I was at tonights BCHL game as Victoria defeated Vernon 3-2 in double overtime in front of 1,806 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Startuing Goaltenders:
Vernon: Blake Voth
Victoria: Matt Ginn
1st Period: Off the opening faceoff former Merritt Centennial Dustin Johnson stepped over the Vernon blueline and snapped a quick shot that beat Blake Voth but hit the post. The Vipers would get back to back two on ones in the games first few minutes but couldnt find the back of the net. Bryce Kakoske with a great chance couldnt beat Matt Ginn and then Trevor Fitzgerald setup Colton Sparrow who couldnt get the puck past Ginn. The Vipers would then get the games first powerplay but struggle as Victorias penalty kill was very sharp blocking several shots, or getting bodies in front to break up the Vipers passes as the Grizzlies killed off the minor. Back come Vernon on another two on one, John Knisley setup Dylan Walchuk who had a wide open goal but couldnt find the back of the net shooting high and over the net. Victoria would open the scoring at 9:50 after a scramble in front of the Vernon goal, Joel Lowry with a great chance couldnt beat Voth from in close, but the Grizzlies battled hard in front keeping the play alive getting the puck back to Lowry who beat Voth with Pearce Eviston and David Morley collecting the assists. Back come Vernon with some good presure but again couldnt burry their chances. The Vipers were the better of the two teams controlling the better of the play. The Grizzlies with very little offence had troubles getting the puck into the Vernon zone. The Vipers would get another powerplay but again struggle getting just a single shot as the Grizzlies penalty kill was very strong killing off the minor. Victoria would get a late powerplay and take advantage. With only seconds left on the man advantage Blake Voth made the first save in front but lost sight of the puck before Madison Dias caught Voth looking the other way, Dias slide the puck around the net catching Voth off gaurd giving the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead. Dias's goal was unassisted. The Vipers with a great chance to get on the board in the final minute of play, but John Knisley couldnt beat Matt Ginn who made a nice save in close. Vernon outplayed Victoria but were down 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Grizzlies 13-7.
2nd Period: Off the opening faceoff Madison Dias stepped over the Vipers blueline getting a quick shot as Voth just got a peice of it with his glove on a close call. Back come the Vipers on the same play, Bryce Kakoske would get the puck in the slot but Matt Ginn made a nice glove save. This was a very scrambly period with very little flow to the game as both teams had troubles getting things going. Alot of whistles really seemed to slow down the play. The Vipers would get a powerplay and finally capitalize. Max Mowat setup Malcolm Lyles at 6:42 whos wicked shot went high past Matt Ginn making this a one goal game. Mowat and Dylan Walchuk picked up the helpers. Victoria was again having all kinds of trouble generating offence as the Grizzlies didnt record their first shot on goal until nine minutes into the 2nd period. Just after Joel Lowry who was one of the Grizzlies better players had a great chance on a two on one, but Lowry couldnt slide the puck into the empty net missing on a great scoring chance. Dustin Johnson would then over power Turner Lawson but couldnt hold onto the puck long enough, after getting in close. Vernon seemed to get things going in the second half getting some good chances from in close. Matt Ginn played very well between the pipes for the Grizzlies. Victoria would get a great chance to re-gain their two goal lead but Wade Murphy couldnt beat Voth from the slot. David Robinson was then stopped by Ginn from in close. Bryce Kakoske with some hard work, carried the puck but couldnt get it past Ginn. Vernon was again the better of the two teams but didnt look as sharp as they were in the opening period. Both teams started to look a little tired as the game went on. Victoria was up 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Grizzlies 15-5.
3rd Period: Vernon again dominated play for most of the period but couldnt seem to find the back of the net. Some good chances early as Victoria seemed to be a bit back on their heels. The Grizzlies with a great chance in front but Voth come up with a big save, back come the Vipers on the same play, Dylan Walchuk carried the puck out of his own end, setting up John Knisley who would feed Mike Zalewski who beat Ginn at 11:25. Knisley and Dylan Walchuk with the helpers. This seemed to get the Vipers going and get the crowd into the game. Just after the faceoff Pearce Eviston would hit Bryce Kakoske from behind in front of the Vernon bench. Eviston would get five minutes for checking from behind and get tossed from the game. With Vernon on a five minute major the Vipers would get a quick shot towards the goal, with a scramble in front and a loose puck laying in the crease the Vipers couldnt capitalize. From here on in the Vipers struggled on the five minute major getting just a single shot as Victoria would kill off the major and keep the game tied 2-2. This was a huge kill for the Grizzlies and maybe a turning point. Just after Victoria would get a late powerplay but unable to capitalize as Vernon would kill off the minor. In the final few minutes Vernon would press with some good presure but again couldnt find the back of the net. Trevor Fitzgerlad with just over a minute remaining was robbed by the glove off Matt Ginn. It was tied 2-2 after 60 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Victoria 9-7.
Overtime: Off the opening draw Dylan Walchuk would get a great chance but couldnt beat Ginn on the Vipers only scoring chance of the extra period. Victoria would come back and with some good presure move the puck around well but really unable to get any real scoring chances. The Grizzlies carried the play in the extra period but the game was still tied 2-2. Shots were even 2-2.
Double Overtime: The play would really open up with some great chances at both ends of the rink. Steve Weinstein and Kyle Murphy on a two on one, Weinstein would keep and shoot but Ginn made the save. David Morley was left all alone in front but somehow fired high and over the net after a great scoring chance for the Grizzlies. Back come the Vipers, Bryce Kakoske who played very well tonight carried the play, made a few nice moves in close, but held off before trying to go around Matt Ginn as the puck went through the crease. On the same play Dylan Walchuk was left all alone, I dont think Walchuk realized how much time he had before getting off a shot. On the next play back come the Grizzlies Joel Lowry setup Sean Robertson in front who beat Blake Voth fivehole at 3:58 giving Victoria the 3-2 double overtime victory. Shots were even 3-3.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Brett Corkey played a very solid game on the Vipers blueline. With Adam Thompson out of the lineup Corkey was teamed up with veteran Steve Weinstein on the point.
Dylan Walchuk (2 assists) Walchuk saw lots of icetime and looked very tired as the game went late. Had a few good scoring chances.
Colton Sparrow didnt see much icetime as the game went along, but I thought played and looked very good at the start of the game. Sparrow seems to add energy to the Vipers lineup.
Bryce Kakoske was one of if not the best Viper tonight. Kakoske saw lots of icetime, carried the puck alot, was also very hard to knock off the puck tonight. Was very strong down low and in front. Battled hard and worked hard all night.
Top Players: (Victoria)
Nick Buchanan played a strong game for the Grizzlies on the blueline.
Graeme Strukoff played a strong-physical game for the Grizzles tonight. The former Trail Smoke Eater was very hard to play against tonight.
Madison Dias (1 goal) Worked hard for the Grizzlies all night, was one of the better players for Victoria. A bigger kid who can skate and shoot well.
Joel Lowry (1 goal & 1 assist) Lowry didnt quit skating all night, scored a nice goal to open the scoring after some hard work in front. Setup a few nice chances.
Wade Murphy didnt really look all that good to start the game but seemed to play and look better as the game went on. Murphy with a few chances played well.
Matt Ginn (40 saves) Ginn didnt have to stand on his head but played very well between the pipes for the Grizzlies giving them a chance to win the hockey game. Ginn made some key saves at key times through out the game.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
After battling back down two goals last night in Quesnel to come from behind for the big 4-3 win and then getting home late after a long bus ride back into Vernon, I thought the Vipers were the better of the two teams. Vernon controlled the better of the play for most of the night, but I dont think the Vipers were very sharp in certain areas. Several missed passes, struggled on the powerplay and just didnt seem to use their speed to their advantage. It looked like both teams were tired come towards the end of the game. How many games have the Vipers now got close to or over 40 shots and cant burry their chances? Some of these pucks have to start going in. It seemed like the Vipers would get 10 chances to Victorias two chances but the Grizzlies would score. I didnt think Blake Voth looked all that good between the pipes tonight, Voth was beat on two shots early to start the game and early to start the 2nd period, but got lucky as both shots went off the post. I thought Voth let out some rebounds and just didnt look very comfortable in goal. Another example tonight, when the Vipers are outshooting the visitors 10-1 they need the big save at the other end of the rink every once in a while. This was the Vipers second straight overtime loss in back to back games on home ice. Vernon seems to have troubles in OT going 1-4.
Game Thoughts: (Victoria)
I didnt see much in the Grizzlies tonight. Victoria was outplayed for most of the night, seemed to sit back and wait for their chances and capitalize on them. The Grizzlies who were playing their fourth road game in five nights finished off the road trip at 2-2. Matt Ginn really kept his team in the game early, Vernon with three two on one chances early in the first half could have gone up 2 or 3-0. I was very impressed with the Grizzlies penalty kill, they blocked alot of Vernon shots, seemed to always get a body or stick in the way. Give the Grizzlies credit they scored on their chances. Congrats to both former Vernon Vipers Taylor Love and Brad Cook on their first visit back to Vernon.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Elliott Richardson (Injured)
Patrick McGillis (Injured)
Victoria:
Josh Bryan
Dylan Nowakowski
Bryce Twa
3 Stars:
1st Star: Matt Ginn (40 saves)
2nd Star: Joel Lowry (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Malcolm Lyles (1 goal)
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