I was at tonights Game 7 of the Doyle Cup as Vernon defeated Spruce Grove 7-3 in front of 1,770 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Graeme Gordon
Spruce Grove: Vince Marozzi
1st Period: The Vipers come out with lots of energy and controlled the play in the opening minutes. Vernon moved the puck well down low but was unable to create any real good chances. The Vipers come out hitting, taking the body, finishing their checks. Sahir Gill was hauled down on the parcial breakaway giving the Vipers the game's first powerplay of the night. Vernon was unable to get much going on the powerplay as Spruce Grove killed off the minor. Connor & Kellen Jones with some nice passing setup Connor in front who was stopped by Vince Marozzi. Brett Cameron with a chance from the slot was stopped by Graeme Gordon. Another very tight checking game with very little scoring chances. Spruce Grove would get their first powerplay of the night but it would be the Vipers penalty kill that stepped up to the plate. Jonathan Milhouse setup Braden Pimm who beat Marozzi shorthanded at 9:30 giving Vernon the 1-0 lead and the all improtant game's first goal of the game. With the Saints still on the man advantage a scramble in front of Graeme Gordon, someone had covered the puck in the crease wich resulted in Josh Koper rewarded with a penalty shot. Koper went in on Gordon but rang his shot off the crossbar. Vernon's penalty kill looked very good killing off the minor. Just after killing off the minor the Vipers couldnt knock Scott Allen off the puck, Allen fired low and beat Gordon at 11:31 tying the game 1-1. Kodie Curran with the lone helper. Shortly after the Saints goal, Spruce Grove come very close to taking the lead after David Glen was robbed in front. Glen had Gordon down and out but somehow Gordon managed to get his glove up in the air and just get a peice of it making a huge save. The play really started to pick up as both teams were really skating hard & battling hard. Some good back and forth action but again very little scoring chances. The Vipers with several turnovers in their own end, had all kinds of troubles breaking out of their own end as the Saints forecheck was very strong all night. Late in the period Graeme Gordon come out of his goal to play the puck, coughing it up to Liam Darragh who fired it into the empty net giving Spruce Grove the 2-1 lead at 16:34 Darragh's goal was unassisted. But just thirteen seconds later back come Vernon after Braden Pimm with a nice shot beat Marozzi at 16:47 tying the game 2-2. Mike Collins & Steve Weinstein with the assists. The Vipers didnt stop there, just under a minute later Cory Kane snapped a quick lazer of a shot past Vince Marozzi at 17:23 giving Vernon the 3-2 lead. Kevin Kraus with the lone assist. Back come the Vipers for more, Kellen Jones, Sahir Gill & Connor Jones with some nice passing setup Kellen who scored at 18:55 giving Vernon a 4-2 lead. Gill & Connor Jones with the assists. Some wild action in the final four or so minutes of the 1st period. The Vipers held a slight edge in play as Vernon up 4-2 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Saints 11-8.
2nd Period: Spruce Grove come out hard in the 2nd really taking it to Vernon early and often. The Saints with a ton of jump really controlled the edge in play for the first half of the period. A few quick shots from the slot just missed the net. Nate Fleming through the puck out front from behind the goal, the puck hit a Vernon d-man and come close to going in as David Glen was right there for the rebound as Gordon was forced to cover up and stop the play. Gordon come out wearing Blake Voth's mask as Gordon took a bump during the 1st period, his helmet come off during the play so Im guessing his mask was damaged. About the midway mark Gordon switched masks getting his back. The Vipers again with all kinds of troubles clearing the zone, as Spruce Grove was winning the battles. Connor Jones, Kellen Jones & Sahir Gill with some nice three way passing had a good chance in front but couldnt beat Marozzi on one of Vernons very few scoring chances this period. The Saints would get would a powerplay, moving the puck well getting some decent chances. Vernon would kill off the minor. Just after the penalty kill Connor Jones gave Vernon a 5-2 lead at 11:04 after some good hustle. Kevin Kraus & Steve Weinstein with the assists. This goal seemed to give the Vipers some life and settle them down a little as Vernon would come back with some pressure of their own at times. Vernon would jump on the powerplay but were unable to generate much offence. Just as the penalty come to an end the puck hoped over the stick of Dan Nycholat, sending Bryce Van Brabant out of the box and onto a breakaway. Adam Thompson with some good hustle got back into the play to break up Van Brabants breakaway as the Vipers got lucky. Connor Jones, Sahir Gill & Kellen Jones went in on the odd man rush setting up Gill who couldnt beat Marozzi in front. Again both teams didnt generate scoring chances. Bryce Van Brabant & Scott Allan in on a two on one, Van Brabant kept and shot beating Gordon but hit the post. Spruce Grove would get a late powerplay and capitalize. Jordan Drapers quick shot from the circle beat Gordon shortside at 19:02 cutting the lead to 5-3. Nate Fleming with the lone assist. Spruce Grove was by far the better team outplaying Vernon for atleast half if not more of the 2nd period. Vernon was up 5-3 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Saints 11-10.
3rd Period: A little bit of a slow start before the Saints come out flying really taking it to the Vipers. Spruce Grove with a very aggresive forecheck battled hard all game. The Saints looked very strong on their breakout, getting the play into the Vernon zone and then moving the puck well. Brett Cameron with a chance just missed the net. Adam Henderson also missed the net after a quick shot from the slot. The Vipers like the first half of the 2nd period were hemmed in their own end for most of the 3rd. Liam Darraghs shot was stopped by Gordon. Gordon was letting out some big rebounds all night. Gordon who come out wearing Blake Voth's mask for the 3rd period. Vernon at times was forced to ice the puck after having all kinds of troubles clearing the zone. At one point the Vipers did get the puck in deep and battled hard in and along the boards killing off some valuable time off the clock. Braden Pimm & Jonathan Milhouse with good chances couldnt beat Marozzi. Vernon with the lone powerplay of the night couldnt get much going as the Saints killed off the minor. Spruce Grove was all over Vernon but didnt get many scoring chances. Vernon with one shot in about eight minutes as they were just hanging on. Late in the game in the final few minutes Braden Pimm was setup all alone in front but was stopped by Marozzi. Spruce Grove would call a timeout and get Vince Marozzi to the bench for the extra attacker. With heavy traffic in front a screened shot from the slot somehow didnt go in, the puck come back to the point and again the puck somehow stayed out. The Vipers battled very hard in the final few minutes coming up with some huge block shots. Connor Jones would seal the win for Vernon with an empty netter at 18:52. Jones goal was unassisted. The Saints would get Marozzi back to the bench for the extra attacker but the Saints couldnt get the puck in deep, Rob Short hit the empty net at 19:22 giving Vernon the 7-3 lead. Curtis Gedig with the lone assist. In the end Vernon would defeat Spruce Grove 7-3 to win the 2010 Doyle Cup for the second year in a row and 7th time in franchise history. The Saints outshot the Vipers 11-7.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Dan Nycholat played a solid game on the Vipers backend. Nycholat used his size and body strength to eat alot of clock hemming the puck up against the boards late in the game.
Adam Thompson another d-man who played a very strong game. Thompson showed good hustle to get back into the play in the 2nd period to break up Bryce Van Brabant's breakaway. Thomspon battled hard down low and in front of the net.
Kevin Kraus (2 assists) Kraus caused two turnovers in the 1st period but was another strong defenceman for the Vipers tonight.
Connor Jones (2 goals & 1 assist), Kellen Jones (1 goal) & Sahir Gill (1 assist) played very hard up front for the Vipers. What can you say about this line, this line has got the job done all postseason and counted on when needing a big goal. I thought Kellen & Connor Jones both battled hard, took some big hits, battled hard down low and in and around the net. These two kids are warriors, they never back down or quit competing.
Cory Kane (1 goal) Kane looked very strong tonight, especially in the opening period. Kane was skating hard, shooting pucks at the net and creating chances down low.
Braden Pimm (2 goals) Pimm come to play tonight, scored two big goals, another player who battled hard all game. Won some key draws, come up with atleast two huge shot blocks in the final two minutes.
Jonathan Milhouse (1 assist) I thought Milhouse had a pretty good game for the Vipers. Used his speed on several occasions to beat guys to loose pucks. Won several races to the puck, just because of his speed.
Top Players: (Spruce Grove)
David Glen had a few good chances, thought he played very well up front for the Saints.
Bryce Van Brabant with a couple of chances, battled and skated hard all night. Rang a shot off the post on an odd man rush in the 2nd period. This kid is also quick.
Brett Cameron with a few good chances, really started to come on as the series went further.
Liam Darragh (1 goal) Another kid who started to get better and improve as the series went on.
Ryan Kerr I thought played a solid game on the Saints backend. A big kid who didnt stand out in the first few games here, but played well tonight.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
First off Id like to take this time to congradulate the Vernon Vipers on winning the 2010 Doyle Cup & advancing to the RBC Cup. Vernon wins back to back Doyle Cups for the first time since the 1991-1992 Vernon Lakers. Talk about a nerve racking game. I thought the Vipers played very well in the 1st period but hung on in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Tonight was the first game that I saw where the Vipers were the ones who were outplayed for most of the night. The Vipers also didnt get alot of scoring chances and 35 plus shots on goal like in the previous three games. Vernon was really limited to their chances. Before the two empty netters the Vipers had two shots in the final ten minutes. I think tonight was the most turnovers I have ever seen the Vipers give up in their own end in a long long time. Vernon with several turnovers had all kinds of troubles clearing the zone as well as breaking out. The Vipers with very little time of puck posetion, were really hemmed in their own end for most of the 2nd and 3rd periods. The Vipers did get to Vince Marozzi late in the 1st period, getting to him often scoring three quick goals. Getting four quick goals past him gave the guys some confidence, now knowing they can beat this kid. Give credit to Vernon for battling hard, come up with some huge blocked shots and also limiting the Saints to only a handfull of chances as well. Its a good thing the Vipers had a two goal lead heading into the 3rd or this could have been a tough game to try and make a comeback in. Mark Ferner said he built this team for a seven game series, well the Vipers have now won back to back seven game series. You have to wonder if the 13 kids that are back from last years Royal Bank Cup winning team, gave this team the experience, leadership and characther they needed to pull out the Game 7 victory.
Game Thoughts: (Spruce Grove)
Id first like to take this time to congradulate the Spruce Grove Saints on coming back down 3-1 to forcing a Game 7 and coming very close to moving onto the RBC Cup. Id like to wish the veteran players and players that wont be back next season all the best in their hockey careers. Thanks for putting up one heck of a fight and giving us a great series to watch. I for one after the Vipers come home with a 2-1 series lead, never expected this to go seven games, and then when Vernon went up 3-1 I thought it was all over. Wow was I wrong. This Saints hockey club sure proved me and I think alot of other Vernon fans wrong. This wasnt the same team I saw play here in Game 4. Spruce Grove just kept getting better and better as the series went on. Give full credit to the Saints for never giving up, battling hard and competing on such a high level. This team put up a heck of a fight. In the four games played here in Vernon, Vernon outplayed and outchanced the Saints in the first three games. If it wasnt for Vince Marozzi this series would have been over. Well tonight was a different story. It was the Saints who outplayed, & outchanced the Vipers. Spruce Grove gave it all they had but tonight they were the ones that didnt get the bounces, didnt get the puck luck and didnt score on their chances. In the two previous games Vince Marozzi stoned the Vipers, well tonight the Vipers got to him late in the period, scoring three quick goals. You cant blame the goaltender but tonight Marozzi didnt have to stand on his head, the Vipers score on their chances and maybe got a bit of puck luck. After giving up the games first goal shorthanded the Saints battled right back to tie the game and then grabbed the first lead of the night, but in the next several minutes couldnt hold off the Vipers attack giving up three goals in just a few minutes. This team didnt quit, they battled hard pouring on the pressure in the 2nd and 3rd periods but just didnt get the bounces when they needed them. Nor could they score on their chances.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Darrin Robak
Trevor Fitzgerald (AP)
Patrick McGillis
Spruce Grove:
Jesse Slobodian
Rory Connop
Tim Nolte
Brett Switzer (Injured)
Shaun Rolling
Travis Rolheiser
3 Stars:
1st Star: Braden Pimm (2 goals)
2nd Star: Connor Jones (2 goals & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Kevin kraus (2 assists)
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