Vernon 8 Trail 3

I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Trail 8-3 in front of 1,265 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Trail: Lyndon Stanwood

1st Period: Just a minute and a half into the game Kirby Halcrow had to be sharp making a tough save in close off Smokies forward, Tanner Clarkson. Trail who got off to a good start carried the early edge in play with some good pressure deep in the Vipers zone before Vernon would get the games first powerplay just under four minutes into the 1st period. A lackluster powerplay and the Smoke Eaters would kill off the minor. Trail again getting the puck in deep early had the Vipers in their own end for most parts of the first half of the period. Trail would get their first powerplay just before the midway mark, but with no real opportunities Connor Tiechko with a great chance in the dying seconds of the man advantage couldnt beat Halcrow as the Vipers would kill off the Smokies powerplay. On the next play the Vipers with their first real pressure of the night, worked hard down low, Darren Nowick setup Mike Zalewski who beat Lyndon Stanwood at 14:01 giving Vernon the 1-0 lead, Nowick and Aaron Hadley collected the assists. Just over two minutes later on another hard working shift down low by Vernon, Darren Nowick did all the work setting up Mike Zalewski for his second of the night giving the Vipers a 2-0 lead at 16:49, Nowick and Ryan Renz with the helpers. Shortly after Darren Nowick on a wrap around couldnt beat Stanwood. Mike Zalewski going for the hatrick beat Stanwood but hit the post, Zalewski staying with the play, come back out front before being stopped by Stanwood who made a big save off the Vipers leading scorer. The Vipers who were being outshot 6-4 early in the hockey game really bounced back with a strong effort in the second half of the period. Trail was the better team in the first ten or so minutes but it was the Vipers who were the better team in the second half of the period. The Vipers with a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Trail 13-9.

2nd Period: Adam Tambellini with some hard work down low setup Ben Gamache at 1:24 giving Vernon a 3-0 lead early to start the 2nd period. Tamebllini and John Knisley picked up the assists. Kirby Halcrow had to be alert after a Tim Coish's point shot that missed the net taking a funny bounce off the end boards right back out front where Halcrow made a tough save as the puck just about went off and in off the Viper goaltender. Jedd Soleway with a quick shot from the slot was stopped by Lyndon Stanwood. Ben Gamache who was double shifting tonight setup Adam Tambellini who beat Stanwood down low giving the Vipers a 4-0 lead at 6:41, Gamache with the only assist on the goal. A minute and a half later Mike Zalewski and Darren Nowick with some nice give and go setup Aaron Hadley down low giving the Vipers a 5-0 lead at 8:02, Zalewski and Nowick with the assists. On the next shift Turner Lawson would drop the gloves with Kyle Horsman. After a stopage in play Trail would replace Lydon Stanwood for James D'Andrea. Stanwood gave up five goals on twenty two Vernon shots. On the next shift Trail would get their second powerplay of the night, on the man advantage Mike Zalewski took a high hit-elbow to the face with no call on the play and Zalewski slowly to leave the ice Ryan Renz went straight after Tanner Clarkson as both players dropped the gloves. Renz would put the Vipers down two men. With the Smokies on a two man advantage, moving the puck around Brandon Long setup Shane Poulsen's point shot getting the Smoke Eaters on the scoreboard at 10:57, Long with the long helper. Trail who had very little pressure in the middle frame would make it a three goal game after Marley Keca's point shot hit the crossbar before beating Kirby Halcrow at 16:35 making it 5-2. Brendan Santini and Luke Bertolucci picked up the assists. The Vipers come right back with a few hard shifts, Ben Gamache setup Jedd Soleway in front who beat James D'Andrea at 19:08 giving Vernon a 6-2 lead. Gamache and Geoff Crisfield collected the assists. Trail who didnt look very good defensively in the final few minutes would fall behind 7-2 after giving up a late goal in the dying seconds. Brendan Persley beat D'Andrea down low at 19:52, Adam Tambellini with the lone assist. The Vipers who were the better team in the 2nd outscored Trail 5-2 in the middle frame. Vernon was up 7-2 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Smokies 17-9.

3rd Period: The Vipers who were playing dump and chase hockey early to start the 3rd got an early breakaway from Brendan Persley who put a nice move in close but couldnt get the puck up and over a sprawling James D'Andrea who made a huge save with the paddle of his goal stick. Just a few minutes later Ben Gamache and Adam Tambellini on a two on one, Tambellini kept and shot going high and over the net on a good opportunity. Kirby Halcrow then was forced to make three saves as the Smoke Eaters with three good chances. The Vipers would get a powerplay at the midway mark but unable to capitalize after a fairly good Smoke Eaters penalty kill. Trail with a short two man advantage would cut the Vernon lead to within three goals after Tanner Clarkson beat Halcrow at 14:38, Clarkson's goal was unassisted. Halcrow then made a nice quick right pad save off former Prince George Spruce Kings forward, Connor Tiechko. Some scrambly play at times through out the final period at both ends of the rink. In the final minute of play, John Knisley from the corner beat D'Andrea at 19:09 giving Vernon a five goal lead. Ben Gamache and Adam Tambellini picked up the helpers. Darren Nowick just about put Vernon up by six goals on a wrap around but couldnt beat D'Andrea in the final seconds. The Vipers would snap their nine game winless streak with a 8-3 victory over the Trail Smoke Eaters. Vernon outshot Trail 16-11.

Top Players: (Vernon)

The line of Ben Gamache (1 goal & 3 assists), Adam Tambellini (1 goal & 3 assists) & John Knisley (1 goal & 1 assist) was very strong for the Vipers. Tambellini and Gamache really played well together, seemed to know where the two were at all times.

The line of Darren Nowick (3 assists), Mike Zalewski (2 goals & 1 assist) and Aaron Hadley (1 goal & 1 assist) was also very dangerous for the Vipers tonight. Zalewski with two goals had atleast three chances for his third of the night while Darren Nowick was the Vipers best player, playing with alot of hustle and looking very good at both ends of the rink. Nowick was also very strong on the penalty kill. Aaron Hadley seemed to get his game going playing on the Vipers top line.

The line of Brendan Persley (1 goal), Jedd Soleway (1 goal) & "AP" Michael Roberts was another solid line for Vernon. Roberts played with alot of jump as well did Soleway and Persley.

Geoff Crisfield played a strong game on the Vipers blueline. Crisfield played physical.

Turner Lawson also played very well on the Vernon backend. Lawson who didnt back away from the rough stuff dropped the mits in the 2nd period.

Ryan Renz (2 assists) Also played one of his better games on the Vipers defence tonight. Renz also played physical as well as dropped the gloves in the 2nd period after sticking up for Mike Zalewski.

Kirby Halcrow (26 saves) Come up with a few tough saves, made some good saves through out the game. Halcrow who has struggled at times over the Vipers nine game winless streak seemed to re-gain some of his confidence back.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

After a bit of a slow start I thought the Vipers rebounded with two quicks goals after a penalty kill and didnt seem to look back outplaying Trail for most of the night. After a nine game winless streak the Vipers needed to take out some of their frustration and lay a beating on one of the leagues bottom feeders. Vernon's passing was much better tonight, making that first pass up from the defensive zone. I thought the Vipers played fairly physical and scored on most of their opportunities. Played with some hustle at times and worked hard down low-in the Smokies zone. I thought the Vipers played very well defensively for most of the night. Nice to see Ryan Renz drop the gloves after Mike Zalewski took a high hit-elbow to the face. The Vipers with an almost must win move three points up on 5th place Prince George.

Top Players: (Trail)

Shane Poulsen (1 goal) Played very well defensively. Was one of the Smoke Eaters better d-men tonight.

Marley Keca (1 goal) Who attended the Vipers training camp two seasons ago also played very well on Trails blueline.

Connor Tiechko played well up front for the Smokies getting a few good scoring chances.

Tanner Clarkson (1 goal) Also played well up front for Trail. Clarkson with a few good opportunities.

Game Thoughts: (Trail)

The Smokies who made their first visit of the season tonight got off to a good start but couldnt rally after giving up two quick first period goals. The Smoke Eaters with some good early pressure couldnt capitalize early before giving up back to back goals had troubles defensively at times getting caught running around in their own end. Trail is now 0-4 vs Vernon this season.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Max Mowat (Injured)
Peter McMullen (Injured)
Patrick McGillis (Injured)
Colton Sparrow (Injured)
Luke Juha (Injured)

Trail:

Brandon Egli
Josh Roberts
Clayton Chessa
Adam Fares
Adam Wheeldon

Vipers energy player of the game: Darren Nowick (3 assists)

3 Stars:

1st Star: Mike Zalewski (2 goals & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Ben Gamache (1 goal & 3 assists)
3rd Star: Adam Tambellini (1 goal & 3 assists)

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

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977729&link=bchl