon much help on the backend, leaving guys wide open in the slot. Were sloppy at times in their own end. I thought the Vipers defence looked and played much better in the 3rd period giving up just 5 Trail shots really shutting down the Smokies offence. Once again the Vipers speed, skill and depth took over in the end. Vernons forwards were no match for the Smoke Eaters defence, as the Vipers were very dangerous with the puck. The Vipers with several odd man rushes really took over the game in the 3rd. Vernon was outhit and didnt play very physical but give full credit to Kevin Kraus and Garrett Noonan for standing up for their team mates and dropping the mits when called apon. Id like to see the Vipers play a little more physical. Vernon gave Trail way too much open ice in the first two periods wich resulted in some scoring chances-goals. The Vipers need to play a much more defensive game tomorrow night. I also dont think Graeme Gordon had his best game, Gordon looked average tonight but also didnt get much help from his defence. The Vipers rarly ever play well on parents weekend, the kids get nervous playing in front of their parents, they also want to put on a show and look good in front of mom and dad etc.

Game Thoughts: (Trail)

Trail has a quick-speedy team that can move the puck well at times, a physical team that wasnt afraid to lay the body on the Vipers. Trail is just the second team this year to score more then three goals on Vernon. The Smokies seemed to figure out Vernons defence atleast in the first two periods, going for the long stretch pass through the neutral zone, catching the Vipers d-men off gaurd. Give the Smokies credit for giving Vernon a scare after two periods of play. The Smoke Eaters didnt get many great scoring chances but took advantage of the ones they had scoring on their chances. I was impressed with the Smokies penalty kill, blocking the shooting lanes as the Vipers were forced to move the puck around. Trail needs to try and stop the Vipers offence and play a more tight defensive game. The Smokies need more pucks on goal and cant give up 50 shots against.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Eric Soderlund
Darrin Robak
Jonathan Milhouse

Trail:

Matt Wilkens
Eade Bennett
Marc-Antoine Chaput

3 Stars:

1st Star: Dan Nycholat (2 goals)
2nd Star: Travis St. Denis (3 goals)
3rd Star: Rob Short ( 1 goal & 2 assists)