I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Alberni Valley 5-2 in front of 1,590 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Alberni Valley: Max Fenkell
1st Period: The Bulldogs come ready to play and played with lots of jump early really taking it to the Vipers. In the opening minute Hunter Stewart with a shot from the slot was stopped by Kirby Halcrow who was forced to make a nice quick glove hand save early. Alberni Valley would get an early powerplay and capitalize just second into the man advantage. The Dogs won the draw back to the point, Josh Mitchell setup Walker Hyland whos point shot beat Kirby Halcrow at 1:51 giving Alberni Valley the early 1-0 lead. Mitchell and former Vernon Viper Trent Dorais collected the assists. The Bulldogs kept coming with some good pressure carried the play for the entire period dominating Vernon in all area's. The Vipers who looked slow, out of sink, out of position and just not in tonight's contest couldnt get out of their own end for most of the 1st. Nick Tupper walked in from the point and wired a hard shot where Halcrow had to come out to make a big save. The Bulldogs would get their second powerplay of the game but only manage one shot as Vernon would kill off the minor. The Vipers would head right back to the box as the Bulldogs would get a shortend powerplay before taking their first penalty of the night wich put both teams four on four. It took the Vipers almost twelve minutes to record their first shot on goal and that was a long shot from centre ice shorthanded on a dump in. Alberni Valley was outshooting Vernon 6-1 at this point. Vernon would get two late back to back powerplays. Patrick McGillis and Ben Gamache on a parcial two on one couldnt beat Max Fenkell who got across to make a big save. The Vipers with just two shots couldnt capitalize as the Bulldogs killed off both minors. Alberni Valley was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. An ugly opening period for the Vipers as the Bulldogs dominated the entire period outworking, outskating and outhustling the Vipers in all areas of the rink. The Bulldogs outshot the Vipers 8-3.
2nd Period: Vernon seemed to play a little better to start the middle frame and would capitalize early after Ben Gamache beat Max Fenkell at 1:35 from in close tying the game 1-1. Patrick McGillis and Marc Hetnik picked up the helpers. The Vipers who finally seemed to get their legs going a little bit carried the play at times for the first six or seven minutes getting some chances as the Bulldogs couldnt get much going after a terrific opening period. With a scramble in front of the Alberni Valley net Ben Gamache tried banging away a loose puck but couldnt get the puck through the traffic or Fenkell. Shortly after Mike Zalewski with a nice feed from in close setup Adam Tambellini who put two slick moves in close going around two defenders before getting stopped in close by Max Fenkell. Just past the midway mark the Bulldogs would get a powerplay, with some real good pressure deep in the Vernon zone Alberni Valley was unable to get pucks towards the net not getting a single shot as Vernon would kill off the minor. The Dogs didnt quit and kept battling coming back with some solid shifts after the man advantage. The Vipers once again back on their heels as Alberni Valley looked to have the puck on a string on one shift skating circles in and around the Vipers zone as Vernon was having all kinds of troubles clearing the zone. Again the Dogs with a ton of pressure but no real good scoring chances. The Vipers would get back to back powerplays with a few opportunities in close Vernon couldnt bang home a rebound in front with traffic in and around the net. On the second powerplay the Vipers would finally capitalize after Brett Corkey setup Adam Tambellini whos shot beat Max Fenkell who would like this goal back as Vernon grabbed a 2-1 lead at 17:49 Corkey and Mike Zalewski with the helpers. At the buzzer the Vipers would take a late penalty giving the Bulldogs a powerplay to start the 3rd. Vernon was up 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. A decent start to the period as the Vipers scored early and created some chances but the Bulldogs come right back and really took it to the Vipers at times. Vernon outshot Alberni Valley 10-5.
3rd Period: With the Bulldogs on the man advantage Marlon Sabo's point shot was tipped in front by Hunter Stewart who tied the game 2-2 at 1:12 Sabo and Ryan Lough picked up the assists. The Bulldogs kept coming with some good pressure come right back with back to back scoring opportunities. Artsiom Kalashnikov and Yan Kalashnikov with a parcial two on one couldnt beat Halcrow who made a nice save. Vernon again getting outplayed and outworked early with just one shot in the first six and a half minutes. John Knisley with a nice pass through the middle setup Mike Zalewski for the late breakaway, Zalewski waited before going upstairs on Fenkell giving Vernon a 3-2 lead at 6:48 Knisley and Adam Tambellini with the assists on just the Vipers second shot of the period. Just two minutes later Colton Cyr fed Mike Zalewski for his second of the night and 30th of the season giving the Vipers a 4-2 lead at 8:38 Cyr and Aaron Hadley with the helpers. Off the next play the Bulldogs come right back with a hard working shift, with some good pressure moving the puck around the Dogs setup Brandon Halls point shot that got through traffic but hit the crossbar on a close call. Alberni Valley kept battling and outplayed Vernon for most of the period in one of the ugliest periods-games in many many years. The Vipers who looked like they didnt want to play tonight were coughing up the puck, leaving guys wide open, missing passes and giving up several odd man rushes in a brutal 3rd period. Walker Hyland's point shot that got through traffic was stopped by Kirby Halcrow who played very well in the final frame making some big saves. Josh Mitchell who was flying all night, really skating circles around the Vipers was also getting under the Vipers skin giving out the odd shot to thehead or jab here and their wich started a minor melay in front of Kirby Halcrow with everyone pushing and shoving before both teams settled down. In the final few minutes Ben Gamache setup Patrick McGillis on a two on one but Max Fenkell made a nice save off the Viper captain. With just over two minutes remaining the Bulldogs called a timeout and then would get Fenkell to the bench for the extra attacker with some good pressure deep in the Vernon zone the Dogs were unable to keep the puck in as Aaron Hadley would eventually hit the empty cage giving Vernon a 5-2 lead at 19:46 Adam Tambellini with the lone assist on the play. The Vipers with three goals would excape a very ugly period defeating the Bulldogs 5-2. Alberni Valley outshot Vernon 9-8.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Mike Zalewski (2 goals) I didnt think Zalewski played a full sixty minutes but did come to play in the 3rd scoring twice to help give the Vipers a must win over one of the leagues bottom feeders. Zalewski who has soft hands score two real nice goals to give Vernon a lead and the win.
Adam Tambellini (1 goal & 2 assists) Was the best Viper on the ice this evening. Was one of the only Vipers who looked like they came to play. Tambellini had atleast two good scoring opportunities as well as setup a few nice scoring chances. Played very well tonight.
Kirby Halcrow (20 saves) Halcrow who played his best game of the season in last nights 4-0 win over Merritt looked a little shaky at times in the opening period but seemed to settle down as the game went on. I thought Kirby was at his best in the 3rd making some key-big saves with traffic in front.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
This was one of the ugliest Vipers games I have seen in many many years. After a huge hard fought emotional 4-0 win over the Centennials last night the Vipers didnt show up tonight in game that they barley won. In a game where they needed to win to keep pace with Prince George and Chilliwack for the final playoff race the Vipers were awful most of the night. Tons of turnovers, giveaways, poor passes, guys just standing around, and a team that looked like they didnt even want to play. The Vipers were outworked, outhustled, outskated and outchanced vs a Alberni Valley team that couldnt even dress three full lines. Vernon looked out of sink and out of position all night, lots of Vipers with terrible games just didnt even show up. This was real ugly, Ive seen better pre-season games over tonight. With a Chilliwack loss to Trail tonight, the Vipers are just two points back of 4th place Chilliwack.
Top Players: (Alberni Valley)
Artsiom Kalashnikov looked pretty impressive tonight. A slick skater that can handle the puck and was very good down low. Really reads and see's the ice well.
Brandon Halls played a pretty steady game on the Dogs blueline.
Josh Mitchell (1 assist) Was Alberni Valley's best player tonight, this kid was all over the ice skating circles around the Vipers. One shift in the 2nd period he was dangling in and out of several Vipers looking like he had the puck on a string. Had some good scoring opportunities but also got under the skin of the Vipers getting involved after the whistles with some pushing and shoving, exchanging words etc.
Walker Hyland (1 goal) Also played a strong game on the Bulldogs backend. Really reads the ice well, had a few good shots from the point.
Trent Dorais (1 assist) The former Vipers forward worked hard most of the night.
Game Thoughts: (Alberni Valley)
For a team that sits in last place in the Coastal Conference and couldnt even dress three lines never quit, battled and competed all night like they were the team chasing down the final playoff spot. The Bulldogs dominated tonight's game from start to finish other then a few good shifts by the Vipers Alberni Valley outworked, outhustled and outchanced the Vipers all night. This team worked hard and gave the Vipers a good push but with a short bench and their third game in three nights they just ran out of gas. This team deserves a pat on the back for coming to play and playing for pride even if they wont be making the playoffs.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat (Injured)
Darren Nowick (Injured)
Luke Juha (Injured)
Turner Lawson (Injured)
Alberni Valley:
Brandon Adams
Lars Hepso
Tyler Berkholtz
Justin Morello
Turner Popoff
Vipers energy player of the game: Marc Hetnik
3 Stars:
1st Star: Mike Zalewski (2 goals)
2nd Star: Adam Tambellini (1 goal & 2 assists)
3rd Star: Walker Hyland (1 goal)
For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977407&link=bchl
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