I was at tonights BCHL game as Cowichan Valley defeated Vernon 4-2 in front of 1,819 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Bryton Udy
Cowichan Valley: Derek Dun
1st Period: Both teams got off to a slow start as no real flow or action in the first few minutes. It took the Capitals just over three minutes to record their first shot on goal, and Vernon just over four minutes for their first shot on net. Cowichan Valley with the games first real good chance, after Drew Nikirks point shot was tipped in front just missing the net, the puck come off the end boards as Bryton Udy was alert getting over to the other side of his crease quickly to make the save on the rebound. The Vipers looked very sloppy and disorganised through out tonights game but especially in the opening period making some poor decisions breaking out of their own end. Elliott Richardson made two or three blind passes coming out of the Vernon zone wich landed on the stick of a Cowichan player. Richardson also coughed up the puck two or three times in his own end. Just before the seven minute mark the Vipers would get the games first powerplay but couldnt get much going as the Capitals killed off the minor. Just over three minutes later Cowichan Valley would get back to back powerplays but also couldnt get much going as the Vipers penalty kill looked very strong killing off both minors. The Caps also didn't look very impressive in the opening period but did manage to carry the better of the play. Both teams looked very scrambly at times making for a very non entertaining hockey game. Vernon would get things going late in the 1st with some good presure deep in the Capitals zone in the final few minutes. Dylan Walchuk with a wrap around had the Vipers only good scoring chance of the period. Vernon would get a late man advantage that would be carried over into the 2nd period. Not much action in a scrambly opening period as it was scoreless after 20 minutes of play. Shots were even 9-9.
2nd Period: Off the faceoff the Capitals would score shorthanded just fourteen seconds into the period as Austin Evans with a wide open cage found the back of the net giving the Caps a 1-0 lead. Evans goal was unassisted. Cowichan would eventually kill off the penalty. Just a few minutes later Mike Hammond and Alex Halloran would come in two on one, Hammond with the pass over to Halloran put a nice move on Bryton Udy but couldnt beat the Viper goaltender who went down making a nice pad save. Udy was making just his second start of the season. Just a few minutes later the Capitals would get another odd man rush, Shawn Mueller & Chase Kaiser went in two on one, Kaiser beat Udy on a nice goal at 6:50 giving the last place Capitals a 2-0 lead over the defending National Champions. Mueller & Dante Godinho collected the assists. Just after the Caps goal the Vipers would get another shot at the man advantage and this time take advantage. Mike Zalewski setup Jon Knisley who's long shot from the side wall somehow beat Derek Dun at 8:02 cutting the lead to 2-1. Zalewski and Adam Thompson with the assists. They first gave the goal to Zalewski but later changed it to Knisley. Vernon would get another powerplay just a minute later but couldnt capitalise after some strong penalty kill by Cowichan Valley. The Vipers would give up another odd man rush, Alex Halloran and Tyler Jones went in two on one but this time the Caps couldnt get the puck through the Vernon d-man. Another scrambly period with no real flow. Late in the period Vernon would get a short two man advantage and just as the first minor expired Adam Thompsons blast from the point beat Dun at 17:30 tying the game 2-2. Dylan Walchuk and Bryce Kakoske with the helpers. It was tied 2-2 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Cowichan Valley 16-8.
3rd Period: The 3rd period was delayed after a long 2nd intermision with zamboni troubles. Once the period started the Vipers with some good early presure as Bryce Kakoske and Dylan Walchuk with two good early chances. Patrick McGillis was then stoned in front on a great chance. The Vipers would get back to back early powerplays early to start the 3rd but were unable to find the back of the net. Some real nice puck movement but the Vipers couldnt beat Derek Dun who played very well between the pipes for the Capitals. Dun was forced to make a few saves down low. Cowichan would excape killing off both minors. In between both penalties the Capitals would get another odd man rush, this time a three on one but Bryton Udy stood tall making the save keeping the game tied. Just as the second penalty expired Jackson Garrett was calling for the puck in the neutral zone, Mike Hammond would carry the play in over the Vipers blueline with Garrett driving towards the goal, Hammonds long shot from the side wall would somehow go off Udy and into the back of the net giving the Caps a 3-2 lead at 10:08 Garrett and former Powell River King Jordan Grant with the assists. Just over three minutes later Mike Hammond would score his second of the night at 13:09 giving the Capitals a 4-2 lead with Nicholas Wong collecting his first point of the season on the lone assist. Up to this point Vernon had carried the play for most of the period but it was Cowichan who now regained the two goal lead. Just seconds after the Caps fourth goal John Knisley would get tossed from the hockey game after being called for checking from behind. The Capitals couldnt get much going on the powerplay as Vernon killed off the minor. The Vipers would get another crack on the man advantage with five minutes remaining but were unable to beat Derek Dun who played very well in the final frame. Cowichan's penalty kill also did a great job at keeping the Vipers to the outside. Vernon would get another shot, this time getting a two man advantage in the final four and a half minutes after Alex Halloran was tossed from the game after being called for checking from behind. Mark Ferner called a timeout to try and rally the troops. The Vipers with all kinds of presure couldnt beat Dun who made some big saves and wasnt giving out any rebounds. Vernon looked much better in the 3rd but were unable to capitalise on their powerplay chances. Cowichan Valley would kill off the two man advantage after some very good penalty killing. Vernon would get Bryton Udy to the bench for the extra attacker with 1:27 to go but the Vipers couldnt get much going as the Capitals blocked shots, kept the Vipers to the outside and did a great job at clogging up the middle to kill off the clock and skate away with a 4-2 victory. Vernon outshot Cowichan Valley 16-9.
Top Players: (Vernon)
The line of Dylan Walchuk (1 assist), Bryce Kakoske (1 assist) and Darren Nowick had a strong game for the Vipers. Walchuk and Kakoske both looked very good tonight. Walchuk was very hard to knock off the puck, and Kakoske showed alot of hustle tonight, playing well.
Adam Thompson (1 goal & 1 assist) Was the Vipers best d-man. Thompson looked very solid on the Vernon backend. Made a real nice play in the 1st period to keep the puck in at the blueline while on the powerplay.
Top Players: (Cowichan Valley)
Mike Hammond (2 goals) Was the Capitals best player tonight. Hammond who skates well, carried the puck alot, saw alot of icetime and looked very dangerous with the puck.
Derek Dun (39 saves) The Vipers have run into their fare share of hot goaltenders this season. Kris Moore in Salmon Arm looked very solid and played very well in back to back wins over Vernon to start the season. Tyler Steel who was cut by the Vipers played well as Merritt picked up its first win of the season vs Vernon. Just last weekend Ryan Benitez made 44 saves as Prince George picked up its first win of the season vs the Vipers. & last night Kiefer Smiley made 46 saves in Trails 3-2 double overtime win. Tonight was no different as Derek Dun made 39 saves in helping the Capitals to just their third win of the season and the teams first road win of the year. Dun wasnt really tested in the games first two periods but I thought looked very solid in the 3rd, especially when the Vipers had several powerplays. Dun didnt allow any rebounds, and looks very confident between the pipes. This is what Cowichan needs if they want to move up in the standings.
Alex Halloran played very well on the Caps backend. Had a nice chance on a two on one early in the 2nd but couldnt beat Bryton Udy.
Austin Evans I thought looked fairly good up front for Cowichan Valley.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
After watching last night's Trail-Vernon game over the internet I thought the Vipers played very well and held their own against the top team in the Interior Division. A tough loss for sure in a game when they had several chances to pull out the win. Tonight, the team didnt look very good at all. After a long haul back from Trail the team didnt get home until around 4am. The Vipers looked very disorganised, making several poor plays or passes. Had troubles breaking out of their own end, coughed up the puck several times wich lead to turnovers. Gave up way too many odd man rushes, didnt seem to have the jump, speed or intensity they normally have. On several plays they made that one extra move or pass that broke up a great scoring chance. The team wasnt hitting, didnt battle hard enough and just looked out of sink. Vernon struggled on the powerplay, but did look very good on the penalty kill. I thought the Vipers looked and played much better in the 3rd but not for the entire 20 minutes. Vernon didnt create or generate enough scoring chances in the games first two periods, it wasnt until the 3rd when they got most of their chances. A very sloppy and scrambly game for sure. The Vipers have now lost to three teams near the bottom of the standings. The Vipers have to remember no matter who they are playing, everyone wants to knock off the defending National Champions. Vernon now has to get up early to board the bus for an afternoon game in Merritt tomorrow. Remember it was just over a week ago that the Cents came into Vernon and went home with the teams first win of the season.
Game Thoughts: (Cowichan Valley)
Give full credit to the Cowichan Valley Capitals for picking up just their third win of the season and the teams first win on the road. But in no ways was this a pretty win. Cowichan just like Vernon didnt look very good either. At times the Caps looked very good. This team does move the puck well, and skates well. Very chippy, always giving little shots or jabs in and through out the game. A team that lost to Trail and last night in Penticton come away with a huge win for their hockey club tonight. I thought the Caps penalty kill was very good, only allowed two powerplay goals on nine chances. Give the Capitals credit they scored on their chances and took advantage of some sloppy plays by Vernon. Darren Robak made his return to Vernon, facing off against his former team for the first time. Robak is one of Cowichan's assistant captains. Former Vernon Lakers defenceman, Dale Purinton comes back and faces his old team for the first time in many many years.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Taylor Love (AP)
Philip Patenaude
David Robinson
Gus Correale
Cowichan Valley:
Greg Ferguson
Nick Amies
Bredon MacDonald
Joel Kern
3 Stars:
1st Star: Mike Hammond (2 goals)
2nd Star: Adam Thompson (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Derek Dun (39 saves)
No comments:
Post a Comment