Vernon 4 Penticton 1

I was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Penticton 4-1 in front of 1,939 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Blake Voth
Penticton: Joel Rumpel

Before tonights game the Vipers retired former Vernon Vipers forward Rob Shorts jersey #20 Short played four years with the Vipers from 2006-2010 winning two Royal Bank Cup Championships and playing the most games as a Viper (309)

1st Period: The Vipers got off to a good start, just like last night. Vernon come out with some energy, playing physical and jumping on the Vees early. Kyle Murphy on a wrap around come close to opening the scoring as the puck slide through the crease in the opening minute. A few minutes later Steve Weinsteins blast from the circle was stopped by Joel Rumpel who had to make the big pad save. Vernon was really skating, moving the puck well, creating some very good chances early. Mike Zalewski and John Knisley on a parcial two on one, had a great chance. Zalewski fed Knisley in front who just missed the far corner, Zalewski collected the rebound going for thr wrap around as the puck went through the crease as the Vipers come oh so close to scoring. Penticton couldnt get much of anything going as the Vees didnt record their first shot on goal until the 5:00 minute mark. Vernon carried the play in the first half of the opening period outshooting the Vees 7-1. At the midway point Joey Laleggia with a long hard shot from the point was stopped by Blake Voth as Voth had to come up with a big pad save on the Vees first and only good chance of the period. Vernon would take an undisaplined penalty wich gave the Vees their first man advantage of the night. Penticton moved the puck around, getting some good chances but couldnt find the back of the net as Vernon would kill off the minor. Just after the powerplay expired Joey Benik wired a hard shot from in close, Blake Voth come up with the big save but couldnt handle the rebound as Bradley Robbins put the puck past Voth at 13:34 giving Penticton the 1-0 lead. Benik with the lone helper. Penticton now started to carry the play and was the better of the two teams but couldnt really generate many real good scoring chances. The Vees had the edge in play in the second half of the period. Vernon would get its first powerplay of the night but it would be the Vees who would get the best chance. Kyle Mountain went in on the parcial breakaway but lost control at the last second as the Vipers got lucky. The Vees would kill off the minor as Vernon with just a single shot on the powerplay. Penticton would get a late powerplay as the Vees were unable to score. Penticton was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. Shots were even 9-9.

2nd Period: The Vees who were still on the man advantage wich was carried over from the 1st period was unable to score as the Vipers killed off the minor. Some good play at both ends of the rink in the opening few minutes. Dylan Walchuk & Marcus Basara on a two on one, Walchuk tried feeding Basara in front but Basara couldnt connect on the pass on a nice scoring chance. The Vipers would get an early man advantage but but struggle as Steve Weinsteins point shot was blocked, Weinstein showed good hustle getting back into the play and breaking up the scoring chance. This was the Vees second good chance shorthanded on the night. Penticton would kill off the minor. Just as the penalty expired the Vipers with some hard work down low, battled hard to keep control of the puck. Brett Corkey would setup Mike Zalewski in front for his first career BCHL goal at 5:19 tying the game 1-1. Corkey and John Knisley with the assists. Penticton would then take over the better of the play and hemm the Vipers in their own zone at times. The Vees really used their speed and skill creating some nice setup plays but also give the Vipers defence credit for coming up with some good blocks or solid defensive plays to break up any scoring chance. Joey Benik with two great chances in close was denied by Voth who held his own. The Vees really had the Vipers hemmed in their own end for a good three to five minutes at one point as the Vipers were having all kinds of troubles clearing the zone. Finally Kyle Murphy with a diving play cleared the zone. The Vees with alot of presure but no goals to show for it. Elliot Richardson went down in the Vipers zone along the boards and was helped off the ice. Richardson headed to the Vipers dressing room and didnt return. Curtis Loik with a good chance couldnt beat Voth in close. Back come the Vipers as Dylan Walchuk would beat Rumpel at 11:53 giving Vernon a 2-1 lead. Walchuks goal was unassisted. Late in the period with the Vipers on a powerplay, Bryce Kakoskes point shot would find the back of the net at 17:42 giving Vernon a 3-1 lead. Steve Weinstein and Dylan Walchuk with the assists. Vernon did turn it up late in the final minute, Marcus Basara with some crafty moves wheeled in and out of a few Penticton players making a full circle before cutting hard towards the crease, before Joel Rumpel slide out on his belly to smother the puck. I thought Penticton carried the better of the play but it was the Vipers who scored three goals and were up 3-1 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Vees 12-8.

3rd Period: Elliot Richardson returned to the Vipers bench to start the 3rd. The Vees come out strong with some good presure really dominated the play. The Vipers looked slow and sluggish as the Vees controlled the first half of play. Kyle Beaulieu and Steven Iacobellis on an early two on one, Beaulieu setup Iacobellis who had Blake Voth beat but lost the handle on the puck and couldnt hit the empty net on a great scoring chance. Shortly after Troy Stecher in front on a great chance couldnt beat Voth who played well for the second straight night. The Vees once again had the Vipers hemmed in their own end for most of the first half of the 3rd but were unable to score on their chances. Penticton with a three on one caught the Vipers off gaurd, but Brett Corkey with a solid defensive play broke up the odd man rush. Brendan O'Donnell then with some nice wheels carried the puck in over the Vipers blueline going around the net and tried sliding the puck down low but couldnt beat Voth. Vernon with just a single shot in the first ten minutes of the 3rd period. Another good chance for the Vees as newcomer Lane Werbowskis point shot was tipped on the way to the net, but it didnt fool Blake Voth who had to be sharp to make the tough save. Penticton would get a powerplay but it would be the Vipers penalty kill who were the ones who stood out. David Robinson & Dylan Walchuk ate up several quality seconds off the minor. On the same penalty Dylan Walchuk who left wide open in behind the Vees net fed a wide open David Robinson in front who beat Rumpel shorthanded at 14:57 giving the Vipers a 4-1 lead. Penitctons powerplay looked scary as all kinds of troubles in their own end resulted in a shorthanded goal. Just under two minutes later Darren Nowick was hit along the boards by Kyle Mountain before former Vernon Viper forward, Mark Hall took a late hit on Nowick as he was down this forced Elliott Richardson to jump into the play wich then forced everyone on the ice to get involved as some pushing and shoving went on along with some words being exchanged, as things started to heat up a little. Hall in the meantime was giving little jabs with his stick into the backs of a few Viper players legs. Hall then tried getting his gloves in the face of several Vipers while they were already tied up with another Penticton player. The minor scuffle was taken care of as Mark Hall & Mike Zalewski were given the gate with each picking up ten minute misconducts. The Vipers would come out of the scuffle with a man advantage. The Vees would kill off the minor and as the buzzer went Vernon would defeat Penticton 4-1 taking both games of the home and home series. The Vees outshot the Vipers 9-5.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Brett Corkey (1 assist) Played a solid game on the Vipers blueline. Corkey really stood out playing a very defensive game.

Dylan Walchuk (1 goal & 2 assists) Played his second straight strong game up front for the Vipers. Walchuk was very good at both ends of the rink, played very well on the penalty kill and worked extremely hard all night.

David Robinson (1 goal) Scored the Vipers first shorthanded goal of the season. Robinson another player played very good for the second straight night. Robinson showed good hustle at both ends of the rink, competed and battled hard all night. Wasnt afraid to go into the grey areas. Got under the skin of a few Vees players tonight.

The line of John Knisley (1 assist), Aaron Hadley & Mike Zalewski (1 goal) looked very impressive. Zalewski scored his first BCHL goal tonight, really skated hard all night, another player that competed and battled hard in and around the corners and in front of the net.

Darren Nowick played very well defensively, worked very hard.

Kyle Murphy for the second straight night looked fairly good.

Blake Voth (25 saves) Voth another player who played very well for the second straight night. With the Vipers having a very young, inexperienced team this year Voth is going to have to be the guy to come up with the big save when needed through out the season. Played very well in the home and home series.

Top Players: (Penticton)

Joey Benik (1 assist) Played very well for the second straight game. Benik was one of Pentictons better players tonight. This kid is going to be very good for the Vees this season. Has some nice hands, isnt afraid of going into the corners or battling in and around the net. Had several good scoring chances tonight.

Kyle Mountain played with a bit of an edge tonight. Really competed and battled hard all night. Had a great scoring chance on the breakaway shorthanded but lost the handle at the last second. Look good up front for the Vees.

Joey Laleggia played very well on the Vees backend. Was very steady all night, looked calm and played with alot of confidence.

Joey Holka was another Penticton player that I thought played well.

Garrett Milan didnt get any scoring chances or make any real nifty moves but did all the little things tonight that really got the play going. Milan who is one of the leagues smaller players, plays with a huge heart. Milan carried the puck alot tonight, saw lots of icetime and made some real smart, heads up plays all night.

Troy Stecher didnt stand out but I thought he played fairly well on the Penticton blueline.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

After starting the season 0-2 with back to back losses to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, the Vipers come back this weekend with back to back wins over the Penticton Vees. Vernon now 2-2 gave the Vees their first two losses of the season as Penticton come into play this weekend at 2-0 before dropping both games to Vernon. In just a weeks time this Vipers team has come a long way. Mark Ferner and Jason Williamson have done a heck of a job so far, sure their is lots more to work on, but this is a different hockey team from the two games I watched last weekend compared to the two games I watched this weekend. I thought Vernon looked very good in the opening ten minutes carrying the better of the play, before Penticton took over the play in the second half. The Vipers who won most of their faceoffs last night, lost most of the draws tonight. I thought the Vipers started out physical but quit hitting in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Vernon was outplayed for most of the 2nd and 3rd periods but scored on their chances and also come up with some big defensive plays to break up some real good scoring chances. Vernon also got some timely goals at key times in the game. The Vipers were caught hemmed in their own end at times especially during the 2nd and 3rd periods but were lucky to excape without giving up a goal. I think Mark Ferner and Jason Williamson both have to be pretty pleased with back to back wins over the Vees.

Game Thoughts: (Penticton)

This was a different Penticton Vees team compared to last night. I didnt think the Vees looked or played all that well last night as Vernon outplayed them for the 1st and 3rd periods. You knew Fred Harbinson would have his troops ready and prepared for a better effort tonight and thats just what we saw. I thought the Vees played very well tonight, they outplayed the Vipers for most of the night but couldnt score on their chances. A few errors-mistakes and the puck was in the back of their net. Penticton who was outhit for most of the opening period picked up the physical play in the 2nd period. I thought the Vees battled and competed more tonight, compared to last night. The Vees have a tough schedule coming up this week with five games.

Id like to say Its sure nice to hear Kiss FM's Rob Abromenko as the Vipers new PA announcer. A great pick and a great job! Abro you should have been picked to do it many many years ago! Welcome aboard! Keep up the good work!

Scratches:

Vernon:

Malcolm Lyles (Injured)
Todd Skirving
Colton Sparrow
Adam Thompson

Penticton:

Chad Bannor
Mark McMillan (Injured)

3 Stars:

1st Star: Dylan Walchuk (1 goal & 2 assists)
2nd Star: David Robinson (1 goal)
3rd Star: Bryce Kakoske (1 goal)