I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Prince George 5-4 in overtime in front of 1,437 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Danny Todosychuk
Prince George: Marcus Beesley
1st Period: The Vipers looked slow and a little scrambly at times early to start the opening period. Prince George who was making their first visit to the Wesbild Centre this year were coming off a 9-2 loss last night in Penticton, but the Spruce Kings come ready to play the defending BCHL champion Vipers. PG with some good early jump, were moving their legs, getting the play in deep and jumping on a disorganized Vipers hockey team. Prince George would get an early powerplay but couldnt capitalize. Just after the Vipers penalty kill Geoff Crisfield with a terrible giveaway in his own end sent Sean Landrey away with the puck, Landrey didnt get a good shot off as Vernon product, Danny Todosychuk making his Vipers-BCHL debut made the routine save. Ryan Renz with a screened shot from the point just missed the far corner as Marcus Beesley didnt even move as Vernon come close to opening the scoring. PG showing some good hustle had the Vipers on their heels at times as the Spruce Kings were outshooting Vernon 6-0 early. Spruce Kings captain, Juhar Khaira with a quick shot from the far circle was stopped by Todosychuk who sent the puck into the corner. Vernon would finally get their first shot on goal nine minutes into the hockey game after Aaron Hadley's weak shot fooled Beesley who had troubles controlling the puck after it took a few bounces before bouncing over the top of the goal. The line of Paul De Jersey, Michael Colantone & Juhar Khaira were all over the Vipers. Vernon who looked flat, slow and very disorganized coughed up the puck several times in the neutral zone. Prince George was outshooting Vernon 13-3 at one point in the contest. The Spruce Kings would open the scoring after former Salmon Arm Silverback, Paul De Jersey beat Danny Todosychuk at 14:59 giving PG the 1-0 lead. Trevor Esau and Kujhar Khaira would collect the assists. The Vipers would get a late powerplay and capitalize after Ryan Renz fed captain, Patrick McGillis who ripped a hard shot from the high slot beating Marcus Beesley at 18:55 tying the game 1-1. Renz and Adam Tambellini picked up the helpers. The Spruce Kings looked very good in the opening period, carried the better of the play, created some chances, played physical and were by far the better of the two teams. The Vipers didnt look good at all and were caught standing around several times. Vernon with very little offence, maybe thought they had this game in the bag before the opening faceoff. The game was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. Prince George outshot Vernon 15-8.
2nd Period: The Vipers come out with a little jump and had two good earl shifts before PG would get an early powerplay, and take away any momentum Vernon had going. Leo Fitzgerald with a great chance in front couldnt get off a shot after Luke Juha with a solid defensive play broke up the scoring chance in close as the Vipers would kill off the minor. Geoff Crisfield would lose an edge allowing Sean Landrey and Connor Tiechko an odd man rush. Tiechko with a nice feed in front setup Landrey who beat Todosychuk driving hard towards the net giving PG a 2-1 lead at 4:41, Tiechko and former Trail Smoke Eater Dylan Tappe with the assists. The Spruce Kings would get a second powerplay just shortly after taking a 2-1 lead. A pretty good Vernon penalty kill would keep this a one goal game after killing off the minor. The Vipers would finally get a few good quality scoring opportunities after Brett Corkey's shot from the point was deflected in front just missed the net. John Knisley used his wheels, cut in hard and ripped a hard high shot from the slot that went high and over the goal. A very dull period with not alot of action as again the Vipers didnt look very good. Vernon managed to generate more shots this period but most shots were from the outside with no traffic in front as Beesley was forced to make the routine saves. PG gave up more shots in the 2nd period but played a pretty solid road game. The Spruce Kings carried the better of the play for the second straight period but didnt get alot of real good scoring chances in the middle frame. PG was going with just two lines for most of the 2nd period. Paul De Jersey with a nice rush from his blueline couldnt get through the Vernon defence. Marcus Basara went down in the neutral zone before slowly getting off the ice. Basara looked to be in some pain and favoring his leg-ankle but stayed in the game. Michael Colantone would setup a wide open Paul De Jersey who beat Todosychuk in front low to the ice giving PG a 3-1 lead at 19:08, Colantone and Jujhar Khaira picked up the helpers. Prince George with a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Spruce Kings 14-12.
3rd Period: Just like last night in Westside the Vipers were outplayed for the first two periods before stepping up their game in the 3rd and coming away with a 5-2 victory. Well tonight for the second straight game the Vipers come ready to play in the 3rd. Darren Nowick with a wrap around off the opening faceoff couldnt stuff the puck through Marcus Beesley's fivehole. On the next play the Vipers fed John Knisley in front who was stonned by Beesley who made a nice pad save in close. PG would get called for too many men on the ice within the opening minute giving the Vipers an early powerplay, but it was the Spruce Kings penalty kill that was very good not giving Vernon any time or space to create or setup as PG would kill off the minor. Vernon would get another man advantage and this time move the puck around well getting some good chances in close. The Vipers with a much better powerplay couldnt get one past Marcus Beesley who was forced to make atleast two big saves. Just as the minor expired Leo Fitzgerald setup Paul De Jersey in the slot who beat Danny Todosychuk at 8:44 giving Prince George a 4-1 lead as some fans started heading for the exits. Fitzgerald with the lone assist. The Vipers looked a little better in the first half of the period and seemed to get better as the period went along but gave up a goal to put them down by three. Prince George would get a powerplay just before the midway mark. No real chances with the man advantage as Vernon would kill off the minor. Just as the Vipers penalty expired Vernon would get another shot with the man advantage. Colton Sparrow was robbed in front after Beesley made a huge pad save in close. Beesley who wasnt tested at all in the first two periods was forced to make his biggest saves of the night in the final frame. Connor Hartley with a great chance at the side of the net couldnt beat Beesley who played very well in the 3rd. Vernon with some great chances couldnt capitalize as PG killed off the minor. The Vipers with some good pressure and quality scoring opportunities looked very strong in the second half of the 3rd. The Spruce Kings would get a late powerplay but once again couldnt capitalize as both teams traded away some good chances to either put this game away or climb back into it and make a game of it. With two and half minutes remaining Marcus Basara setup Patrick McGillis in front who put a nice move on Marcus Beesley and then beat the PG backup goaltender between the legs cutting the lead to within two goals at 17:33, Basara and Colton Sparrow picked up the assists. Prince George head coach-gm Dave Dupas would call a timeout. Off the next faceoff the Vipers would get the puck in deep before Mike Zalewski setup Aaron Hadley in front who beat Beesley at 18:03 making this a one goal game. Zalewski and Darren Nowick picked up the helpers. Vernon would get Danny Todosychuk to the bench for the extra attacker, the Vipers would get the play in deep again before Luke Juha fed Mike Zalewski in front who tied the game at 18:59 sending the Vipers bench and the small crowd into a frenzy. Juha and Brett Corkey with the assists on the game tying goal. The Vipers wernt done yet, Brett Corkey just about beat Beesley in the dying seconds to win the hockey game but just missed the far corner as the buzzer sounded sending this game to overtime. The Vipers who looked all but done after two periods of play stepped up their play and were the better of the two teams, really carried the better of the play and had several good scoring chances. The Vipers outshot the Spruce Kings 16-5.
Overtime: Off the opening faceoff Brett Corkey turned the puck over inside the neutral zone allowing Kujhar Khaira who stole the loose puck and then couldnt get off a real good quality shot. In the opening minute Leo Fitzgerald then tried going in and around Marc Hetnik but couldnt get passed the Viper rookie d-man who played Fitzgerald well. At 1:46 Adam Tambellini stole the puck at the PG blueline going in for the breakaway beating Marcus Beesley with a high shot over the glove hand giving the Vipers one of the biggest comebacks on home ice in several years as the Vipers bench poured onto the ice as Vernon improves to 4-0 while Prince George falls to 1-3 on the season. The Vipers outshot the Spruce Kings 2-0 in the extra frame.
Top Players: (Vernon)
John Knisley was one of two Vernon Vipers that played with alot of jump and competed all night. Knisley really used his speed and smaller frame to buzz in and around the PG goal getting several good scoring chances.
Marcus Basara (1 assist) Was the second Viper who was skating hard, showing lots of hustle and didnt quit playing all night. Basara also used his speed to create chances. Not exactlly what happened in the 2nd period but Marcus went down in the neutral zone, getting off very slow and in some pain but stayed in the game and played a heck of a hockey game tonight.
Patrick McGillis (2 goals) The Vipers captain, showed why he is wearing the "C" and so far has come to play this season in all four games. McGillis didnt get alot of chances but battled and competed hard all game. Scored a real nice goal to start the 3rd period comeback.
Luke Juha (1 assist) Playing in just his 2nd BCHL game played and looked very strong on the Vipers backend. Juha played with alot of confidence and jumped up into the play at times. Really see's and reads the ice well. Looks very calm with and without the puck.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Just like last night in Westside the Vipers were outplayed for most of the first two periods before stepping up their play in the 3rd and dominating the final period. The Vipers looked very scrambly and dissorganized at times through out the first two periods. Vernon was caught standing around watching the Spruce Kings on several occasions. The Vipers didnt look or play very good in the first fourty minutes coughing up the puck, giving up several turnovers in their own end and not clicking at either ends of the rink. Some very poor passing, as nobody seemed to be on the same page. The Vipers just didnt seem to have any jump, no energy or physical play in both the first two periods. The Vipers with very little offensive chances in the first two periods didnt generate alot of offence. Most of Vernon's shots in the first two periods were from outside with no traffic in front of Marcus Beesley. It wasnt until the 3rd when Vernon seemed to pick up their game, get their legs going and played like a team. The Vipers really took it too PG coming up with their best opportunities of the night. The Vipers have now scored five goals in all four games this season. Again I was impressed with the Vipers penalty kill. This team so far can somehow score goals in a hurry and has showed that a few times already this season, I know its early, but they are reminding me of the Vipers 1999 RBC Cup team, that Vipers team was a team that could score goals in a hurry and comeback late in games. What a finish to tonights game, in one of the more dull-boring games in a long time the Vipers turned this contest into one of the greatest comebacks of all-time. A wild-very exciting finish!
Top Players: (Prince George)
The line of Paul De Jersey (3 goals), Jujhar Khaira (2 assists) and Michael Colantone (1 assist) was the Spruce Kings top and most effective line. These three gave the Vipers trouble all game. Very dangerous with and without the puck.
Ben Woodley who played very well against the Vipers last season, played very steady on PG's blueline tonight.
Leo Fitzgerald (1 assist) Was the only triplett of the three brothers who was the most effecttive. Leo with a few good chances, was good with the puck in close.
Ben Matthews played very well on the Spruce Kings blueline. Played physical and was very good defensively.
Marcus Beesley (35 saves) Wasnt tested much at all in the first two periods but played well making his biggest saves of the night in the 3rd. Beesley couldnt be faulted on any of the Vipers five goals was under fire in the final frame.
Game Thoughts: (Prince George)
PG got off to a good start, played a simple road game. The Spruce Kings were flying early, creating and generating chances, playing physical and forcing the Vipers into making mistakes in their own end. The Spruce Kings played the Vipers to sleep at times making this a very dull-boring hockey game, keeping things simple. PG played a very greasy road game and should have went home with a victory. Prince George who has a bigger club looked very good in the first two periods but like the Warriors last night couldnt pick up the win. I thought for sure the Spruce Kings had this one in the bag after going ahead by three goals. The Vipers really stepped up their play and really took it too PG in the final period. You have to wonder how do you blow a three goal lead with two and a half minutes left in the hockey game?
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat (Injured)
Alex Hagen (Injured)
Prince George:
Jared Crossan
Cody Bardock
Jeff Earnest
Sam Waterfield
3 Stars:
1st Star: Adam Tambellini (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Paul De Jersey (3 goals)
3rd Star: Patrick McGillis (2 goals)
For more on tonight's game check out the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977627&link=bchl
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