I was at tonight's Game 1 of the BCHL Interior Conference Semi-Finals as Vernon defeated Westside 3-2 in front 1,549 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Blake Voth
Westside: Kevin Boyle
1st Period: After having the bye in the opening round of the BCHL playoffs the Vernon Vipers showed very little rust in tonights game. On the visitors side it was the Westside Warriors who looked like a team that had the first round bye. Vernon would get the games first few chances as the Vipers controlled the better of the play for most of the opening period. Just three minutes into the period a scramble in front of Kevin Boyle the Vipers managed to get off a shot that somehow got through the crowd in front as the puck just missed the far side of the goal, on the same play Brett Corkey setup Colton Sparrow who couldnt connect on the pass. Vernon would get the games first powerplay of the night, with the Vipers moving the puck well setting up Dylan Walchuk in the high slot who was stopped by Kevin Boyle. The Vipers looked good on the man advantage but couldnt capitalize as the Warriors killed off the minor. Just after the penalty kill Grayson Downing tried setting up Tyler Krause in front who fell going to the net as the Warriors couldnt connect on the pass. From here on in it was basically all Vernon as the Vipers strong forecheck and physical play seemed too much for Westside, as the Warriors were getting beat to the puck, losing the one on one battles and had all kinds of trouble with the Vipers in their own end. Dane Muench with a nice move inside the Warriors zone couldnt get off a shot after getting tied up at the last second. Westside would get just its second scoring opportunity of the night after Dru Morrison and Tyler Brickler on a parcial two on one couldnt beat Blake Voth. Morrison fed Brickler who batted the puck out of mid air but somehow Voth come up with the huge save keeping this game scoreless. Kyle Murphy then with a backhand beat Boyle but hit the post with five minutes remaining in the 1st. In the final minute of play the Vipers would get their second powerplay of the night, that would carry over into the 2nd period. It was all Vernon in the opening period as the Vipers outhit, outchanced and outplayed Westside in the opening twenty minutes. It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Westside 14-5.
2nd Period: With the Vipers still on the man advantage that was carried over from the 1st period, it took Vernon most of the powerplay to get much of anything going before setting up a wide open Malcolm Lyles who was robbed by Kevin Boyle just as the penalty expired. Boyle come out making a huge pad save keeping the game scoreless. Just after the powerplay ended Marcus Basara carried the puck in over the Warriors blueline before snapping a weak looking shot from the corner that somehow found its way through Boyle giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 2:00 as Kevin Boyle would like to have this goal back. Brett Corkey with the only assist on the Basara goal. The Warriors for the second straight period showed little fight as Westside was getting outplayed and outhit most of the 2nd period. The Warriors with very little pressure or offence managed a couple of short plays in the Vipers zone but didnt really get any good scoring chances in the middle frame. For the second straight period Vernon was hitting and finishing their checks, something we havnt seen like this since the Vernon-Powell River game. The Vipers would get their third powerplay of the game and capitalize just nine seconds in. Dylan Walchuk would win the draw back to Patrick McGillis who got off a quick shot that Boyle couldnt handle, before Dane Muench was johnny on the spot and beat Boyle at 13:01 giving Vernon a 2-0 lead, with Walchuk and McGillis collecting the helpers. Just over a minute later Westside would get its first man advantage of the night, but it was Vernon's powerplay who looked very sharp killing off the minor. Kyle Murphy was very strong on the penalty kill. In the final four or five minutes the Vipers got a little sloppy as the play became scrambled as both teams couldnt get much of anything going. It was 2-0 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers were the better of the two teams, I thought the Warriors played a little better but still didnt look very good in the first two periods. Vernon outshot Westside 14-9.
3rd Period: Westside come out hard, playing physical and started to forecheck the Vipers. But it was Vernon who got the play in deep and used their forecheck early for a good minute or so but were unable to really generate any offensive chances. The Warriors laid out some big hits early and often, attacking the Vipers and forcing them deep in their own end. This didnt seem to faze the Vipers as Aaron Hadley worked hard along the wall to setup Colton Sparrow who beat Boyle at 6:02 giving Vernon a 3-0 lead. Hadley and Trevor Fitzgerald picked up the assists. This goal all started because the Vipers didnt quit fighting for the puck along the wall, winning the battle, keeping the puck inside the Westside zone and oepning up some ice forcing the goal. The Warriors responded and very quickly after the Vipers third goal. Just 1:17 later Tyler Krause won the draw deep in the Vernon zone, Tom Kroshus's point shot was tipped in front by Krause at 7:17 getting the Warriors on the board. Kroshus and Peter MacIntosh with the helpers. This goal really woke up Westside giving the Warriors life and now momentum as the Warriors turned the tables from here on in. The Warriors would keep up the strong forecheck, really attacking the Vipers deep in their own end. It was now Westside who was the team that was playing physical, winning the battles and races to the pucks. The Vipers who saw alot of the action deep in their own end, did manage to get a great chance to make this a three goal game again after Dylan Walchuk and Patrick McGillis on a two on one Walchuk fed McGillis who couldnt beat Kevin Boyle. Westside come very close to making this a one goal game after Peter MacIntosh's point shot went through a few players in front beating Blake Voth but went off the top of the crossbar and stayed out as the Vipers got lucky. Travis Blanleil would win the draw in the Vernon zone back to Matthew Maher who ripped a low shot that somehow got through Voths left pad and glove at 12:10 making this a one goal game. This is a goal I think Voth would like to have back. Blanleil with the lone assist. Shortly after Malcolm Lyles with a nice end to end rush would carry the puck from his own zone before just about losing the puck in the neutral zone, Lyles battled his way through a few Warrior players before cutting hard to the goal but couldnt get the puck past Kevin Boyle who stood tall making the big save. Bryce Kakoske and David Robinson with some nice two way passing ended up forcing a nice scoring chance as Robinson was stopped by Boyle before a scrum in the crease formed with the Vipers captain Robinson and Peter MacIntosh exchanging punches as both players headed off to the penalty box. Even though the Warriors were the better team and controlled the play Westside was unable to really get alot of good chances, as the Vipers did a great job at keeping Westside to the outside and limit their chances. With the Warriors pressing for the game tying third goal, Vernon would get a late powerplay. Give full credit to Westside's penatly kill who looked very good as the Warriors killed off the minor. Westside would call a late timeout and get Kevin Boyle to the bench for the extra attacker with fourty seconds remaining but the Warriors who moved the puck well, couldnt get a shot off. In the dying seconds the Warriors finally setup captain, Alex Grieve whos shot missed the net as Westside couldnt capitalize as Vernon would hang on for the 3-2 victory and take a 1-0 series lead with Game 2 tomorrow night at the Wesbild Centre. Westside really stepped up their game and played very well in the final frame outplaying the Vipers. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 11-6.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Dylan Walchuk (1 assist) Was very dangerous with the puck most of the night. The Warriors had troubles containing the second year Viper as Walchuk looked very good with the puck.
David Robinson battled and competed hard all night.
Darren Nowick who I thought looked very good in the opening period played well up front for Vernon. Was really buzzing around, playing physical in the 1st period, setting up a few good chances.
Marcus Basara (1 goal) Played his best game as a Viper. Basara who used his quickness, physical play and competed and battled all game looked very impressive.
Kyle Murphy played well with David Robinson on the teams #1 unit. Murphy was very good on the penalty kill as well as on the back check. Murphy come back hard on atleast two occasions to break up a play going the other way.
Patrick McGillis (1 assist) Battled, competed and played hard most of the game. McGillis is a hard worker and showed it tonight, also played well with and without the puck.
Dane Muench (1 goal) This was by far Muench's best game as a Viper in his short stay in Vernon. Muench who was acquired at the BCHL trade deadline hasnt really showed the fans what he can do getting off to a bit of a slow start with the Vipers. I thought Muench slowly started to look at little better at times towards the end of the regular season, but stepped up his game tonight.
Colton Sparrow (1 goal) The Vernon product plays with alot of energy, hustle, hard work and physical play and Colton showed that again tonight in Game 1. Sparrow had lots of jump and played very well up front for the Vipers.
Ryan Renz was Vernon's best defenceman this evening. Renz looked very strong on the Vipers blueline tonight.
Top Players: (Westside)
Peter MacIntosh (1 assist) Played very well on the Warriors backend, I thought MacIntosh was Westside's best d-man. Had a great chance midway through the 3rd to make this a one goal game but hit the crossbar.
Tyler Krause (1 goal) Krause showed alot of hustle and competed hard, one of the very few Westside Warriors that did.
Kevin Boyle (36 saves) Kept his team in the hockey game. You can beat Boyle would like to have Marcus Basara's opening goal of the game back but other then that, I thought the rookie goaltender played very well making some big saves through out the contest. Didnt give out alot of rebounds and looked very good down low with traffic in front.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
For a team that hasnt played since the final weekend of the BCHL regular season, I was very impressed with the strong play of the Vernon Vipers this evening. Vernon played and looked very strong especially in the games first two periods. The Vipers were by far the better of the two teams in the first and second periods, now did Vernon sit back in the 3rd after taking a three goal lead? or were the Warriors just that much better? In the end it made for a very entertaining playoff game with lots of action, hitting and kept fans in their seats until the final buzzer. I thought the Vipers looked very good and strong on the forecheck, winning most of the battles and races for the pucks. I also liked how Vernon played physical and was finishing their checks. Vernon may have gotten away from the dump and chase in the 3rd but managed to hang out and take a 1-0 series lead. Nice to see some of the younger kids step up tonight and take a little pressure off some of the veteran players.
Game Thoughts: (Westside)
Up until the 3rd period, where were the Westside Warriors? Did they forget the game started at 7pm? I wasnt impressed from the Warriors in periods one and two, as Westside was outplayed, outhit, outchanced in both periods. The Warriors with just a few scoring chances in each of the first two periods didnt look or play very good. Viper fans saw a different Warriors club in the 3rd and once Tyler Krause's goal at 7:17 got Westside on the board, this changed the game and momentum and it was all Warriors from here on in. Westside was now the team that looked like the team I thought was going to start the game. The Warriors were very good on the forecheck, down low and really seemed to hemm the Vipers in their own zone with a strong physical play. A bounce or two and this could have easily been a tied hockey game. Give Westside credit for not folding the tents and making this a very exciting finish. You can bet Darren Yopyk wont be pleased with his clubs effort tonight (except the 3rd period) and bet Westside will come out with a better start in Game 2. Nice to see a good size crowd of Warrior fans who made the trip and made alot of noise.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Phillip Patenaude
Zach McPhee
John Knisley
Westside:
Brett Mulcahy
Stefan Nicholishen
Max French
3 Stars:
1st Star: Dane Muench (1 goal)
2nd Star: Colton Sparrow (1 goal)
3rd Star: Tyler Krause (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=932335&link=bchl
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