Vernon 10 Trail 1

I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Trail 10-1 in front of 1,322 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Danny Todosychuk
Trail: James D'Andrea

1st Period: The Vipers would get an early powerplay just twenty five seconds into the opening period with no real pressure or scoring chances John Knisley spotted Jedd Soleway who from the corner beat James D'Andrea up and over the shoulder going topshelf with just seconds remaining on the man advantage giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 2:20, Knisley and Ryan Renz with the assists. Just a minute and a half later Garrett McMullen with a great chance at the side of the Vernon net tried getting the puck past Danny Todosychuk at the side of the net on a great scoring chance just after a Vipers powerplay. The Vipers come right back with a flurry of scoring chances Jedd Soleway and Brendan Persley with two great chances couldnt beat James D'Andrea in close. D'Andrea made atleast three big saves keeping the Vipers off the scoreboard, before a flurry in the Smokies crease as a mad scramble in front of James D'Andrea but the Vipers couldnt get the loose puck through the traffic in front of the Trail net before Brandon Wong and Garrett McMullen caught the Vipers all in front stealing the puck going in on the two on one, Long got in close before keeping and shooting beating Todosychuk tying the game 1-1 at 5:33, Longs goal was unassisted. The Vipers come right back with another flurry of chances, Adam Tambellini was stopped by James D'Andrea who made a nice pad save before making two more quick saves from in close keeping the Smoke Eaters in the hockey game. Darren Nowick with a great chance at the side of the net couldnt get the puck past D'Andrea. Just before the midway mark Taylor House walked into the slot before being stopped by Danny Todosychuk who made a nice save from in close. The Smoke Eaters with just two real quality chances had atleast three or four good chances but missed the net shooting high and wide on all four shots. The Vipers started to carry the edge in play and dominated most of the remainder of the period outshoting Trail 10-6 at the midway mark. With six minutes remaining in the period Vernon would get it's second powerplay and get two good chances from in close. Darren Nowick was robbed in close after James D'Andrea come across the crease to get his glove up making a sprawling glove save and then come out to challenge Coleton Sparrow who made his return to the lineup tonight as Sparrow just shot wide from in close as the Smokies killed off the minor. Vernon with several good chances early in the hockey game carried most of the play but it was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Smoke Eaters 16-7.

2nd Period: Off the opening faceoff Ben Gamache stepped over the Smokies blueline and ripped a quick low shot that James D'Andrea had to kick out the right pad to make a good save. On the same shift Brendan Persley beat the d-man along the boards before driving to the net going in close but couldnt get off a good shot as D'Andrea made the easy save on a great opportunity in the first minute of the play. Trail really come on strong after back to back Viper scoring chances with the Smokies skating hard getting some good pressure deep in the Vipers zone. Vernon looked flat in the first few minutes had troubles clearing the zone as the Smoke Eaters were buzzing early. After a good flurry deep in the Vipers zone with no real quality scoring chances Adam Tambellini and John Knisley would break out on a two on one, Tambellini with a nice pass across setup Knisley who just squeeked his shot through James D'Andrea who would like to have this one back, giving Vernon a 2-1 lead at 6:51 Tambellini with the lone helper on the goal. A very physical period with both teams laying out several hard hits through out the 2nd. Just after the Vernon goal Trail would get it's first powerplay of the night but struggle as the Vipers penalty kill was good killing off the minor. Just two minutes later the Vipers skill level took over with back to back goals in three minutes. Darren Nowick come out of the corner before going towards the net, then held onto the puck waiting while James D'Andrea come way out of the crease, Nowick waited while D'Andrea went down before dishing off to Mike Zalewski in front who hit the empty cage at 11:36 giving Vernon a 3-1 lead, Nowick with the only assist on the goal. After the next faceoff the Smokies would get their second powerplay of the period but again it was a strong Viper penalty kill that come up with some hard work on the penalty kill. The Vipers with an odd man rush shorthanded couldnt handle the pass before Geoff Crisfield led the way with a three on two shorthanded but D'Andrea made a nice pad save from in close as Vernon would kill off the penalty. Off the next faceoff Darren Nowick would get the highlight of the night and maybe the goal of the year for the Vipers with some great patience went around the goal before coming back out front, going around James D'Andrea before tucking the puck in shortside giving the Vipers a 4-1 lead at 14:34, Nowicks goal was unassisted. Two quick back to back goals by the Vipers really opened up the gates as Trail couldnt recover. Just three minutes later Mike Zalewski and Darren Nowick with some nice passing setup Brett Corkey who walked in from the point before blasting his shot past D'Andrea giving Vernon a 5-1 lead at 17:35, Nowick and Zalewski collected the helpers. In the final thirty plus seconds of the middle frame Erik Cooper alone at the side of the Vernon goal was robbed by Danny Todosychuk who made a huge save. The Smoke Eaters got off to a good start and were the better team early but after struggling with the man advantage couldnt contain the Vipers offence as Vernon was the better of the two teams in the second half. Vernon with a 5-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Smoke Eaters 13-10.

3rd Period: Trail would get an early powerplay but after a strong Viper attack on the penalty kill the Smokies d-man lost the puck after coming out from behind the goal as the puck just about went went in off James D'Andrea who had to make a tough save on the powerplay. Not alot of pressure by Trail as another solid penalty kill and the Vipers would kill off the minor. Several knee on knee checks-situations took place tonight and one that was missed in the 3rd period started a mini scrum after Aaron Hadley was taken down from a knee on knee just before the eight minute mark. Darren Nowick went right after Taylor House giving House a shot before Hadley got involved in some pushing and shoving before everyone on the ice piled up in front of both benches with punches being thrown before Darren Nowick and Tim Coish dropped the gloves. On the play the Vipers would lose Geoff Crisfield for the remainder of the game after recieving a misconduct. After both teams cooled down the Vipers would explode for three goals in just over two minutes just past the midway mark. Ben Gamache setup Mike Zalewski who went upstairs at 11:42 giving Vernon a 6-1 lead, Gamache and John Knisley with the assists. Just under two minutes later Ben Gamache from the corner through his shot on goal that looked to have beat James D'Andrea from a bad angle but Jedd Soleway who was given credit for the goal came driving hard towards the front of the goal to bang in the rebound giving the Vipers a 7-2 lead at 13:26, Gamache with the lone assist on the goal. Just twenty three seconds later the flood gates opened after Ben Gamache's long shot somehow got past D'Andrea who would like to have this one back as the Vipers went ahead 8-1 at 13:49, Brendan Persley with the lone assist on the play. In the meantime Smokies Head Coach-GM Bill Berks was tossed from the game after arguing with referee Grant Tyson. Just two minutes later after Darren Nowick returned to the ice after his fighting major Brandon Egli took a good run at Nowick checking him hard into the boards before dropping the gloves. The Vipers would recieve a seven minute powerplay after Nowick didnt drop the gloves. Between whistles former Vernon Vipers assistant coach, Bob Dever started yapping back and forth with Vipers Head Coach-GM Jason Williamson as both coaches were exchanging words before Williamson climbed up onto the top of the bench and said a few words before getting back behind the bench as tempers flaired between both coaches. Mike Zalewski and Kirby Halcrow were both given game misconducts after the fight-scrum in front of the Vipers bench. Vernon who played most of the third and fourth lines while on the powerplay struggled before Adam Tambellini's shot from the corner banked in off James D'Andrea and into the back of the net on another goal D'Andrea would like to have back as Vernon grabbed a 9-1 lead at 17:34, Tambellini's goal was unassisted. With the Vipers on the man advantage for the remainder of the game "AP" Eric Chore scored his first career BCHL goal at 19:15 giving Vernon a 10-1 lead with Ben Gamache and Jedd Soleway picking up the helpers. The Vipers would win their second straight vs Trail within a week with a 10-1 victory over the Smoke Eaters. Vernon outshot Trail 14-4.

Top Players: (Vernon)

John Knisley (1 goal & 1 assist) Started off slow but really stepped up his play in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Knisley who has been pretty quiet this season looked good in the final two periods. Was really skating hard, and was in the right place at the right time.

Mike Zalewski (2 goals & 1 assist) Was one of the Vipers best-most dominating forwards tonight. Zalewski who was setup with two real nice setups made his two goals look very easy.

Darren Nowick (1 goal & 2 assists) Nowick was by far the Vipers best player this evening. How fun has it been to watch Mr. Nowick play this season, scored a highlight reel goal in the 2nd period to give Vernon a 4-1 lead. Nowick who was very good at both ends of the rink also wasnt afraid to drop the gloves and stand up for his team mates.

Colton Sparrow who made his return to the Vipers lineup after being out with a concusion played with alot of energy, played physical and had lots of hustle in his game tonight. Nice to see Colton back in the Vipers lineup.

Brendan Persley (1 assist) How big of an addition has Brendan Persley been to the Vipers lineup since coming over after being released from the WHL Victoria Royals. Persley another kid who plays physical, plays with an edge looked good up front for Vernon. Had a few good chances tonight.

Geoff Crisfield played a solid-physical game on the Vernon blueline. Had several huge checks tonight, but also looked good with and without the puck, jumped up into the rush a few times tonight. Was one of the Vipers best d-men.

Jedd Soleway (2 goals) The Vernon product has really come into his own the last three to four games and really picked up his play, scoring in three straight games. Soleway another big-physical player adds alot to the Viper lineup. Played physical and with an edge tonight.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

The Vipers who are now 5-0 against Trail this season have outscored the Smoke Eaters 18-4 in the last two games. Vernon has now won two of their last three games and now have a huge game Sunday afternoon vs the Chilliwack Chiefs a team Vernon is trying to catch in the standings. Overall I thought the Vipers played and looked fairly good in the biggest blowout of the season. I thought Vernon played physical, didnt back down from the physical play-rough stuff and really took control of the game in the 2nd period with four goals that really opened up the game. Sean Robertson made his Vipers debut tonight, while Colton Sparrow and Peter McMullen returned to the lineup after both out with injuries. I really liked the Vipers penalty kill tonight, was very good.

Top Players: (Trail)

Tanner Hicks was one of the Smokies best d-men tonight, played physical and really looked good.

Garrett McMullen was the lone bright spot up front for the Smoke Eaters. Had a real good scoring chance early in the 1st and played well through out the game.

Game Thoughts: (Trail)

Trail who was outplayed for most of the opening period was ony able to record three maybe four scoring chances but thanks to James D'Andrea who made several key-big saves gave his team a chance holding the Vipers to a 1-1 tie after the 1st. The Smokies got off to a good start in the middle frame but after two powerplays that struggled couldnt hold the Vipers offence off for long before Vernon with four second period goals opened up the game and really didnt look back from here. I thought the Smoke Eaters showed some good hustle, battled hard and played physical but couldnt contain the Vipers offence-skill. D'Andrea could only hold off the Vipers offence for so long. Trail's powerplay struggled through out tonights game as well. The Smoke Eaters who didnt get much offensive chances dont have alot of scoring up front.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Max Mowat (Injured)
Patrick McGillis (Injured)
Luke Juha (Injured)

Trail:

Shane Poulsen
Luke Bertolucci
Josh Roberts
Clayton Chessa
Adam Fares

Vipers energy player of the game: Ben Gamache (3 assists)

3 Stars:

1st Star: Mike Zalewski (2 goals & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Darren Nowick (1 goal & 2 assists)
3rd Star: Jedd Soleway (2 goals)

For more ont tonight's game please visit the boxscore,

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977732&link=bchl