I was at tonight's BCHL game as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 5-4 in front of 1,170 fans at the Sunwave Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Salmon Arm: Kris Moore
1st Period: Just thirty seconds into the hockey game the Silverbacks would through a pass out front wich would bank off Dylan Walchuks skates, and just missed from banking in off Walchuk and past Kirby Halcrow. Off the next draw deep in the Vernon zone the puck would come back to Josh Manson who's point shot was tipped in front as another Backs shot just missed going in as Salmon Arm with two back to back chances early to start the game. Salmon Arm seemed to have alot of energy and alot of jump getting early control of the play and carried the better of the play in the first half of the opening period. Vernon looked a little flat and couldnt seem to get control of the play for very long before Salmon Arm would open the scoring just 3:55 into the 1st. Josh Manson beat Kirby Halcrow in front on a bit of a weird bounce, putting the Backs up 1-0. Mansons goal was unassisted. Just a few minutes later the Silverbacks with a three on two but couldnt convert on the odd man rush. The Silverbacks who were really skating, looked sharp and played very well in the first half of the 1st but could only muster a few good scoring chances. Just before the midway mark the Vipers slowly started to turn the tables a little with a little pressure of their own. Vernon would finally get the play in deep and control a bit of the play but were being forced to the outside as the Silverbacks defence played very well most of the night, keeping Vernon to the outside. Patrick McGillis would get Vernon's first real good opportunity after ripping a hard shot off Kris Moores mask with about six and a half minutes remaining. The Vipers played a little better and controlled the better of the play in the second half of the period but could only muster two good scoring chances. With two minutes left, Kyle Murphy on a wrap around slid the puck through the crease on a close call, on the same play Malcolm Lyles would get caught on the pinch with allowed the Backs to setup the BCHL's scoring leader, Mike Hammond who went in on the breakaway but couldnt beat Kirby Halcrow who come up with the big save on the breakaway. On the same play the Vipers couldnt recover wich allowed the Silverbacks to keep control of the play, get the puck back in deep where Hammond with a few slick moves in close dished off to former Coquitlam Express Brad Reid who beat Halcrow at 18:28 giving Salmon Arm a 2-0 lead. Hammond with the lone assist. Salmon Arm was the better team in the first half but Vernon was the better team in the second half but the Silverbacks had the better scoring chances, & outhit Vernon. The Backs were up 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 13-8.
2nd Period: Just thirty five seconds into the middle frame Kyle Murphy beat Kris Moore on a bit of a weird play to get Vernon on the board and right back into the game cutting the lead to one goal. Moore looked to have a little trouble with the first shot as the puck somehow got through Moore, before Murphy was alone at the side of the net to tap the puck in picking up the unassisted goal. Kirby Halcrow then kept this a one goal game after sticking out the right pad at the last second to rob Mike Hammond in front. Back come Vernon on the next play after Zach McPhee just tipped a shot past Kris Moore. Within the next few minutes Bryce Kakoske come very close to tying the game but Kakoskes long hard shot from just inside the Silverbacks blueline beat Moore but hit the crossbar and stayed out. On the same play Devin Gannon caught the Vipers on a line change, with just one Vernon d-man back, Gannon stepped in over the Vipers blueline and wired a wicked shot high and over Kirby Halcrows glove putting Salmon Arm up 3-1 at 4:31, David Killip and Brett Knowles collected the helpers. This could have been on of the games turning points. Kakoskes shot goes in and we have a tied hockey game, but back come the Backs catching the Vipers on a line chance and Vernon is now back down two goals early to start the 2nd period. On the next play Max Mowat would get tangled up with a Silverbacks player inbehind the Vernon net, Mowat would stay down on the ice for a few seconds before slowly getting up, with the play still inside the Vernon blueline Mowat who was skating awkardly on just one leg, would manage to get to the Vipers bench and would head down into the Vernon dressing room but would return later on in the period. After the Salmon Arm 3rd goal the Backs didnt quit and just under two minutes later, Cody Michelle setup Bryce Gervais who walked in from the slot and ripped a quick shot shortside past Halcrow at 6:10 putting the Backs up by three. Michelle and Brandon Mistal with the assists. Mark Ferner would call his thirty second timeout to try and re-group his troops after giving up two quick goals. Salmon Arm slowly started to carry wich allowed Josh Manson to rip a low shot that beat Kirby Halcrow but hit the post before going on the games first powerplay of the night. The Silverbacks moved the puck around well but couldnt get any real quality shots before Vipers captain, David Robinson with a nice move shorthanded went in for the breakaway but was stopped after a great diving play by Brad Reid who hustled back into the play to breakup Robinson's shorthanded breakaway. Vernon would kill off the minor. Just a few minutes later Kirby Halcrow would take an undisaplined double minor. Salmon Arm had control of the play inside the Vernon zone, with a Silverback player inside the Viper crease and basically touching Halcrow, Halcrow butt ended the Silverback player in the face-head area giving the Backs a double minor powerplay. But shorthanded Patrick McGillis showed some good hustle beating Moore to the puck just outside the Salmon Arm net, Moore looked to have fell on the play, and McGillis looked to have lost control of the puck as the puck ended up outfront laying in the crease before Kris Moore was able to clear the puck on a close call for the Silverbacks. Vernon would kill off the first minor but couldnt stop the #1 ranked powerplay unit on the second minor after Brad Reid beat Halcrow on the powerplay at 19:15 giving Salmon Arm a pretty convincing 5-1 lead. Jayson Reardon and Mike Hammond with the helpers. The Vipers with very little chances, gave up three goals in the middle frame. The Silverbacks controlled most of the 2nd period up 5-1 after 40 minutes of play. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 13-11.
3rd Period: Blake Voth would get the nod between the pipes to start the 3rd after taking over from Kirby Halcrow who allowed five goals on twenty six shots. The Vipers would get their first powerplay of the night just over a minute into the final frame. In the man advantage Malcolm Lyles took an undisaplined penalty wich allowed Josh Manson and David Killip to go in two on one, Manson kept and shot but couldnt convert as Lyles would head to the box allowing both teams to play a little four on four. The play would really open up a little before the Backs would get a late powerplay, but shorthanded Steve Weinstein, Dylan Walchuk and Trevor Fitzgerald three on two setup Weinstein who ripped a high shot from the slot high and over Kris Moore as the Vipers couldnt capitalise. Just shorty after Blake Voth was forced two make his first big save of the night. Not much action for the next several minutes as both teams couldnt seem to get much of anything going before Darren Nowick with a chance in front was stopped by Kris Moore, Nowick banged away at the rebound but Moore down and out somehow managed to cover the puck with his pad keeping the score at 5-1 eight minutes into the 3rd. Just before the midway mark Josh Mansons high sticking double minor would allow Vernon to get within three goals after Dylan Walchuk beat Moore at 9:33 on the first minor. Max Mowat and Adam Thompson collected the assists. Some nice quick passing allowed the Vipers to open up the ice and create some room to find the back of the net. With Vernon still on the man advantage the Vipers couldnt capitalise as the Backs killed off the second penalty of the double minor after Kevin Mills with two big shot blocks looked very solid on the penalty kill. Vernon didnt quit and finally playing with some jump, the Vipers slowly kept coming. Malcolm Lyles walked into the slot and beat Kris Moore at 12:42 cutting the lead to 5-3 as Kyle Murphy and Marcus Basara with the helpers. Tim Kehler would call his thrity second timeout. The second half of the period was all Vernon as the Vipers looked to have solved the Silverbacks defence opening up some wholes as the Vipers were now playing their best hockey of the night. Max Mowats screened point shot beat Kris Moore at 16:33 getting Vernon to within a goal after Marcus Basara and Kyle Murphy picked up the assists. Salmon Arm was having all kinds of troubles clearing the zone and stopping the Vipers pressure. Vernon would get the puck back in deep and control the play down low but with the clock against them, the Vipers couldnt seem to get any real good quality shots towards the net as the Silverbacks were now starting to press the Vipers, not giving them any time or space, making the Vernon shooters panic with the puck. The Vipers were forced into a few turnovers as the clock was winding down, once Vernon was able to get the play back in deep Blake Voth would head to the bench for the extra attacker, Salmon Arm (didnt catch who it was) was hauled down by Jon Knisley wich allowed the Vipers to steal the puck after the Silverbacks had a shot at the empty cage, Vernon would once again get the play back in deep but again couldnt get any real good shots towards the goal. In the dying seconds the Silverbacks (once again I didnt see who it was) missed a wide open cage after fumbling the puck in the slot but on the play the Silverbacks would get a late powerplay with just four seconds remaining, wich forced Voth back into the net. In the end Salmon Arm would defeat Vernon 5-4 winning the season series 7-1. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 10-5.
Top Players: (Vernon)
David Robinson played a strong game up front for the Vipers. The Vernon product battled hard all night, was driving to the net and come up big on the penalty kill a few times with a few solid blocked shots. Robinson dosnt seem to take a night off, playing consistant on a regular basis.
Marcus Basara (2 assists) I thought Marcus Basara played a fairly well played game for Vernon. Basara didnt stand out the entire game but looked fairly well for most of tonights contest. Seemed to be skating well, showed some hustle at times and was rewarded with two assists in the 3rd period.
Kyle Murphy (2 assists) Here's another Viper who has really come into his own latley and seems to play well on a regular night. Murphy battled hard all game, played with alot of energy and seemed very fiesty tonight, getting involved in some pushing and shoving on a few shifts with Devin Gannon in the opening period. Murphy played with a bit of an edge tonight, something you usally dont see from the 20 yr old.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Kevin Mills I thought played very well on the Backs blueline tonight. Since aquiring the d-man I have been very impressed with the 20 yr old. In the Vernon-Salmon Arm games I have seen Mills has been one of the better Silverback defenceman. Come up with a few blocked shots on the penalty kill in the 3rd.
Josh Manson (1 goal) Manson played a solid game at both ends of the rink for Salmon Arm. Played physical, opened the scoring, and jumped up into the play on a few plays. Manson hit the post in the 2nd period and had a chance on a two on one early to start the 3rd was named 3rd star.
Brad Reid (2 assists) I havnt really seen alot in Brad Reid before tonights game but the veteran forward played well up for the Backs. Picking up two helpers Reid was very strong.
David Killip (1 assist) I thought David Killip played well tonight. Didnt really get alot of opportunities but played well up front.
Devin Gannon (1 goal) Seemed to be in the face of the Vipers early and often in the 1st period but scored a big goal after Bryce Kakoske hit the post to re-gain Salmon Arms two goal lead early into the 2nd.
Mike Hammond (1 assist) Was aquired at the BCHL trade deadline from the Coqichan Valley Capitals leads the league in scoring and looked dangerous at times in the first two periods. Was stopped on a breakaway late in the 1st and then once in close early to start the 2nd. A very shifty-creative player that can win you hockey games.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Other then maybe the 6-3 victory in late January for some strange reason the Vipers cant managed to come prepared to battle, work hard and play a full sixty minutes vs the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Vernon with just one victory vs Salmon Arm in eight meetings this season, seems to have troubles with this team and it showed once again tonight. Up until the midway mark of the 3rd period Vernon wasnt really in tonights game, down 5-1 the Vipers showed a little bit of pressure in the second half of the 1st but other then that only registered a few real good scoring chances and were being forced to shoot from the outside. The Vipers wernt hitting and were making the Silverbacks look very good after 40 minutes of play. like I mentioned before Bryce Kakoskes shot that went off the crossbar early to start the 2nd goes in, we have a 2-2 game but back come Salmon Arm catching the Vipers on a line change and its now 3-1. The Vipers looked flat at times, as well as played pretty soft especially in the opening period and didnt really seem to have much spark-life in them until the 3rd. Give Vernon some credit they finally got things going in the 3rd, battled, competed and found ways through the Silverbacks defence, as well as scored three goals to make this one heck of a finish. But why couldnt they play like this the entire game? If Im the Vipers, I dont want to face this club in the playoffs. With the loss the Powell River Kings have clinched top spot in the BCHL winning the Chevrolet Cup for the first time in team history.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
For whatever reason it is, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks have owned the Vernon Vipers this season finishing 7-1 against the defending National Champions. The Backs who have seemed to get off to a good start in most of the meetings with Vernon this year, got off to a good start again tonight and looked even better in the second, scoring three goals. This is the strongest-toughest team to play-beat in the Interior Conference and they have showed it in most of the eight games vs the Vipers this season. Kris Moore can win you a hockey game on his own and hes showed it several times vs Vernon this year, the Silverbacks also have a very solid defensive core and can put the puck in the net. Dont forget they have the leagues #1 ranked powerplay. Give full credit to Tim Kehler who has really turned this franchise around, in just his first season behind the bench. The Backs defence really played well in the first two periods, keeping the Vipers to the outside, as Vernon was forced to shoot from well outside. In the 3rd when the Vipers started to battle and compete, this is when Vernon found ways around Salmon Arms defence and finally got pucks and shots through the middle as well as from in close. Salmon Arm is now just six points back of the Vipers for first in the Interior Conference after jumping into 2nd place with the win tonight. The Backs have now won seven straight snapping the Vipers five game winning streak.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Mike Zalewski (Concusion)
Colton Sparrow
Ryan Renz
Salmon Arm:
Charlie Vasaturo
Jarryd TenVannholt
Josh McKissock
3 Stars:
1st Star: Brad Reid (2 assists)
2nd Star: David Robinson
3rd Star: Josh Manson (1 goal)
For more on tonight's game check out the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=840264&link=bchl
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