I was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Chilliwack 4-1 in front of 1,467 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Chilliwack: Mitch Gillam
1st Period: The Chilliwack Chiefs made their first visit to the Wesbild Centre since a 4-1 loss to the Vipers back on Saturday, February 4th 2006. Off the opening faceoff Michael Spring levelled Brett Corkey in a huge hit inside the Vipers blueline. The Vipers got off to a quick start, getting the play in deep and creating some good scoring opportunities early and often. Mitch Gillam made his first big save of the night after making a nice pad save off Colton Sparrow who ripped a hard shot coming down off the right wing. The Chiefs who couldnt get much of anything going needed almost four minutes to register their first shot on goal. Five minutes into the period Vernon with some nice give and go passing setup Adam Tambellini in the slot who was stopped by Gillam. On the same shift the Vipers would give Chilliwack an early powerplay, their first of the night. The Vipers would get lucky after a shot hit the end boards taking a funny bounce and come right back out front of Kirby Halcrow, but no Chief players were in sight as the Vipers managed to clear the puck. A strong penalty kill by Vernon would kill off the minor. The Vipers went back to the offensive attack and poured on the pressure deep in the Chiefs zone. Darren Nowick with a good chance in front was stopped by Gillam. Mike Zalewski with some hard work down low, carried the puck inbehind the Chiefs goal, dishing off to John Knisley who fed a wide open Darren Nowick in the slot but Mitch Gillam come across the crease to rob Nowick making a huge glove save, on a shot that Nowick and all Viper fans thought had gone in the net. The line of Zalewski, Nowick and Knisley was buzzing all night. Chilliwack who couldnt seem to get out of their own end with just two shots in the first half of the opening period. The Vipers thought they may have scored again after a quick shot from in close just snuck through Gillam, landing on the goaline before Gillam fell on the puck on a close call. Late in the period the Vipers would lose captain, Patrick McGillis who went down inside the Vernon blueline. I didnt see the play but McGillis who needed help off the ice, was very slow and putting no pressure on one leg-skate before leaving the hockey game and not returning. The Chiefs would finally get their first scoring opportunity of the night, coming with four minutes remaining Malcolm Gould with a chance in close went high and over the top corner. Chilliwack started to put a little pressure on the Vernon defence, as the Chiefs with some late pressure come up with another good scoring chance. Kirby Halcrow made a big pad save off Jeremy Gossard's shot from the slot. Vernon dominated the opening period and really took it to the Chiefs getting all kinds of scoring chances but the Vipers couldnt capitalize. It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Chilliwack 12-5.
2nd Period: Vernon would get an early powerplay just twenty two seconds into the middle frame. The Vipers moved the puck around very slowly, setting up John Knisley at the side of the goal who ripped a hard shot, Mitch Gillam come across the crease to make a huge blocker save robbing Knisley. On the same shift, Trevor Hills shorthanded went in on the parcial breakaway, Marc Hetnik was forced to give Hills the hook resulting in a penalty shot. Hills would be stopped by Halcrow who stayed with the Chiefs shooter making a big pad save keeping the game scoreless. On the next shift just as the powerplay come to an end, Adam Tambellini beat Mitch Gillam at 2:27 giving Vernon a 1-0 lead, Brett Corkey and Aaron Hadley collected the assists. This may have been the turning point of the hockey game, the Chiefs who were getting outplayed have a chance to open the scoring on a penalty shot, they dont and on the next shift give up a goal just after killing off the man advantage and go down 1-0. The Chiefs come right back, Chris Blessing, Kit Sitterley and Spencer Graboski come in on the three on one, Sitterley decides to keep, moving in close and then was stopped by Halcrow who made a huge save keeping this a one goal game. On the next shift Jaret Babych from the top of the faceoff circle was stopped by Kirby Halcrow who was now starting to face some rubber. The Vipers were caught running around in their own end, wich resulted in giving Chilliwack a powerplay. The Vipers would get called for another penalty giving the Chiefs a two man advantage. Some strong penalty kill by Vernon would kill off the first man advantage, as Darren Nowick just out of the penalty box raced for the loose puck, getting a breakaway, with a Chiefs d-man right behind him, Nowick got in too deep getting off a late shot that was stopped by Mitch Gillam, Nowick would collect the rebound and get two more chances in front just missing the net on his second attempt and then getting stoned by Gillam on his third try, all shorthanded. The Vipers strong penalty kill would kill off the two man advantage. On the next shift the Vipers with two good chances in close, a nice feed setup Adam Tambellini in the slot who was stopped by Gillam and then Alex Hagen who made his return to the Vipers lineup tonight after being out with an injury ripped a hard shot from the slot that hit someone in front and just went wide of the goal. Back come Chilliwack as the play started to open up a little as both teams went back and forth with some chances. Malcolm Gould on a two on one, decided to keep but missed the goal on a great opportunity. The Chiefs looked like a much different club come the 2nd period giving the Vipers a good battle. Just past the midway Vernon with some pressure down low, fired three quick shots towards Mitch Gillam who made back to back saves but couldnt see or handle the rebound that was sitting below him between his pads-legs, as Gillam went down Darren Nowick was in front banging home the loose puck giving Vernon a 2-0 lead at 11:23, John Knisley and Mike Zalewski picked up the helpers. The Chiefs tried arguing the call, saying that Gillam had the puck covered but the goal stood. Chilliwack didnt go away and come back again with some good pressure, the Chiefs who didnt really generate as much offence as the Vernon Vipers still caught the Vipers running around in their own end at times and turning over the puck. The Vipers looked a little shaky in their own end as Kirby Halcrow had to be alert making some key saves. Chilliwack who got their legs going, played a much better period coming up with some good chances but couldnt capitalize. The Vipers also with some real good chances, hit the back of the net twice taking a two goal lead into the 3rd. A more even played period with chances at both ends of the rink. Vernon was up 2-0 after 40 minutes of play. The Chiefs outshot the Vipers 13-11.
3rd Period: The Vipers would get off to a good start to open the final frame, Marcus Basara who nearly got caught rushing the puck out from his own end, got through and around three Chief players before carrying the puck up ice, getting the play in deep asv the Vipers were buzzing in and around the goal before Vernon product, Colton Sparrow caught Mitch Gillam cheating, and roofed his shot up and over the shoulders of Gillam giving Vernon a 3-0 lead at 2:27, Marcus Basara with all the work created this goal, picking up the lone assist on the play. Just minutes later the Vipers would get an early powerplay. A strong penalty kill by Chilliwack and the Chiefs killed off the minor. Just as the penalty expired Michael Spring setup Trevor Hills in front on a two on one, Halcrow looked to have made the save but somehow the puck got through and into the back of the net as Chilliwack was within two at 6:20, Spring and Shay Laurent picked up the helpers. On the next play Mitch Gillam would take a shot off his mask but shook things off and stayed in the game. Alex Hagen with a burst of speed with a nice shot coming down the wing couldnt sneak one past Gillam. Not alot of action in the first half as both teams seemed to have a little trouble getting things going. The Chiefs once again caught the Vipers with troubles in their own end, Michael Spring with a nice feed in front setup Jaret Babych on a two on one in close but Halcrow made the save. A few minutes later Malcolm Gould and Josh Hansen on another odd man rush couldnt capitalize as the Vipers got a little sloppy in their own end. Vernon would get its second powerplay of the 3rd but again a strong Chilliwack penalty kill, killed off the minor. Vernon would get a late powerplay, Luke Juha's point shot was stopped by Gillam who couldnt stop Alex Hagen on the rebound giving the Vipers a 4-1 lead at 17:29, Juha and Brett Corkey with the assists. This goal seemed t deflate the Chiefs as Vernon's speed and skill was just too much for Chilliwack on this night. In the end the Vipers would defeat the Chiefs 4-1, as Vernon improved to 6-0 while Chilliwack takes its first loss of the season, dropping to 2-1. Vernon outshot Chilliwack 10-9.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Brett Corkey (2 assists) Played another strong, yet physical game on the Vipers blueline. Corkey has played very well so far this young season.
Adam Tambellini (1 goal) Played very well up front for Vernon. Tamebllini with atleast three or four scoring opportunities was really skating and generating some good chances.
Riley Hunt who didnt back down from a few pushing and shoving matches in the 1ts period, played with alot of energy, had lots of jump to his game tonight and was another Vernon Viper who was really skating hard. I dont recall seeing Hunt in the 3rd period.
The line of John Knisley (1 assist), Mike Zalewski (1 assist) and Darren Nowick (1 goal) was the Vipers top line tonight. This line has also played very well so far this young season. Knisley with atleast two good scoring chances, Nowick was robbed in the opening period on wich looked like a sure goal, also played very well on the penalty kill, come up with some great chances shorthanded. Worked and competed hard all night. Zalewski really used his size and strength tonight in and around the net, battled and competed hard, ran over a few Chilliwack players in and around the goal, was very hard to knock off the puck down low.
Alex Hagen (1 goal) I didnt think Alex played alot in the opening period but seemed to notice him out their in the 3rd. I thought for just returning from a leg injury and only playing in just one of the Vipers previous five games played fairly well. Seemed to hold his own, come up with a few good chances and created a few plays down low as well.
Luke Juha (1 assist) Played a solid game on the Vernon Vipers backend. Really looked good with and without the puck.
Kirby Halcrow (26 saves) Didnt see alot of rubber but made some big saves at key times through out tonights game. His stop on the penalty shot as well as the three on one were both game savers. Nice to see Kirby back between the pipes and almost come close to giving the Vipers back to back shutouts.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The theme for tonight's game was retro-80s night at the Wesbild Centre, wich also ment that the Vipers unveiled their new retro jerseys for tonight's game. The Vipers wore basically the old Vernon Lakers-Edmonton Oilers away jersey with the word Vernon written across the front with the players number below. Kind of like Chilliwacks home jerseys but in blue and orange. Very sharp looking. Will the Vipers wear these jerseys again? Im not sure. I thought the Vipers played a fairly good game and overall were the better of the two teams. Vernon who was all over Chilliwack in the 1st period, really took it to the Chiefs getting all kinds of great opporunities but couldnt capitalize. Chilliwack really turned their game around in the 2nd and battled hard but overall the Vipers speed, skill and talent was just too much to handle. The Vipers with more scoring opporunities are a more skilled team over the Chiefs. Again Vernon's penalty kill was very sharp, the Vipers had a little trouble in their own end at times and a few blind passes resulting in offensive turnovers but overall this team is playing some pretty good hockey with a 6-0 record.
Top Players: (Chilliwack)
Tyler Miller the Chiefs captain played a strong game on the Chilliwack blueline. Saw alot of icetime and made some very smart defensive plays.
Jaret Babych played fairly well through out tonights contest.
The line of Malcolm Gould, Josh Hansen and Trevor Hills (1 goal) was the Chiefs most effective line. Gould really moved the puck well, created some chances and was in and around the net. Trevor Hills who was stopped by Kirby Halcrow on the penalty shot was by far the Chiefs best player. Has some wheels and is very good with the puck.
Michael Spring (1 assist) Also looked and played very well up front for Chilliwack. Another player who was involved in the play alot, created and setup some scoring opporunities.
Mitch Gillam (29 saves) Played very well between the pipes for Chilliwack, made some huge saves early and often in the opening period giving the Chiefs a chance to win. If it wasnt for Gillam in the opening period, this could have easily been a 6 or 7-1 final.
Game Thoughts: (Chilliwack)
First off its great to see the Chilliwack Chiefs return to the BCHL. Since the Chiefs moved to Chilliwack in 1990 Vernon-Chilliwack games have always been one of the great rivalries in the league with some classic games played over the years. I really liked the Chiefs home jerseys, very sharp looking. Chilliwack who didnt look good at all in the 1st was outplayed most of the opening period, the Chiefs just couldnt get out of their own end, but turned things around come the 2nd period. They seemed to get their legs going, and started to force the Vipers into making a few mistakes. Also got the offence going, and created some real nice scoring chance. Missed opportunities is what cost them, a goal on the penalty shot or on a three on one just after the Vipers take a 1-0 lead and it may be a different game. Chilliwack played much better for the 2nd and 3rd periods but overall dont have the speed, skill and talent the Vipers do.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Turner Lawson
Chilliwack:
Alex Perron-Fontaine
3 Stars:
1st Star: Darren Nowick (1 goal)
2nd Star: Luke Juha (1 assist)
3rd Star: Trevor Hills (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=977414&link=bchl
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