Vernon 6 Westside 4

I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Westside 6-4 in front of 2,214 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Westside: Kevin Boyle

1st Period: The Vipers who got off to a good start last night in Westside, got off to a good start tonight in the second game of a home and home series with the Warriors. Just over three minutes into the contest Vernon would get the games first powerplay and take advantage. Darren Nowick would beat Kevin Boyle at 5:25 giving the Vipers the early 1-0 lead. Brett Corkey and Adam Thompson with the assists. Just twenty four seconds later the Vipers would get the puck in deep, setting up Adam Thompson's blast from the point that beat Boyle at 5:49 giving Vernon a 2-0 lead. Patrick McGillis with the lone helper. After the goal, Warriors head coach and GM Darren Yopyk went nuts on one of his defenceman that was on the ice when the Vipers scored. Vernon didnt stop there, just under a minute later Mike Zalewski setup Dylan Walchuk in front at 6:39 putting the Vipers up 3-0, Zalewski and John Knisley with the assists. This was the end of the night for Kevin Boyle who gave up three goals on just six Vernon shots. I dont think you can blame Boyle for any of the three goals, this was to try and get the Warriors motivated after leaving the Warriors goaltender out to dry. Former Merritt Centennials goaltender, Cole Holowenko would replace Boyle. Just a few minutes later Westside would get it's first powerplay of the night, but it wouldnt last too long as the Warriors would get sent to the penalty box seconds later. In the end Vernon would get a late powerplay after some four on four action. It didnt take the Vipers long to capitalise as Darren Nowick would undress Cole Holowenko in front at 10:08 putting Vernon up 4-0 and in full control. Patrick McGillis with his second assist of the night. The Warriors who played very good last night looked like a different hockey club tonight, getting outplayed and outscored early and often to open the period. At one point Vernon was outshooting Westside 10-4. The Warriors who couldnt keep the Vipers offence out of their own end, finally would get there only two good chances of the period, after Matthew Maher's point shot was stopped by Kirby Halcrow, before Travis Blanleil jumped on the rebound but couldnt beat Halcrow down low. The Warriors would get their first full powerplay but couldnt get much of anything going as Vernon killed off the minor. Just a few minutes later on a delayed penalty Kyle Murphy fed Marcus Basara who was driving to the net hard, Basara beat Holowenko at 16:39 giving Vernon a 5-0 lead. Murphy and Brett Corkey with the assists. The Vipers looked very good and dominated the opening period up 5-0 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Westside 15-8.

2nd Period: Off the draw the Vipers would get the play in deep, David Robinson with a quick shot from the corner missed the far corner before Steve Weinstein with a quick shot from the point went high and over Cole Holowenko, back come the Warriors as Westside would get the play in deep in the Vernon zone. The Warriors moved the puck around, Matther Maher's point shot was tipped in front by Tyler Krause at 2:00 getting the Warriors on the scoreboard. Maher and Westside captain, Alex Grieve collected the helpers. Krause was making his return to the Westside lineup after being out with an injury. Izaak Berglund looked to be in some pain after heading off slowly to the Warriors bench, and I dont recall seeing Berglund for the remainder of the game. Westside would get an early powerplay and capitalise. Tim Kroshus's point shot beat Kirby Halcrow at 6:31 cutting the lead to 5-2. Tyler Brickler and Quinn Gould with the assists. On the goal Mike Zalewski got suckered into taking a penalty sending the Warriors back on the powerplay. Kyle Singleton who scored the overtime winner last night, had a great chance on the man advantage but missed a wide open cage from the side of the net after Kirby Halcrow was down and out. Westside would eventually make it a two goal game after a scramble in and around the Vipers goal. Kirby Halcrow tried covering the puck just outside his crease at the side of the net, but a Warriors play dug the puck out and snuck it in and around Halcrow, the puck was very close to the goal line, on the play the Warriors were celebrating as if the puck had crossed the line, the play continued as the Vipers cleared the puck from the crease before Tom Kroshus's point shot found the empty cage at 7:54 Kroshus's goal was unassisted. There was some discusion after the goal was scored between both team captains and Mark Ferner but the goal stood. This wasnt the start the Vipers wanted. Just like last night the Warriors who scored two early goals come out to start the 2nd a different team. But just over a minute later Malcolm Lyles point shot hit someone in front redirecting past Cole Holowenko at the 9:00 minute mark giving Vernon a 6-3 lead. Steve Weinstein and Dylan Walchuk picked up the helpers. Just seconds later Vernon would get a powerplay but on the man advantage, Grayson Downing would get a shorthanded breakaway before Adam Thompson hustled back into the play to knock the puck off of Downing's stick. On the play Thompson was given a penalty sending both teams to four on four. Just a few minutes later Dylan Walchuk would go in on the breakaway but couldnt beat Holowenko. The Warriors carried the better of the play in the first eight or so minutes before it became fairly even. Tempers got a little heated late in the period after Mike Zalewski and Brayden Sherbinin got tangled up in a scrum in front of the Warriors goal, both Zalewski and Sherbinin were sent off. In the final three minutes Tyler Brickler with a nice feed over to Kyle Singleton who just barley slide the puck through Kirby Halcrow at 17:41 Brickler and Tyler French with the assists made it 6-4 Vernon. This was a goal I think Halcrow would like to have back. The Vipers would get a late powerplay that would carry into the 3rd. Westside was the better of the two teams in the 2nd scoring four goals to make it a two goal game heading into the 3rd. Vernon was up 6-4 after 40 minutes of play. The Warriors outshot the Vipers 12-9.

3rd Period: The Vipers started the 3rd with a short man advantage but the Warriors would kill it off. With Vernon holding onto a two goal lead and playing their third game in as many nights, the Vipers chipped the puck in deep and played a very defensive period not giving up any chances. A very boring shut down Viper period made for not alot of offence or exciting plays at both ends of the rink, Vernon with just two shots in the first ten minutes didnt allow the Warriors a shot on goal in the first ten minutes. The Warriors would get a powerplay and a chance to cut the Vernon lead to within a goal but the Vipers penalty kill was solid as Westside didnt record a single shot on the powerplay and couldnt capitalise. The Vipers would then get there chance with the man advantage and a chance to take a three goal lead but wouldnt get any shots through a strong Westside penalty kill. Only one real scoring chance the entire 3rd, Viper captain, David Robinson come down the right wing, dropping the puck back to Max Mowat who jumped up into the play, but Mowat would be stopped by Holowenko. Tempers then heated up again after Aaron Hadley and Brayden Sherbinin got into a pushing and shoving match after a scrum broke out deep in the Warriors zone. Both Hadley and Sherbinin were sent off. The Warriors would finally get their first shot of the period with about seven minutes remaining. Westside would get a late powerplay but couldnt get any real good quality shots through, as Vernon's defence was doing a great job at blocking the shooting lanes. Still on the man advantage the Warriors would get Cole Holowenko to the bench for the extra attacker but still couldnt get any real pucks through the maze of players in front of Kirby Halcrow. As the final seconds were winding down John Knisley raised a high floater of a shot from his own end going for a shot at the empty cage but couldnt hit the net. In the end Vernon would hold onto the 6-4 win and even the home and home series. Shots were even 4-4.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Malcolm Lyles (1 goal) Has struggled his past three or four games but made up for it tonight after a strong performance on the Vipers backend. Lyles was skating hard, carried the puck lots and jumped up into the play. Played a physical defensive game.

Max Mowat I thought played a fairly good game on Vernon's blueline. Mowat looked and played very consistantly all night.

John Knisley (1 assist) I thought Knisley had a great game up front for the Vipers. I really liked the way he was skating and used his speed tonight. Seemed to read the ice very well.

Darren Nowick (2 goals) Has really come into his own the past month or so. Nowick was very strong up front for Vernon, was very strong on the draw and was going to the net tonight. Had atleast two chances to try and record his first career BCHL hattrick.

Adam Thompson (1 goal & 1 assist) Thompson played very well on the Vipers backend. Nice to see Adam getting his onetimer back, Thompson who uses his onetimer on the powerplay, seemed to not wind up with his big blast from the point. But tonight scored Vernon's second goal after stepping into one.

Top Players: (Westside)

Matthew Maher (1 assist) I thought Maher played a strong game on the Warriors backend. Looked very good defensivley.

Tom Kroshus (2 goals) Was another Westside defenceman, that played very well tonight. Scored back to back powerplay goals in the 2nd period to get the Warriors back into the game.

Tyler Brickler (2 assists) I thought looked good up front. Made some nice heads up plays through out tonights game.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

After losing back to back games you knew the Vipers would be looking for revenge against the Westside Warriors and looking to make a statement in their final meeting of the regular season. Well they sure made a statement in the opening period, scoring five goals chasing Kevin Boyle. A very strong 1st period, but once again the Vipers who have struggled in the 2nd period the past five or six games didnt get off to a great start in the second period tonight. Westside with three pretty quick goals gave the Vipers a good wakeup call, that you have to play a full sixty minutes in this league. Give the Vipers credit for not folding in the 3rd, a very solid shutdown defensive 3rd period only giving up four shots and no real good scoring chances. Tonight was the Vipers third game in as many nights, so give them credit for hanging in there. A bounce here or there in the 3rd and we could have had a wild finish. I dont think Mark Ferner will be happy with giving up four goals in the 2nd period but has to be pleased with his clubs start and finish. A big win and a big two points against a tough hard working Warriors team. 17 year old defenceman, Zack Urban made his Vipers debut tonight, but only saw a handfull of shifts in the first two periods. Vernon still remains in the 2nd place after Penticton defeated Surrey tonight 5-1. It will now be interesting to see if Mark Ferner pulls off any trades before the big trade deadline wich is Monday night at 6pm.

Game Thoughts: (Westside)

After a huge 4-3 double overtime win over Vernon last night, what happened to the Warriors in the opening period tonight? You can bet Darren Yopyk wont be too pleased with his clubs start to the game, but has to be a little pleased with the way his team battled back to make it a two goal game heading into the 3rd. After a very dismal 1st period I thought the Warriors looked and played a heck of alot better in the middle frame scoring four goals to put a little scare into the Vipers. Come the 3rd Westside just couldnt get any offence through Vernon's defence. The Warriors had all kinds of troubles getting pucks to the net and traffic through Vernons defence in the 3rd, getting just four shots in the final period dosnt help when your down two goals. I really liked the Warriors powerplay tonight, looked very good. Give Westside credit for not giving up, battling back and making this a game. Westside finished the regular season 1-3-1-1 vs. Vernon. What will the Warriors do before the BCHL trade deadline? Westside still has room for another 20 yr old.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Phillip Patenaude (Concusion)
Bryce Kakoske (Injured)
Todd Skirving

Westside:

Brett Mulcahy
Matt Cronin
Max French

3 Stars:

1st Star: Darren Nowick (2 goals)
2nd Star: Tom Kroshus (2 goals)
3rd Star: Adam Thompson (1 goal & 1 assist)