I was at today's game as Vernon defeated Prince George 7-2 in front of 2,098 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Prince George: Ty Swabb
1st Period: Kirby Halcrow had to be sharp early as the Spruce Kings would get two shots from from a sharp angle from the side wall as Halcrow was forced to make two saves within the first two minutes before the Vipers come right back, Marc Hetnik fed Ben Gamache who from behind the PG net setup Colton Cyr who beat Ty Swabb at 3:49 giving Vernon the 1-0 lead. Hetnik & Gamache picked up the helpers. Just a few seconds after the goal on the next shift Prince George would get the games first powerplay but it was the Vipers penalty kill that did the damage. Darren Nowick and Mike Zalewski on a parcial two on one, Nowick setup Zalewski who beat Swabb but hit the post. The Spruce Kings with just two shots didnt get much going with the man advantage. Just as the penalty expired Jedd Soleway cut through the PG blueline, ripping a hard shot that beat Ty Swabb but hit the post. Two minutes later Ben Gamache setup Colton Cyr for his second of the afternoon at 8:34 giving the Vipers a 2-0 lead. Gamache and Patrick McGillis with the assists. A minute later Vernon would get their first powerplay of the afternoon, Kirby Halcrow with a long lead pass found Colton Cyr who cut across the PG blueline on an odd man rush, ripped a hard shot that missed the net but Ben Gamache gobbled up the rebound and put the puck past Ty Swabb giving the Vipers a 3-0 lead at 10:09 Cyr and Halcrow collected the assists. Just a few shifts later John Knisley and Brendan Persley on a two on one, Knisley kept and shot but missed the net on a good scoring opportunity. Just a few shifts later on a scramble in and around the PG net, Aaron Hadley banged home the loose puck giving the Vipers a 4-0 lead at 12:50 Riley Hunt and Jedd Soleway with the helpers. This was the end of the night for Ty Swabb as Kirk Thompson came in for relief. The Vipers wernt done just yet, facing Vernon's first shot Thompson couldnt stop Colton Cyr who picked up his third goal of the game giving the Vipers a 5-0 lead at 13:10 Ben Gamache and Patrick McGillis picked up the assists. Vernon really opened up the flood gates and was scoring on just about every shot they put towards the net. Just three minutes later the Spruce Kings would get their second powerplay of the day, former Vernon Viper Jarryd Ten Vaanholt would get stopped in close by Kirby Halcrow, this was the only real chance of the man advantage as the Vipers would kill off the minor. Vernon would get a late powerplay that would carry over into the 2nd period. The Vipers carried the better of the play and were by far the better team outchancing the Spruce Kings up 5-0 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Prince George 12-5.
2nd Period: The Vipers started the period with the man advantage that was carried over from the end of the opening period. Vernon would get the play in deep, a Viper shot hit a PG d-man in front wich forced Kirk Thompson to come across the crease going the other direction before Thompson could change direction Patrick McGillis picked up the loose puck but fired his backhand just wide of the open cage on a close call. The Vipers couldnt get much going with the powerplay as the Spruce Kings would kill off the penalty. The Vipers would then get their second powerplay of the period but it was a turnover that got the Spruce Kings on the board. Marc Hetnik coughed up the puck at the PG blueline wich allowed Jarryd Ten Vaanholt to go in for the breakaway beating Halcrow shorthanded at 7:46 making this a four goal game. Tyson Witala with the lone helper on the shorthanded goal. The Vipers couldnt do much with the remainder of the powerplay as the Spruce Kings would kill off the minor. Just as the penalty expired John Knisley with a quick shot from the slot was robbed by Kirk Thompson who made a quick glove save. On the same play Jedd Soleway fought his way to the front of the net before beating Thompson at 10:42 giving Vernon a 6-1 lead. Thompson was down and out and looked to have asked the referee for goaltender interference but the goal stood. Sean Robertson with the lone assist. PG would then get a powerplay & only need four seconds to find the back of the net. PG won the draw deep in the Vipers zone, Ben Woodley's point shot was tipped in front by Gerry Fitzgerald at 11:40 making it 6-2. Woodley with the lone helper. Just a few minutes later the Spruce Kings would get another shot with the man advantage. Brett Corkey couldnt clear the zone wich allowed a turnover inside the blueline, a quick shot from the point forced Kirby Halcrow to make a tough save with bodies in front, Halcrow then down and out somehow managed to come across to make a big save off Myles Fitzgerald as Vernon would get lucky and kill off the penalty. Just as the minor expired Ben Gamache fed a wide open Mike Zalewski who was just coming out of the penalty box, Zalewski a mile away from everyone went in put a nice forehand, backhand move on Thompson as the puck just slide across the goal line as the Vipers were up 7-2 at 15:19 Gamache with the only assist on the goal. In the dying seconds Riley Hunt went racing for the loose puck as Kirk Thompson come way out of his crease to get the puck, Hunt snuck by Thompson along the side wall as Thompson checked Hunt into the boards at the buzzer as both players exchanged words with nothing major coming out of the check. The Vipers took their foot off the gas in the 2nd period and PG just didnt have much going for them all afternoon as the Spruce Kings couldnt get much offence going all game. Vernon was up 7-2 after 40 minutes of play. Shots were even 8-8.
3rd Period: PG would get an early powerplay just two minutes into the final frame but again no real pressure as the Vipers would kill off the minor. Both teams really slowed the pace of the game down early as the play got to be very scrambly at times wich made for a long slow boring period. With eight minutes remaining PG with the lone shot of the period as both teams were having troubles getting pucks towards the net. Prince George with another shot with the man advantage just past the midway mark capitalized after a quick lazer from Tyson Witila beat Halcrow at 14:21 making it 7-3, Ben Woodley and Jarryd Ten Vaanholt with the assists. Vernon would get a bit of a scare after Trevor Esau levelled Mike Zalewski in the neutral zone, Zalewski was slow to get up and was looked at by team trainers before staying in the hockey game. Just a few minutes later Riley Hunt with a energy shift laid out three checks before slowly going to the Vipers dressing room and didnt return to the game. In the final minute of play Ryan Renz and Sean Landrey dropped the gloves with twenty seven seconds remaining as Vernon would stay alive for atleast another game with a 7-3 victory over PG. Prince George outshot Vernon 5-3 in a very dull-non entertaining period.
Top Players: (Vernon)
The line of Colton Cyr (3 goals & 1 assist), Patrick McGillis (1 assist) & Ben Gamache (1 goal & 4 assists) was the Vipers best line. Cyr who looked good in a few games when first coming over in a trade with Nanaimo hasnt really done much the last few weeks but scored three today in a must win. Ben Gamache who has been injured for most of his stay in Vernon also looked good when first coming over in a trade with Okatoks but hasnt done much latley. Rumors are he is playing hurt-injured but really stepped up his play this afternoon picking up five points. Really read and saw the ice and play well today. Seem to really know where his linemates were and was very good in and around the net. Patrick McGillis worked very hard and battled hard for most of the afternoon. made a few huge defensive plays to get the puck out of the zone on the penalty kill.
Brendan Persley didnt do much offensively but played physical and laid the body on almost every shift, wearing players down.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
In a must win situation the Vipers won their ninth straight game on home ice in a big 7-3 vicroty over PG. The Vipers exploded for five 1st period goals before laying off the gas and coasting to a 7-3 win. I thought the Vipers passing-breakout was very good early to start the game and as the score became one sided the Vipers did end up making a few turnovers in their own end. Once up by five goals in the 2nd the Vipers took their foot off the gas and coasted to the win. Vernon is now five points back of the 4th place Chiefs visit Chilliwack Tuesday night in the biggest game of the season in another must win situation. The Vipers need to win their final three games and hope Chilliwack losses their final three games just to get into the playoffs. I have talked about it all season and it showed last night and again today, this Viper team is very uncosistant and has been all season. In a game where they didnt look good or play great last night come back with a solid win today over 2nd place Prince George. The Vipers who are also very strong on home ice, dont seem to play the same away from home where they have struggled.
Top Players: (Prince George)
I didnt think anyone on PG was very good today.
Game Thoughts: (Prince George)
For the first time this season I wasnt impressed with the Spruce Kings. Coming off a 4-3 win in overtime over Trail last night PG was finishing up a six game road trip where other then specialty teams the Spruce Kings didnt look very good at all. PG looked slow-slugish with very little offensive chances and didnt give any help to either of the teams goaltenders. For being one of the bigger teams in the league, very little physical play and really gave Vernon way too much time and space. The Vipers were allowed to walk in from almost anywhere and get a shot off or scoring chance. PG gave Vernon way too much space to create and generate offensive scoring chances.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat (Injured)
Luke Juha (Injured)
Colton Sparrow
Turner Lawson
Prince George:
Cody Bardock
Vipers energy player of the game: Riley Hunt
3 Stars:
1st Star: Colton Cyr (3 goals & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Ben Gamache (1 goal & 4 assists)
3rd Star: Patrick McGillis (1 assist)
For more on today's game visit the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977655&link=bchl
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