Vernon 5 Westside 2

I was at tonight's Westside Warriors home opener after Vernon defeated Westside 5-2 in front of 1,186 fans at Royal Le Page Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Westside: Steven Racine

1st Period: The Warriors returned home after starting the BCHL regular season on a three game road trip coming home 3-0 facing the defending BCHL Champion Vernon Vipers and looked good early. It was Westside that carried the edge in play early and often as the Warriors were firing everything on goal or towards Kirby Halcrow who was sporting his new equipment tonight. But it was the Vipers with the best scoring chance after rookie, Adam Tambellini with a wicked shot from the circle just under five minutes into the 1st, beat Steven Racine but graized the crossbar as Vernon come close to opening the scoring. Shortly after Connor Dempsey alone in front would get robbed by Kirby Halcrow who stood tall making a huge save in close and then with a scramble in front, Halcrow who was on his stomach made another big save in tight keeping the Warriors off the scoreboard. Westside was outshooting Vernon at this point 5-2. Just over a minute later Westside would get the games first powerplay but it was the Vipers penalty kill who was very sharp. Viper captain, Patrick McGillis with some hard work along the end wall kept the puck tight against the boards fighting off four Warriors killing off some valuable time off the clock as Westside was unable to generate any offence. The Vipers actually outshot the Warriors 2-1 on the penalty kill killing off the minor. Just two and a half minutes later Westside would get another shot with the man advantage, moving the puck around the Warriors got the puck in close, with a mad scramble in and around the Vernon goal, Halcrow was down and out but again made three big saves keeping the Warriors off the board. Halcrow was sharp as the Vipers killed off the minor. Just seconds later the Vipers would head back to the penalty kill giving the Warriors their third man advantage of the night, but the powerplay didnt last long as Westside would take a penalty as both teams played a little four on four before Vernon would get a late powerplay. The Vipers tried feeding Darren Nowick in the slot who was unable to connect on the pass as the Vipers were unable to capitalize but just after the powerplay expired Mike Zalewski with a nice move around the Warriors d-man inside the blueline cut hard towards the net and beat Steven Racine high over the shouler at 18:29 giving Vernon a 1-0 lead. Connor Hartley collected the assist. The Viper lead didnt last long as off the next faceoff veteran, Tyler Krause on an odd man rush wired a shot from the circle that was stopped by Halcrow, before superpest Max French jumped on the rebound beating Kirby Halcrow at 19:00 tying the game 1-1. Krause with the only helper on the goal. Westside was by far the better team carrying the better of the play and getting more scoring opportunities. The Vipers with no sustained pressure were getting caught on the pinch as well as giving up several odd man rushes. The game was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Warriors outshot the Vipers 19-8.

2nd Period: Off the opening faceoff, Brett McKinnon ripped a low shot from the circle that was stopped by Kirby Halcrow, Shawn Hochhausen jumped on the rebound but couldnt hit the empty cage missing the goal on a great chance to give the Warriors the lead. Vernon would come right back on their next rush, Patrick McGillis tried feeding Adam Tambellini on a two on one but Tambellini couldnt connect on the McGillis pass. The Warriors would then get an early powerplay, but once again Halcrow was Vernon's best penalty killer making some big saves as the Vipers would kill off the minor. Just over a minute later Marcus Basara from a weird angle looked to have thrown the puck towards the goal, it looked like the puck hit and then somehow snuck inbehind Steven Racine just sneaking in past the Warriors goaltender giving Vernon a 2-1 lead at 6:56, Marc Hetik and Adam Tambellini with the assists. This was the end of the night for Racine who was yanked from the game in favor of Brandon Lane. Racine allowed two goals on thirteen Viper shots. This goal seemed to give Vernon a little life as the Vipers come back with a few good shifts finally getting some pressure deep in the Westside Warriors zone. The play really started to open up as the Vipers were finally creating some opportunities. Both teams really started to get going as the play went end to end with some good flow at both ends of the rink before the Warriors slowly started to take over the play once again. Westside started throwing their weight around with some big checks in the Viper end as the Vipers had troubles clearing the zone. The Warriors who had the Vipers pinned in their own end created a few small flurries but Kirby Halcrow made atleast two key saves. "AP" Reid Simmonds with a quick hard shot from the circle couldnt get the puck past Halcrow after making a quick glove save. On the next play Halcrow was forced to make another good save this time off, Dru Morrison from the high slot. Veteran Brett McKinnon one on one with Luke Juha who was making his Vernon Vipers debut tonight, tried going around Juha but Juha with a solid defensive play forced McKinnon to the outside. Warriors captain, Izaak Berglund took a slash late in the period that went undetected, Berglund looked a little shaken up but stayed in the game. "AP" Reid Simmonds then went down inside the Vernon blueline wich drew a scrum, before Simmonds went off slowly and didnt return to the contest. Seb Lloyd would somehow get inbehind the Vernon defence going in for the breakaway with just two minutes remaining but Halcrow shut the fivehole closed making a huge save late in the 2nd. Westside would then crash the crease at the buzzer before Geoff Crisfield threw a few punches, before everyone was involed as punches and words were being exchanged as tempers heated up. The Warriors for the second straight period were the better of the two teams, Vernon did play a little better and generated a little more offensive chances. But give credit to Westside who carried the better of the play, was matching lines, really using their speed, and forcing the Vipers all night. The Vipers with a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. Westside outshot Vernon 18-10.

3rd Period: The Warriors would start the final frame with a man advantage. Once again the Vipers penalty kill was deadly only giving up one shot as Vernon would kill off the minor. Just 47 seconds later Vernon would get its first full powerplay of the night. The Warriors would get a little aggresive and get into some penalty trouble as the Vipers would get back to back two man advantages. The Vipers would capitalize and change the outcome of tonights game with three quick goals. Marcus Basara with a nice pass to Marc Hetnik who walked into the slot and blasted his shot past Brandon Lane giving the Vipers a 3-1 lead at 5:06, Basara and Adam Tambellini drew the assists. Just nineteen seconds later with Vernon still on the powerplay, Max Mowat through the puck out front where Adam Tambellini looked to have been stopped by Lane but the puck just snuck past the goal line giving Vernon a 4-1 lead at 5:25, Mowat and Patrick McGillis with the helpers. The Vipers didnt quit and poured on the offence and took over the play for the remainder of the period from here on in. Off the next faceoff Vernon would get the play in deep, moving the puck around John Knisley with a quick shot from in close was stopped by Brandon Lane. Darren Nowick with a chance in front just missed the net before Adam Tambellini picked up the loose puck, went hard towards the goal and ripped a quick shot from in close, Lane made the first save but couldnt handle the rebound as Tambellini scored on his second shot giving the Vipers a 5-1 lead at 8:11, Patrick McGillis with the only assist on the play. After the Warriors outplayed the Vipers after fourty minutes of play, it was now Vernon who was in complete control of the 3rd period blowing the game wide open. Just before the midway mark Westside thought they made it 5-2, with a mad scramble in front of Kirby Halcrow who was down and out the play was blown dead after a quick whistle. The Warriors had put the puck past Halcrow but the whistle had already blown the play down as the Vipers were lucky. Just shortly after d-man, Izaak Berglund would get hit by a Viper player inside the Warriors zone, Berglund would get spun around before colliding with Jedd Soleway as the play was heading back up ice. Berglund was down and out cold as the play was stopped for several minutes. The Warriors captain was helped off the ice on a stretcher and didnt return. Tempers once again heated up after the Warriors got in close on Kirby Halcrow after a stopage in play. Turner Lawson and Ben Betker would drop the gloves in the games lone scrap. Seb Lloyd would get a great chance in close but was stopped by Halcrow. The Vipers on a oddman rush setup Vernon product, Jedd Soleway who was stoned by Lane who made his biggest and best save of the night coming up with a huge pad save off the rush. The Vipers would get into some penalty trouble in the final three minutes, giving the Warriors a late two man advantage. Westside would move the puck around well but unable to get pucks through Vernon's penalty killers. The Vipers would kill off the first minor before Travis Blanleil would beat Halcrow at the side of the net after getting checked from behind by Mike Zalewski cutting the lead to within three goals at 19:32, Brennan Clark and Peter MacIntosh would pick up the assists. Before the final buzzer tempers would heat up once again deep in the Vipers zone after Brett McKinnon dropped his gloves and tried going after Geoff Crisfield. McKinnon would get tossed from the game a long delay took several minutes to wind down the final four seconds. In the end the Vipers would improve to 3-0 with a 5-2 victory dropping the Warriors to 3-1. The Vipers with their best period of the evening were the better team, carrying most of the play to finish the game. Shots were even 12-12.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Brett Corkey played a very steady game for Vernon on the blueline tonight.

Max Mowat (1 assist) Also looked very strong on the Vipers blueline. Mowat took to have got hit or took a puck to his arm-elbow but shook it off and stayed in the game.

The line of Adam Tambellini (2 goals & 2 assists), Patrick McGillis (2 assists) & Aaron Hadley was the Vipers best unit tonight. Tambellini who I wasnt very impressed with at the Vipers training camp-inter-squad games has played and looked very well in his first three BCHL games. This kids a sniper and knows what to do with the puck. Very dangerous in close. Patrick McGillis (Vipers captain) has shown why hes the Vipers leader this season, playing and looking very good in Vernon's first three games of the young season.

Mike Zalewski (1 goal) Scored a highlight reel goal towards the end of the opening period and was also very strong up front for the Vipers.

Luke Juha made his Vipers debut tonight after getting injured before the Vipers training camp. Juha who still wears a full face shield looked fairly steady on the blueline tonight.

Geoff Crisfield also was steady on the Vipers backend, didnt back down from the physical play, and wasnt afraid to get involved after the whistle.

Kirby Halcrow (47 saves) This was the same Kirby Halcrow Vernon fans were use to seeing two and three years ago with the visiting Quesnel Millionaires. Halcrow made some incredible saves through out tonights game and was by far the Vipers best player tonight. The Vipers 20 yr old goaltender gave his team a chance to win.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Like Jason Williamson said on the post-game show tonight, this wasnt the prettiest game but he and the Vipers will take the win. Vernon was outplayed in the first two periods and relied on Kirby Halcrow to bail them out with some huge saves. The Vipers just couldnt seem to slow down or stop the speedy & aggresive Westside Warriors who were firing everything on net or towards Halcrow. Westside was really forcing Vernon on each rush. The Vipers were getting caught on the pinch and d-men jumping up into the play, giving up several odd man rushes. After a huge penalty kill to start the 3rd it was like someone switched a switch and the Vipers turned the game around and played one heck of a 3rd period. Two quick back to back powerplay goals and then an even strength goal just two and a half minutes later really changed the outcome of tonights game. The Vipers penalty kill was very strong, as its been in all four games so far. The Vipers with very little sustained pressure most of the night, capitalized and scored on their chances in the 3rd.  Vernon has now scored five goals in all three games and have had two big back to back wins on the road. Give the Vipers credit they didnt quit really stepping up their play in the 3rd period. Riley Hunt & Luke Juha both made their Viper-BCHL debuts tonight.

Top Players: (Westside)

Seb Lloyd looked very strong up front for the Warriors. Was always involved in the play, had several good scoring chances, none better then a late breakaway in the 2nd period.

Connor Dempsey I thought was the Warriors best player this evening. Had some real good chances, was another kid who was always involved in the play, seemed to be buzzing in and around the goal.

Shawn Hochhausen played very well for Westside. Had a great chance off the opening draw to start the 2nd period but just couldnt keep his shot low enough going high and over the goal on a nice odd man rush.

Brett McKinnon looked dangerous with the puck tonight, another Warriors forward who had some good opportunities but couldnt find the back of the net.

Michael King was very steady on the Warriors blueline.

Izaak Berglund was another Westside Warriors defenceman who played well before leaving the ice in the 3rd on a stretcher. Let's hope Izaak is ok and he returns to the Warriors lineup asap. This could be a big loss for Westside.

Game Thoughts: (Westside)

I really like the looks and make of this years Westside Warriors. Rylan Ferster has these kids playing hockey and looking very strong early in the season. Ferster was really matching lines tonight and did a great job coaching. Westside has some decent size, a quick team with speed up front and several veteran players who add in some good mix with a bunch of young rookies. I think the Warriors need to upgrade in goal, I know its early but both goaltenders didnt impress me tonight. Maybe the two had off nights, will see down the road. I thought Westside played a heck of a game tonight, really looked good and outplayed the Vipers in the games first two periods but got into penalty trouble early to start the 3rd and it cost them. Westside with several chances of their own, had several powerplays to capitalize on and put away Vernon early but couldnt beat Kirby Halcrow.  Westside couldnt capitalize on their chances, an early powerplay goal on any of the three powerplays could have changed this game.  Even a powerplay goal to start the 3rd and we have a tied game.  Both teams played with a bit of an edge at times and neither team backed down from one another. Specialty teams and goaltending was the difference tonight. This wasnt a 5-2 score.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Alex Hagen (Injured)
Ryan Renz

Westside:

Tyson Witala

3 Stars:

1st Star: Kirby Halcrow (47 saves)
2nd Star: Adam Tambellini (2 goals & 2 assists)
3rd Star: Max French (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=977747&link=bchl