Vernon 3 Penticton 1

I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Penticton 3-1 in front of 1,778 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Blake Voth
Penticton: Joel Rumpel

1st Period: The Vees would get the games first powerplay just twenty six seconds into the game. The Vipers penalty kill was very sharp keeping the Vees to the outside as Penticton couldnt get much offence going getting all of two shots as Vernon killed off the minor. Just a few minutes after the man advantage, Myles MaCauley's shot from the circle was tipped in front by Mark MacMillan who was stopped after a quick pad save off Blake Voth who had to be alert to make the save. A very even played opening period between the Interior Division's top two teams as both teams battled back and forth most of the period. Blake Voth made another pad save in close off Kyle Mountain as Penticton was outshooting the Vipers 5-1 early. Vernon come back with two good chance, Max Mowat's shot from the point was tipped at the side of the net by Aaron Hadley who couldnt get the puck through Joel Rumpels pads. Patrick McGillis and Darren Nowick with some nice passing allowed Nowick a chance in front. The Vipers would get their first man advantage of the night but were unable to capitalise, Kyle Murphy with the Vipers best chance ripped a quick shot from the slot off the crossbar. Shortly after Penticton would get a second chance on the man advantage, Mark MacMillan with a great chance somehow missed a wrap around empty goal, firing wide. Troy Stretcher's point shot beat Voth but rang off the crossbar as the Vees couldnt find the back of the goal. Vees veteran forward, Garrett Milan took a hard shot off the side of his helmet from one of his own players, Milan went to the bench but stayed in the game. A very even played 1st with Penticton getting the better scoring chances, but the game was scoreles after 20 minutes of play. The Vees outshot the Vipers 9-6.

2nd Period: The Vipers with some good jump early controlled the play in the opening three or four minutes before Penticton would get an early powerplay. Garrett Milan carried the play down low, untouched setup Joey Holka who was stopped by Voth from the slot. Adam Thompson then made a smart heads up play sending Patrick McGillis and Darren Nowick in on the two on one shorthanded, McGillis setup Nowick for the wide open net scoring just his second of the season at 6:28, McGillis and Thompson collected the helpers. Just seconds after the powerplay Vernon would get a two man advantage but the Vipers struggled. Penticton's penalty kill was very crisp not giving up a single shot on the second minor. Here was a great chance for Vernon to try and go up by a goal or two. Just before the midway mark tempers heated up a little, as Mike Zalewski got tangled up deep in the Vees zone with Paul Bezzo and goaltender, Joel Rumpel as the play was going up ice. Zalewski exchanged words and a few shots with both Bezzo and Rumpel. On the next whistle Bryce Kakoske and Bezzo would be given ten minute misconducts for yapping with one another. Vernon would then go up by two after some good speed by Marcus Basara coming down the right wing, going hard to the goal Kyle Murphy picked up the rebound beating Rumpel at 13:04 Basara and Todd Skirving collected the assists. This play all started after Skirving's two big checks back in the Vipers zone, opened up some ice for Basara to wheel down the wing. Just seconds later the Vees would head to the powerplay, moving the puck around well Myles McCauley setup Brendan O'Donnell in front, who roofed his shot high upstairs on a nice goal at 14:43 getting Penticton back into the game cutting the Viper lead to just a goal. McCauley and Joey Laleggia picked up the assists on the goal. Just seconds later the Vipers would head back to the sin bin giving Penticton back to back powerplays. This time the Vees were unable to score. Dylan Walchuk come right back the other way just after killing off the man advantage and ripped a shot just high and over a wide open net. The Vipers did a great job in the middle frame shutting down the Vees top guns, other then O'Donnell's powerplay goal, the Vees top scorers didnt really get any real scoring chances. Another fairly even period, it was the Vipers who took a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Penticton 14-10.

3rd Period: The Vipers would get a few good chances early into the final period, Mike Zalewski through the puck out front that hit someone in front and then went off the far post on a close call. Patrick McGillis then setup Darren Nowick in front who couldnt connect on the pass. The Vipers would get the only man advantage of the 3rd but couldnt grab a two goal lead as Penticton killed off the minor. Patrick McGillis then dropped the puck back to Max Mowat who was stopped by a quick glove save by Rumpel. Penticton then took over in the second half and didnt look back, as it was all Vees in the final ten minutes. The Vees really moved the puck well, giving the Vipers all kinds of trouble. The Vipers who looked to have quit skating couldnt get the puck through the neutral zone and were forced to ice the puck several times in the 3rd. Give Vernon credit they kept Penticton to the outside and didnt really allow the Vees to get any good quality scoring chances. Joey Benik with the Vees best chance of the period was robbed in front with about six minutes remaining after Blake Voth through up the glove to make a huge glove save. Voth played very well for Vernon tonight. Any shots the Vees did through on the net were from the outside wich Voth saw all the way. In the final two minutes Voth had to be sharp to make a tough save in front with a Penticton player in front. The Vees would call a timeout with 1:18 remaining, Joel Rumpel would head to the bench for the extra attacker, but the Vees couldnt get much going as Vernon was able to clear the zone twice. With a faceoff deep in the Vernon zone with just thrity seconds remaining, the Vipers would get ahold of the puck, Patrick McGillis would skate in for the parcial breakaway hitting the empty net at 19:37 giving the Vipers a 3-1 lead. McGillis's goal was unassisted. In the end Vernon would knock off Penticton 3-1 and improve to 4-0-1 vs the Vees this season. Penticton outshot Vernon 11-10.

Top Players: (Vernon)

The line of Marcus Basara (1 assist), Patrick McGillis (1 goal & 1 assist) and Kyle Murphy (1 goal)-Aaron Hadley was the Vipers best line this evening. Hadley joined this line taking over for Murphy in the 3rd. Basara's speed and McGillis's hard work and strong play up front really was a force for the Vipers. McGillis was very good at both ends of the rink.

Darren Nowick (1 goal) Played his second straight strong game for Vernon. Nowick who showed alot of hustle played very well up front. Made a strong defensive play in the 3rd, coming back to break up a Vees two on one.

Blake Voth (29 saves) Voth played one of his better games of the season tonight. Blake looked very confident between the pipes, made some big saves early in the first to keep the game scoreles. Come up with a huge glove save off Joey Benik in the 3rd. Voth seemed to have troubles with the puck at times in the 3rd but settled down.

Top Players: (Penticton)

Joey Benik played a strong game up front for the Vees. Benik with a few good chances was in and around the net through out tonight's game.

James Polk played well up front for the Vees. Polk with a few chances was steady all night.

Joey Laleggia (1 assist) was the Vees best player, Laleggia carried the puck lots, jumped up into the play, skated well. Was all over the ice, very dangerous with the puck. Really reads and see's the ice well.

Garrett Milan played well, really was effective down low, seemed to read the play well, the Vipers had troubles knocking him off the puck down low.

Troy Stretcher had a solid game on the Penticton blueline. Rang a hard shot off the crossbar in the opening period on a Vees powerplay.

Joel Rumpel (28 saves) Didnt make any real tough saves tonight, but played well. The last meeting between these two teams in Penticton just before the Christmas break, Rumpel kept the Vees in the game making 39 saves in a 1-1 tie.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Tonight was a battle for first place, and the Vipers come out on top with a huge 3-1 victory tying them with the Vees for first place in the Interior Division. Nice to see the guys come back with a win after a tough 3-2 double overtime loss to the Silverbacks Thursday. Tonight had the feel of a playoff like game, both teams played hard, not alot of room for either team. A very even played game with chances at both ends. The Vipers either sat back or were just outplayed in the final ten or so minutes of the 3rd but hung on for the win. I thought the Vipers powerplay stuggled again, they blew a great chance to go up by a goal or two with a two man advantage in the 2nd period and failed. I thought the Vipers did a great job at shutting down the Vees top players most of the night, even when Penticton carried the play in the second half of the 3rd, Vernon kept the Vees to the outside and limited their scoring chances.

Game Thoughts: (Penticton)

The Vees come into town unbeaten in their last four games, and were coming off a huge 5-1 victory over the Westside Warriors last night. You knew they would give the Vipers a good run tonight and they did, they just couldnt get more then one goal. In two visits to the Wesbild Centre this season, Penticton has scored just one goal. Both teams played hard, the Vees just didnt get any offence from their big guns. The Vees have had troubles against Vernon all season and it continued tonight. I really like the Vees specialty teams, both Pentictons powerplay and penalty kill are very good.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Philip Patenaude (Injured)
David Robinson (Injured)

Penticton:

Steven Iacobellis
Chad Bannor

3 Stars:

1st Star: Kyle Murphy (1 goal)
2nd Star: Brendan O'Donnell (1 goal)
3rd Star: Blake Voth (29 saves)