I was at tonight's BCHL game as Westside defeated Vernon 3-1 at Royal Le Page Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Westside: Dwayne Rodrigue
1st Period: The Warriors would get three early shots on Kirby Halcrow but no scoring opportunities before the Vipers would get the games first powerplay just over two minutes into the opening period. Vernon with some good pressure was unable to get shots towards the net as Westside did a great job at closing the shooting lanes and keeping the Vipers to the outside. It took Vernon three and a half minutes into the game to record their first shot on goal. The Vipers with just two shots failed to capitalize with the man advantage. Just shortly after the Warriors would get their first powerplay and with a scramble in front of the Vipers goal Westside somehow couldnt find the back of the net with Kirby Halcrow down and out on a few flurries in front of the Vernon goaltender. The Warriors with some good pressure couldnt capitalize as Vernon killed off the penalty. Just before the penalty expired Westside took a penalty giving the Vipers a second chance with the man advantage. With Aaron Hadley parked in front of Dwayne Rodrigue Brett Corkey's shot from in close was stopped by Rodrigue as Hadley was stopped in close on the rebound. Mike Zalewski setup Adam Tambellini who walked into the slot and ripped a hard high shot that just went over the Warriors net as Vernon was unable to capitalize on another strong penalty kill by Westside. Just as the penalty expired Jedd Soleway who returned to Vernon's lineup after serving a two game suspension got the puck in deep, with some hard work down low Soleway battled hard along the end wall keeping the puck low before dishing off to Marc Hetnik who walked in from the point and ripped a hard shot that found the back of the net beating Dwayne Rodrigue giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 11:45 Soleway and Turner Lawson with the assists. On the next shift the Vipers would get back to back powerplays but couldnt capitalize as the Warriors killed off both minors. A fairly even 1st period with very few chances. Vernon with three straight powerplays in the second half carried most of the play due to the fact they played most of the second half with the man advantage. The Vipers with a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Westside outshot Vernon 12-10.
2nd Period: Vipers defenceman, Turner Lawson who has been playing up front recently due to all the injuries never returned to the bench to start the middle frame. Vernon come out with some good jump, really skating hard the Vipers carried the better of the play for the first half. Vernon who was really moving the puck well, was having the d-men jump up into the play in the offensive zone wich opened up a little more ice creating some chances. Geoff Crisfield jumped up into the play, alone in the slot was stopped by Dwayne Rodrigue who made a nice save from in close. Aaron Hadley come down the left wing, cut hard towards the goal beating his d-man cutting hard towards the front tried beating Dwayne Rodrigue fivehole as the Warriors goaltender shut the door stopping Hadley in close on a nice save. Former Vernon Vipers forward, Marcus Basara led the way with a Warriors three on one Basara along with Connor Dempsey and David Pope come in on a great scoring opportunity. Basara setup Dempsey in close who looked to have got off a weak shot that was stopped by Kirby Halcrow. On the same shift Westside would get the periods first powerplay. Westside moved the puck well but just like the Vipers powerplay were unable to get alot of pucks towards the goal as Vernon would kill off the minor. The Warriors seemed to gain a little momentum and slowly got their legs going as Westside started to take over the edge in play and were the better of the two teams in the second half. Westside really moving the puck well created some chances before getting their second powerplay of the period. A strong Viper penalty kill would end the Warriors man advantage. Vernon who couldnt get any offence going had just three shots in the final ten minutes of the second period. Some miss communication between Kirby Halcrow and one of his d-men after Halcrow tried covering the puck, the Vernon defenceman tried getting the puck as the puck got free and ended up going through the crease on a close call. Most of the play was inside the Vipers zone with the Warriors putting some good pressure. Give credit to the Viper defence who played very well tonight. The Vipers who already lost Turner Lawson for the night got a bit of a scare after Masrc Hetnik went down awkardly and seemed to injury or hurt his wrist-hand as Hetnik went off to the Vipers bench holding his arm. Hetnik missed a few shifts but was fine staying in the game. Westside would get a late powerplay and for the first time tonight one of these two teams would capitalize with the man advantage. Seb Lloyd with some hard work along the side wall kept the puck down low dishing off to Connor Dempsey who setup David Pope in front who redirected his shot past Kirby Halcrow at 18:12 tying the game 1-1. Lloyd and Dempsey with the helpers. The Warriors kept pressing and in the final minute would come up with two great chances. Former Salmon Arm Silverbacks d-man, Josh Monk with a point shot went through a screen in front that somehow was stopped by Halcrow who made a nice pad save on a shot that I dont think he saw. In the final fourty five seconds a quick shot from the point hit somone in front before Reid Simmonds and Max French both tried getting off a shot from in close but Kirby Halcrow made a huge pad save in close keeping this game tied. Vernon carried the better of the play and was the better of the two teams in the first ten minutes but Westside come right back and was the better of the two teams in the second half. It was tied 1-1 after 40 minutes of play. Westside outshot Vernon 15-8.
3rd Period: The Vipers come ready to play in the 3rd getting back to back good chances off the opening faceoff. Jedd Soleway with a great chance in front just over a minute into the period couldnt beat Dwayne Rodrigue who made a nice save in tight. Just over a minute later with the Vipers pressing down low Dwayne Rodrigue stopped "AP" Cole Sanford. Rodrigue with two big saves early keeping this game tied. Just over a minute later Marcus Basara with a burst of speed come down the left wing, beat Ryan Renz cutting hard towards the goal but couldnt beat Halcrow from in close on a good scoring play. The Vipers would get an early powerplay but struggled after a solid Warriors penalty kill. Just over a minute later Vernon would get it's second man advantage of the third with a scramble in front and the puck just rolling in the crease Aaron Hadley had his stick tied up and couldnt get to the loose puck as the Warriors cleared the puck from the crease and killed off the minor on a very close play. The Vipers battled hard and dominated the entire period with a ton of chances. Sean Robertson skated in over the Warriors blueline and ripped a hard high shot that was stopped by the quick glove of Rodrigue who was keeping Westside in tonight's game. Westside captain, Max French used some speed to get around his d-man cut towards the net but couldnt beat Halcrow in close on a good chance. Just past the midway mark the Warriors would get their lone powerplay of the third but a strong Viper penalty kill would kill off the penalty. Just shortly after Vernon would get a late powerplay but struggle as the Warriors killed off the minor. Just as the penalty expired on the next shift the Warriors would get the puck in deep, Reid Simmonds who was first tangled up with a Viper d-man in front of Kirby Halcrow fought off the defenceman, as the puck was fired back out to the point the Vipers forgot about Simmonds in front who either tipped or defelected Peter MacIntosh's point shot past Halcrow at 16:35 giving Westside their first lead of the night. MacIntosh with the lone assist on the goal. Vernon come right back with a hard shift off the next faceoff, getting the play in deep Colton Cyr with a shot from the slot beat Dwayne Rodrigue but hit the crossbar coming very close to tying the hockey game. The Vipers with all kinds of pressure in the final three minutes. Colton Sparrow with a quick shot from the circle was stopped by Rodrigue who made a nice save from in close. With Kirby Halcrow going to the bench for the extra attacker with just over a minute remaining the Vipers with a wild scramble in front of Dwayne Rodrigue Colton Cyr just couldnt get his shot to get through the thick traffic in front as a mad scramble in the crease and yet again the Vipers with no puck luck tonight couldnt tie the game on another scoring play. With time running out Reid Simmonds hit the empty cage at 19:30 giving Westside a 3-1 lead. Max French and Shawn Hochhausen collected the assists. In the end Westside would knock off the Vipers 3-1. The Vipers dominated the final period getting a ton of chances but just didnt get the bounces or any puck luck tonight. Vernon outshot Westside 24-8.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Brett Corkey played very well on the Vipers blueline. Corkey who was solid at both ends of the rink, really jumped up into the rush on several occasions tonight.
Marc Hetnik (1 goal) Who played probally his best game as a Viper last night looked very solid for the Vipers again this evening. Hetnik and the Vipers got a bit of a scare in the 2nd period after the Vernon d-man went down awkardly but stayed in the hockey game. Hetnik played very well defensively tonight.
Just like last night I thought the line of Adam Tamebllini, Mike Zalewski and Aaron Hadley played well up front for Vernon. Hadley who has now looked good in back to back nights battled and competed hard all night. Was going hard towards the net, getting in on the scoring plays as well as sitting in front of the Warriors goal on the powerplay. Tambellini who has really picked up his game since joining this line has also looked good in back to back games. Tamebellini with a few chances tonight.
& again for the second straight night I thought the line of Patrick McGillis, Colton Cyr and Colton Sparrow played very well for the Vipers. This line battled and competed all night, worked hard as well as had their chances. Cyr took a pounding tonight, taking several big checks. Sparrow who played with a bit of a mean streak in the third was really working hard.
Jedd Soleway (1 assist) Also battled and competed hard, was good down low and in and around the net. Had a great chance early in the third to give Vernon the lead but couldnt find the back of the net.
Ryan Renz played very well defensivly tonight. Renz who usally coughs up the puck often looked very good on the Vipers penalty kill as well as five on five. Made some real smart heads up plays without coughing up the puck.
Kirby Halcrow (31 saves) Halcrow didnt see as much action as Dwayne Rodrigue but come up with some tough saves especially in the 2nd period where the Warriors were really taking it too the Vipers. Halcrow played well giving his team a chance to win.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
For the second straight night the Vipers had to battled, compete and work hard but unlike last night Vernon come up on the short end of the stick falling 3-1. The Vipers who have struggled since early November have been very uncosistant since then. But theres been two games where they have played a very close sixty minute hockey game, one was the last game vs Chilliwack (Vipers 6-3 win) just before the Christmas break and the other one was tonight. This was a very entertaining game as Vernon come ready to play but ran into a hot goaltender. The Vipers battled, competed and worked hard but just didnt get the bounces tonight. With no puck luck the Vipers couldnt seem to buy a goal especially in the 3rd peppering Dwayne Rodrigue with 24 shots. Both teams couldnt seem to get their powerplays going (Westside with just one powerplay goal). The Vipers defence played extremly well tonight, all of the Vipers defencemen played very well. I thought the Vipers were the better of the two teams and had a ton of scoring chances. Vernon who has now lost eleven straight away from home has just 19 games remaining sit five points back of 4th place Chilliwack. This was a tough game for the guys to lose after working so hard. Great effort boys!!
Top Players: (Westside)
Ben Betker was the Warriors best d-man tonight. Played a very solid-physical game on the Westside blueline. Laid out some huge hits early on in tonights game.
Connor Dempsey (1 assist) I thought looked good up front for the Westside Warriors. Was really skating, working hard and going to the net looking for opportunities.
Max French (1 assist) The Warriors captain was Westside's best forward tonight. French who usally plays very well against Vernon played well tonight.
Josh Monk was another Warriors defenceman who played very well on the Westside backend.
Dwayne Rodrigue (41 saves) Made 24 saves alone in the 3rd period keeping his club in tonight's game as well as giving his team a chance to win. Without Rodrigue this game would have been over in the third as Vernon could have easily scored atleast four goals if it wasnt for the strong goaltending of Rodrigue. Was giving out some pretty big rebounds at times but come up with some huge saves especially in the final period.
Game Thoughts: (Westside)
I thought the Warriors played well in the first two periods. Westside's best period was in the second half of the second period when they had three straight powerplays getting some good chances. I thought the Vipers carried the overall better of the play, come up with the better scoring chances and desereved the win. Give credit to Westside who also battled and competed hard and capitalized on their chances.
Scratches:
Vernon:
John Knisley (Injured)
Luke Juha (Injured)
Ben Gamache (Injured)
Darren Nowick (Injured)
Westside:
Brett McKinnon
Brennan Clark
3 Stars:
1st Star: Dwayne Rodrigue (41 saves)
2nd Star: Reid Simmonds (2 goals)
3rd Star: Brett Corkey
For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977765&link=bchl
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