I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Westside 3-2 in double overtime in front of 1,780 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Westside: Dwayne Rodrigue
1st Period: The Vipers got off to a good start carrying the better of the play early before getting the games first powerplay just over five minutes into the opening period. Brett Corkey's point shot was stopped by Dwayne Rodrigue and then stopped Mike Zalewski on the rebound making two big saves. The Vipers would move the puck around Darren Nowick setup Mike Zalewski at 5:54 giving Vernon a 1-0 lead. Nowick & Brett Corkey with the assists. The Vipers continued with some good pressure as Brett Corkey with another shot from the point was stopped by Dwayne Rodrigue. Vernon looked good early to start the game. Just three minutes later the Warriors would get their first powerplay but with very little pressure Westside captain, Max French with a chance in front was stopped by Halcrow just before the penalty expired. The Vipers were lucky after turning over the puck atleast two or three times in their own end as the Warriors couldnt capitalize. Vernon was the better of the two teams in the first half but the Warriors come back with a much better second half. Reid Simmonds with a quick shot from the slot was stopped by Kirby Halcrow who made a nice pad save. Just a few minutes later Connor Dempsey with a great chance in front was stopped by Halcrow who made a huge save in close. The Warriors now the team with the pressure and carrying the edge in play. Late in the period Westside would get it's second powerplay but it was the Vipers penalty kill that was sharp as the Warriors couldnt get the play in deep. Shorthanded John Knisley and Mike Zalewski in on the odd man rush, Knisley fed Zalewski who was going hard towards the net couldnt connect on Knisley's pass on a great scoring opportunity. The Warriors struggled with the man advantage as Vernon would kill off the minor. In the final minute Vernon would get a late powerplay that would carry into the 2nd period. Vernon was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers carried the better of the play and were the better team in the first half of the period but Westside turned the tables and was the better of the two teams in the second half. Not alot of scoring opportunities. The Warriors outshot the Vipers 10-9.
2nd Period: The Vipers started the second with the man advantage that was carried over from the first period. Vernon couldnt really setup or get any real good shots off as a strong penalty kill by the Warriors would block the shooting lanes not giving the Vipers any open lanes and would kill off the minor. Westside would get into some penalty trouble as Vernon would get back to back powerplays early. But it was the Warriors who with a strong forecheck forced an odd man rush but Brett Corkey with a strong defensive play hustled back to break up the two on one. The Warriors penalty kill was very good and again caught the Vipers with another shorthanded odd man rush. Shawn Hochhausen and former Vipers forward, Marcus Basara in on the two on one but Hochhausen shot high and over the net. On the second powerplay Max French and Travis Blanleil in on the two on one but Kirby Halcrow was their to make a nice save as the Vipers struggled with three straight powerplays. Just as the final powerplay expired the Warriors would get a powerplay as specialty teams took over in the middle frame. The Warriors with some good pressure unable to really get any quality shots as the Vipers defence did a good job at blocking the shooting lanes and would kill off the minor. Just past the midway mark Turner Lawson alone at the side of the net was robbed by Dwayne Rodrigue who came across the crease making a huge pad save. On the next play with Vernon getting a penalty the Warriors still had control of the puck deep in the Vipers zone, Travis Blanleil with a quick shot from the top circle beat wich looked like a screened Kirby Halcrow at 11:32 as the Warriors tied the game. Blanleil's goal was unassisted. As the Warriors were celebrating Geoff Crisfield and another Westside player exchanged words and some punches as the two were caught between a linesman as tempers heated up. On the play the Warriors would get a powerplay. With Westside on the man advantage the Warriors would get called for two many men as both teams played four on four before Vernon would get a late powerplay and capitalize. Adam Tambellini setup Darren Nowick who fed Aaron Hadley in front at 13:38 giving the Vipers a 2-1 lead. Nowick and Tambellini with the helpers. The Vipers come back with a few good shifts and started to carry the edge in play before the Warriors battled back as the play was fairly even at times. Again not alot of scoring chances at both ends of the rink as the physical play really picked up. Both teams were laying out some big checks as emotions started to take over towards the end of the game. With just over minutes to play Brendan Persley with a big check deep in the Warriors zone forced the Warriors d-man to turn over the puck, Persley with a nice pass out front found a wide open Colton Sparrow who fed a wide open Mike Zalewski in front but Dwayne Rodrigue come up with a hge save robbing Zalewski in front. At the buzzer deep in the Warriors zone behind the goal tempers heated up as everyone got involved in a huge scrum behind the Warriors net. Some pushing and shoving occured as the Warriors would get a powerplay out of the scrum to start the 3rd. Vernon was up 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. Lots of penalties in a very physical but long period. Other then back to back powerplays for both teams it was a fairly even played period. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 11-7.
3rd Period: The Warriors started the period with the man advantage but a strong penalty kill by the Vipers would kill off the minor. The Warriors slowly started to carry the edge in play, just after the powerplay a mad scramble in the Vipers crease as the Warriors couldnt find the back of the net. Reid Simmonds with a chance in front couldnt beat Halcrow as the Vipers looked tired and were running out of gas playing their fourth game in five nights. Kirby Halcrow made a nice save before the Warriors crashed the crease as Halcrow was knocked over somehow the puck found its way into the back of the net as Max French tied the game at 5:03 French's goal was unassisted on just a hard nosed play at the net and the Warriors tied the game. Westside would then get a two man advantage but it was the Vipers penalty kill again that played very well giving up just three shots as the Vipers excaped killing off the two man advantage. Just as the Warriors powerplay ended the Vipers would get a shot with the powerplay. Mike Zalewski with a great chance at the side of the crease beat Dwayne Rodrigue but hit the post. The Warriors would go down two men after taking a penalty on the penalty kill giving the Vipers a late two man advantage. Patrick McGillis with a quick shot from the slot beat Dwayne Rodrigue but rang his shot off the post as the Vipers with back to back posts on the powerplay. Darren Nowick with a shot from in close with a mad scramble the puck was bouncing around as the Vipers couldnt find the back of the net just as the penalty expired. With the Vipers just barly hanging on the Warriors poured on the pressure in the final minutes of the third getting some good chances but Kirby Halcrow made a few nice saves. Marcus Basara and Reid Simmonds both with good chances from in close shot high and wide. The Warriors missed the net on several chances from in close. It was tied 2-2 after 60 minutes of play. Westside had the edge in play and the better of the scoring chances. The Vipers were running on fumes as the Warriors who had last night off still playing with lots of energy. Westside outshot Vernon 13-9.
Overtime: Just fifty four seconds into the extra period the Warriors would get an early powerplay but another strong penalty kill by the Vipers would kill off the minor. Westside couldnt really get setup and get any shots as the Vipers penalty kill was good. The Vipers would then get a powerplay and get lots of shots from in close but Dwayne Rodrigue was solid making several big saves in the extra frame to keep the game tied. A mad scramble in front late with the man advantage but again Dwayne Rodrigue somehow come up with the puck. The period would come to an end with the Vipers still with the man advantage. It was still tied 2-2 after 65 minutes of play. Vernon with lots of pucks towards the net but they couldnt beat Rodrigue. Vernon also with several chances in close but missed the net. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 10-3.
Double Overtime: With the Vipers still on the powerplay carried over from the end of the first overtime Ryan Renz turned the puck over inside the Warriors blueline, Shawn Hochhausen tried going in for the breakaway but Vipers captain Patrick McGillis was back to stop Hochhausen and then get the play back into the Westside zone with a nice defensive play. The Warriors would kill off the penalty but just after the powerplay expired Patrick McGilli's harmless looking shot from the circle beat Dwayne Rodrigue at 1:28 giving the Vipers a huge 3-2 double overtime victory. Brett Corkey collected the lone assist. Vernon outshot Westside 5-0.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Brett Corkey (2 assists) Played very well on the Vipers backend. made a very strong defensive play in the 2nd period to hustle back and break up a Warriors two on one. Logged alot of minutes down the stretch in the 3rd and into overtime.
For the second straight night the line of John Knisley, Mike Zalewski (1 Goal) & Darren Nowick (2 assists) played very well. Zalewski was very good down low, very creative with the puck down low and very hard to knock off the puck. Nowick was very strong on the penalty kill again for the second straight night and is also very good down low. Both Zalewski and Nowick really see and read the ice well, make some pretty shifty moves down low and in and around the net to try and find one another.
Aaron Hadley (1 goal) What can you say about Aaron Hadley here's a kid that I said a few months back I was expecting a little more from the second year Viper forward and the last few weeks has really turned up his game and been one of the more consistant Vipers latley. Hadley with another powerplay goal is very good in and around the net, really plays physical and uses his body down low to crash and bang.
Patrick McGillis (Overtime Winner) McGillis with a few chances tonight, really skated and battled hard tonight. Had a great chance in the third but hit the post. Really battled and worked hard all night.
Brendan Persley didnt see alot of icetime down the stretch drive and into overtime but I thought was the Vipers best player in atleast the first two periods. Played with alot of energy, played physical and come ready to play tonight. Made some smart plays in the offensive zone. Was really laying the body tonight.
Kirby Halcrow (31 saves) For the second straight night Halcrow played very well between the pipes. Come up with some big saves through out tonights game giving his team a chance to win.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
A huge win for the Vipers combined with a Chiefs loss in Merritt the Vipers move into 4th place one point up on Chilliwack. I thought the Vipers played well coming up with a gutsy performance. Tonight was the teams third game in three nights as well as forth game in five nights. In the 3rd you could tell the guys were out of energy and running on fumes but hung in and pulled out a huge double overtime victory. I thought Vernon's powerplay looked good early but couldnt seem to get much going with the man advantage as the game went on, that combined with a very strong penalty kill by the Warriors. Vernon with three straight back to back to back powerplays to start the 2nd period could have easily put the game away but couldnt capitalize and the Warriors would come back to tie the game. The Vipers penalty kill was very solid tonight killing off all eight of Westside's powerplays. I have really been impressed with the penalty kill the last handfull of games.
Top Players: (Westside)
Shawn Hochhausen was one of the Warriors best players tonight. Played with alot of energy and had several scoring chances. Really worked and battled hard all night.
Travis Blanleil (1 goal) Played very well up front for Westside. Very quick was hard to slow down.
Reid Simmonds played very well up front for the Warriors. had one chance in the opening period but really stood out in the 3rd with several chances in close.
Max French (1 goal) The Warriors captain who usally plays well against Vernon come ready to play tonight scoring the games tying goal. French was another Warrior who was working and battling hard all night. Was in and around the net all game.
Dwayne Rodrigue (41 saves) Also made 41 saves in a 3-1 win over the Vipers back in mid January come up with a heck of a game tonight giving the Warriors a single point. Rodrigue come up with some huge saves through out tonight's game and was the difference in both overtime periods.
Game Thoughts: (Westside)
For the Warriors who are out of this years BCHL playoffs you have to give this team credit for battling and working hard in a mean nothing game other then team pride. What an exciting-entertaining hockey game tonight as both teams worked extremely hard. The Warriors who battled all night didnt quit forcing overtime. Westside struggled with the man advantage but also combined with a very good Vipers penalty kill couldnt really setup and get any sustained pressure. A very good penalty kill as the game went on. A very physical game as anytime these two teams meet they are usally pretty entertaining games. Nice to see a pretty big crowd of Warriors fans who made the trip up making lots of noise. Rylan Ferster complained or yelled and screamed at almost every non call through out tonight's game was embarassing to watch. Referee Nick Swaine should have given the Warriors head coach a penalty for all the complaining and yelling and screaming he was doing from the bench.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat (Injured)
Ben Gamache (Injured)
Luke Juha (Injured)
Westside:
Mitchell Steinke
David Pope
Brett McKinnon
Vipers energy player of the game: John Knisley
3 Stars:
1st Star: Patrick McGillis (Overtime Winner)
2nd Star: Aaron Hadley (1 goal)
3rd Star: Max French (1 goal)
For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977833&link=bchl
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