I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Trail 4-2 in front of 2,191 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Blake Voth
Trail: Kiefer Smiley
1st Period: Trail would get the games first powerplay just 1:45 into the opening period. The Smoke Eaters with three shots couldnt generate any real sustained presure as the Vipers penalty kill was very sharp killing off the minor. Captain David Robinson got caught with his head down in the neutral zone and took a pretty big hit, Robinson was slow to get off the ice as the Trail bench was really giving it to the Vipers forward. Robinson looked a little dazed but stayed in the game. Just a minute later the Vipers would lose forward, Zach McPhee after the Vernon product was tossed from the hockey game after being called for checking from behind. The Smokies would get their second powerplay but again it was the Vipers penalty kill that was very solid as Trail was unable to record a single shot on the man advantage. As the penalty expired Brett Corkey setup 20 year old forward, Kyle Murphy who got inbehind the Smokies defence going in for the breakaway and beat veteran goaltender, Kiefer Smiley blocker side at 6:37 giving Vernon the 1-0 lead scoring on their first shot on goal. Corkey with the only helper. A few shifts later Dylan Walchuk with a nifty move in close was stopped at the side of the net by Kiefer Smiley. David Robinson took another big hit along the side wall and again looked a little dazed on the Vernon bench but again stayed in the game, as the Smokies were going after the Viper captain early with some big checks. Darren Nowick with a quick shot from the high slot was stopped by Smiley who couldnt control the rebound, David Robinson jumped on the rebound and beat Smiley at 11:44 giving Vernon a 2-0 lead. Nowick with the lone assist. On the next shift John Knisley pushed a Smoke Eaters forward into goaltender, Blake Voth who hit the ice as Knisley would head to the box giving Trail there third powerplay of the night. The Smokies waisted little time after the puck hit a few players in front before veteran forward, Travis St. Denis beat Blake Voth from in close at 12:51 getting the Smoke Eaters on the board making this a one goal game, Sam Mellor with the only assist. Trail was by far the more physical of the two teams, as the Smokies looked to be trying to intimidate the Vipers by using their size and physical play. This didnt seem to faze Vernon as the Vipers would get there first powerplay of the night late in the 1st. The Vipers struggled getting any real presure, in the dying seconds of the man advantage, Malcolm Lyles carried the play from his own end, through the neutral zone before stepping over the Trail blueline and ripping a quick shot that was stopped by Kiefer Smiley just as the penalty expired, Marcus Basara jumped on the rebound beating Smiley at 16:51 giving Vernon a 3-1 lead re-gaining their two goal lead. Lyles who started and created this goal was rewarded with the lone assist. With just under two minutes remaining Ryan Renz lost the puck coming out from behind his own net, wich allowed Smokies captain and veteran Paul Mailey a chance all alone in the slot to rip a quick shot that was stopped by Voth who come out to challenge making the big save. In the final minute and a half Jordan Bauer was chirpping at Patrick McGillis, as Bauer looked to be trying to get McGillis to drop his gloves. McGillis kept skating and stayed away from Bauer who skated by McGillis again after the whistle as both players exchanged words. Both teams looked fairly even in the first half but it was Vernon who looked a little better in the second half of the 1st period. Give credit to the Vipers as they scored on their chances and didnt get intimidated by Trails physical play. Trail outshot Vernon 9-5 as the Vipers had the 3-1 lead after 20 minutes of play.
2nd Period: Some very scrambled play early as both teams had troubles getting things going. David Robinson and Malcolm Lyles would get a two on one just two minutes into the middle frame, Robinson setup Lyles who couldnt beat Kiefer Smiley on the odd man rush. The Vipers would get an early powerplay as Trails penalty kill was good the Smokies couldnt clear the zone and again Vernon would score just as the penalty expired after a mad scramble in front of Smiley, Trail looked like they were waiting for a whistle before Kyle Murphy found the loose puck and beat Smiley through a maze of players in front at 7:32 giving the Vipers a 4-1 lead. David Robinson and Bryce Kakoske collected the assists. Just shortly after Assistant Captain Adam Thompson was hit hard into the side boards on a dangerous hit, with no call on the play Thompson was slow to get up and skated to the Vipers bench. Thompson looked dazed and a little shaky as the veteran d-man was getting looked at on the bench. Thompson who has been in and out of the Vipers lineup this season with injuries-concusions was up and down on the Vernon bench looking very dazed. Thompson would take a few shifts but still seemed dazed when back on the bench, stayed in the game. The Smoke Eaters would then get back to back powerplays but the Vipers penalty kill that was very strong tonight, killed off both minors. Just after the second penalty expired Steve Weinstein waited before dishing the puck off to David Robinson who skated in from the circle and then ripped a quick shot that just graized the post as Vernon come close to going ahead by four goals. Just shortly after tempers heated after some pushing and shoving took place in front of Kiefer Smiley, Dylan Walchuk and Sam Mellor would drop the gloves as both players fell to the ice. Mellor was getting under the skin of several Vipers tonight playing with a bit of an edge. On the play Vernon come out of the scrum with a powerplay. The Vipers who struggled with the man advantage to this point finally seemed to get things clicking with some nice passing Vernon moved the puck well setting up Adam Thompson who ripped two hard shots from the point but both shots were deflected and went up into the mesh netting behind the net. The Vipers looked good but couldnt capitalise as the Smokies killed off the minor. Just two minutes later Vernon would get a late powerplay, again with some nice passing the Vipers setup Marcus Basara in the high slot but Basara couldnt beat Kiefer Smiley. Just at the end of the powerplay Patrick McGillis alone at the side of the net fired high and over the net on a good chance. Another strong powerplay but Trail would kill off its second straight penalty kill. This wasnt a very exciting period but Vernon was the better team inwich both teams didnt really get alot of chances. The Vipers with a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Trail 12-4.
3rd Period: Just over two minutes into the final frame Curtis Tonellos point shot would be redirected in front by Jordan Bauer who was stopped after Blake Voth had to be alert making the pad save from in close on the deflection. The Smokies would get some early presure deep in the Vipers zone but couldnt come up with any real good chances before Vernon would get an early powerplay. David Robinson with three good chances on the man advantage couldnt beat Smiley who was fighting the puck and giving up some big rebounds as the Smoke Eaters killed off the minor. For a team that was down three goals Trail sure didnt have much jump or show much effort in a game where they were looking to win and try and pass the 4th place Westside Warriors for home ice advantage in the playoffs. Just past the midway mark Travis St. Denis would lose his helmet, as St. Denis was heading to the bench the veteran forward was really giving it to referee Brett Iverson wich in return St. Denis was given a ten minute misconduct and was sent to the Trail dressing room for the remainder of the game. On the next shift tempers heated up once again as Colton Sparrow and Clayton McEwan exchanged words and a few punches as some pushing and shoving took place in the Trail zone. McEwan another Smokies player who was trying to get under the skin of the Vernon Vipers tonight. Trail who didnt look very good in both the 2nd and 3rd periods were going for the long stretch pass alot in the 3rd but couldnt get the pass through the Vernon defence. On one play the Smokies managaed to catch the Vipers defence off guard but Trail ended up offside on a great play that would have gave them a two on one. Vernon who hasnt played a full 60 minutes since defeating the Powell River Kings back in January played a full 60 minutes tonight and really shut down the Smokies in the 3rd not giving them much room to generate any kind of offence. The Vipers basically played shutdown hockey for the remainder of the period before Trail would get some late presure, wich allowed Scott Jacklin who showed some good hustle beat Blake Voth in front on a nice play going around the second year Viper goaltender cutting the lead to 4-2 at 18:53 Jacklins goal was unassisted. In the end Vernon would defeat Trail 4-2 as the Vipers clinched 1st place winning their 15th Interior Division Pennent. (1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1997,1999,2000,2002,2003,2005,2007,2009,2010 & 2011) Vernon outshot Trail 10-5.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Malcolm Lyles (1 assist) Lyles who has really come into his own the past few months is playing his best hockey of the season. Lyles was once again very strong on the Vipers blueline, looking very good with and without the puck. Carried the play up ice several times, setting up some nice rushes as well as jumping up into the play and getting back into the defensive zone. On one play in the 3rd Lyles jumped back into the play stealing the puck from one Trail player, knocking him down as well as another Smokie all on the same play. Trail had troubles all game trying to stop Lyles when in control of the puck-play.
David Robinson (1 goal & 1 assist) The Viper captain took a few big punishing checks early to start the game, didnt back down and played a strong game up front for the Vipers. Robinson who is one of the hardest working players on the team, battled and worked very hard tonight, was real strong down low and in and around the Smoke Eaters net. Had a ton of scoring chances, scoring his 31st goal of the season in his final year.
Darren Nowick (1 assist) Nowick another player who is one of the hardest working kids worked very hard tonight, played strong at both ends of the rink and competed hard all game. Played very well on the penalty kill, at one point lost his stick but stuck with the play, making a heads first dive to try and stop the Trail d-man on the point. Showed alot of hustle and determination all night.
Kyle Murphy (2 goals) Murphy is another Viper who puts in his time and effort each and every shift and he showed that again tonight. Murphy who plays very well along side team mate David Robinson went hard to the net all night, was very good down low and in and around the net.
Adam Thompson who took a huge hit along the side wall, went awkardly into the boards on a very dangerous hit looked very dazed for most of the 2nd period but stayed in the game and showed the character this kid has. Played very well on the blueline, coughed up the puck once in the 3rd but played well.
Ryan Renz started off a bit slow but was one of Vernons best d-men tonight. Renz looked very strong on the Vipers backend. Played very well and got better as the game went on.
Top Players: (Trail)
Clayton McEwan played a strong physical in your face style of game on the Smoke Eaters blueline. McEwan who seemed to be in the face of several Vipers played a more rugged-physical game.
Curtis Tonello I thought played well on the Trail blueline.
Joey Baker was Trails best forward, didnt really get any real good scoring chances but seemed to be the only Smokie to really do much of anything with the puck. Trail who didnt really generate alot of scoring chances all night, Baker seemed to be the one Trail player who had the puck on his stick more.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
First off Id like to take this time to congratulate the Vernon Vipers, the coaching staff and Duncan Wray on winning their 15th Interior Division Pennent tonight. For a team that has won back to back Royal Bank Cups and only had five players returning from last years championship team you guys deserve full credit for the great job you have done this regular season. Hats off to you all on a great regular season, in this so called a rebuilding year. The Vipers who havnt played a full 60 minutes since knocking off Powell River back in mid January, I thought Vernon played a very strong game tonight and stuck to the game plan. The Vipers didnt get intiminated by the Smoke Eaters physical play and played very discaplined all night. Vernon scored on the most of their chances and played very well defensively. Blake Voth who didnt really see alot of action made the key saves when needed. After losing the first two meetings of the season to Trail, Vernon won the last four straight against the Smoke Eaters. Vernon will now play host to the Quesnel Millionaires in their final game of the regular season Sunday afternoon before getting a bye in the first round of the BCHL playoffs.
Game Thoughts: (Trail)
Since the 2003-04 regular season Trail is 4-20 in Vernon and hasnt won at the Wesbild Centre since a 5-2 victory back on Saturday, October 4th 2008. I thought the Smokies played well in the opening period but fell apart in the 2nd and 3rd periods. The Smoke Eaters with two early powerplays couldnt capitalise and then gave up the games first goal on Vernons first shot on goal. Before you knew it, the Smokies were down 2-0 and had to battle back the remainder of the game. Trail was the more physical team but looked to try and intimidate the Vipers by using their size and physical play. I thought the Smoke Eaters took a few liberty shots at a few Vipers. Trail just didnt look good in the 2nd and 3rd getting just nine shots in the final two periods. The Smokies took a few undisplined penalties and couldnt capitalise or score on there chances. Kiefer Smiley who usally plays very well against Vernon, didnt look very strong between the pipes tonight. Smiley seemed to be fighting the puck and gave out some pretty big rebounds. Trail had maybe three or four real good chances all game, wich isnt going to win you hockey games. In a game where the Smokies were looking to jump ahead of the 4th place Westside Warriors for home ice advantage come playoffs, Trail didnt seem to have that jump or energy in such a big game. With the loss and Westside's 6-0 win over Quesnel Trail will finish in 5th place, meaning they will start the first round of the BCHL playoffs in Westside.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Mike Zalewski (Concusion)
Dane Muench
Trevor Fitzgerald
Trail:
Ryan Dixon
Beau Blanaru
Ryan Luiten
3 Stars:
1st Star: Kyle Murphy (2 goals)
2nd Star: David Robinson (1 goal)
3rd Star: Darren Nowick (1 assist)
For more on tonight's game check out the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=840238&link=bchl
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