I was at tonights BCHL game as Westside tied Vernon 2-2 in front of 1,848 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Blake Voth
Westside: Kevin Boyle
1st Period: A good pace to start tonight's game as both teams carried the play at either ends of the rink but no real scoring chances. Zach McPhee in just his second game with Vernon showed his physical play early and often laying out some solid checks. McPhee and Izaak Berglund exchanged words as the Warriors d-man tried to get the Vipers rookie to drop his gloves. Vernon struggled with their passing game early and often in the opening period, the Vipers had troubles making that first good pass coming out from their own end and then couldnt seem to connect tape to tape breaking into the Warriors zone. The Vipers would get the games first powerplay, before Steve Weinstein showed some good hustle getting back into the play to break up a Warriors shorthanded scoring chance wich forced both teams to a little four on four action before Westside would get a late powerplay out of the play. In the final few seconds of the Warriors man advantage Blake Voth had to make his first tough save of the night after making a nice pad save off Tom Kroshus's point shot as the Vipers would kill off the minor. Just a few minutes later Vernon would go back on the powerplay but again it was the Warriors with a great shorthanded chance. Alex Grieve and Kyle Singleton on a two on one, Grieve setup Singleton who wired his shot wide of the goal, on the next play Singleton would stick out his knee and collide knee on knee with Kyle Murphy, Murphy would go down and was in alot of pain as the Vipers would get a two man advantage. Murphy was helped off the ice and headed to the Vipers dressing room. Off the draw the Vipers fed a wide open Adam Thompson in the slot who fired wide of the net on a great chance. Just shortly after Steve Weinstein setup Dylan Walchuk who beat Kevin Boyle fivehole at 14:19 on the two man advantage, as the teddy bears coming flying over the boards on "teddy bear toss night" Weinstein with the lone assist. After a small delay to clean up all the teddy bears the Vipers went back to work on the powerplay but struggled as the Warriors penalty kill looked very strong getting in the shooting lanes and clogging up the middle forcing Vernon to keep the puck to the outside and kill off the minor. Kyle Murphy would return to Vernons bench and take the next shift, Murphy looked to be keeping presure off his one leg and didnt seem to have his normal stride but stayed on the bench and played the remainder of the game. As the game went on, Murphy seemed to be fine. Just over a minute later Vernon would head back to the powerplay but again the Vipers were unable to capitalize. In the final minute of play the Vipers would get a late two man advantage (second of the night) but Westside would kill off the first man advantage to end the 1st period. Vernon was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. A fairly even played period with very little scoring chances. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 9-5.
2nd Period: The Vipers started out the 2nd period on the man advantage wich was carried over from the end of the opening period. The Vipers looked very flat as the Warriors had no problems killing off the remainder of the powerplay. Vernon who struggled most of the 2nd didnt seem to have any jump and quit skating as the Warriors attacked the Vipers in their own end, knocking them off the puck and winning the battles along the baords for most of the period. Some hard work by the Warriors forced the Vipers into taking a penalty wich put Westside on just their second man advantage of the game. Some good puck movement by the Warriors created some open ice, as Shaun Hochhauson just got the puck through Blake Voth at 5:29 tying the game 1-1. Tom Kroshus and Michael King with the helpers. King would later leave the game and did not return to the Warriors bench. Westside continued to press jumping on the Vipers and carrying the better of the play but were unable to get many pucks towards the goal. The Warriors come out hitting and hitting hard in the middle frame laying out some big hits through out the 2nd period. Vernon would finally get the play into the Warriors zone, a mad scramble in front of Kevin Boyle with tons of traffic in front, the Vipers banging away at atleast three or four loose pucks somehow couldnt find the back of the net. Shortly after Max French with a bad check from behind on Patrick McGillis sent McGillis to the ice, McGillis who was returning to the Vipers lineup tonight after missing the past month or so with an injury looked to be hurt and headed down to te Vipers dressing room, but the second year Viper would eventually return to the Vipers bench later in the period. French and the Warriors were lucky as French was called for boarding, not checking from behind and was able to stay in the hockey game. This putting the Vipers on another powerplay, Malcolm Lyles point shot missed the net but come off the back boards hard, right out front to a wide open Aaron Hadley who was robbed in the crease after Boyle made a huge pad save keeping the game tied 1-1. Westside would eventually kill off the minor. On the Warriors next rush, Tyler Brockler with a great chance on the wrap around was stopped by Voth who didnt see Brickler until the last second making a tough save. Just a few minutes later the Warriors would head to the powerplay and didnt waist anytime. Mattthew Maher setup Grayson Downing who ripped his shot high and over Voth at 15:36 giving Westside their first lead of the night 2-1. Maher and Tyler Brickler collected the assists. Just over a minute later Westside would head back to the man advantage but it was the Vipers with the best chance, captain David Robinson come down the left wing ripping a low shot that was stopped by Boyle. Vernon would kill off the minor as it was tied 2-2 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers didnt look good at all, getting outhit and outworked but did come up with the better scoring chances. Westside scored on their chances. Vernon outshot Westside 12-6.
3rd Period: Vernon would get an early powerplay just twenty one seconds into the final period. Give full credit to the Warriors penalty kill as they would kill off the minor. The Vipers slowly started to get rolling and finally seemed to get their legs going and slowly started to put on some presure. It was all Vernon in the 3rd as the Vipers carried the better of the play but couldnt seem to generate any real scoring chances early. Warriors d-man Izaak Berglund left the bench and didnt return to the game leaving Westside with just four d-men for the remainder of the night. Aaron Hadley with a great chance on a parcial breakaway ripped a hard shot off the leftwing just missing the far corner. Dylan Walchuk then setup a wide open John Knisley who was robbed in front by Kevin Boyle, Knisley didnt quit picked up the rebound and then was stopped on the same play again by Boyle in front, on the second rebound Knisley then shot high and over missing a wide open cage. Just shortly after Blake Voth had to be sharp making a big pad save on Quinn Gould who snuck inbehind the Vernon defence but was stopped in close. This was just the Warriors second shot of the period. Brett Corkey then carried the play from inbehind his own goal, rushed up ice making a few nice moves before setting up Mike Zalewski, Zalewski went hard towards the goal but was stopped by Kevin Boyle, Zalewski stuck with the play and the puck, throwing the puck back towards the net, the puck went off someone in front and come out to a wide open Dylan Walchuk who beat Boyle at 15:44 to tie the game 2-2. Zalewski with the lone helper. Just over a minute later Blake Voth made a late blocker save off Matthew Maher whos shot somehow got through. Westside would then get a late powerplay to end the game. The Warriors moved the puck well but were unable to capitalize sending tonights game to overtime. Vernon dominated the 3rd outplaying the Warriors. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 10-7.
Overtime: Westside would start the extra period on the man advantage. Now I thought if a team heading into overtime was still on the powerplay that was carried over from the 3rd, it would be five on four, if no goal was scored on the manadvantage then after the first whistle both teams would go back to the regular four on four. But tonight we saw Westside start the 3rd playing five on four with the man advantage. Anyways with just 18 seconds left on the penalty the Warriors got the play in deep setting up Kyle Singleton who was robbed by the right pad of Voth keeping this a tied hockey game. Both teams played very well defensively in the extra period not giving the other team alot of room to try and create any real quality scoring chances. Bryce Kakoske with a nice move in front, had Kevin Boyle beat before the net was knocked off, wich on the first call it looked to be that the Vipers would be getting a powerplay in overtime, but after a chat by the referee and linesmen Kakoske was awarded a penalty shot. Kakoske had Boyle beat but missed the net on his shot on a great chance for Vernon to pull out the win. David Robinson then cut hard towards the goal but was unable to get a shot off on the play. Back come the Warriors with just over a minute remaining in the extra period. Quinn Gould was stopped by Blake Voth before Dru Morrison was stopped by the glove of Voth. Westside with the better chances in ot was unable to find the back of the net. The Warriors outshot the Vipers 5-1.
Double Overtime: Westside who looked very good on the draw all night, won the opening faceoff but was unable to capitalize. The Warriors actually started off with wich looked like to be several odd man rushes before the Vipers did a great job at getting back and breaking up the rush. Again both teams made it difficult for either team to really try and get a quality scoring chance. Both teams really had to earn the game winner if they wanted to pull out the victory. Dylan Walchuk who looked very tired in the second overtime period got the play in deep and just about pulled off two nice moves in close but couldnt hold onto the puck. Adam Thompson then carried the puck in deep into the Warriors zone, tried cutting hard towards the net but was unable to get through the Westside defence. Tom Kroshus then took a high stick to the face but no call on the play as the Warriors bench was upset as Kroshus was forced to leave the hockey game leaving Westside with just three d-men for the remainder of double overtime. The Vipers with the better of the chances in the second ot couldnt find the back of the net, as Vernon looked very tired in the second overtime. David Robinson with a big blast after stepping in over the Warriors zone was stopped by Boyle. In the final minute of play Blake Voth coughed up the puck inbehind his own goal, giving a blind pass to a wide open Tyler Brickler who went around Voth, but eventually was stopped after Voth recovered making a huge poke check. Back come the Vipers in the dying seconds, Bryce Kakoske with a nice move in close was stopped by Boyle, Malcolm Lyles on the rebound was stopped by Boyle with just six seconds remaining. Two great chances for Vernon late. Off the draw Kyle Murphy got the puck towards the goal but Boyle made a big save just before the buzzer forcing the 2-2 tie. Vernon outshot Westside 6-2.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Phillip Patenaude played his best game as a Viper. Patenaude who has slowly started to come along has improved alot since the start of the season. I thought Phillip looked very good in all positions, jumped up into the play on several occasions and did a great job defensively.
Dylan Walchuk (2 goals) Walchuk who hasnt really stood out the past few home games, was very good down low most of the night. By the second overtime Walchuk looked very tired and was just about caught on a very long shift in double overtime. Gave the Warriors defenders a hard time in and around the goal all night.
Zach McPhee I thought looked very good in the opening period. McPhee a Vernon kid who is playing in just his second BCHL game played very physical in the 1st period. McPhee finished his checks and made sure the Warriors knew he was out their. As the game went on McPhee wasnt as physical.
Steve Weinstein (1 assist) Weinstein was another d-man who I thought played and looked very strong tonight. Showed good hustle on the Vipers first powerplay, getting back into the play to break up a Warriors parcial breakaway. Looked very smooth and confident with the puck. Im actually very surprised Stevie hasnt scooped up a scholarship yet.
Blake Voth (23 saves) Voth who has played the last three games now has looked very sharp in all three. Nice to see this young man playing well again and seem to have some confidence. Voth had troubles with a few Warriors shots but made the big saves when needed. Come up huge in both overtimes making some big saves to keep this a tied hockey game. Voth now improves to 4-0-1 vs Westside in his career. Who will get the start in goal tomorrow night in Westside?
Top Players: (Westside)
Matthew Maher (1 assist) Maher saw alot of icetime after the Warriors lost three d-men in tonights game. Maher looked very confident, jumped up into the play at times and played very well in his own end.
Tom Kroshus (1 assist) Also played and looked very good in tonights game before he had to leave the contest after taking a missed high stick in overtime.
Kyle Singleton didnt really stand out all night, but did get a few good scoring chances through out tonights game. I thought at times when he had the puck he was dangerous and at other times, wasnt very noticable. Missed a great chance in the opening period on a shorthanded two on one.
Tyler Brickler I thought was one of Westsides better forwards. Brickler looked very good with the puck.
Kevin Boyle (36 saves) Looked very good between the pipes for the Warriors. Boyle who made 24 saves in a 6-4 loss to Vernon back on October 9th at the Wesbild Centre didnt play that well and would have liked atleast two goals back played much better tonight in his second straight start vs Vernon. Boyle looked very confident in goal tonight, it also helped that his defence played very well in front of him. Made some big saves in the 3rd and in both overtime periods to keep this game tied 2-2 giving the Warriors a point for the tie.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
I thought tonight was a very entertaining hockey game. For the most parts both teams played well, I think both teams will tell you they didnt play a full 60 minutes and could have been better in some areas but for the most part tonight was a hard fought game. I thought tonights game had a bit of a playoff like atmosphere to it as both teams laid out some good checks, a few bad hits on either side as well. A fairly even played opening period in a period when the Vipers grabbed the 1-0 lead could have and maybe should have taken advantage and gone for that killer instinct but blew their chances on several powerplays in the 1st. Im not sure what happened between periods but the Vipers come out flat, they just didnt seem to have that energy, jump and quit skating as the Warriors were by far the better of the two teams. Vernon did outshoot Westside and get the better scoring chances, but give credit to the Warriors who scored on their chances taking a 2-1 lead into the 3rd. Give credit to the Vipers who seemed to slowly get their game going in the final frame and played a much better 3rd period. The Vipers seemed to get their legs going and outplated Westside most of the 3rd. I thought both teams made for a very exciting two overtime periods. I thought the Vipers struggled with their passing, they just couldnt seem to make any real nice tape to tape plays as well as had troubles making that first pass breaking out of their own end. I liked the Vipers physical play in the opening period but they seemed to stay away from the physical play for most of the remainder of the game. Give Vernon credit for battling hard in the 3rd and finding a way to tie the game and come away with a point in a big home and home series. Nice to see Patrick McGillis return to the lineup. Rumors around the rink tonight were that defenceman, Bruin McDonald has decided not to report to Vernon.
Game Thoughts: (Westside)
I thought for most of the night the Warriors looked like the hungrier of the two teams. Westside really started to take the body in the 2nd and 3rd periods punishing the Vipers with some big checks. On the other side, the Warriors also got away with a few dirty checks as well. Singletons knee on knee with John Knisley and Max French's check from behind on Patrick McGillis. Until the 3rd Westside was winning most of the battles and races to the puck. Specialty teams was the difference, the Warriors penalty kill was very solid as Vernon was just 1-7 with the man advantage. The Warriors seemed to be going for a greasy road victory tonight, Westside didnt really get many offensive chances playing more of the defensive style of game. This is a big home and home series for both hockey clubs, as both teams dont want to fall too far down the standings. Tomorrow's rematch in Westside should be a good one.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat
Todd Skirving
Colton Sparrow
3 Stars:
1st Star: Dylan Walchuk (2 goals)
2nd Star: Kevin Boyle (36 saves)
3rd Star: Shawn Hochhausen (1 goal)
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