For the 22nd straight year I was at the Vernon Vipers home opener as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 5-1 at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Salmon Arm: Kurt Williams
1st Period: Off the opening faceoff Salmon Arm would get the puck in deep, Backs captain Brett Knowles laid out a huge check on Vipers assistant captain, Brett Corkey in the corner, allowing the Vipers to come back the other way on an odd man rush. Corkey fed Vipers assistant captain, Mike Zalewski who on the two on one setup Darren Nowick who beat Kurt Williams on Vernons first shot on goal just thirty seconds into the Vipers home opener giving Vernon an early 1-0 lead. Zalewski and Corkey collected the helpers. Off the next faceoff the Silverbacks got the puck in deep setting up veteran, Bryce Gervais in front who was robbed by Kirby Halcrow who made a big save keeping the Backs off the scoreboard. Some good flow to start the season opener with the play going back and forth before two and a half minutes in, Marcus Basara tried setting up rookie, Alex Hagen on a two on one but Hagen couldnt connect on Basaras pass on a great scoring chance. Just over three minutes into the period Salmon Arm would get the games first powerplay. The Silverbacks with some good puck movement couldnt get pucks through as the Vipers penalty kill was good early. Before the man advantage ended the Silverbacks would take a minor penalty giving both teams a little four on four action before the Vipers would get a late powerplay. Ryan Renz would turn over the puck at the Salmon Arm blueline giving the Silverbacks a parcial two on one, but Renz stuck with the play and broke up the play as the Backs couldnt capitalize on a good shorthanded chance. Salmon Arm would kill off the minor. Just three and a half minutes later Salmon Arm would get another shot with the man advantage but once again controlling most of the play deep in the Vernon zone, the Silverbacks couldnt get pucks through as Vernon's penalty was very solid all night. The Backs controlled the puck well but had troubles getting pucks through to the front of the net. Just before the penalty expired Mike Zalewski somehow was spotted wide open in the slot but couldnt get the puck past Kurt Williams on a great shorthanded scoring opportunity as Vernon would kill off the minor. Just seconds after a big penalty kill Vernon would get its second powerplay of the evening and took advantage. Darren Nowick with a slick pass through the slot setup Mike Zalewski who ripped his shot far side past Kurt Williams at 14:09 giving Vernon a 2-0 lead. Nowick and John Knisley with the assists. The Vipers then took over and carried the better of the play for the remainder of the 1st period. Vernon's speed and forecheck down low gave the Silverbacks trouble most of the period. Vipers captain, Patrick McGillis with a great chance, ripped a hard low shot from the circle that was stopped by Williams who made a nice glove save on the play. Williams had troubles with the puck several times in the period, had troubles controlling the puck as well as giving up some big rebounds. Vernon was outshooting Salmon Arm at this point 10-5. The Silverbacks having all kinds of trouble in their own end couldnt get much offence going in the opening period. Both teams got a little sloppy in the final two minutes as Vernon had a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers were the better team and had the better chances in the opening period. The Vipers outshot the Backs 15-8.
2nd Period: Off the opening faceoff the Vipers defence had troubles clearing the zone, a turnover just outside the Vipers blueline allowed Morgan Zulinick an odd man rush, Zulinick kept and shot beating Kirby Halcrow shortside just twenty seconds into the middle frame cutting the Vernon lead to just a single goal. Former Vernon Vipers defenceman, Bennett Hambrook with the lone assist. Off the next facoff Aaron Hadley with a great effort carried the play deep into the Backs zone, went around the goal before dishing off to Adam Tambellini who fed the puck back to Hadley in the slot who was stopped by Williams. Brett Knowles went after Brett Corkey on a play inbehind the Vipers goal, both players went to the ice before Devin Muller jumped into the play wich gave Vernon an early powerplay. Both Corkey and Knowles exchanged words on the way to the penalty box. Just over a minute into the powerplay, Patrick McGillis with a low shot along the ice beat Kurt Williams fivehole at 5:57 giving Vernon a 3-1 lead. Marcus Basara with the lone assist on the goal. A very sloppy start to the 2nd period, as both teams looked a little disorganized at times. The Vipers had troubles in their own end at times as well as making that first pass out of their own zone. The puck was also taking some weird bounces. The Silverbacks would a powerplay just before the midway mark but it would be the Vipers speed and skill on the penalty kill that forced a turnover just outside the Vernon blueline. Rookie d-man, Geoff Crisfield and Alex Hagen on a shorthanded odd man rush, Crisfield decided to shoot but was stopped by Williams who made a nice save on the two on one. Once again the Vipers penalty kill was very sharp killing off the minor. Just minutes later Salmon Arm would head back on another man advantage and this time Halcrow had to be sharp making a few tough saves from in close. Max Mowat turned over the puck behind the net as the Backs setup Graham McBain who was all alone in front but Kirby Halcrow made a nice save in close. Vipers captain, Patrick McGillis late on the penalty kill with a great chance couldnt beat the quick glove of Williams. The Backs with a little pressure on this man advantage couldnt beat Halcrow as Vernon killed off the minor. The play seemed to open up a little in the second half of the period as both teams had some decent chances. Late in the 2nd Salmon Arm with a three on two couldnt beat Halcrow on a good scoring opportunity. Kirby Halcrow then had to make a nice glove save off Stefan Nicholishen with fourteen seconds remaining. At the buzzer Vipers assistant captain, Aaron Hadley and Bennett Hambrook exchanged words before throwing a few punches at each other as both players were given minors to start the 3rd period. Both teams didnt look all that great in the first half of the period but both played much better in the second half in a fairly even period. Vernon with a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. Shots were even 11-11.
3rd Period: The Vipers got into penalty trouble just seconds into the period giving the Backs a great opportunity to climb back into the hockey game. Salmon Arm couldnt do much offensively as Vernon killed off the minor. Just a minute and a half later Kyle Schwartz had a parcial breakaway before Brett Corkey with a strong defensive play hustled back breaking up Schwartz's parcial breakaway. On the play Corkey was given a penalty wich gave Salmon Arm another early man advantage. Kirby Halcrow was tested making a few good saves down low and come up with a nice glove save as the Vipers killed off the minor. Just after the penalty kill Marcus Basara setup Vernon product, Colton Sparrow who beat Kurt Williams with a nice goal from the slot giving the Vipers a 4-1 lead at 6:34, Basara with the only assist on the goal. This was a heartbreaker for the Silverbacks, two back to back powerplays and no goal before giving up a goal at the other end to put your team down by three goals. The Vipers then got a bit of energy and come up with a flurry of chances in and around the Silverbacks goal. John Knisley was robbed in front after Williams made a huge save off the second year Viper. Patrick McGillis was stopped in front on a great scoring play. The Vipers with some good chances couldnt beat Williams. Salmon Arm would then get their third straight powerplay to start the 3rd and again Kirby Halcrow was the difference coming up with some good saves keeping the Backs off the scoreboard. Vernon would once again kill off the minor. Salmon Arm would carry the better of the play in the first half, due to three straight powerplays as the Silverbacks caught up in shots in a hurry. Just past the midway mark the Vipers would get their only man advantage of the 3rd but on the powerplay it was the Silverbacks penalty kill who was dangerous. Graham McBain stole the puck from Max Mowat sending McBain and Kody Dhaliwal in on the shorthanded two on one, McBain kept and shot but couldnt beat Halcrow. Rookie, Connor Hartley come back the other way, making a nice move at the Salmon Arm blueline before cutting hard towards the net slid the puck through the crease where Williams smade a huge save stopping the puck at the goal line. On the same powerplay Morgan Zulinick setup a wide open James Friedel on a two on one, Friedel had Halcrow down and out but shot high and over the goal on a missed opportunity. Salmon Arm's penalty looked very strong getting two great chances but the Backs couldnt capitalize. From here on in the play really opened up at both ends as both teams with some great chances. Bryce Gervais and Devin Muller on a two on one, Gervais was stopped by Halcrow on the first shot, before Gervais was robbed by Halcrow on the second shot somehow coming across making a huge blocker save on the play, back come the Vipers on the same play as John Knisley beat Kurt Williams with a lazer of a shot shortside giving Vernon a 5-1 lead at 18:24. Marc Hetnik and Kirby Halcrow collected the helpers. This was the Silverbacks night, two big scoring opportunities at one end before back come Vernon, one shot and a goal at the other end. The Backs just wernt getting the bounces tonight. In the end the Vipers would knock off the Silverbacks 5-1 in the season opener giving Jason Williamson his first BCHL win as a head coach. Salmon Arm carried the better of the play for most of the 3rd but both teams with some great chances. The Silverbacks outshot the Vipers 13-8.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Brett Corkey (1 assist) Played very well on Vernon's blueline.
John Knisley (1 goal & 1 assist) Played very well up front for the Vipers. Knisley's speed and skill gave the Silverbacks troubles all night.
Mike Zalewski (1 goal & 1 assist) Also played very well for the Vipers. Zalewski was very strong with the puck, had to knock off the puck and dangerous on the penalty kill getting some chances.
Darren Nowick (1 goal & 1 assist) Played very well for Vernon this evening. Nowick skated well, really reads and sees the ice well, made some real smart heads up plays tonight.
Marcus Basara (2 assists) I was very impressed with the hustle, speed and overall play of Basara. Looked very strong up front for the Vipers. Was skating hard, really carried the play lots, setup some nice plays all game.
Geoff Crisfield played very well in his first BCHL game tonight. A bigger kid that isnt easy to knock off the puck, played very well in his own end. Very good defensively.
Cole Sanford "AP" Isnt the biggest kid but played very well for an "AP". Has some quick wheels, isnt afraid of getting in the corners and digging for the loose puck. Worked hard all night.
Kirby Halcrow (31 saves) Was very strong tonight, made some nice saves in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Had his glove working tonight, making several nice glove saves. if the Vipers want to go far, this is the kind of goaltending Halcrow has to provide.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
From day one at the Vipers training camp and through out the inter-squad games-pre-season games I really like the makeup of this team. I thought the Vipers played very well in the season opener considering this was the first time everyone has played together as a team and with just a weeks practise. The Vipers have alot of skill and talent up front with lots of speed, a very strong penalty kill and some good puck moving defencemen on the backend. The veterans from last year really stepped up there play tonight, and showed the younger kids the way. They need some work in different areas but this will only take sometime. The Vipers need to work on passing and in their own end. Jason Williamson was right when he said on the post-game show tonight, the Vipers defence was trying to make the big play in their own end, rather then just keeping it simple and chipping the puck out and off the glass. For the first game of the season, I was very impressed from what I saw. The Vipers seemed to have gone away from their regular Vipers logo on their home jerseys and have switched to having the teams second logo on the front of their home uniforms. Atleast they did tonight.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
James Friedel was one of the better Silverbacks defenceman tonight. Played very well on the Backs blueline.
Morgan Zulinick (1 goal) Was by far the Silverbacks most dangerous and deadly threat. Zulinick played and looked very solid up front for Salmon Arm. This kid has some wheels and can shoot.
Klay Kachur who played last season with the Powell River Kings played very well on the backend. Saw alot of icetime.
Bryce Gervais started off slow but seemed to play better as the game went on getting a few scoring chances. Gervais thought he had a sure goal late in the 3rd after getting robbed by a huge blocker save off Kirby Halcrow.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
I wasnt overlly impressed with the Silverbacks on opening night. Salmon Arm who usally has alot of skill and talent up front didnt have that scoring threat they have showed the Viper fans over the past few seasons. Didnt really notice much from any of the returning veterans or the new recruits. It's only the first game of a long season but the Backs just didnt look very good. Salmon Arm had troubles with Vernon's speed and skill down low, as well as the Vipers penalty kill. Specialty teams and goaltending was the difference. The Silverbacks also didnt get any of the bounces tonight. If the Backs want to make a long run in the playoffs, I dont think Kurt Williams is the kid to get the job done between the pipes. Time will tell. Its a long season and maybe Salmon Arm will play much better tomorrow night, will see. The Silverbacks will have their home opener tomorrow night vs Vernon.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Riley Hunt (Injured)
Luke Juha (Injured)
Salmon Arm:
Mak Barden
3 Stars:
1st Star: Darren Nowick (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Mike Zalewski (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Marcus Basara (2 assists)
Vipers Player Of The Game: John Knisley (1 goal & 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=977656&link=bchl
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