I was at tonights BCHL game as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 4-1 in front of 1,969 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Blake Voth
Salmon Arm: Kris Moore
Before the game tonight the Vipers raised the 2010 Royal Bank Cup Championship banner to the rafters to sit along side the other five National Championship banners.
1st Period: Just over a minute into the game the Vipers got a bit of a scare when Brett Knowles wired a low shot from just over the blueline, wich looked to have caught Blake Voth off guard as the Vipers second year goaltender just got a peice of the puck with his glove as the Silverbacks come oh so close to jumping out to an early 1-0 lead. The Vipers seemed to gain control and carry the better of the play in the opening five to seven minutes but didnt really come up with any real good scoring chances. Vernon did have the puck in the Backs zone for a good part of the first half of the 1st period but couldnt generate much offence. The Silverbacks had some of the bigger hits of the night, with a few good solid checks in the 1st. Vernons first quality chance came when John Knisley fed Mike Zalewski in the slot, before being robbed by Kris Moore. The Vipers would get the games first powerplay after Bryce Kakoske wheeled in from the boards and then tried going shortside on Moore, before Moore made the blocker save. This was the one and only good chance as the Silverbacks killed off the minor. Just four minutes later Dylan Walchuk on the Vipers second powerplay carried the play around the goal, come out front and slide the puck past Kris Moore at 12:55 giving Vernon the 1-0 lead. David Robinson with the lone assist. Just less then a minute later Brett Corkey got caught on a pinch at centre allowing Devin Muller to skate in and roof a shot high over Blake Voths glove tying the game 1-1 at 13:45 Mullers goal was unassisted. Just over three minutes later Steve Weinstein took a huge check at centre ice wich allowed Brett Knowles and David Killip in on the two on one, Killip was stopped by Voth before giving up a big rebound to Knowles who beat Voth at 16:51 giving the Silverbacks a 2-1 lead. Killip & former Trail Smoke Eaters d-man Jayson Reardon collected the assists. Two quick goals by Salmon Arm seemed to give the Silverbacks some life as now they slowly started to get things going late in the opening period. Salmon Arm would get its first powerplay of the night late in the period, moving the puck well getting two or three good chances in front as Voth had to be sharp making some key saves. Vernon captain David Robinson with a great chance shorthanded, was stopped by Moore with 28 seconds remaining in the period. Vernon would kill off the minor just before the final buzzer. The Backs were the better team in the second half of the 1st. Salmon Arm was up 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Silverbacks outshot the Vipers 12-8.
2nd Period: A very scrambly 2nd period with no real flow for either of the two teams. The Vipers looked like a different hockey team in the middle frame, as Vernon quit skating and had troubles getting the puck out of their own end. Malcolm Lyles was caught two if not three times jumping up into the play, wich gave the Silverbacks an odd man rush each and everytime. Five minutes into the 2nd David Robinson and Josh Monk exhanged words as both veterans got tangled up along the corner boards, a few shots were exhanged as both players picked up minor penalties. Just over a minute later Vernon would jump on the powerplay, Patrick McGillis with a great chance to tie the game was robbed in front after Trevor Fitzgerald made a nice pass from behind the goal to a wide open McGillis who was stoned by the pad save from Kris Moore. Salmon Arm would kill off the minor. Back come the Silverbacks on a three on one but Salmon Arm couldnt capitalize on the scoring chance, not even getting a shot on goal. The Silverbacks would go on the man advantage but couldnt get much going as Vernon killed off the minor. Back come the Vipers after Brett Corkey carried the puck up ice, making a nice pass to a wide open Aaron Hadley who was robbed by Moore who made a nice toe save in front keeping the Backs in the game. Late in the period Vernon would get a two man advantage after tempers heated up. A pile up in the Silverbacks zone created some pushing and shoving, with players exchanging words wich resulted in the Vipers two man advantage. Vernon struggled on the powerplay as the Silverbacks would kill off the two minors with some good forecheck and pressure. The Vipers were unable to get a single shot on the two man advantage. Salmon Arm with a great chance in front after Jarryd Ten Vaanholt setup David Killip in front who was stopped by Blake Voth. Salmon Arm would get a late powerplay wich was carried into the 3rd. No scoring in the second as Salmon Arm was up 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 10-6.
3rd Period: The Silverbacks started the 3rd on the man advantage wich was carried over from the end of the 2nd period. It was the Vipers off the opening draw with some strong forecheck forced the Backs deep into their own end, David Robinson come very close to tipping in a point shot as the Vipers would excape and kill off the minor. Salmon Arm seemed to carry the edge in play at times as the Vipers were unable to get pucks towards the net. The Vipers would kill off the minor. With the Backs on another powerplay just five minutes into the 3rd Cody Michelle caught the Vipers on a bad linechange, Michelle went in all alone on the breakaway but was stopped by Voth who made a nice save. Shortly after Michelle was all alone in front but couldnt beat Blake Voth for the second time. It didnt take long for Jayson Reardons point shot wich was tipped in front by Jarryd Ten Vaanholt who beat Voth at 7:01 Reardon & Charlie Vasaturo picked up the assists. Just over a minute later Brandon Mistal setup Taylor Fauchoux who beat Voth at 8:06 Mistal and Devin Gannon with the helpers. Two quick goals by the Silverbacks seemed to take the wind out of the sails of the Vernon Vipers. With seven minutes remaining Lumby product Jayson Reardon was given a ten minute misconduct & headed to the Backs dressing room as the Vipers had two powerplays but were unable to capitalize. The Vipers looked frustrated and a little disorganised at times, with some poor passes or missed chances. Steve Weinstein with the best chance couldnt tip a point shot into a wide open net. Salmon Arms defence played a very strong game, not giving Vernon much room to dangle or create chances. Any chance the Vipers did get, Kris Moore was there to make the save. In the end the Silverbacks spoiled the Vipers home opener with a 4-1 victory. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 11-9.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Brett Corkey The rookie d-man from Calgary played a very solid game on the Vipers blueline. Corkey did get caught on a bad pinch wich caused the Silverbacks first goal, but other then that I thought he played very well. This kid can skate, really likes to carry the puck. Seems to read the play very well.
Dylan Walchuk (1 goal) I thought Walchuk played a fairly good game tonight. Didnt seem to dangle and carry the puck in games, like we saw him do last year but still managed to play a good game up front. Was driving to the net on several occasions tonight.
Steve Weinstein was another Vernon defenceman that I thought had a heck of a game. Actually I thought Weinstein was the Vipers best d-man tonight. Carried and moved the puck alot, was skating very hard tonight, looked very confident and smooth on the backend. Weinstein missed a wide open net on the powerplay, wich would have been his first goal of the season.
David Robinson (1 assist) Vipers captain David Robinson played fairly well, showed signs of fiestyness in and along the boards. Had a few good chances shorthanded.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Jayson Reardon (2 assists) I was very impressed with Reardon tonight, played a heck of a game on the Backs blueline. Looked very confident, had several good shots from the point. Played very well defensively too.
Jarryd Ten Vaanholt (1 goal) For some reason this kid was the only one without a name on the back of his jersey. I was fairly impressed with the youngster. Saw alot of icetime and looked very well up front for Salmon Arm. Seemed to always know where the puck was at all times.
Brett Knowles (1 goal) This kid had several good chances, seemed to know where the puck was and involved in most of the Silverbacks scoring chances. Really looked strong up front.
David Killip (1 assist) I was impressed with David Killip tonight, another player who played very well for the Silverbacks. Wasnt afraid to get dirty, going into the corners and mucking it out along the boards. Very good skater.
Cody Michelle was by far Salmon Arms best player tonight. Michelle was all over the ice for the Backs and was very hard to stop or slow down. Michelle can skate, carry the puck and has some nice hands in close. Was stopped by Blake Voth on a 3rd period breakaway and then on the next play was stoned in front.
Devin Muller (1 goal) I was impressed with Mullers play tonight. Played and looked good through out tonights contest.
Josh Manson played a very physical game, laid out some huge hits tonight. A physical presence through out tonights game. I thought did alot of little things right.
Kris Moore (26 saves) Collected his first career BCHL victory after coming over in the off season in a trade with the AJHL Camrose Kodiaks. I wouldnt say the most flashiest goaltender but did come up with three huge saves tonight. One in the opening period on rookie Mike Zalewski from the slot, and then two game savers in the 3rd with the score 2-1, robbing Patrick Mcgillis who was left all alone in front and then making a huge toe save off Aaron Hadley in close. Moore come up with the big save when needed.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Before tonights game the Vipers brought out all the trophies that the team won during last years long playoff run, with a tribute-highlight video from last years RBC Cup before raising the 2010 RBC Cup banner. I must say even though it wasnt all that long ago, it sure brought back some very great yet fond memories of a great year and a great team. I thought the Vipers played and looked fairly good in the 1st period, two defensive letdowns cost them two goals just three minutes apart. A much different hockey team in the 2nd with lots of scrambly play at both ends of the rink. The Vipers who had all kinds of troubles on the powerplay couldnt take advantage of a two man powerplay not recording a single shot. In the 3rd Vernon had troubles getting the puck towards the net early and then gave up two quick goals just over a minute apart wich seemed to do them in. I think the Vipers were outhit for the most part, and didnt seem to play with that edge at times and were basically shutdown by the Backs defence come the 3rd. I would like to see the Vipers play a little more physical. Vernons defence gave up way too many odd man rushes as well as Blake Voth looked a little out of place tonight, he seemed to have troubles with the puck on several long shots. He just didnt look as sharp as he normally is. I didnt think Vernon got many bounces or puck luck either tonight, the Vipers also took a few bad bounces against them wich didnt help. With 16 rookies-new players its going to take sometime for this team to gel and feel comfortable, dont forget how many of these kids have played in front of 2,000 people before? & to play there first career BCHL game in the Vipers home opener, while raising the RBC Cup banner before the game must have added alot of pressure. I said this before Viper fans are going to have to be very paitent with this hockey team and expect some games like we saw tonight. Remember this is the first game of the season, lots of hockey left.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
I thought the Silverbacks got off to a bit of a slow start, I wouldnt say they were being outplayed but the Vipers did carry the edge in play, well atleast had the better of the play in the Salmon Arm end in the opening period before the Backs slowly started to get things going late in the 1st. I dont think both teams will be very pleased with the 2nd period but Salmon Arm played very well come the start of the 3rd. They got the big goal when needed and come up with some strong penalty killing as well as strong goaltending and defensive play from the blueline. Im sure Tim Kehler and Colin O'Hara will take the two points. Mr O'Hara must have a huge smile on his face after tonights game after beating his former team in their own barn. I thought the Silverbacks powerplay looked fairly good at times, but was impressed with there defensive play tonight. The Backs really forced the Vipers, attacking them in their own end most of the night, with some very aggresive forecheck. Salmon Arm has a few big kids that can lay the body. The Backs were by far the more physical of the two teams. Give credit to the Silverbacks, they came into Vernon and come away with the two points. Lets see if the Vipers can spoil the Silverbacks home opener tomorrow night.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Taylor Love
Kyle Murphy
Colton Sparrow
Adam Thompson (Injured)
Salmon Arm:
Matt Ridley
Chris Hoe
Spencer Samual
3 Stars:
1st Star: Brett Knowles (1 goal)
2nd Star: Kris Moore (26 saves)
3rd Star: Dylan Walchuk (1 goal)
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