I was at tonight's BCHL game as Westside defated Vernon 4-3 in double overtime in front of 1,016 fans at Royal Le Page Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Blake Voth
Westside: Cole Holowenko
1st Period: The Vipers welcomed defenceman, Philip Patenaude back to the lineup tonight, Patenaude had been out of the lineup since December, 11th after getting a concusion in a game vs. Alberni Valley. The Vipers got off to a good start, Vernon started with lots of energy, were skating and laying the body in one of their more physical periods of the season. Vernon with a good chance early as Cole Holowenko had trouble's with Dylan Walchuk's shot, Holowenko just got a peice of the puck as it trickled through the crease. Kyle Murphy then stepped over the Warriors blueline, firing a hard shot towards the net, Cole Holowenko made the first save but couldnt hold onto the rebound as Vernon captain, David Robinson gobbled up the rebound but couldnt beat Holowenko who made one of if not his biggest save of the night on the rebound. It took the Warriors almost three minutes to record their first shot on goal and then just about got a lucky break after Blake Voth come out of his crease to play the puck, Voth with a weak backhand pass behind his own goal wasnt hard enough to get to the Vernon d-man, Grayson Downing with some good hustle read the play, scooping up the loose puck and just about snuck the puck past Voth who just got back into his net in time to cover up the puck on a close call. On the next play, Vipers assistant captain, Steve Weinstein stepped over the Westside blueline and beat Cole Holowenko on a long shot that just got a peice of his glove but still found the back of the net at 4:35 giving Vernon an early 1-0 lead. Malcolm Lyles and Marcus Basara collected the helpers. You can bet Holowenko would like this goal back. The Vipers didnt stop, as Vernon was all over the Westside Warriors early and often outshooting the home team 7-1 at one point. A very physical opening period, both teams with some big hits but it was the Vipers who were the more physical team. Vernon would get the games first powerplay, and the Vipers would waist little time. Some nice passing around the box, Dylan Walchuk setup a wide open Mike Zalewski at the side of the net who hit the empty cage at 9:43 giving the Vipers a 2-0 lead. Walchuk and John Knisley with the assists. Cole Holowenko looked very shaky through out the opening period, having all kinds of troubles making a clean save. Just past the midway mark Westwide who wasnt in tonights contest finally got the puck in deep, before setting up Brayden Sherbinin in the slot who was stopped by the quick glove of Blake Voth. Warriors d-man, Tom Kroshus tried getting under the skin of Vipers forward, Patrick McGillis. Kroshus then tried to get McGillis to drop the mits but the second year Viper skated away, on the same shift Zac McPhee and Kroshus exchanged words before both taking a swing at one another, McPhee was caught on the retaliation and Westside would get their first powerplay of the night. The Vipers penalty kill was very good early, as David Robinson and Dylan Walchuk both ragged several key seconds off the penalty with some strong forecheck along the end boards, deep in the Warriors zone but the Vipers couldnt hold off the Warriors for long as Max French was stopped in close before Quinn Gould beat Voth high on the rebound at 16:04 cutting the Vernon lead to 2-1. French and Tyler Brickler would collect the assists. This was just Westside's fifth shot of the game. Prior to the goal it was all Vernon, but the Warriors seemed to gain a little momentum after scoring the powerplay goal, playing their best hockey in the final four minutes. Westside carried the better of the play in the final few minutes getting several shots from in and around the net. The Vipers were by far the better team outplaying the Warriors up 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Westside 13-10.
2nd Period: Off the opening faceoff the Vipers would get control of the play and break in on a three on two, Dylan Walchuk setup Mike Zalewski in the slot who just ripped his hard shot just high and over the Warriors net, back come Westside the other way on an odd man rush, Adam Thompson broke his stick so was no without a stick as the Warriors broke into the Vipers zone but were unable to capitalise. On the next faceoff the Warriors would win the draw, keep the play in deep and with some strong forecheck down low and in and along the boards Westside moved the puck well. Kyle Singleton was very hard to knock off the puck down low, setup Brayden Sherbinin who found a wide open Alex Grieve who beat Blake Voth at 1:29 tying the game 2-2. Singleton and Sherbinin collected the assists. Warriors captain, Alex Grieve had a wide open cage to hit on the play. This goal all started with a strong forecheck down low by Westside, as Vernon couldnt knock the Warriors off the puck or clear the zone. Just fifty seconds later with both teams playing four on four, Peter MacIntosh's shot was redirected in front by Brett Mckinnon who beat Voth at 2:19 as Voth had no chance on the goal. MacIntosh and Alex Grieve with the helpers. This wasnt the start the Vipers wanted now blowing a 2-0 lead early to start the second period and now behind a goal for the first time tonight. Just seconds later Vernon would get it's second powerplay of the game, but it wouldnt last very long before Kyle Murphy headed to the box as both teams went back to four on four before the Warriors would get a short powerplay in the end. Vernon would kill off the remaining seconds off the shortended man advantage. While four on four Mike Zalewski with almost no room beat Holowenko high and upstairs at 4:45 tying the game 3-3. John Knisley with the lone assist. This was just Vernon's second shot of the period. The Vipers who havnt played very well in the 2nd period over the past three or four games didnt play very well in this second period either. Vernon with several turnovers or giveaways in their own end resulted in several good scoring chances for the Warriors who were by far the better of the two teams in the middle frame. The Vipers quit hitting after a very physical 1st period and also couldnt get any shots towards Cole Holowenko. Westside with some great chances to re-take the lead in the 2nd but Blake Voth who played very well tonight gave his team a chance to win making several big saves. Voth stopped former Penticton Vees forward, Stefan Nicholishen after a tip in front and then stopped Brayden Sherbinin from the slot. Voth made his biggest save of the night after Grayson Downing and Max French went in on a two on one, Downing setup French who was robbed after Voth come across the crease making a huge right pad save to keep the game tied. The Vipers who didnt generate much offence in the 2nd did get a great chance after Mike Zalewski cut down the left wing, before trying to get in past the lone Warriors d-man, Zalewski was almost in the clear getting off a quick shot that beat Holowenko but rang off the post, the puck took a Vipers bounce and come right back out front but John Knisley couldnt beat Holowenko fivehole on the rebound. Two good chances for Vernon to try and re-take the lead. Vernon just like Westside did in the opening period, slowly started to come around in the final five minutes as the Vipers with some of their best pressure late in the 2nd. In the final seconds Vernon would get a late powerplay that would carry over into the 3rd. Westside controlled most of the play and was the better of the two teams, but the game was tied 3-3 after 40 minutes of play. The Warriors outshot the Vipers 13-10.
3rd Period: Vernon started the final period with the man advantage, the Vipers moved the puck around well trying to go backdoor in the slot but couldnt exactlly get the finish in close. Still moving the puck around the box, the Vipers tried setting up Mike Zalewski at the side of the goal but Zalewski couldnt connect on the pass on a good try as Westside would kill off the minor. A much different period compared to the first two, both teams wernt giving one another an inch, in a very defensive tight checking 3rd with very little chances. The Warriors with a great chance, Kyle Singleton skated in over the Vipers blueline turned Max Mowat inside out and then cut for the front of the goal was stopped by Blake Voth, Voth couldnt handle the rebound as a mad scramble in the Vipers crease but the Warriors couldnt get the puck through traffic in front as Vernon got lucky. Adam Thompson made a real smart heads up play to eventually get the puck out of the crease and clear the zone. The Vipers would get a powerplay just past the midway mark but only manage two shots coming up empty as the Warriors once again shut down Vernon's man advantage. Dru Morrison with a great chance to score the game winner in the final few minutes snapped a quick shot from the slot but missed the net, the Warriors got the home bounce as the puck come right back out front, landing back on Morrison's stick but the Warriors forward couldnt beat Voth in tight. In the final minute and a half Mike Zalewski took a dumb penalty wich gave Westside a late powerplay. The Warriors moved the puck around but were unable to get any real good shots as Vernon would excape and send this game to overtime. Westside outshot Vernon 8-4.
Overtime: With the Warriors still on the powerplay Vernon would kill off the minor as both teams went back to four on four. Cole Holowenko had troubles controlling a long Vernon shot from just inside the blueline, Vernon captain, David Robinson went for the loose puck but was tied up at the last minute and couldnt bury the rebound. Dru Morrison with a chance was stopped by Voth. Patrick McGillis then went along the boards, cut towards the middle getting off a shot from the slot but Holowenko made the routine save. The Warriors would get a great chance to end the game, after Adam Thompson couldnt handle the puck at the blueline sending Max French in all alone on the breakaway but Blake Voth stacked the pads robbing the Westside forward. It was still tied 3-3 after 65 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 4-3.
Double Overtime: The Vipers would get the draw, setting up Mike Zalewski who got in over the Westside blueline but couldnt handle the puck, Zalewski had two or three chances but couldnt get off a shot setting up Steve Weinstein who snapped a shot from the slot but Holowenko made the blocker save, Weistein couldnt get back into the play as Westside come back the other way on an odd man rush. Kyle Singleton with a nice move on Kyle Murphy who was the lone defender back, Singleton then beat Voth blocker side at 1:16 giving Westside a 4-3 double overtime win over the Vipers, as the Warriors bench erupted onto the ice. Vernon outshot Westside 2-1. Before tonight Vernon had won five straight at Royal Le Page Place, Vernon’s last loss in Westside was a 4-1 loss back on February, 20th 2009.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Phillip Patenaude made his return to the Vipers lineup and played very well. For a kid who hasnt played since December, 11th looked very good on the Vernon blueline. I could be mistaken but I dont think I saw Patenaude in the 3rd. Patenaude took a pretty hard check in the 2nd period but finished the period.
Dylan Walchuk (1 assist) Walchuk who has been fairly quiet as of late played very well up front for the Vipers. I thought Dylan carried the puck lots, was skating hard and creating chances all night. Walchuk was very hard to knock off the puck deep in the Warriors zone most of the night.
John Knisley (2 assists) I thought played very well with Mike Zalewski. Knisley played well all evening, really seemed to know where everyone was, made some real nice heads up plays, as well as seemed to find guys open, making some nice crisp passes. Knisley was also skating well tonight, showed some good hustle.
Mike Zalewski (2 goals) Zalewski with three goals in his last two games was one of if not the best Viper forward tonight. Zalewski had several chances to record a hattrick but couldnt. This kid was really skating hard tonight, had lots of open ice, really read the ice well, seemed to have the puck on a string at times.
Patrick McGillis I thought looked impressive. McGillis worked hard, battled hard down low and never gave up, had some chances through out tonights contest. Competed hard and played well.
Adam Thompson I thought was the Vipers best d-man tonight. Thompson who hasnt been using his big one-timers from the point on the Vernon powerplay latley, really played well at both ends of the rink. Made a few real nice heads up plays, as well as some very strong defensive plays.
Blake Voth (31 saves) Voth played very well making 31 saves. Voth who made some of his best saves in the 2nd and first overtime gave his team a chance to win. Voth's last loss was a 5-2 loss to Powell River back on November, 17th
Top Players: (Westside)
Brayden Sherbinin (1 assist) I thought Sherbinin played very well on the Warriors blueline. Jumped up into the play at times and had a few good chances. Looked very confident.
Kyle Singleton (OT winner and 1 assist) Singleton played very well up front for Westside. Was very hard to knock off the puck down low, a very good skater who is always dangerous with the puck.
Brett McKinnon (1 goal) McKinnon was very solid for the Warriors, I thought was one of their better players. Had some good chances through out tonights game. Played physical as well.
Alex Grieve (1 goal & 1 assist) The Westside captain was another player who looked very strong up front. Grieve is also dangerous with and without the puck.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Other then the 2nd period, I thought the Vipers played very well and rebounded after a 3-2 loss at home to Langley last night. I thought the Vipers outplayed Langley for most of last night's game but just didnt seem or look very sharp at times. Tonight the Vipers looked very good. The Vipers who made their final regular season visit to Royal Le Page Place are 3-0-1-1 vs Westside this season. In a game where Cole Holowenko looked shaky-not that great, I think here's a game where Vernon needs to get more pucks and traffic towards the goal, If Holowenko isnt having his best game, try and get as many pucks towards the net as possible. Vernon hasnt lost two straight games since dropping three in a row to Salmon Arm (twice) and Powell River back in mid November. This was a very entertaining hockey game, nice to see a fan bus of Viper fans at tonights game. With the loss the Vipers drop to 2nd place after Penticton knocked off the Surrey Eagles 4-3 tonight. The Vipers now need to regroup and get ready to battle the Warriors again tomorrow night, at home. How will the Vipers respond, with tomorrow being their third game in as many nights?
Game Thoughts: (Westside)
I thought the Warriors got off to a bad start and didnt look very good at all in the opening period but give the guys credit, they got a late powerplay goal in the 1st wich seemed to give them life and they come ready to play in the second, scoring two quick goals just seconds apart to take their first lead of the game. The Warriors gave the Vipers a good battle tonight but need to get better goaltening from Cole Holowenko who didnt have his best start. Holowenko picks up his first career victory over Vernon in four starts, improving to 1-3 against the Vipers overall. This was also Westside's first win over Vernon this season. After the Vipers won the first two games of the season series the Warriors have played Vernon tough in their last three meetings. (2-2 tie, 3-2 overtime Vernon win and tonights 4-3 double overtime Westside victory) You have to give Westside credit for outshooting the Vipers, something not many teams have done this season as well as keep the Vipers at 33 shots, something most teams havnt done. With the win Westside moves to within one point of 3rd place Salmon Arm and five points of 2nd place Vernon. Tomorrow's rematch should be just as good as tonight's contest.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Bryce Kakoske
Colton Sparrow
Westside:
Brett Mulcahy
Matt Cronin
Tyler Krause
3 Stars:
1st Star: Alex Grieve (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Kyle Singleton (OT Winner & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Brett McKinnon (1 goal)
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