I was at tonight's BCHL game as Victoria defeated Vernon 4-3 in front of 1,999 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Victoria: Garrett Rockafellow
1st Period: Just thirty seconds into the opening period Garrett Rockafellow made a big save in close off Mike Zalewski. On the next shift both teams would get chances at either ends of the rink. First Kirby Halcrow couldnt control-handle the puck losing the puck before Mike Collins collected the loose puck getting off a quick shot from in close but Halcrow recovered making a big save in tight. Off the next faceoff the Vipers got the play back into the Grizzlies zone before Mike Zalewski was stopped for the second time in close after Garrett Rockafellow come out to challenge making a big save. Vernon would then get an early powerplay and capitalize after Brett Corkey with a nice pass through the slot found and setup Vipers assistant captain, Mike Zalewski at the side of the goal who had an empty net giving the Vipers a 1-0 lead at 3:36 Corkey and Max Mowat with the assists. Victoria would pin the Vipers deep in their own end just after the goal as Vernon couldnt clear the zone but the Grizz were unable to create any real scoring chances as Vernon would finally clear the zone and get some fresh bodies out. From here on in it was all Vernon as the Vipers come up with atleast five or six solid scoring opportunities over the next three to four minutes but rookie goaltender, Garrett Rockafellow robbed the Vipers making some huge saves. Defenceman, Turner Lawson who was playing up front tonight was the first Vernon Viper to get robbed in front after Rockafellow made a huge pad save in close. Brett Corkey carried the puck in over the Grizzlies blueline before cutting hard towards the net with a nice move in close Corkey's shot slid through the crease just missing the far corner. Aaron Hadley recieved a nice pass from the side wall but Rockafellow stoned Hadley from the slot on a nice onetimer. Dylan Walchuk then with a great chance from the slot beat Rockafellow but hit the post. Peter McMullen tipped a Vipers point shot but couldnt get the puck past Rockafellow who made a tough save off the McMullen deflection. Colton Sparrow and Adam Tambellini then on a two on one, Tambellini decided to keep and shoot but once again couldnt get the puck past Garrett Rockafellow who was keeping Victoria in tonights game early. Vernon controlled and dominated the first half up 1-0 were outshooting the Grizzlies 10-3 at this point. In the second half Aaron Hadley took an undisaplined misconduct penalty giving Victoria their first powerplay of the night and Hadley's penalty cost the Vipers. Mike Moran couldnt handle leading scorer Wade Murphy's pass as the puck hit-went off of Moran's stick right out front to a wide open and former Vernon Viper forward Jarryd Ten Vaanholt who had an empty cage to hit as Kirby Halcrow was down and out as the Grizz tied the game 1-1 at 11:11 Moran and Murphy collected the helpers. Shortly after Ten Vaanholt would take a knee on knee (I thought it looked like it was from either Aaron Hadley or Ryan Renz) with no call on the play Ten Vaanholt was very slow to get up and needed some help off the ice and to the Grizz dressing room where he did not return. A huge blow for Victoria. The Vipers would get their second powerplay of the night just shortly after and capitalize for the second time. Brett Corkey setup Mike Zalewski who fed Darren Nowick down low who with a nice move in tight beat Garrett Rockafellow at 13:10 giving Vernon a 2-1 lead, Zalewski and Corkey picked up the assists. The Grizzlies just couldnt seem to generate much offence as the Vipers were the better team and carried most of the play. Victoria's last shot on goal was their first goal of the game, it took the Grizzlies just over eight minutes to record their next shot on goal. In the final minute of play Mike Collins who was very good up front for Victoria had a great opportunity to tie the game with just sixteen seconds remaining but Kirby Halcrow made a huge save in close. The Vipers were all over the Grizzlies but Garrett Rockafellow kept Victoria in the game as Vernon was up 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Grizz 17-7.
2nd Period: The Vipers would get the play in deep off the opening faceoff but couldnt really generate any scoring opportunities. The Grizzlies would come back the other way and get the first real good scoring chance of the 2nd after Wesley Moran's hard shot from the slot caught Halcrow high but the Vipers veteran goaltender stood tall making the save and covering for a whistle. Victoria come out with alot of jump and really took it to the Vipers early and often as it was the Grizzlies who carried most of the play and dominated most of the second period. The Vipers who were caught standing around watching Victoria get some good pressure early. Kirby Halcrow was sharp early making atleast three good saves before the Grizzlies would get their second powerplay of the game. Nolan De Jong's point shot beat Halcrow but hit the post as Victoria come close to tying the hockey game, still moving the puck well Wade Murphy setup Wesley Myron at the side of the net who ripped a hard shot past Halcrow at 8:14 tying the game 2-2. Murphy and De Jong with the assists. The Vipers who were getting outplayed pretty bad with just a single shot in the first nine minutes of the period. Just five minutes later the Grizzlies striked again after Dayne Ellison beat Halcrow at 13:29 giving Victoria a 3-2 lead. Michael Sandor and Nolan De Jong with the helpers. Jason Williamson was forced to call a timeout and try and settle his troops down for the final seven minutes of the period. This timeout seemed to help a little as Vernon would come back with a few good shifts wich led to Brendan Persley's parcial breakaway, Persley who got in close tried making a move in tight but couldnt beat Rockafellow who made the save and then was bumped by Persley wich drew a crowd as some pushing and shoving occured. Mike Collins then come back the other way with another great chance wired a hard shot from the top of the circle but again Kirby Halcrow who played very well for the Vipers tonight made another big save. Halcrow was keeping the Vipers in the game after some real solid stops in the second period. In the final two minutes the Vipers would get a break after Aaron Hadley with some hard work down low banked the puck off the back of Garrett Rockafellow from the side of the net as Vernon tied the game 3-3 at 18:23 Darren Nowick and Mike Zalewski both collected the assists. This line was the Vipers top unit tonight. Victoria who was the better of the two teams dominated the play as the Vipers looked pretty bad but the game was tied 3-3 after 40 minutes of play. The Grizz outshot the Vipers 11-6.
3rd Period: The Vipers come out with lots of jump and energy to start the final frame getting some good chances early. Garrett Rockafellow was sharp making some key saves early. The Vipers thought they took the lead in the first few minutes but Rockafellow somehow reached behind him making a huge save to keep the Vipers off the board. Just shortly after Vernon would get the lone powerplay of the 3rd but for the first time tonight couldnt capitalize after a strong Grizz penalty kill. Just as the penalty expired Dylan Walchuk with a great chance at the side of the goal was robbed by Garrett Rockafellow who made a huge save keeping the game tied. Rockafellow with two game savers in the first seven minutes of the period. The Vipers with some great chances couldnt capitalize as Vernon was the better of the two teams and carried the better of the play in the first half. It was more even in the second half after the Grizz and Vipers went back and forth with not alot of good opportunties. It wasnt until Darren Nowick lost the puck deep in the Victoria zone wich allowed Mike Moran and Alex Hagen who attended the Vipers training camp to break in on a two on one, Hagen waited before dishing off to Moran who beat Kirby Halcrow in close giving the Grizzlies a 4-3 lead at 15:11 Holland and Wesley Myron picked up the assists. The Vipers with time running out couldnt get the play in deep after several attempts as the Grizzlies defence played great down the stretch drive. Aaron Hadley got away with a check from behind on Alex Holland in the final two minutes, Holland seem fine and stayed in the game. A strong Victoria forecheck kept Kirby Halcrow between the pipes as the Vipers had all kinds of troubles getting the puck in deep and the goaltender to the bench. Victoria would get the puck in deep and pin the Vipers deep in their own end killing valuable time off the clock, finally Vernon was able to get the play in deep and get Halcrow to the bench for the extra attacker with just seventeen seconds remaining but Victoria's strong defence shutdown the Vipers coming up with a huge win to start the road trip. Vernon outshot Victoria 10-6.
Top Players: (Vernon)
The line of Aaron Hadley (1 goal), Darren Nowick (1 goal & 1 assist) & Mike Zalewski (1 goal & 2 assists) was the Vipers best unit tonight. All three worked extremley hard, battled and competed all night. Nowick was the Vipers hardest working player tonight, was everywhere working his tail off. A real strong effort from the Vipers #1 line.
Brett Corkey (2 assists) I thought Brett Corkey was Vernon's best d-man this evening. Collected two helpers and played with alot of confidence. Had a solid game on the Vipers blueline.
Kirby Halcrow (29 saves) Played very well between the pipes for the Vipers. Halcrow who has struggled most of the season hasnt looked like the previous goaltender the past two seasons. I thought Halcrow made some key saves early to start the 2nd and during the second period keeping the game tied and giving the Vipers a chance to win when Victoria was really taking it to Vernon.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Nice to see Max Mowat return to the lineup after being out for a while due to injury. The Vipers with just five wins in their last eighteen games are struggling and now running out of games. A Prince George win over Westside tonight now puts the Vipers six points back of the 3rd place Spruce Kings. Vernon was lucky as Penticton defeated Chilliwack keeping the Chiefs just three points up on Vernon for 4th place. For whatever reason this team just cant seem to play or come up with a full sixty minute performance, for a team that is fighting for their playoff lives you think they would come out guns a blazing but for whatever reason the Vipers decided to take the 2nd period off and it cost them two big points and another loss. I thought Vernon played and looked very good in the opening period, if it wasnt for rookie goaltender, Garrett Rockafellow the Vipers could have easily been up four or five goals after the opening period. The Vipers have been uncosistant all season and it showed again tonight. For a team fighting for a playoff spot I just dont see any desperation out their. Other then the 2nd period I thought this was a very entertaining hockey game with some good chanes at either ends of the rink. Once the word got around more fans were interested in finding-seeing Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman who were both at the game tonight. Rumor was they are skiing and staying up at Silvert Star for a few weeks.
Top Players: (Victoria)
The line of Alex Holland (1 assist), Wesley Myron (1 assist) & Mike Moran (1 goal & 1 assist) was the Grizzlies top unit tonight. All three really played and looked good together, all are quick skaters who are dangerous with the puck. Wesley Myron had a few good chances tonight, Holland who was at the Vipers training camp looked good with and without the puck.
Nolan De Jong (2 assists) Played very well on the Victoria blueline, was the Grizzlies best d-man tonight.
Wade Murphy (2 assists) was also very good, was involved in and around the scoring chances and dangerous with the puck. Really seemed to read the play well.
Mike Collins had atleast three or four good scoring chances but just couldnt beat Kirby Halcrow, played well tonight.
Garrett Rockafellow (30 saves) Played very well tonight, making some huge saves through out the game. made several huge saves in the 1st period giving his team a chance to win. Gave up some fairly big rebounds in the opening period but seemed to settle down and control his rebounds as the game went on.
Game Thoughts: (Victoria)
The Grizzlies start their four game road trip with a huge 4-3 victory in Vernon moving them to within six points of 4th place Coquitlam. Victoria who was outplayed for most of the 1st had their goaltender to thank for keeping them in the game. Give credit as the Grizz played a much better second period and really took it to the Vipers. Victoria with two goals in the 2nd couldnt hold onto the lead giving up a late goal but managed to hang on for the 3rd before scoring the game winner with just under five minutes to play. What a gutsy effort in the final four and a half minutes after some solid defensive play and a strong forecheck forced the Vipers back into their own end wich killed off alot of time off the clock. A huge win on the road in a much needed victory to stay alive for the final playoff spot.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Patrick McGillis (Injured)
Luke Juha (Injured)
John Knisley (Injured)
Ben Gamache (Injured)
Victoria:
Cam Lawson
Taylor Pernerowski
3 Stars:
1st Star: Garrett Rockafellow (30 saves)
2nd Star: Mike Zalewski (1 goal & 2 assists)
3rd Star: Wesley Myron (1 assist)
For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977794&link=bchl
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