Friday, March 12, 2010

(Game Preview) Game 3: Vernon @ Quesnel:




Vernon (1-1) @ Quesnel (5-3)

Last Game Played:

Wednesday, March 10th Game 2 : Quesnel defeated Vernon 4-2

Tonight is Game 3 of the 2nd round of the BCHL Playoffs between the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Quesnel Millionaires. The best of seven series is tied 1-1. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller on 107.5 Kiss FM starting with the pregame at 7:15 pm

Let’s take a look at the Vernon Vipers: (1-1)

The Vipers clinched top spot in the BCHL and the Interior Division with a record of 51-6-0-3 and was ranked #2 in all of Canada. Vernon scored a league high 298 goals and broke the Penticton Vees BCHL record for least amount of goals, giving up just 119. Vernon was 25-4-0-1 at home & 26-2-0-2 on the road during the regular season. The Vipers finished at 9-0-0-1 in their last 10 regular season games. The Vipers had three players in the leagues top 20 in regular season scoring. Connor Jones (36-45-81), Mike Collins (30-46-76) & Braden Pimm (25-43-68). Blake Voth lead the league as the BCHL’s top goaltender. Voth has a record of 21-2 with 3 shutouts and broke the BCHL record with the lowest GAA with 1.79 Graeme Gordon was 3rd in the leagues top 10 goaltenders with a record of 30-7 with 2 shutouts and a GAA of 2.06

1st Round: 1st Round Bye

Home Playoff Record: 1-1
Away Playoff Record: 0-0

Vernon’s Powerplay This Series: 0-12

The Vipers come into Game 3 tonight playing their first road game of this years BCHL Playoffs. Vernon comes into tonights game where the Vipers went 2-0 during the regular season, outscoring the Mills at the Vault 16-2. But Quesnel is a much different team, and are 3-0 on home during these Playoffs. The Vipers will be looking at getting off to a good start, trying to take the crowd out of tonights game. Vernon dosnt want to go down early and have to try and claw their way back against Kirby Halcrow, a goaltender that has played very well in this series. Vernon will be looking at trying to get to Halcrow early and often. Halcrow has given up eight goals on 103 shots. The Vipers will need to get lots of pucks and traffic towards the Quesnel net. Vernon who is 0-12 with the man advantage in the series, & needs to work on the powerplay. Depending who gets the start between the pipes, the Vipers will need strong goaltending and get the big save when needed. The big question is will Graeme Gordon get the nod, or will Mark Ferner go with rookie Blake Voth?

Key Players To Watch:

Rob Short (3-0-3)
Cory Kane (1-2-3)
Braden Pimm (2-0-2)
Curtis Gedig (1-1-2)
Kevin Kraus (0-2-2)
David Robinson (1-0-1)
Mike Collins (0-1-1)
Sahir Gill (0-1-1)
Connor Jones (0-1-1)
Kellen Jones (0-1-1)
Dan Nycholat (0-0-0)
Jonathan Milhouse (0-0-0)
Graeme Gordon (1-1 Record, 3.00 GAA)
Blake Voth (0-0 Record, 0.00 GAA)

Let’s take a look at the Quesnel Millionaires: (5-3)

The Millionaires finished the regular season in 5th place in the Interior Division with a record of 22-32-0-6 The Millionaires scored 208 goals and gave up 245 goals. Quesnel was 12-16-0-2 on home ice & 10-16-0-4 on the road during the regular season. Quesnel finished 4-4-0-2 in their last 10 regular season games. The Mills had one player in the leagues top 20 in regular season scoring. Trevor Hertz lead the way with (35-38-73)

1st Round: Defeated Salmon Arm in Six Games

Home Playoff Record: (3-0)
Away Playoff Record: (2-3)

Quesnel’s Powerplay This Series: 0-3

The Millionaires come home for Game 3 with the series tied 1-1. Quesnel has four players in the top 20 in Playoff scoring, Darick Ste-Marie (9-5-14), Taylor Holst (4-7-11), Terver Hertz (3-6-9), & Justin Hogan (3-6-9) Kirby Halcrow is 5th in the top 10 Playoff Goaltenders. Halcrow is 5-3 with a 3.00 GAA You can bet the Vault will be alive and rocking, catching their first glimpse of the 2nd Round Playoffs, something these fans have yet to see. Quesnel now with home ice advantage needs to take advantage and try and head back to Vernon with the series lead or the series tied. The Mills who were 0-2 against the Vipers on home ice during the regular season, are 3-0 on home ice during these playoffs and will have to use the smaller ice surface to their advantage. Remember Vernon lost just four games on the road all regular season. The big question for Mills fans is can Kirby Halcrow continue his strong play for the remainder of this series? Halcrow has already faced 103 Vernon shots, how many more 40 plus save nights can this kid handle? Quesnel needs to try and jump on the Vipers goaltending, weather it be Graeme Gordon or Blake Voth. The Mills also need to keep up the physical play and stick to getting under the skin of the Vipers, play with that edge and chippy play after the whistle. Can the Mills keep pace with the much more speedy and skilled Vipers for an entire seven game series? Tonight is a big game for either team.

Key Players To Watch:

Darick Ste-Marie (9-5-14)
Taylor Holst (4-7-11)
Justin Hogan (3-6-9)
Trever Hertz (3-6-9)
Joshua Desmarais (3-4-7)
Jacob Verheyden (1-4-5)
Eliot Raibl (1-3-4)
Tyler French (2-2-4)
Skyler Smutek (0-4-4)
Clayton Chessa (1-3-4)
Kirby Halcrow (5-3 Record, 3.00 GAA)

Here’s a look at both teams rosters:

Vernon Vipers Regular Season Scoring:

Connor Jones (36-45-81)
Mike Collins (30-46-76)
Braden Pimm (25-43-68)
Cory Kane (22-33-55)
Jonathan Milhouse (19-34-53)
Kellen Jones (12-41-53)
Rob Short (22-28-50)
Dylan Walchuk (19-28-47)
Cole Ikkala (22-23-45)
Dan Nycholat (7-38-45)
Bryce Kakoske (13-28-41)
Kevin Kraus (5-22-27)
David Robinson (15-10-25)
Adam Thompson (5-20-25)
Steven Weinstein (4-18-22)
Curtis Gedig (11-10-21)
Patrick McGillis (7-14-21)
Garrett Noonan (2-16-18)
Sahir Gill (3-9-12)
Darrin Robak (2-5-7)

Blake Voth (21-2 Record, 3 Shutouts- 1.79 GAA)
Graeme Gordon (30-7 Record, 1 Shutout- 2.06 GAA)

Quesnel Millionaires Regular Season Scoring:

Trevor Hertz (35-38-73)
Taylor Holst (27-30-57)
Darick Ste-Marie (17-35-52)
Eliot Raibl (7-39-46)
Justin Hogan (15-29-44)
Joshua Desmarais (20-22-42)
Jacob Verheyden (12-23-35)
Sam Higgins (7-28-35)
Skyler Smutek (7-27-34)
Tyler French (15-17-32)
Spencer Graboski (10-9-19)
Clayton Chessa (4-13-17)
Rylan Stanyer (3-7-10)
Mitch Galbraith (6-3-9)
Chris Kerr (4-4-8)
Tyler Billon (0-7-7)
Tyson Price (1-3-4)
Marley Keca (1-3-4)
Brandon Watson (1-2-3)
Anderson White (0-3-3)

Luke Siemens (9-12 Record, 1 Shutout- 3.70 GAA)
Kirby Halcrow (13-25 Record, 0 Shutouts- 4.23 GAA)

Let’s take a look at the series:

Game 1: Tuesday, March 9th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 6-2

Taylor Holst opened the scoring at 8:42 giving the Mills the early 1-0 lead before Rob Short scored two to give Vernon a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of play. Just one goal in the 2nd as Braden Pimm’s goal at 1:12 was the game winner. After a strong Vipers attack and no goals, Chris Kerr cut the lead to 4-2 before Braden Pimm, Cory Kane & Curtis Gedig would round out the scoring in the 3rd giving Vernon the 6-2 victory, taking Game 1. Graeme Gordon made just 12 saves for the win, while Kirby Halcrow made 40 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=806856&link=bchl

Let’s take a look at Game 2:

Game 2: Wednesday, March 10th @ Vernon: Quesnel wins 4-2

David Robinson opened the scoring just 4:05 into the 1st period before the Millionaires responded just 45 seconds later, Darick Ste-Marie tied the game before Tyler French’s late goal at 17:35 put Quesnel ahead 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Quesnel 22-6 in the 2nd but it was Taylor Holst with the lone goal of the period as the Mills took a 3-1 lead into the final frame. Just 1:40 into the 3rd Branden Redschlag would pick up his first BCHL goal giving the Millionaires a 4-1 lead wich was more then enough. Rob Short would get Vernon to within two goals late at 16:34 but Kirby Halcrow was huge down the stretch making some big saves to give the Mills the 4-2 win and tie the series 1-1. Vernon outshot Quesnel 57-22. Kirby Halcrow made 55 saves getting the win, while Graeme Gordon made 18 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=806857&link=bchl

Here’s a look at the Vipers-Mills Playoff Schedule:

#1 - Vernon Vipers vs. #5 - Quesnel Millionaires
Game 1 - Tuesday, March 9th at Vernon - 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre
Game 2 - Wednesday, March 10th at Vernon - 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre
Game 3 - Friday, March 12th at Quesnel - 7:30 PM, Quesnel Twin Arenas
Game 4 - Saturday, March 13th at Quesnel - 7:30 PM, Quesnel Twin Arenas
Game 5 - Monday, March 15th at Vernon - 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre
Game 6 - Tuesday, March 16th at Quesnel - 7:30 PM, Quesnel Twin Arenas
Game 7 - Wednesday, March 17th at Vernon - 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre

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