Saturday, March 27, 2010

(Game Preview) Interior Conference Finals: Game 6: Vernon @ Penticton:




Vernon (7-4) @ Penticton (10-5)

Last Game Played:

Saturday March 26th Penticton defeated Vernon 3-2 in triple overtime

The defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & Penticton Vees meet in the Interior Conference Finals in Game 6 tonight with the Vipers having a second chance at moving onto the BCHL League Finals after Penticton’s huge 3-2 triple overtime win last night. 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 (7-4)

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: 4-2
Road Playoff Record: 3-2

Vernon has outscored Penticton 16-9 in the series

Powerplay vs. Penticton:

5-20 (2 shorthanded goals)

The defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers have a second chance at winning back to back Interior Conference Championships with a win over the Penticton Vees tonight. The Vipers will be looking to repeat as Interior Conference Champions for the first time since 2002-2003. Vernon with a chance at putting an end to this series last night lost 3-2 in triple overtime after blowing a 2-0 lead heading into the 3rd period. You have to wonder if either team will have any energy or gas left in the tank to play tonight after last nights marathon game. The Vipers will need everyone on board tonight and try and knock off the Penticton Vees. The Vipers don’t want to have to come back home for a Game 7 tomorrow night. Just like last night Vernon needs to get off to a good start, try and get to Sean Bonar early but need to play a full 60 minutes. The Vipers now need to stay focused and ready to battle a Penticton team that now has the momentum. Once again specialty teams and goaltending will be key. The Vipers need to use their strong forecheck and physical play to their advantage. Sean Bonar was giving up some big rebounds in Game 5, Vernon will have to try and have someone in front looking for the rebound. Vernon needs Braden Pimm & Mike Collins to step up, these two have been pretty quiet all playoffs. The 14 players that won the RBC last year have the experience and know how to close out a series, this hopefully will pay off for the Vipers. Tonight should be a heck of a hockey game.

Key Players To Watch:

Connor Jones (5-6-11)
Kellen Jones (3-8-11)
Rob Short (5-4-9)
Sahir Gill (4-5-9)
Jonathan Milhouse (3-6-9)
Cole Ikkala (6-3-9)
Cory Kane (1-6-7)
David Robinson (1-5-6)
Braden Pimm (2-4-6)
Mike Collins (2-4-6)
Kevin Kraus (0-5-5)
Dan Nycholat (2-3-5)
Graeme Gordon (6-3 Record, 4 Shutouts 1.54 GAA)

Vernon Vipers Playoff Scoring:

Connor Jones (5-6-11)
Kellen Jones (3-8-11)
Sahir Gill (4-5-9)
Rob Short (5-4-9)
Cole Ikkala (6-3-9)
Jonathan Milhouse (3-6-9)
Cory Kane (1-6-7)
Mike Collins (2-4-6)
David Robinson (1-5-6)
Braden Pimm (2-4-6)
Kevin Kraus (0-5-5)
Garrett Noonan (2-3-5)
Dan Nycholat (2-3-5)
Adam Thompson (2-3-5)
Steven Weinstein (0-5-5)
Bryce Kakoske (2-3-5)
Curtis Gedig (1-3-4)
Dylan Walchuk (1-2-3)
Patrick McGillis (0-0-0)
Darrin Robak (0-0-0)

Blake Voth (1-1 Record, 3.56 GAA)
Graeme Gordon (6-3 Record, 4 Shutouts, 1.54 GAA)

Let’s take a look at the Penticton Vees (10-5)

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: 6-1
Road Playoff Record: 4-4

Powerplay vs. Vernon:

0-15

With their season on the line for a second night in a row, the Penticton Vees are on the brink of elimination. Vees Captain Denver Manderson forced Game 6 last night with a huge 3-2 triple overtime win in Vernon. You knew the Vees wernt going to through in the towel last night, this series is far from over as the fourth game is always the toughest to win. Again you can through all the stats out the window, the Vees are in another must win situation or their season comes to an end. Penticton now comes home where they are 6-1 in these playoffs and should be expecting a huge crowd tonight. The Vees will once again need Denver Manderson & Beau Bennett to step up to the plate and carry this team. Sean Bonar will once again be called apon to make the big save when needed. Specialty teams have hurt the Vees in this series going 0-15 on the powerplay and giving up two shorthanded goals. Penticton needs to try and get the powerplay going. Penticton dosnt want to have to try and battle back in the 3rd tonight, so the Vees must get off to that good start, keep the crowd in the game and try and keep things simple. The Vees have done a great job at shutting down the Gill-Jones line over the last few games but still have to contend with Vernon’s three other lines. The Vees need to stay disaplined and stay out of the penalty box. Penticton needs to try and keep the Vipers to the outside, and traffic away from Sean Bonar. Penticton is in tough but anything can happen. Remember it was the Vipers two years ago that were down to the Penticton Vees 3-1 before forcing a Game 7 where the Vees won and went on to the Doyle Cup.

Penticton play by play man, Ryan Pinder caught up with Vees Captain Denver Manderson & head coach Fred Harbinson after last nights huge 3-2 triple overtime victory. Here’s what the two had to say,

http://pentictonvees.podbean.com/2010/03/27/vees-vipers-game-5-audio/

Key Players To Watch:

Denver Manderson (10-15-25)
Beau Bennett (5-9-14)
Joey Laleggia (2-10-12)
Garrett Milan (2-10-12)
Ryan Viselli (6-3-9)
Logan Johnston (6-2-8)
Alex Szczechura (5-2-7)
Jake Johnson (1-6-7)
Byron Sorensen (2-3-5)
Matt Paltridge (2-3-5)
Sean Bonar (10-5 Record, 2 Shutouts 2:23 GAA)

Penticton Vees Playoff Scoring:

Denver Manderson (10-15-25)
Beau Bennett (5-9-15)
Joey Laleggia (2-10-12)
Garrett Milan (2-10-12)
Logan Johnston (6-2-8)
Ryan Viselli (6-3-9)
Alex Szczechura (5-2-7)
Jake Johnson (1-6-7)
Byron Sorensen (2-3-5)
Eric Filiou (1-4-5)
Matt Paltridge (2-3-5)
Andrew Pickering (0-4-4)
Ben Sexton (1-2-3)
Bo Dolan (1-2-3)
Joey Holka (2-1-3)
Stefan Nicholishen (2-0-2)
Derik Johnson (0-2-2)
Luke Curadi (0-1-1)
Isaac Macleod (0-1-1)

Joel Rumpel (0-0 Record)
Sean Bonar (10-5 Record, 2 Shutouts 2:23 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

Interior Conference Finals: Game 3: Tuesday March 23rd @ Penticton: Penticton wins 4-0

Matt Paltridge opened the scoring at 5:32 & Jake Johnson gave Penticton a 2-0 lead at 11:12 Ryan Viselli’s goal at 2:48 went in off Kevin Kraus’s skate giving the Vees a 3-0 lead. Denver Manderson hit the empty net at 18:49 giving Penticton a 4-0 victory. Sean Bonar made 37 saves for the win and shutout, while Graeme Gordon made 21 saves taking the loss. Vernon leads the series 2-1

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=808964&link=bchl

Interior Conference Finals: Game 4: Wednesday, March 24th @ Penticton: Vernon wins 5-0

Bryce Kakoske opened the scoring at 7:31 giving Vernon a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Kakoske on the powerplay at 5:05 of the 2nd period gave the Vipers a 2-0 lead before Adam Thompson’s powerplay goal at 10:11 gave Vernon a 3-0 lead heading into the 3rd. Mike Collins shorthanded at 13:15 and Cole Ikkala on the powerplay at 19:38 sends Vernon home with a 5-0 win and a 3-1 series lead. This was the Vees first loss at home during the playoffs. Vernon outshot Penticton 28-21. Graeme Gordon made 21 saves for his 4th shutout while Sean Bonar made 23 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=808965&link=bchl

Interior Conference Finals: Game 5: Friday, March 26th @ Vernon: Penticton wins 3-2 in triple overtime

Dylan Walchuk opened the scoring at 5:33 giving the Vipers a 1-0 lead after the 1st period. Cole Ikkala at 18:25 then gave the Vipers a 2-0 lead heading into the 3rd period. Beau Bennett at 2:03 cuts the lead to 2-1. Joey Holka at 15:26 ties the game sending it to overtime. Vees Vaptain Denver Manderson scores at 7:14 giving Penticton the huge 3-2 triple overtime victory forcing a Game 6. Vernon outshot Penticton 63-47. Sean Bonar made 61 saves for the win, while Graeme Gordon made 44 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=808966&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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