I was at tonights BCHL game as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 3-2 in front of 2,028 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Blake Voth
Salmon Arm: Chase Martin
1st Period: The Vipers welcomed back defenceman, Adam Thompson to the lineup after missing the past three games due to his brothers wedding in Mexico and Justin Elliott & Paul De Jersey made their Silverbacks debut after being aquired in a trade the other day with the Coquitlam Express. Just 21 seconds into the hockey game Devin Gannon, Clinton Atkinson & Matt Cassidy with some nice three way passing on a Salmon Arm odd man rush opened the scoring. Atkinson setup Gannon who had a wide open cage giving Salmon Arm the early 1-0 lead. Atkinson and Cassidy collected the assists. This was not the start Vernon was looking for in the first of back to back games vs the Backs. The Silverbacks looked fairly good early, carrying the better of the play in the first six or seven minutes but were unable to generate much offence. Vernon got off to a slow start, not having much jump but did play fairly physical finishing their checks. The Backs would get the games first powerplay of the night but with no real good chances the Vipers would kill off the minor. Shortly after the penalty kill Mike Zalewski would feed John Knisley who would get through the Salmon Arm defence, go in for the breakaway but couldnt beat Chase Martin who was making his first career start against Vernon just getting a piece of the puck with his glove. Just a few minutes later Adam Thompsons blast from the point went off the knob of Martins stick as the Vipers with their two best chances of the period. Vernon would then get their first powerplay of the night. The Vipers with very little presure on the man advantage couldnt seem to get many pucks through the Salmon Arms strong penalty kill as the Backs would kill off the penalty. The Vipers would stay with the puck and keep the presure on, Max Mowat carried the puck through the Silverbacks zone, cutting towards the goal, dishing off to Mike Zalewski who fed Aaron Hadley in front who beat Chase Martin at 18:09 tying the game 1-1. Mowat and Zalewski with the helpers. Just nine seconds later Hadley would get his second of the game and fourth in his last two games at 18:18 giving Vernon a 2-1 lead on a nice passing play. John Knisley and Max Mowat with the assists. The BCHL record for the fastest two goals is six seconds. In the final minute Vernon would get a very short two man advantage before the Vipers were sent to the box giving the Vipers a late powerplay. Vernon was unable to do much on the man advantage before the period come to an end. The Vipers lead 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. Salmon Arm got off to a quick start but after taking the lead was unable to really generate much offence, Vernon started out slow but seemed to get things going late in the second half carrying the better of the play scoring two quick back to back goals. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 12-4.
2nd Period: Vernon would start the period on the powerplay wich was carried over from the end of the 1st period. The Silverbacks penalty kill once again was very sharp forcing the Vipers to keep the puck to the outside and didnt really give Vernon any real good quality chances as Salmon Arm would kill off the minor. Just after the powerplay, the Vipers would get lucky just two minutes into the period as Malcolm Lyles turned over the puck in front of his own goal, Matt Cassidy with a quick shot from the circle couldnt beat Blake Voth who just got back into his net on time making a huge pad save to keep the puck out as the Backs were oh so close to tying the game. Just seconds later Vernon would get another shot on the powerplay, Bryce Kakoske with a nice rush through the Silverbacks zone lost the puck but re-gained the puck split the Salmon Arm defence but couldnt beat Chase Martin down low after Martin made a big toe save to keep the puck out. This was the Vipers only good chance on the man advantage as once again the Silverbacks would kill off the minor. The Vipers controlled the better of the play in the first half of the 2nd period but couldnt generate much offence, on several plays the Vipers would try and dish off to make the pretty play instead of just getting pucks towards the net. Give full credit to the Backs defence who played very well blocking several Vernon shots, getting sticks or bodies in the way not really giving the Vipers a whole lot of quality scoring chances. Just before the midway mark Charlie Vasaturo gave Aaron Hadley a few good crosschecks along the boards while Hadley had the puck, both players exchanged some shots before both players tried taking a shot at one another. Vasaturo then speared Hadley before Hadley took a few punches at Vasaturo. Tempers slowly started to heat up between the two players who were sent off to the box, giving Vernon another powerplay. Once again Vernon couldnt get much of anything going on the powerplay as Salmon Arm killed off another penalty. Just after the penalty kill newcomer Paul De Jersey knocked Malcolm Lyles off the puck and then from a sharp angle deep in the Vipers zone beat Blake Voth at 11:47 tying the game 2-2. De Jerseys shot went off the top of Voths shoulder and into the back of the net giving De Jersey his second goal of the season but first as a Silverback. De Jerseys goal was unassisted on a goal Voth would like to have back. Just over a minute later the Silverbacks would get a shot on the powerplay after Bryce Kakoske was sent to the box to serve Adam Thompsons penalty. Kakoske was given the penalty but it was Thompson who was the player who took the minor. Kakoske even tried telling referee Kevin Bennett but still was forced to sit in the box. It didnt take Salmon Arm long on the man advantage, Devin Gannons sharp angle shot from the corner beat Voth shortside at 13:33 on another soft goal. Matt Cassidy with his second assist on the play gave Salmon Arm a 3-2 lead with two quick goals just minutes apart. Voth was pulled after the goal giving way to rookie backup Bryton Udy. Voth allowed three goals on just nine Salmon Arm shots. Two quick goals by the Backs seemed to turn the tide a little as the Silverbacks with a little jump now in their game took over the play and carried the better of the play for the remainder of the period. Vernon would get a late powerplay but again the Silverbacks penalty kill was solid shutting down the Vipers powerplay ending the 2nd as Salmon Arm took a 3-2 lead heading into the 3rd. The Silverbacks outshot the Vipers 8-5.
3rd Period: The Vipers would get an early powerplay but on the play would lose Todd Skirving for the remainder of the game. Skirving who was battling for the puck went down awkwardly and didnt get up. Skirving was helped off the ice but couldnt put presure on his left leg went to the Vernon dressing room and didnt return. Salmon Arm would kill off yet another Vernon man advantage. Both teams couldnt get much going to start the period before the Backs would get a long two man advantage. This time it was the Vipers strong penalty kill who looked very good. Bryton Udy made a few fairly easy saves and the Vipers defence did a good job at clearing the zone as Vernon would kill off the five on three. A Salmon Arm goal and this may have put the game away. Just a few minutes after killing off the five on three, Vernon would get another shot on the powerplay. The Vipers would go 0-8 with the man advantage as Salmon Arms penalty kill was solid all night. From here on in the Vipers carried the better of the play but just like most of the night had troubles generating quality chances. Sure the Vipers were getting pucks towards the goal but with very little net presence Chase Martin saw most of Vernons 28 shots. The Vipers best and only realy good scoring chance came with about four minutes remaining, John Knisleys quick shot from the slot was robbed by the quick glove of Martin. Salmon Arm who didnt really get much offence past the neutral zone played a solid defensive game in the second half of the 3rd. The Vipers would call a timeout with 1:45 remaining and then get Bryton Udy to the bench for the extra attacker with 1:40 left, but Vernon would have troubles getting setup as the Backs really forced the Vipers into the corner or along the boards, tying up the puck killing off valuable time off the clock. Salmon Arm would ice the puck twice and Vernon still couldnt get the puck towards the net as the Vipers really struggled in the final minute. Bryce Gervais with a shot from a sharp angle just missed the open cage. In the end the Silverbacks would defeat the Vipers 3-2. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 11-6.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Max Mowat (2 assists) Mowat was by far Vernons best defenceman tonight. Mowat who did all the work to setup the Vipers first goal of the game played very well on the backend. Looked very confident, jumped up into the play on several occasions.
The line of Jon Knisley (1 assist), Mike Zalewski (1 assist) & Aaron Hadley (2 goals) was by far the Vipers best and most effective line tonight. Knisley looked very good with the puck, really used his speed down low to try and create and setup plays in front or down low, Zalewski was very strong down low and in front of the net and Hadley who was just three seconds off tying the BCHL record for the fastest two goals in BCHL history played his second straight solid game up front. Hadley now has four goals in his last two games.
Marcus Basara didnt really have any scoring chances but I thought looked very strong with the puck, played with alot of hustle and didnt quit skating, looked his best in the opening period. Battled hard all night but didnt get rewarded.
Bryce Kakoske was another player who looked his best in the 1st period. Was very hard to knock off the puck, played well at both ends of the rink.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Clinton Atkinson played really well on the Backs blueline. Atkinson looked very steady on the backend all night.
Charlie Vasaturo was one of Salmon Arms best d-men tonight. Was very hard to play against defensively, was in the face off several Viper players all night, as well as played physical.
Justin Krabben another Silverbacks d-man who I thought looked very solid on the blueline. Krabben played very well all game, blocked several Viper shots as well as jumped up into the play alot.
Devin Gannon (2 goals) Gannon scored the games first goal just 21 seconds into the contest and then scored the game winner just past the midway mark of the 2nd period while on the powerplay. Gannon was one of the Backs more offensive minded players tonight.
Matt Cassidy (2 assists) Cassidy who chipped in with two helpers also played very well up front for Salmon Arm. Cassidy seemed to always know when and where to make the pass. Had a great chance just two minutes into the 2nd period getting a quick shot off a Viper turnover but was unable to beat Blake Voth.
Chase Martin (26 saves) Martin who made his first career start vs Vernon didnt have to stand on his head but made the key saves when called apon. Thanks to his defence Martin saw most of Vernons 28 shots. The kid played well improving to 4-1 on the season.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Vernon didnt get off the start they were looking for, giving up the games first goal just 21 seconds into the contest on an odd man rush. The Vipers looked slow and sluggish to start the game but seemed to wake up in the second half of the opening period, scoring two quick goals just seconds apart. The Vipers just didnt compete and battle like they can, lost the races and battles along the boards on several occasions. The Vipers defence was knocked off the puck or lost the battle along the boards most of the night. Vernons defence didnt look sharp most of the night. Vernon just didnt have the jump, or play with much emotion tonight. The overall team just seemed to be missing something. Vernon needs to try and get to the grey areas more, I didnt think the Vipers had enough guys driving or going towards the goal. Martin saw most of the Viper shots, any rebounds that were avaliable were not picked up due to not enough players going towards the net. The Vipers also didnt get the goaltending tonight, Blake Voth gave up three goals on just nine shots. Salmon Arms second and third goals were very soft and should have been stopped. Voth hasnt looked all that impressive this year after going 21-2 last year. The Vipers arnt getting the big save when needed and its been like that most of the season. I think Voth is a great young goaltender but its just that, hes young and I dont think ready for the #1 job. Ive said it before and have always said it, you need that veteran 19 or 20 yr old goaltender between the pipes. Come playoff time is when your veteran goaltender steals you a game or two. I still think Voth needs another season as the teams backup and should be ready for the #1 job next year. It also dosnt help going 0-8 on the powerplay. Vernon is now 1-19 on the man advantage vs Salmon Arm this year. The Vipers need a better effort tomorrow night in Salmon Arm.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
The Silverbacks got off to a quick and good start, and come away with a greasy road win. Give full credit to the Backs for a big 3-2 victory on the road, snapping a five game road losing streak. The Silverbacks just like the Vipers didnt generate much offence, as both teams struggled offensively tonight. The Backs won most of the battles and races to the puck, they seemed very determined. Salmon Arm didnt play a pretty game but again didnt have too, they kept things simple and got the job done. I was very impressed with Salmon Arms penalty kill and the strong play from the teams defence. The Silverbacks penalty kill was very solid, keeping the Vipers to the outside and not really giving up many quality chances. The Backs defence blocked alot of shots as well as got in the way forcing the Vipers to pass the puck instead of shooting the puck. Salmon Arm got the key save when needed and scored some timely goals. I think you will see a better effort from both teams tomorrow night. With the win the Silverbacks are now tied with Vernon and are currently 3-0 against the Vipers this season.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Philip Patenaude
Dylan Walchuk
Patrick McGillis (Injured)
Salmon Arm:
Jayson Reardon
Shay Neufeld
Morgan Zulinick
Kris Moore
3 Stars:
1st Star: Devin Gannon (2 goals)
2nd Star: Aaron Hadley (2 goals)
3rd Star: Matt Cassidy (2 assists)
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