Vernon (6-2) @ Penticton (8-4)Last Game Played:
Saturday March 20th Vernon defeated Penticton 3-2 in Overtime
The defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & Penticton Vees meet in the Interior Conference Finals in Game 3 tonight after the Vipers pulled out a huge 3-2 Overtime win in Game 2. Game’s 3 & 4 go tonight & tomorrow in Penticton. You can listen to tonight’s game live with Todd Miller on 107.5 Kiss FM starting at 6:45pm
Lets take a look at the Vernon Vipers (6-2)
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 are 9-0-0-1 in their last 10 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: First Round Bye
2nd Round: Defeated Quesnel in six games
Home Playoff Record: 4-1
Road Playoff Record: 2-1
Powerplay vs. Penticton:
2-6 (1 shorthanded goal)
Tonight is a key game for both teams as a Vernon win and they have a strangle hold on the series up 3-0, a loss and Penticton is right back in the series down just one game. The Vipers have a ton of confidence right now winning four straight in the playoffs and winning four straight vs. the Vees (regular season & playoffs) Vernon needs to once again get off to a good start and try to get to the Vees early and often and put this game and series away. Vernon needs to be physical with the Vees, lay the body and finish their checks. The Vipers top line of Connor Jones, Kellen Jones & Sahir Gill have been the Vipers best line and will have to continue to play at their best of the Vipers want to go anywhere. Graeme Gordon who was named BCHL player of the week Monday, will once again be called apon to make the big saves when needed. Gordon who was 1-3 against Penticton during the regular season is 2-0 vs. the Vees in these playoffs. Once again specialty teams will be huge, Vernon needs to stay out of the penalty box as Penticton has one of if not the leagues best powerplay. The Vipers will want to try and get the crowd out of the game early, get lots of pucks and traffic towards Sean Bonar and get to the Vees goaltender early. I think before this series started the Vipers would be saying they would be looking at a split in Penticton, now taking a look at the series the Vipers will be wanting to win both and end the Vees season on home ice. Mike Collins needs to step up his play and contribute on the scoresheet. Collins a veteran player has been very quiet these playoffs so far.
Key Players To Watch:
Connor Jones (5-6-11)
Kellen Jones (3-8-11)
Rob Short (5-4-9)
Sahir Gill (4-4-8)
Cory Kane (1-6-7)
Cole Ikkala (4-2-6)
David Robinson (1-5-6)
Jonathan Milhouse (3-3-6
Kevin Kraus (0-6-6)
Braden Pimm (2-3-5)
Dan Nycholat (2-2-4)
Mike Collins (1-3-4)
Graeme Gordon (5-1 Record, 3 Shutouts 1.33 GAA)
Vernon Vipers Playoff Scoring:
Connor Jones (5-6-11)
Kellen Jones (3-8-11)
Rob Short (5-4-9)
Sahir Gill (4-4-8)
Cole Ikkala (4-2-6)
Jonathan Milhouse (3-3-6)
David Robinson (1-5-6)
Kevin Kraus (0-6-6)
Cory Kane (1-4-5)
Braden Pimm (2-3-5)
Garrett Noonan (2-2-4)
Dan Nycholat (2-2-4)
Curtis Gedig (1-3-4)
Mike Collins (1-3-4)
Adam Thompson (1-2-3)
Steven Weinstein (0-3-3)
Bryce Kakoske (0-2-2)
Dylan Walchuk (0-1-1)
Patrick McGillis (0-0-0)
Darrin Robak (0-0-0)
Blake Voth (1-1 Record, 3.56 GAA)
Graeme Gordon (5-1 Record, 3 Shutouts, 1.33 GAA)
Let’s take a look at the Penticton Vees (8-4)
The Vees finished the regular season in 2th place in the Interior Division & the BCHL with a record of 48-8-0-4 The Vees scored 284 goals and gave up 143 goals. Penticton was 25-3-0-2 on home ice & 23-5-0-2 on the road during the regular season. The Vees are 3-0 at home & 1-2 on the road during these Playoffs. Penticton finished the regular season at 7-2-0-1 in their last 10 games. The Vees had two players in the leagues top 20 in scoring. Vees Captain Denver Manderson finished 3rd leading scorer with (40-73-113) while Beau Bennett finised tied with Salmon Arm’s Mark Zengerle as the leagues leading scorer with (41-79-120) Joel Rumpel & Sean Bonar finished in the leagues top 10 goaltenders. Rumpel had a 19-3 record, two shutouts and a GAA of 1.92 Sean Bonar finished with a 28-9 record. Bonar had four shutouts and a GAA of 2.64 For more info, stats and great game coverage check out Ryan Pinders Penticton Vees blog, http://pentictonvees.podbean.com/
1st Round: Defeated Merritt in four games
2nd Round: Defeated Westside in six games
Home Playoff Record: 5-0
Road Playoff Record: 3-4
Powerplay vs. Vernon:
0-5
Tonights Game 3 is a must win for the Penticton Vees. A loss and the Vipers are in the drivers seat with a 3-0 series lead, a win and the Vees are right back in the series. After a 6-0 loss in Game 1 you knew the Vees would re-group and come back with a better performance in Game 2. Well Penticton played a much stronger and tougher game in Game 2, but still fell short falling 3-2 in Overtime. Penticton who was very good on home ice all through out the regular season is a perfect 5-0 on home ice during the playoffs. Vernon was 2-1 in Penticton during the regular season, so the Vees will be in tough vs. a strong Vipers team who plays very well on the road. The Vees will be looking for both Captain Denver Manderson & Beau Bennett for leadership and putting up numbers on the board. Both players have yet to register a single point vs. Vernon in the first two games. Penticton will also be looking at trying and getting more traffic and pucks towards Graeme Gordon. Gordon has yet to see much action in front of his crease in the first two games. The Vees need to play physical, try and stir things up after the whistle and get Vernon off their game, do whatever it takes. The Vees will once again have to try and contain the Vipers top line of Sahir Gill, Kellen & Connor Jones. Penticton will also now have last change, will have to see who Fred Harbinson matches his lines against. You can bet Fred Harbinson will have his troops ready for tonights game.
Vees Head Coach and GM Fred Harbinson spoke to the media following Monday’s practice about the series and tonights game 3.
http://pentictonvees.podbean.com/2010/03/22/post-practice-fred/
Key Players To Watch:
Denver Manderson (8-12-20)
Beau Bennett (4-9-13)
Joey Laleggia (2-10-12)
Garrett Milan (2-8-10)
Logan Johnston (5-2-7)
Ryan Viselli (5-2-7)
Alex Szczechura (5-2-7)
Byron Sorensen (2-3-5)
Jake Johnson (0-5-5)
Matt Paltridge (1-3-4)
Sean Bonar (8-4 Record, 1 Shutout 2:35 GAA)
Penticton Vees Playoff Scoring:
Denver Manderson (8-12-20)
Beau Bennett (4-9-13)
Joey Laleggia (2-10-12)
Garrett Milan (2-8-10)
Logan Johnston (5-2-7)
Ryan Viselli (5-2-7)
Alex Szczechura (5-2-7)
Byron Sorensen (2-3-5)
Eric Filiou (1-4-5)
Jake Johnson (0-5-5)
Andrew Pickering (0-4-4)
Matt Paltridge (1-3-4)
Ben Sexton (1-2-3)
Bo Dolan (1-2-3)
Joey Holka (1-1-2)
Stefan Nicholishen (2-0-2)
Derik Johnson (1-1-2)
Luke Curadi (0-1-1)
Isaac Macleod (0-0-0)
Joel Rumpel (0-0 Record)
Sean Bonar (8-4 Record, 1 Shutout 2:35 GAA)
Here’s a look at this series,
Interior Conference Finals: Game 1: Friday, March 19th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 6-0
Dan Nycholat’s powerplay goal at 2:13 opened the scoring giving the Vipers the early 1-0 lead. Vernon carried the better of the play and was rewarded with two goals. Jonathan Milhouse scored on a breakaway with just 2.5 seconds remaining in the period. The Vipers took over control of the game in the 2nd and dominated for the remainder of the hockey game. Nycholat with his second of the night at 10:32 gave Vernona 3-0 lead. Then Garrett Noonan at 16:17 put the Vipers up 4-0. Kellen Jones & Rob Short (shorthanded) rounded out the scoring in the 3rd as Vernon walked away with a 6-0 victory taking a 1-0 series lead. Vernon outshot Penticton 47-19. Graeme Gordon made 19 saves for his third straight shutout, while Sean Bonar made 41 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=808962&link=bchl
Interior Conference Finals: Game 2: Saturday, March 20th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 3-2 (Overtime)
Bo Dolan opens the scoring at 7:32 before Sahir Gill on the powerplay (11:03) & Connor Jones at 18:20 gives Vernon a 2-1 lead after the opening period. Just 39 seconds into the 2nd Derik Johnson ties the game with the lone goal of the period. No scoring in the 3rd sending the game to Overtime. Just 2:20 into the extra period Rob Short beat Sean Bonar giving Vernon the 3-2 victory taking a 2-0 series lead. The Vipers outshot the Vees 36-20. Graeme Gordon made 18 saves picking up the win, while Sean Bonar makes 34 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=808963&link=bchl
Here's a look at the Vipers-Vees Playoff Schedule:
Interior Conference Finals (3rd Round):
#1 Vernon Vipers vs #2 Penticton Vees
Game 1 - Friday, March 19th @ Vernon:
Game 2 - Saturday, March 20th @ Vernon:
Game 3 - Tuesday, March 23rd @ Penticton:
Game 4 - Wednesday, March 24th @ Penticton:
Game 5* - Friday, March 26th @ Vernon:
Game 6* - Saturday, March 27th @ Penticton:
Game 7* - Sunday, March 28th @ Vernon:
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