Vernon 5 Langley 1

I was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Langley 5-1 in front of 1,922 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Blake Voth
Langley: Mark Friesen

1st Period: Off the opening draw, on Vernons first rush up ice, David Robinson with a quick wrist shot from the circle was stopped by Mark Friesen. On the next rush back come the Chiefs, Brad McBride with a chance in front but just missed the net. The Vipers moving the puck well, created chances on several occasions in the opening period. Cory Kane with a backhand was robbed by the quick glove of Friesen. Vernon would get the games first powerplay of the night. Dan Nycholat's point shot was stopped by the quick glove of Mark Friesen who made a tough glove save with traffic in front. Before the powerplay ended Vernon would take a minor giving the Chiefs a short man advantage, but with no shots on goal, Vernon would kill off the minor. Vernon was the better of the two teams in the 1st getting some good quality chances but they couldnt beat Friesen who was sharp. Langley didnt record their first shot of the night until eight minutes into the hockey game. Mitch Pacey played a very physical game, laid out Bryce Kakoske twice in the period. Cole Ikkala with a great chance from the side of the net was robbed by a diving Friesen. Vernon carried most of the play as the Chiefs had troubles generating any kind of attack. The Vipers would finally solve Mark Friesen late in the period, Cole Ikkala setup Braden Pimm at 18:12 putting Vernon up 1-0. Ikkala & Mike Collins with the helpers. The Vipers would be up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Langley 15-7.

2nd Period: Mike Collins was robbed in front by the glove of Mark Friesen on a great early scoring chance. The Vipers would get an early powerplay and take advantage. Cole Ikkala would setup Mike Collins in the slot who beat Friesen fivewhole at 4:30 giving the Vipers a 2-0 lead. Ikkala & Braden Pimm with the assists. Off the draw the Chiefs would get their second powerplay of the night. Kellen & Connor Jones would go in shorthanded, as Kellen setup Connor who beat Friesen at 4:51 giving the Vipers a 3-0 lead and in full control. Kellen Jones & Garrett Noonan with the assists. This was the turning point of tonights game. Langley would get just one real quality chance with the man advantage. Trevor Gerling with a screened shot from the point somehow got through but was stopped by Blake Voth who had to make his biggest save of the night. Vernon would kill off the minor and then take over control of the play for a solid five or six minutes with some good cycle down low. Connor Jones, Kellen Jones and David Robinson worked the puck down low, buzzing in the Chiefs zone creating some chances. Vernon was unable to score as back come Langley with a few good chances. Brandon Thompson was stopped by Voth. Vernon would go back on the man advantage, Dan Nycholats blast from the circle beat Friesen upstairs at 10:28 as Vernon went ahead 4-0 and were in full control of tonights game. Bryce Kakoske & Rob Short collected the assists. Langley would come real close to scoring, Brandon Thompsons shot was stopped by Voth as the rebound laid out in the crease and somehow Captain Mac Roy couldnt put the loose puck into the empty goal as the Vipers were lucky to excape on that scoring chance. Langley mustered a few chances but again Vernon controlled and carried the better of the play for most of the period. Mark Friesen played well making some good saves keeping the Chiefs in the game. On a turnover in the Vipers zone, Brade McBride setup Trevor Gerling who put a nice move around the Vernon d-man and around Blake Voth to get the Chiefs on the board at 14:41. McBride with the lone assist. Vernon was up 4-1 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Chiefs 152-7.

3rd Period: Mac Roy with a good chance early was stopped by Blake Voth. Ryan Hankin had a good chance but just missed the far corner. Connor Jones & David Robinson went in two on one but the two couldnt hit the net on a great chance. Langley would get an early powerplay but once again Connor & Kellen Jones went in two on one shorthanded, Kellen with a nice pass over to Connor who couldnt connect on the pass. Vernon looked very dangerous on the penalty kill all night getting some good chances. Rob Short with some good hustle on an odd man rush shorthanded hit the crossbar as the Vipers would kill off the minor. Things started to heat up early into the final period as both teams were yapping back and forth at one another, Sahir Gill two handed Tim Daly, Daly went back with a wack at Gill as both players were yapping at one another. The Chiefs didnt back down from the physical play, laying some clean good checks on the Vipers. The play seemed to slow down a little with very little chances at either ends of the rink. Just before the midway mark Jordan Sims knocked over Blake Voth behind the Vipers net, wich caused a mini linebrawl. Dan Nycholat & Jonathan Milhouse both jumped in right away as tempers started to heat up. Vernon would get a powerplay out of the mayley but would struggle as the Chiefs would kill off the minor. Shortly after Braden Pimm with a quick wrist shot from the circle was stopped by the glove of Mark Friesen. Vernon took their foot off the gas as the period went along as the Chiefs would get some decent chances but no real scoring threat as both teams looked to winding down the clock. In the end Vernon would win its second straight with a 5-1 victory over Langley. The Vipers outshot the Chiefs 12-11.

Top Players: (Vernon)

The line of Braden Pimm (1 goal & 2 assists), Mike Collins (1 goal & 1 assist) & Cole Ikkala (1 goal & 2 assists) was Vernons best line. Pimm like always played a heck of a game, showed alot of hustle, worked hard at both ends of the rink. Cole Ikkala has really come along latley and playing very well for the Vipers. Ikkala for the second straight night played very strong up front, showed alot of hustle and determination. Was hard to knock off the puck.

The line of Connor Jones (1 goal), Kellen Jones (1 assist) & David Robinson played well. Connor & Kellen Jones were very strong and dangerous on the penalty kill all night. This line was very solid and dangerous down low with the cycle, especially at one point in the 2nd period.

Garrett Noonan (2 assists) Played a strong game on the Vipers backend. Noonan looked very confident tonight, made some nice heads up plays.

Dan Nycholat (1 goal) Also played a good defensive game, scored a real nice goal on the powerplay in the 2nd period. Nice to see Nycholat jump in after the hit on Blake Voth.

Blake Voth (24 saves) Didnt really have to make any real tough saves but made the big save when needed. Voth saw very little action in the opening period but saw a little more in the final two periods. Played his second straight game, looked confident between the pipes. Will Blake get the start in goal next game vs Powell River?

Top Players: (Langley)

Trevor Gerling was the Chiefs best player tonight. Gerling with a few real nice chances, scored a highlight real goal at the end of the 2nd period. This kid is quick, has some nice hands and drives to the net.

Mitch Pacey This kid is huge, played a very physical game. Laid out Bryce Kakoske twice in the 1st period. Plays gritty, is a physical presence out there, most Vipers were always looking over their shoulder when he was on the ice.

Mac Roy had a few chances, didnt stand out the entire game but played well for the most part.

Brad Bakken played a solid game on the Langley blueline. I was very impressed with this kid, a good solid d-man.

Mark Friesen (35 saves) Played a strong game between the pipes for Langley. This kid kept the Chiefs in tonights game, or the score could have been alot worse. Friesen has a very quick but very good glovehand. Made a good three or four good glove saves. Played his position very well, no big rebounds, lost just his fourth game of the season.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Another big win vs a strong Coastal Conference team. The Vipers needed the win tonight to keep one point ahead of the Penticton Vees who defeated Quesnel tonight 4-1. I was very pleased with the Vipers effort and overall game tonight, looked very strong and dangerous for most of the night. Vernons penalty kill was very solid and deadly scoring once shorthanded but getting several good quality chances. The Vipers were skating, moving the puck well and got lots of good chances, I also thought they played very well defensively shutting down Langleys offencesive attack. Vernon was the better of the two teams, carrying the better of the play for most of the game. Nice to see Jonathan Milhouse & Dan Nycholat stand up for Blake Voth after the hit in the 3rd period. The Vipers have now won two straight and swept the two game season series with Langley.

Game Thoughts: (Langley)

This was the Chiefs third game in three nights and you could see it. Langley a big physical team, couldnt get much offence going for most of the night, just a few good quality chances were basically not rewally in tonights game. Struggled on the powerplay giving up way too many odd man rushes and chances shorthanded. Giving up the 3rd Vernon goal shorthanded was the turning point, if Langley scores and dosnt give up the goal, we have a 2-1 hockey game & maybe gives the Chiefs a little momentum.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Darren Robak
Patrick McGillis

Langley:

Brad Goss
Max Fielder
Kevin Tuohy
Justin Lachance

3 Stars:

1st Star: Cole Ikkala (1 goal & 2 assists)
2nd Star: Braden Pimm (1 goal & 2 assists)
3rd Star: Garrett Noonan (2 assists)