I was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 3-2 in front of 2,691 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Graeme Gordon
Salmon Arm: Tony Ierfino
1st Period: On the Vipers first rush of the game Cory Kane with a nice move at the blueline ripped a quick shot from the slot that just missed the top corner. The Silverbacks would get the first powerplay of the night just under two minutes into the game, but couldnt generate any offence. Mike Collins just about stole the puck at the blueline twice, but couldnt coral the loose puck or else Collins would have been in all alone for the breakaway. The Vipers killed off the minor not giving up a single shot while on the penalty kill. Graeme Gordon just about got caught out of position before getting back just in time to make the stop. Vernon with some good jump, was playing physical while on the forecheck. Darrin Robak & Sawyer Mick with two big hits each forced a turnover in the Backs zone. Darrin Robak with a big hit inbehind the Salmon Arm net caused a turnover wich setup Vernons first goal of the night. Sawyer Mick beat Tony Ierfino in close putting the Vipers up 1-0 at 7:18 as hundreds of teddy bears hit the ice on teddy bear toss night. Robak & Patrick McGillis collected the assists. After a delay to pick up all the teddy bears, the Silverbacks come close to tying the game as the Backs moved the puck well down low, with Tyler Gubb setup in behind the Vipers goal, the Backs tried going down low with the puck trying to sneak the puck in shortside. Salmon Arm tried this play twice on back to back shifts but couldnt find the back of the net. The Vipers would get their first powerplay of the night but would record just one shot as the Silverbacks penalty kill did a great job at blocking the shooting lanes, not giving the Vipers any time or space to create chances. Salmon Arm would kill off the minor. Bryce Kakoske at the side of the net was stopped by Ierfino. Sawyer Mick with another solid check down low, caused another turnover setting up Patrick McGillis in front who was stopped by Ierfino. Vernon carried the better of the play, really dominating down low. The Vipers would get its second powerplay of the period but again was unable to capitalize. The Backs penalty kill did a great job killing off the minor not giving up a single shot. The Vipers were really working hard tonight, winning most of the races and battles down low. Vernon was driving to the net on several occasions getting some chances in tight. The Vipers outplayed the Silverbacks and were up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 11-4.
2nd Period: Vernon was hemmed in their own end in the first few minutes having some trouble coming out of their own end as the Backs with some good early pressure forced the Vipers d-men back in their own end. Braden Pimm and Mike Collins with some strong play in the neutral zone, forced Collins to go in one on one getting a shot off from the circle as Ierfino made the routine save. No real flow in the opening few minutes as both teams seemed to have troubles generating any kind of offence. Just before the midway point Vernon did create some pressure in the Silverbacks zone, but couldnt get any real quality scoring chances as the Backs defence did a great job at shutting down the Vipers offence. Vernon would get its third powerplay of the night around the midway mark, Dan Nycholat with move in from the point and get a good scoring chance but was stopped by Tony Ierfino, who then robbed Cole Ikkala on the rebound who was alone in front. Salmon Arm's penalty kill was very strong killing off the minor. In the second half of the period the play seemed to open up with some back and forth play, but very little scoring chances as both teams were playing a very tight checking period. Rob Short setup Dylan Walchuk at the side of the net but Walchuk couldnt connect on the pass through the crease as the Vipers come close to scoring. Mark Zengerle with a nice move around Curtis Gedig went in two on one with Travis Statchuk, Zengerle kept the puck as Dan Nycholat watched Statchuk. Zengerle was now in close all alone but couldnt beat Graeme Gordon down low, as the Silverbacks would get their first and only shot of the period with just over three minutes remaining in the period. Back come the Vipers and with some hard work in front of Ierfino Braden Pimm would put Vernon up 2-0 at 18:01 Pimms goal was unassisted. In the final minute of play Connor Jones tried getting past Tony Ierfino inbehind the Backs net, Ierfino gave Jones a shot to the head sending the Vipers to their fourth powerplay of the night. Vernon was unable to do any damage with the man advantage as the period come to an end. The Vipers were up 2-0 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 10-1.
3rd Period: Just 28 seconds into the final period Bryce Kakoske beat Ierfino in close after a scramble in front, wich put Vernon ahead 3-0 on the powerplay. Mike Collins with the lone assist. Salmon Arm didnt quit, just over two minutes later Josh Manson beat Gordon on the breakaway at 2:28 after a Viper breakdown at the blueline. Gordon just about stopped Manson after making the pad save as the puck just snuck inbehind the former Silverbacks goaltender. Backs Captain Bobby Lipsett with the lone assist. Just minutes later Vernon would get its fifth man advantage, as Graeme Gordon was heading to the bench for the extra attacker, Vernon's d-men just about got caught dropping a back pass into their own net, after some sloppy play in the Vipers end. Connor Jones with a quick snap shot from the slot just missed the net. Braden Pimm drove to the net hard but was stopped in close. Salmon Arm killed off the minor. The Silverbacks come very close to making it a one goal game after a mad scramble in front of Graeme Gordon. Gordon was down and out as David Killip couldnt connect in front on the wide open net. The play seemed to open up a little as both teams had chances. Vernon with a parcial three on two couldnt hit the net on a good scoring rush. Braden Pimm with a shot from the circle was stopped by Ierfino, before Bryce Kakoske went to the net, banging away at the rebound but couldnt beat Ierfino down low. Former Trail Smoke Eater Jayson Reardon laid out Salmon Arm's biggest hit of the night on Connor Jones in front of both team's benches. But it was Reardon who got took the better of the check leaving the ice with a leg injury as Reardon headed to the Backs dressing room. Josh Monk would get a parcial breakaway but was stopped by Gordon. Salmon Arm would get a late powerplay but it was the Vipers penalty kill who had the better chances. Braden Pimm with a huge solo individual effort stole and then kept the puck away from two Silverbacks killing off some valuable time off the clock. The Vipers would kill off the minor. Just after some strong penalty kill Vernon got a little too cute thinking offence as the Backs turned the play back the other way, Tyler Gubb fed Mark Zengerle who scored a highlight real goal sliding into the end boards cutting the lead to 3-2 at 17:55 Gubb & Greg Noyes picked up the assists. The Silverbacks didnt quit putting pressure on the Vipers deep in the Vernon zone. Salmon Arm moved the puck well, getting the puck back to the point several times, throwing a shot towards the net with tons of traffic in front. The Backs would pull Tony Ierfino in the final minute and in the final minute of play Greg Noyes with a shot from the point was tipped in front by a Silverback and just missed the net as Salmon Arm come close to tying the hockey game. With time running down Vernon would get the puck in the corner and kill off the final few seconds with a scrum along the boards as the Vipers would defeat the Silverbacks 3-2 snapping their three game winning streak. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 10-9.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Mike Collins (1 assist) Played very well up front for the Vipers. Collins controlled the puck and play well down low. Was very strong on the penalty kill tonight.
Darrin Robak (1 assist) Saw less icetime as the game went on but I was very impressed with his hard work and physical play, especially in the opening period. Robak laid out some big checks in the 1st period, creating turnovers in the Backs zone. Nice to see this young kid get some icetime.
Dan Nycholat played a strong game on the Vernon backend. Nycholat saw alot of icetime on the powerplay.
Braden Pimm (1 goal) Pimm had a very solid game tonight, was by far Vernon's best player. Pimm worked extremely hard all night, was a force down low, very hard to knock off the puck. Was driving towards the net all night. Looked very strong on the penalty kill. I noticed Pimm didnt look or play all that well the last two or three home games, not sure if he had the flu or wasnt feeling well but come to play tonight.
Bryce Kakoske (1 goal) Kakoske has really stepped up his play over the last month or two. Bryce worked very hard most of tonights game, played in the grey area's, was very strong down low, did the little things tonight that took that extra effort to get the job done. Come up with a few nice diving plays to break up a scoring chances or clear the zone.
Adam Thompson played a solid game on the Vipers blueline. Was very strong at both ends of the rink, jumped up into the play on the powerplay. Made a few nice defensive plays to break up or stop a scoring chance. Looked very confident tonight.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Mark Zengerle (1 goal) Zengerle didnt really stand out until late in the 2nd period and the 3rd when he took over. This kid has some quick wheels and can skate, one of the best skaters in the league. Scored an unreal highlight real goal late in the 3rd to make it a one goal game. Saw alot of icetime in the 3rd period.
Chris Hoe I thought played a very hard fought game. How battled hard and competed most of tonights game. Was driving towards the goal, getting the in the blue paint, waiting for a rebound.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
I thought for most of tonights game Vernon was by far the better of the two teams. The Vipers played very well tonight in a game where the score was alot closer then the game. I thought the Vipers outworked, outplayed, and outhit the Silverbacks for most of tonights game. Vernon won alot of the one on one battles down low. Once again Vernon outplayed a team for most of the night but allowed them a chance to battle back and a chance to win or tie the game. The Vipers defence played very well giving up just a single shot in the 2nd period. Vernon who at one point during the season had the leagues best powerplay, but as of late has really struggled with the man advantage. I thought Vernon battled very hard, drove to the net, and wasnt afraid of getting in the grey area's. The Vipers are now 4-0 against the Backs this season, all four games have been one goal games.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
Until the 3rd period Salmon Arm didnt have much going for them. The Backs didnt play all that physical, lost most of the battles and races down low, were being outplayed for most of the first two periods. The Silverbacks offence was really no where to be seen until the 3rd, give Vernons defence full credit for shutting down the Backs offence too. Salmon Arm did look very strong on the penalty kill and the draw, winning most of the faceoff's tonight. I was really impressed with the Backs penalty kill. Give credit though, this team didnt quit and was very close to sending this game to overtime.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Eric Soderlund
Kellen Jones (Injured)
Salmon Arm:
Brett Knowles
3 Stars:
1st Star: Braden Pimm (1 goal)
2nd Star: Mike Collins (1 assist)
3rd Star: Dan Nycholat
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