I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Nanaimo 5-1 in front of 1,485 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Nanaimo: Billy Faust
1st Period: Just fifty two seconds into the opening period the Clippers would get an early powerplay. Nanaimo couldnt generate any pressure as a strong Vernon Viper penalty kill did most of the work keeping the puck out of the Vernon zone before the Vipers would go down two men, giving the Clippers a short two man advantage. Just as the first powerplay come to an end Graeme McCormack's point shot was tipped in front by Luke Gordon who was stopped by Kirby Halcrow who made a nice save off the tipp in front. Nanaimo with just three shots on the two man advantage couldnt capitalize after a very good penalty kill by the Vipers. Vernon come right back just a few seconds later and would open the scoring after Aaron Hadley beat former Penticton Vees goaltender, Billy Faust on the wraparound giving Vernon a 1-0 lead on just their second shot of the night at 5:26. Hadley's goal was unassisted. Just a few shifts later John Knisley with a nice pass on a Vipers rush setup Mike Zalewski in the slot who ripped a quick hard shot from the slot was stopped by Billy Faust who made a nice pad save. Vernon would then get their first powerplay of the night and capitalize after Mike Zalewski setup Adam Tambellini who snipped a quick hard shot that beat Billy Faust at 9:59 giving the Vipers a 2-0 lead, Zalewski and Brett Corkey collected the helpers. Just shortly after Graeme McCormack's point shot was tipped in front by Kyle Kramer but somehow Kirby Halcrow stuck out the right pad making a big pad save keeping the Clippers off the scoreboard. With the Vipers going hard towards the net, Billy Faust made two saves from in tight before Ben Gamache with a shot from the top of the crease couldnt lift the puck up and over Faust who made a nice save with traffic in front. Faust come up with atleast three good saves with bodies in front keeping this a two goal game. The Vipers would get a late powerplay in the final minute that would carry over into the 2nd period. The Vipers with a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Not alot of action in the opening period as both teams didnt generate alot of scoring chances. A fairly even played period with the Vipers getting a few more scoring chances. Vernon outshot Nanaimo 14-13.
2nd Period: Vernon started the middle frame with the man advantage that was carried over from the 1st period and capitalized early. Just twenty six seconds into the period Mike Zalewski with a nice cross ice pass setup and found Aaron Hadley who beat Faust for his second goal of the game giving the Vipers a 3-0 lead. Zalewski and Darren Nowick with the helpers. But back come the Clippers just under a minute later, Kyle Kramer with a nice setup found a wide open Luke Gordon who beat Kirby Halcrow with a nice goal in close getting Nanaimo on the board. Kramer and former Vernon Vipers forward, Trevor Fitzgerald with the assists. The Clippers would get an early powerplay but again it was the strong penalty kill by the Vipers who did most of the work. Darren Nowick who worked hard and showed lots of hustle all night was very strong on the penalty kill. Nowick stole the puck on several occasions killing off valuable time before going in on a parcial two on one rush, Nowick was held to the outside before going inside-out on one Clippers d-man before getting off a quick shot from in close on a good chance shorthanded. The Vipers would kill off the minor. On the next few shifts the Vipers fed Adam Tambellini in the slot who with a nice move cut hard towards the net and then ripped a hard low shot that was stopped by Billy Faust who kicked out the puck making a huge right pad save. On the next shift former Trail Smoke Eaters forward, Clayton Cheesa on a two on one beat Kirby Halcrow but hit either the post or crossbar on a close call. Just shortly after the Clippers would go back to their second powerplay of the period but again it was the Vipers penalty killers that were the ones that made the difference. Former Nanaimo Clippers captain, Colton Cyr and Mike Zalewski on a two on one break, Cyr shot but was stopped by Faust who kicked out the rebound to a wide open Zalewski who hit the empty cage giving Vernon a 4-1 lead at 10:27 Cyr with the lone assist. The Vipers would kill off the remainder of the powerplay. Things slowly started to get rough as both teams started to take a few liberties at one another during the play. During back to back stopages in play some pushing and shoving occured as tempers slowly started to heat up. Former Vernon Vipers Head Coach & Gm Mike Vandekamp wasnt happy with a few of the officials calls as Vandy was yelling at the referees on a few back to back calls. Just past the midway mark tempers heated up as Turner Lawson and Josh Phillips dropped the gloves deep in the Clippers zone, at the other end of the rink deep in the Vipers zone a small melay broke out as the remainder of players on the ice got together with some pushing and shoving as the odd punch was thrown. Just a minute later Vernon would get a powerplay but unable to capitalize as the Clippers would kill off the minor. From here on in it was all Vipers as Vernon dominated the play. Nanaimo with just a single shot in the final nine minutes of play. At times it looked like the Vipers had the puck on a string being creative with the puck the Vipers created a few chances but didnt really come up with alot of good quality opportunties. Billy Faust was busy making several routine saves slowed down the play at times with lots of stopages in play. Aaron Hadley looking for his third of the night tried his second wrap around of the game but couldnt beat Faust who made the save with twenty nine seconds remaining in the period. Vernon with a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers scored two to take a three goal lead into the 3rd were the better of the two teams in the second period. The Clippers who didnt generate much offence were outplayed for most of the period. The Vipers skill really took over and showed in the middle frame. The Vipers outshot the Clippers 11-10.
3rd Period: Just over two and a half minutes into the 3rd Andrew Gladuik with a nice move in close tried beating Halcrow on the first shot was stopped before getting off two more shots but the Vipers goaltender who was down and out somehow kept his right pad down tight against the post making a big save early to start the 3rd. On the play Nanaimo would get an early powerplay but the Vipers would kill off the minor. The Vipers then just taking off as much time off the clock as possible played dump and chase up by three goals. The Clippers come very close to making this a two goal game after Kirby Halcrow coughed up the puck from behind his own net, Halcrow come out to play the puck, throwing it up the middle right on the stick of Josh Phillips who fired for the empty cage but Halcrow was very lucky come sliding back into his crease to make the huge save on a very close call. Not alot of action early on as the Clippers with just three shots in the first half of the period. Vipers captain, Patrick McGillis and Ben Gamache on a two on one, Gamache fed McGillis who didnt get off enough wood couldnt record a shot on goal. Vernon would get a powerplay at the halfway mark but the Clippers with a good penalty kill would kill off the minor before getting a powerplay of their own. Nanaimo with back to back powerplays couldnt capitalize as the Vipers would kill off both penalties. In the final minute of play the Vipers with a good rush towards the goal setup Adam Tambellini who beat Billy Faust but hit the post before Jedd Soleway collected the rebound beat Faust on the second attempt giving Vernon a 5-1 lead at 19:38 Tambellini with the only assist on the play. At the buzzer tempers heated up again as some pushing and shoving occured inside the Nanaimo blueline before the players were broken up as the Vipers would snap a two game losing skid with a 5-1 victory over Nanaimo. Not alot of action in the final frame. The Clippers outshot the Vipers 10-8.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Adam Tambellini (1 goal & 1 assist) Tambellini played very well this evening. I thought was one of the Vipers better forward units. Come up with some good chances, getting shots on goal and creating opportunities. This kid has a wicked shot and can sure snipe goals.
Aaron Hadley (2 goals) Played very well for the Vipers. Scored two goals and had atleast two other opportunities to score maybe two more. Battled hard down low and was a force in and around the Clippers goal.
Mike Zalewski (1 goal & 2 assists) Was also strong for Vernon tonight, good with the puck down low. Really reads the ice well.
Darren Nowick (1 assist) One of if not the hardest working kid on the team was very strong on the Vipers penalty kill. Stole the puck, created and generated scoring chances shorthanded all night. Really worked hard, skated hard and played with lots of hustle and energy. A very strong competator.
Geoff Crisfield played very well on Vernons blueline. Jumped up into the rush on several occasions. Played physical and was steady on the Vipers backend.
Kirby Halcrow (32 saves) Didnt have to make alot of big saves but did come up with atleast three maybe four good saves played well between the pipes. Halcrow who didnt give up alot of rebounds did get lucky coughing up the puck in the 3rd only managing to get back just in time to make a big save off Josh Phillips. Halcrow saw most of the Clipper shots wich makes his job that much more easier.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
After returning home with back to back dissapointing losses in Chilliwack and Merritt I thought the Vipers played very well tonight. This team has been very uncosistant all season and it showed again tonight. After a five game winning streak the team looks terrible in back to back losses vs Chilliwack and Merritt but comes back with a strong performance tonight vs Nanaimo. Its frustrating, why cant this team play like this on a more consistant basis? Not alot of mistakes, made some good passes, and timely plays tonight. Scored some nice goals and played well defensively. The Vipers defence didnt give up alot of second or third opportunties. I also thought the Vipers played very well with the lead. I was very impressed with the penalty kill. The Vipers looked very strong on specialty teams scoring once shorthanded but also getting atleast two good chances down a man. A huge win now puts the Vipers tied with 4th place Chilliwack for the fourth and final playoff spot.
Top Players: (Nanaimo)
Andrew Gladuik had a real good chance in the third period but played more of the agitator role tonight seemed to get under the skin of several Vernon Vipers through out tonight's game.
Luke Gordon (1 goal) I thought Gordon played fairly well tonight. Was one of the Clippers for offensive players.
Clayton Cheesa was another Nanaimo Clipper that got involved in some scoring chances. Had a great chance in the 2nd period on a Clippers odd man rush but hit the post.
Kyle Kramer (1 assist) Was one of the hardest working Clippers this evening. Tipped Graeme McCormack's point shot in the opening period but couldnt beat Halcrow who made a real nice pad save off the Nanaimo forward.
Billy Faust (38 saves) I dont think you can blame Faust for any of the five Vipers goals tonight. The former Penticton Vees backup goaltender made a few big saves tonight but overall played his position well coming out challenging the Viper shooters making several routine saves.
Game Thoughts: (Nanaimo)
The Clippers broke the glass not once but twice during warmup, something I have never seen before. This didnt stop Nanaimo as the team put one net up against the side boards and did their drills going across the rink. Mike Vandekamp faced his former team for the second time in his coaching career but the first visit back to the Wesbild Centre for Vandy. For a Mike Vadekamp team, I wasnt very impressed with the Clippers. Nanaimo seemed to stay with the Vipers in the opening period but as the game went on was outplayed and outhit. The Clippers with not alot of skill up front had troubles generating offence all night. Specialty teams was the difference as Nanaimo went 0-7 with the man advantage and also gave up a shorthanded goal. The Clippers powerplay was terrible. Overall the Clippers just didnt impress me. After watching Mike Vandekamp coach here for three seasons I was expecting alot more out of Nanaimo.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat (Injured)
Riley Hunt
Luke Juha (Injured)
Nanaimo:
Ryan Wells
Jared Chinn
Vipers energy player of the game: Brendan Persley
3 Stars:
1st Star: Aaron Hadley (2 goals)
2nd Star: Mike Zalewski (1 goal & 2 assists)
3rd Star: Adam Tambellini (1 goal & 1 assist)
For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977588&link=bchl
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