Vernon 5 Penticton 3

I was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Penticton 5-3 in front of 2.436 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Blake Voth
Penticton: Sean Bonar

1st Period: Both teams looked a little tenative off the opening draw, waiting for the other team to make the first mistake. Vernon come out hitting and hitting hard, as the Vipers got the play in deep within the first minute, with some good puck movement the Vipers were unable to create or generate any real scoring chances. Garrett Noonan got caught on a bad pinch at the Penticton blueline, as back come the Vees on their first rush with the puck, Beau Bennett & former Merritt Centennial Andrew Pickering went in on a parcial two on one, Bennett decided to shoot, beating Blake Voth but hit the post as the Vees come oh so close to open the scoring on their first chance. Shortly after Connor Jones setup brother Kellen Jones in the slot who beat Sean Bonar giving the Vipers the early 1-0 lead at 3:52 Connor Jones & Kevin Kraus added the helpers. Off the draw the Vees would get the play in deep, Vernon couldnt clear the zone as now the Vees with some good pressure in deep, moving the puck well this forced the Vipers into taking a penalty wich gave Penticton the games first powerplay of the night. The Vees who have a deadly man advantage moved the puck well, setting up veteran Garrett Milan at the side of the net, but Milan couldnt beat Voth and then had troubles connecting on the rebound as the Vees come very close to tying the hockey game. Vernon would kill off the minor. The Vipers didnt stop hitting taking the body to the Vees making them pay. A very tight checking period with either team getting very little time or space. Very little scoring chances at both ends of the rink. Vernon would get its first powerplay of the night. Penticton did a great job at clogging up the middle, blocking several Vernon shots as nothing was getting through, the Vipers struggled as Penticton killed off the minor. Curtis Gedig's point shot just went over the top of the net as Vernon come close to going up 2-0. Penticton would get its second powerplay of the night late in the period, Kellen Jones with lots of time at the Vernon blueline coughed up the puck wich forced a two on one for the Vees, Jones was lucky enough to get back into the play, to break up the odd man rush, but the puck didnt come out, so with Penticton still in control Connor Jones couldnt clear the zone as again Vernon was sloppy in their own end on the penalty kill but in the end the Vipers would kill off the minor. At the buzzer David Robinson & Derik Johnson started pushing and shoving inbehind Sean Bonar, as a small crowd gathered as tempers started to flare a little. A fairly even opening period but it was Vernon who was by far the more physical of the two teams. The Vipers were up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Penticton 7-5.

2nd Period: The Vees would start the 2nd period on the man advantage after the Vipers were given a penalty for the altercations at the end of the 1st period. Penticton couldnt get much going on the powerplay as the Vipers kept the Vees to the outside. Beau Bennett had the Vees best chance but missed a wide open net, after being left all alone at the side of the net. In the end Vernon would kill off the minor. Sahir Gill would get a great chance early in the period on a wrap around, but was denied by Sean Bonar, Kellen Jones jumped on the rebound but was robbed by the left pad of Bonar who made a huge save keeping the score at 1-0. The Vipers again laid the body on the Vees, playing their most physical game of the season. Vernon would get an early powerplay and take advantage. Dan Nycholat fed Mike Collins who walked in from the circle and then beat Bonar at 6:38 putting the Vipers up 2-0 Nycholat with the lone assist. Penticton would head back to the box as the Vipers would get another powerplay and just two minutes after the 2nd goal Vernon would respond again on the man advantage. Connor Jones point shot was tipped in front by Cole Ikkala who beat Bonar at 8:37 giving Vernon a 3-0 lead. Connor Jones & Dan Nycholat with the assists. Just over a minute later Joey Laleggia flew down the wing, Blake Voth went down early as Laleggia ripped a shot high and over Voth getting Penticton on the scoreboard and back into this hockey game. Logan Johnston & Bo Dolan with the helpers. Shortly after Connor & Kellen Jones went in two on one, as Connor tried setting up Kellen but couldnt connect on the pass. The Vees would get another shot on the man advanatage but couldnt find the back of the net after the Vipers killed off the minor. Kevin Kraus had the biggest hit of the period (didnt catch the player he hit) Again both teams playing a tight checking game with very limited scoring chances. Some back and forth play with very little time or space. Alex Szczechura with a great chance was left all alone in front but couldnt lift the puck up and over Blake Voth, as Voth made a huge save in close. Ben Sexton was a thorn in the Vipers side all night, Sexton was yapping back and forth with any Viper he ran into, as Sexton and Jonathan Milhouse were exchanging words, yapping at one another before both were given misconducts. Late in the 2nd Connor Jones, David Robinson and Kellen Jones with some pretty three way passing, led to Connor Jones beating Sean Bonar at 18:42 putting Vernon up 4-1. Robinson and Kellen Jones with the assists. The Vipers were up 4-1 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Penticton 10-7.

3rd Period: The Vipers come out hitting once again and would get an early powerplay just minutes into the 3rd. Pentictons penalty kill was solid killing off the minor. Vernon was the better of the two teams in the first half of the 3rd as most of the play was in the Vees zone. Penticton would get just two shots in the first ten minutes of the final frame. Once again, some good puck movement and control of the play but very few quality scoring chances. The Vipers would then get into penalty trouble just past the midway mark of the 3rd going down two men. With the Vees on a two man advantage Fred Harbinson pulled Sean Bonar with still plenty of time left on the two man powerplay and lots of time still remaining in the hockey game, a gutsy move but it would pay off. Beau Bennett with an amazing backhand pass to a wide open Garrett Milan who hit the empty net catching Voth going the other way, got Penticton within two goals and still time remaining on the powerplay. Milans goal come at 12:36 with Bennett & Alex Szczechura collecting the assists. Bonar would go back between the pipes as the Vees went back to work on the man advantage, moving the puck well, with just eight seconds remaining on the powerplay, Joey Laleggia setup Beau Bennett who beat Voth at 13:51 as the Vees were now within a goal of the Vipers. Laleggia & Ben Sexton added the helpers. After being outplayed for most of the period, two quick powerplay goals and the Vees are within a goal. Penticton now started to press for the game tying goal, as Vernon was a bit back on their heels at this point. The Vees couldnt generate much of an offensive attack, before Connor Jones levelled Andrew Pickering in open ice. After a stopage in play, Ben Sexton went right after Connor Jones as everyone got involved in the scrum with some pushing and shoving, as tempers started to really heat up. Vernon would come out of the deal with the man advantage. Fred Harbinson was going nuts from the Vees bench, really giving it to the referee on the Jones hit. While the srumage was going on in the corner, both benches started exchaging words as tempers started to heat up even more, one Penticton player even climbed over the boards and skated over towards the Vernon bench, before the linesmen skated over and broke up the play. Penticton was very lucky as no penalty was called on the player who left the Vees bench. On the next play Logan Johnston went after Cole Ikkala, dropping his gloves getting in the first few shots before Ikkala dropped his gloves, in the mean time Mark Ferner started yelling towards the Penticton bench, as Ferner was now reaching around the glass between the two benches, Fred Herbinson now got involved as both coaches really started yelling at one another, both benches now started yapping back and forth as this long time rivarly gets even better with a rematch in Penticton Wednesday night. As this was all going on both Bo Dolan & Ben Sexton started getting into it with a Vernon fan inbehind the penalty box, Sexton jammed his stick through the glass trying to get at the fan. All four fans were tossed from the game. Both coaches were also tossed from the game as Vernon was rewarded with another powerplay, giving them a two man advantage with under two minutes remaining. For the remainder of the game Vernon moved the puck around, with very few shots killing off most of the remaining time on the clock before Braden Pimm beat Bonar from the slot at 19:27 giving the Vipers a 5-3 lead. Adam Thompson and Sahir Gill with the assists. Just after the faceoff Captain Kevin Kraus and Joey Holka dropped the gloves, again both benches started exchanging words. At the buzzer three remaining players on the Vernon bench were exchanging words with a handfull of Penticton players that were remaining on the Vees bench. In the end Vernon would defeat Penticton 5-3 and move four points up on the Vees for first place in the Interior Division. Vernon outshot Penticton 12-8.

Top Players: (Vernon)

The Vipers 1st line of Connor Jones (1 goal & 2 assists), Kellen Jones (1 goal & 1 assist) & David Robinson (1 assist) played a very strong and physical hockey game. I was very impressed with the play of David Robinson, Robinson played his first game of the season vs Penticton and played a real gritty-physical hard working game. Robinson was in and around the Vees net all night, playing in the grey area's mucking it up down low. This is the kind of player the Vipers needed when aquiring the veteran ex WHLer. Robinson was involved in alot of after the whistle activities all night, wasnt afraid to get in their and muck it up. Connor & Kellen Jones wernt afraid to knock around some guys tonight, Connor had the biggest hit of the night in the 3rd after levelling Andrew Pickering. Both Jones twins played a solid game up front for the Vipers.

The line of Mike Collins (1 goal), Cole Ikkala (1 goal) & Braden Pimm (1 goal) I thought played a real solid game tonight. This line has really played well over the last few weeks. Ikkala was a work horse down low and with the puck, very hard to knock off the puck as well. Played a physical-gritty game.

Cory Kane played his best game in a long time. Nice to see Kane play physical and finish his checks, he was really skating well tonight.

Rob Short played a very hard nosed-hard hitting game. Short had two big hits in the 1st period, played hard all game.

Kevin Kraus (1 assist) Played a solid game on the Vernon blueline. Had a huge hit in the 2nd period.

Dan Nycholat (2 assists) Played his 2nd straight solid game for the Vipers. Ive been really impressed with Nycholats play the last few games, looked very strong at both ends of the rink tonight.

Top Players: (Penticton)

Joey Laleggia (1 goal & 1 assist) Was one of Pentictons best players tonight. Was skating hard, a real good skater. Scored a real nice first goal, with a lazer of a shot upstairs over Blake Voth.

Logan Johnston (1 assist) I was very impressed with the play of Jihnston. Another kid who played hard, worked hard and didnt back down from the battles and grey area's. Went awkward into the boards after a hit late in the 2nd period, but returned to the game.

Garrett Milan (1 goal) Milan isnt the biggest kid but plays with a huge heart. This kid has always played well against Vernon over his career. Scored a real nice 2nd goal for the Vees. Had two great chances on the powerplay in the 1st period. Was very good down low and in and around the net.

Ben Sexton was a thorn in the side of the Vipers all night. Sexton was getting under guys skin all night, was always yapping in and after the play, seemed to have a problem with Jonathan Milhouse after him & Milhouse exchanged words several times tonight. Sexton caused the melay late in the game after going after Connor Jones for his big hit on Andrew Pickering.

Beau Bennett (1 goal & 1 assist) The 3rd leading scorer in the BCHL started off a little slow but seemed to get on track as the game went on. On the Vees first rush up ice hit the post on a parcial two on one, and then missed on a wide open net early in the 2nd period but come up big in the 3rd with a powerplay goal and an assist. This kid is very dangerous with the puck.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Tonight was a must win for the Vipers and a statement game and they sure proved it with a solid 60 minute effort and a huge 5-3 victory moving four points up on the Vees for first plave in the Interior Division. The Vipers come ready and willing to play and played one of their best and most physical games of the year. A very tight checking game with very little time and space created for very limited scoring chances. Vernon who had just one win in three games vs Penticton picked up their first win on home ice vs the Vees this season. The Vipers needed a win on home ice for some confidence headining into the Playoffs if having to play Penticton. The Vipers who havnt scored more then two goals or more against Penticton and Sean Bonar this season, got five past Bonar tonight who didnt stand on his head like in previous games. I really noticed the Vipers driving towards the net alot and always trying to have a man in front. Vernon also scored three powerplay goals, something they have had troubles doing this year, going 1-17 in the four games vs Penticton previous to tonight. What can you say about the ending, this will add more fuel to the fire and the rivarly wich will continue Wednesday in Penticton and add much more if both teams play one another come the playoffs. Give credit to the Vipers who did a great job at shutting down the Vees big guns, except for the two powerplay goals Vernon played very well containing the Vees high scoring offence.

Game Thoughts: (Penticton)

Im not sure of it was the constant physical play or maybe missing Captain Denver Manderson but I thought Vernon had the better of the chances and was by far the more physical team. Penticton was limited to their scoring chances tonight. The Vees who were down 4-1 and being outplayed to start the 3rd managed to score two quick goals and make for a wild and very exciting finish. One thing is you cant give up on a team like the Vees, this team has so much skill its never over till the final buzzer goes. Give credit to Penticton for not giving up and making it a game in the end. You could sure see the Vees didnt like Vernons physical play as some players were getting frustrated epecially in the 3rd period. Penticton needs to find more ways to generate offence and get more then 20 shots against Vernon who has the leagues least amount of goals. Penticton really missed Captain and league leading scorer Denver Manderson. Manderson has six points in the four previous games vs Vernon this year. You can bet fans are in for a wild and exciting game Wednesday in Penticton.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Darren Robak
Patrick McGillis

Penticton:

Denver Manderson (Injured)

3 Stars:

1st Star: Connor Jones (1 goal & 2 assists)
2nd Star: Joey Laleggia (1 goal& 1 assist)
3rd Star: Kellen Jones (1 goal & 1 assist)