I was at tonights Game 4 of the Doyle Cup as Vernon defeated Spruce Grove 6-3 in front of 2,072 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Graeme Gordon
Spruce Grove: Vince Marozzi
1st Period: Off the opening draw the Vipers got the puck in deep, Kellen Jones with the game's first good scoring chance was left along in front but just missed the far top corner as the Vipers come very close to opening the scoring. Vernon with all kinds of pressure in and around the Saints net. David Robinson & Rob Short on a two on one, Robinson kept and fired but was stopped by Marozzi. Another two on one as Jonathan Milhouse and Dylan Walchuk went in on the odd man rush, Milhouse setup Walchuk who couldnt hit the net just missing the goal on a great scoring play. The Vipers would get the game's first powerplay but it would be the Saints who killed off the minor. Steve Weinstein left all alone in front couldnt beat Vince Marozzi who made a nice save in close keeping Spruce Grove in the game. Vernon on another odd man rush couldnt find the back of the net as the Vipers were controling the early edge in play. Just before the midway mark Kodie Curran with a chance at the side of the net was stopped by Graeme Gordon, as Spruce Grove with their first good scoring chance and only second shot on goal. David Robinson would setup Cory Kane at 11:24 giving Vernon the 1-0 lead. Kane with the lone helper. Just after the goal Vernon would head back to the powerplay but again the Saints would kill off the minor. Just after the penalty kill Vernon with two chances to clear the zone and they didnt, the puck ended up on Scott Allen's stick, with traffic going towards the front of the goal the Saints with two shots from in close finally beat Gordon on the thirds shot. Bryce Van Brabant with the goal at 14:11 ties the game 1-1. Liam Darragh & Scott Allen with the assists. Spruce Grove with a late powerplay had all kinds of trouble with the Vernon penalty kill. Davidon Robinson would get a great chance, going in on the parcial breakaway, getting a backhand off but Vince Marozzi come up with the big save, then just before the penalty come to an end Jonathan Milhouse was stopped shorthanded by Marozzi. Some pushing and shoving took place at the buzzer as Vernon would get their third powerplay of the night to start the 2nd period. Vernon was by far the better team outplaying Spruce Grove for most of the opening period. It was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Saints 19-7.
2nd Period: The Vipers moved the puck well on the man advantage, Braden Pimm with a great chance from the slot decided to feed Mike Collins at the side of the net, who beat Marozzi fivehole at 1:52 putting Vernon ahead 2-1. Pimm & Steve Weinstein with the assists. Back come the Saints and on their first good rush of the period Joshua Lazowski ripped a quick shot from the circle that beat Graeme Gordon but hit the post as the Saints come very close to tying the game. Vernon once again controlled the early edge in play. Spruce Grove would get an early powerplay but once again Vernons strong penalty kill would strike. Connor Jones turned up the jets, staying ahead of the Saints d-man, going in on the breakaway sliding the puck fivehole passed Marozzi at 7:21 giving the Vipers a 3-1 lead. Jones shorthanded goal was unassisted. The Vipers would kill off the remainder of the penalty. The Vipers then once again got caught trying stick handle through their own end and it just about cost them. Spruce Grove picked up the loose puck on the turnover, David Glen with a chance in close at the side of the goal couldnt beat Gordon, the puck would get passed around before Carson Cooper with a nice shot from the circle was stopped by Gordon as the Saints were coming on with some good pressure. A quick shot from the point was tipped in front by Liam Darragh who just missed the far corner as the Saints come oh so close to making it a one goal hockey game. Spruce Grove finally started to get things going getting some good solid pressure deep in the Vipers zone, their most pressure of the night. Vernon seemed to settle down a bit as both teams carried the play for a bit back and forth as the Saints were now playing their best hockey of the night. Captain Kevin Kraus carried the puck in off the rush, went in and around the Spruce Grove net, firing a pass out front wich hit a Saints skate and just about went in passed Vince Marozzi as the puck went screaming through the crease. On the same play the puck come back into the Vernon zone, as a Saints player did almost the exact same thing, firing the puck back out front, the puck hit someone in front and went through the Vipers crease almost bouncing in off Graeme Gordon. Two very close calls at both ends of the rink. The Vipers started to get their game back, starting to carry the play again but with very few scoring chances. Late in the 2nd Garrett Noonan with a very smart heads up play, carried the puck up ice, avoiding the check, then taking a check just past centre but got the puck in deep, wich setup the Jones-Gill line who cycled the puck well down low, setting up Connor Jones who wired a high shot from deep in the corner wich beat Marozzi at 17:31 putting Vernon ahead 4-1. Kellen Jones & Sahir Gill with the assists. This was the end of the night for Vince Marozzi who allowed four goals on 27 shots. Travis Rolheiser now come into goal for the Saints. Towards the end of the period Spruce Grove would get a late powerplay, but once again Vernons penalty kill was very dangerous. Jonathan Milhouse stole the puck and went in on the parcial breakaway but was stopped by Travis Rolheiser who made his biggest save since just coming into action. The Saints were unable to get much going as the period come to an end, with the Saints still on the powerplay. A much better period by Spruce Grove, but it was Vernon who scored three goals to go ahead 4-1 after 40 minutes of play. The Saints outshot the Vipers 11-10.
3rd Period: Vernon would kill off the remainder of the penalty wich was carried over from the 2nd period. The Vipers then dominated the first half of the 3rd with all kinds of action in the Saints end. Vernon's cycle and forecheck was too much for the Saints as they were having all kinds of troubles trying to contain the speedy Vipers. Rob Short & David Robinson on a two on one, Short waited before setting up Robinson who tapped the puck in passed Rolheisser at 5:54 giving the Vipers a 5-1 lead. Short & Steve Weinstein with the helpers. Jonathan Milhouse and Dylan Walchuk with a two on one couldnt beat Rolheiser who then had to make a big save off the rebound with traffic in front. The Saints couldnt seem to get much going. David Glen made a nice feed to Kodie Curran who made a nice move around Steve Weinstein to beat Graeme Gordon at 8:36 cutting the lead to 5-2. Glen with the lone assist. On the next play off the draw the Saints would get the play in deep, Patrick McGillis couldnt clear the zone before Liam Darragh fed Josh Keizer at 9:33 cutting the lead to 5-3 with plenty of time left. Mark Ferner was forced to call a timeout. Spruce Grove with some life and now back in the game, started to turn up the heat. The Saints only problem was they were unable to generate much offence. Spruce Grove did a great job at getting the puck in deep but were unable to really generate any real good scoring chances. The Vipers were back on their heels a little as the Saints with some good pressure at times. Joshua Lazowski with a good chance from the circle was stopped by Gordon. The Saints were having troubles getting pucks towards the net. Josh Koper with a chance couldnt beat Gordon in front. Spruce Grove would get a late powerplay, and then get Travis Rolheiser to the bench for the extra attacker. Ryan Kerrs point shot somehow got through traffic but couldnt get past Gordon. The Saints with the only one good chance, helped Vernon clear the zone with no icing before Mike Collins hit the empty net for his second of the night at 19:20 after the goal Collins was hit with a highstick from David Glen with no call on the play. In the end Vernon would defeat Spruce Grove 6-3 and take a 3-1 series lead. The Vipers outshot the Saints 11-10.
Top Players: (Vernon)
The Vipers #1 line of Connor Jones (2 goals), Kellen Jones (1 assist) & Sahir Gill (1 assist) was very strong. Both Connor & Kellen Jones were very dangerous with and without the puck, and were also very dangerous on the penalty kill. Both Twins worked very hard all night getting some good chances, creating chances and battled hard down low and in and around the net. Connor took some big hits but it didnt keep him down for very long.
David Robinson (2 goals) Robinson played a very strong game for Vernon. Played physical, battled hard down low and in and around the net, took a few wacks and hacks but didnt back down.
Dylan Walchuk played a heck of a game. Not the biggest kid out there but played with a big heart tonight, another player who battled hard all night, was skating well, had some nice moves, was involved in a few odd man rushes. Come very close to scoring on a two on one in the 1st period. Was very shifty with the puck, was hard to knock off the puck tonight.
Cole Ikkala another kid who battled hard most of the night, was very hard to knock off the puck down low. Was very good on the forecheck, won several battles and races to the puck through out tonights game. Had a very solid outting tonight.
Jonathan Milhouse used his speed and nice hands to create several good scoring chances for the Vipers. Another player who was involved in a few odd man rushes, two great chances shorthanded. Milhouse had several good scoring chances tonight but come away with no points, but worked very hard all game.
Garrett Noonan I thought played a terrific game on the Vipers blueline. Made some real nice heads up plays all night. Looked very confident through out tonights game.
Kevin Kraus another defenceman who played a heck of a game on the backend. Kraus looked very solid defensively all night, really stood his ground tonight.
Top Players: (Spruce Grove)
Vince Marozzi (23 saves) Marozzi who was under fire for most of the 1st period and atleast the first five or so minutes into the 2nd period gave his team a chance to win but wasnt getting any help from his forwards or d-men. Marozzi made 23 saves before getting the hook after giving up four goals on 27 shots. I dont think you could blame him on any of the four goals. Spruce Grove likes to rotate goaltenders each and every game, well tonight Marozzi was getting back to back starts, wich is something very rare for the Saints.
Kodie Curran (1 goal) I thought played a pretty good game for the Saints. Had a real nice scoring play in the opening period and then scored a real nice goal in the 3rd to try and get his team back in the game.
David Glen (1 assist) Played pretty good. Glen with a good chance early in the 2nd period couldnt beat Graeme Gordon. Seemed to be pretty good with the puck at times.
Joshua Lazowski was Spruce Groves best player. This kid isnt the biggest kid but has some good hands and a quick set of wheels. Had Gordon beat early in the 2nd but hit the post, then had a chance or two in the 3rd. I was fairly impressed with Lazowski.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Tonight was a key game for both teams. A win by Vernon and they grab a 3-1 series lead, a loss and the series is all tied 2-2. Well the Vipers battled hard for most of tonights game and come away with a 6-3 win giving them a 3-1 series lead with the remaining games of this series in Vernon. I thought Vernon come ready to play and really dominated the play the 1st period but with just one goal and lots of good chances the game was tied 1-1. Even though the Saints played a much better period in the 2nd Vernon capitalized on their chances, scoring three goals. Again a great start to start the 3rd but then the Vipers seemed to sit back maybe a little? Spruce Grove really come on in the second half of the 3rd but only managed two goals. I thought the Vipers battled very hard, looked very good on the cycle and forecheck and were very dangerous on the penalty kill getting three real good shorthanded chances. It was in their own end where things got a little scary at times. For most of the season I have noticed Vernon usally tries to stickhandle the puck out of their own end, and on several occasions theres a turnover wich results in a goal or scoring chance for the other team. The Vipers were caught several times tonight trying to stickhandle out of their own end and it cost them a few times. Overall Vernon is the much better team and carried most of the play tonight. The Vipers now one win away from winning back to back Doyle Cup Championships and heading back to the Royal Bank Cup for the second straight year in a row.
Game Thoughts: (Spruce Grove)
For starters I dont like the Saints jerseys or logo. After seeing Spruce Grove for the first time, I wasnt very impressed. They dont have a real big team but do have some size but didnt really play all that physical tonight. I thought they are very slow moving the puck coming out of their own end and have all kinds of troubles with Vernons speed, skill and cycle-forecheck down low. For a team that looked so dangerous on the powerplay in Game 1 caused alot of turnovers and gave up several shorthanded chances all night. The Saints with some scoring chances didnt really put all that much pressure on the Vipers in their own end. Atleast no real sustained pressure. One thing I did really like about them is they like to forecheck and did very well at times. I thought Vince Marozzi come up with some big saves especially in the 1st period to keep his team in the game, so they have some good goaltending. Another thing I liked and noticed through out the series is this team dosnt quit and battles back, making it a game in the end even after being outplayed for most of the game. For a team that controlled the play in the second half of the 3rd they sure didnt generate many real good chances, nor did they get lots of pucks towards Graeme Gordon. I watched all three games in Spruce Grove over the internet and have to say Vernon is the much better team. Spruce Grove is in a huge up hill battle now down 3-1 in the series with the remainder of the games on the road. Lets see what kind of team comes out tomorrow night.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Darrin Robak
Trevor Fitzgerald (AP)
Bryce Kakoske
Spruce Grove:
Jesse Slobodian
Rory Connop
Tim Nolte
Brett Switzer (Injured)
Shaun Rolling
3 Stars:
1st Star: Connor Jones (2 goals)
2nd Star: David Robinson (2 goals)
3rd Star: Bryce Van Brabant (1 goal)
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