For anyone who could not attend or watch tonight’s Vipers game here are my
thoughts and views from tonight’s game. You may agree or disagree but we all
have our own view and opinion on any game we watch. This is my opinion and my
thoughts on how I saw tonight’s game. I try to be unbiased and give a fare recap
on both sides. Thanks for stopping by & visiting my blog.
I was at tonight's BCHL game after Merritt defeated Vernon 4-3 in front of 1,243 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Austin Smith
Merritt: Tyler Steel
1st Period: Both teams looked to be feeling one another out early as both teams got off to a bit of a slow start before the Centennials slowly started getting their game going. Vipers newcomer Cody Fowlie with a big hit off the opening faceoff made his mark early. Merritt needed just the first minute or two to get their game going before slowly carrying the play early. The Cents who have some speed this year moved the puck well down low, cycling the puck around Merritt controlled the play early but didnt generate any real dangerous scoring opportunities. Vernon would get a bad break and it cost them as Merritt opened the scoring early. Dylan Chanter's point shot went in and off Ryan Renz's stick past Austin Smith giving Merritt the 1-0 lead at 3:48 Chanter's goal was unassisted. The Vipers who couldnt get the puck into the offensive zone looked a little slow in the opening period as the Cents playing with lots of jump were the better of the two teams. Vernon would finally get the play into the Centennials zone about six minutes into the game but didnt record a shot on goal or really come up with a scoring opportunity as the Cents come right back into the Vernon zone where Jeff Wright snapped a quick low shot from the slot but couldnt beat Austin Smith who had to be quick making a huge toe save. It took the Vipers nine minutes to record their first of three back to back to back shots on former Vernon Viper Tyler Steel who played his position well making three quick saves. Just three minutes later Vernon would run into penalty trouble. Merritt would get their first powerplay of the night, the Centennials didnt do much early with the man advantage but with a scramble in front of the Viper net Smith was forced to make a tough save with traffic in front before the Vipers cleared the zone. Having just three seconds left to kill the Vipers would go down two men taking another penalty giving the Cents a very short two man advantage. The Vipers would kill off the three seconds before taking another undisaplined penalty giving Merritt a long two man advantage. Well the Centennials capitalized after Dylan Chanter setup Sebastien Pare who put Merritt up 2-0 at 14:46 Chanter with the lone assist on the goal. With the Centennials still on the man advantage the Vipers were able to kill off the penalty kill going back to five on five. The Vipers with very little offence didnt generate any scoring chances after Merritt who looked very good outplayed Vernon the entire opening period. The Cents were up 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. Merritt outshot Vernon 12-7.
2nd Period: Just a minute into the middle frame Pearce Eviston broke free going in all alone for the breakaway, Tyler Steel who was released by the Vipers two seasons ago made a huge pad save before stopping Eviston on the rebound. Eviston with two chances early couldnt get the Vipers on the board. On the next shift the Vipers slowly started to get their legs going early and created some offence. Brett Corkey's point shot was deflected in front by Craig Martin who beat Steel at 3:29 getting Vernon on the board making this a one goal game. Just seconds later Vernon would get their first powerplay of the night but it would only last a total of six seconds after Vernon would take another undisaplined penalty while on the man advantage as both teams would play some four on four. The Vipers used the four on four and open ice to finally generate some offence and get some play deep in the Centennials zone. Vernon who seemed to be playing with some energy come up with a few real good chances. Geoff Crisfield's point shot got through to a wide open Brendan Persley at the side of the net but Persley couldnt tap the puck past Steel. A few shifts later Adam Tambellini in front couldnt beat Tyler Steel who made a nice quick save in tight. The Vipers showing some good signs were playing their best hockey of the night early into the 2nd period. Just a few minutes later Jeff Wright tried to break free of Geoff Crisfield going in for a parcial breakaway but ripped a hard shot high and over missing the net. Just a few plays later Ryan Renz setup Cody Fowlie who beat Tyler Steel in front tying the game 2-2 at 7:18 Renz with the only helper on the goal. Merritt did come back with a good chance of their own after Dylan Chanter's point shot pinballed off two or three bodies on it's way to the net before Smith was forced to make a tough save. The Vipers were the better team early and in the second half. Just past the midway mark Brent Fletcher took a shot towards Austin Smith after the whistle wich Smith gave a poke with his stick back towards Fletcher this making for a small scrum in front of the Vipers net wich ended up behind the goal as some pushing and shoving occured. The Cents would come out with the powerplay and just twenty two seconds into the man advantage Tyler Martin's rocket from the circle beat wich looked to be a screened Astin Smith put Merritt up 3-2 at 13:40 Martin's goal was unassisted. Both teams played hard in the second half in a very entertaining period as both teams were very even in the second half going back and forth. Late in the period with the Centennials getting a penalty the Cents were unable to control the puck to stop the play. Landon Robin who has been very quiet this season held onto the puck making two nice moves down low before dishing off to Craig Martin who tapped the puck into the net tying the game 3-3 at 18:06 Robin with the lone assist. The Vipers who played a much better period scored three times in a very entertaining second period. It was tied 3-3 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Merritt 15-11.
3rd Period: Vernon come out hitting and played a very physical period laying the body early and often to start the third. The Vipers carried the play early but didnt really come up with any good chances before Cody Fowlie broke free going in all alone for the breakaway four and a half minutes into the period. Fowlie with a nice move in close missed the goal on a great chance to give Vernon the lead. Just two minutes later Payton Schaefer setup Richard Sabourin who gave the Cents a 4-3 lead at 6:32 on their first opporunity of the third. Schaefer with the only assist. Twenty two seconds later the Vipers would get their second powerplay of the night. With some good pressure and moving the puck well, Jedd Soleway was stopped in close after Tyler Steel made a big save from the slot before making another save off the rebound in front as traffic collapsed to the front of the goal. Vernon with a good powerplay couldnt capitalize as the Centennials killed off the minor. As the penalty expired Diego Cuglietta stepped out of the box joined the rush and got off a quick shot from the circle, Austin Smith made a big blocker save that was labbelled for the top corner keeping this a one goal game. The Vipers who played physical all period really laid the body on the Cents in the final frame as Vernon was outplaying Merritt most of the period. The Cents with just four shots in the first half of the period. The Vipers who are already out with four players lost Mitch Van Teeling who looked to have injured himself in a check along the boards in front of the Merritt bench. Van Teeling went to the bench and didnt return. With time winding down the Vipers would get Smith to the bench for the extra attacker with a minute remaining but it was the Centennials who battled hard along the end wall killing off atleast fifteen seconds off the clock. In the final minute the Vipers with a few real good opportunities come very close to tying the game. Colton Sparrow in alone in close tried putting a move on Steel but couldnt get it by the Vernon product on the same play TJ Dumonceaux was robbed after Steel made a huge pad save before a mad scramble in front of Tyler Steel forced a stopage in play with just eight seconds remaining. Aaron Hadley tried shooting a shot through traffic that missed the goal before the clock would run out on Vernon as the Cents improved to 8-3-1-0 and into 2nd place two points up on the West Kelowna Warriors. Vernon outplayed Merritt the entire period but just couldnt tie the game. The Vipers outshot the Centennials 13-6.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Cody Fowlie (1 goal) Was by far the Vipers best player tonight. Making his Vipers debut Fowlie was everywhere, played physical laying out some huge hits, really hustles and sees the game well. Saw alot of icetime and made some very smart heads up plays. Created and generated some chances, made things happen out there. Had a great chance early into the 3rd to give Vernon the lead but couldnt score on the breakaway. A very very good hockey player and great pickup by the Vipers.
Craig Martin (2 goals) Played well up front for Vernon. Martin has slowly come on as of late and playing very well the last few weeks.
Pearce Eviston I thought hustled and competed and played well. Eviston also with a breakaway early into the 2nd period couldnt capitalize on a great chance.
Landon Robin (1 assist) Hasnt done much so far this season but I thought played one of if not his best game as a Viper tonight. Showed some signs of offence and played well at both ends of the rink.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The Vipers have dropped three straight and fall to 3-6-0-3 having just three wins in twelve games. Vernon has just one win in their last seven games and two wins in their last nine games. Lots of unhappy Viper fans tonight, before and after the game. The Vipers got off to a bad start and couldnt recover from a 2-0 deficit. The Vipers who looked slow didnt show much life or offence in the opening period were outplayed & outworked fell behind 2-0. Again taking some undisaplined penalties wich cost them. It wasnt until the 2nd and 3rd when Vernon finally got their legs going, played with some energy playing and looking much better in the final two periods. Three straight goals in the second made for a very entertaining finish. I thought the Vipers played very physical tonight and were the better of the two teams in the final period coming up just short. With just three wins in twelve games the Vipers are digging themselfs a huge hole early into the season. In the end another loss in wich this teams needs wins and wins bad! If the Vipers want to show they are a playoff team and want to stay within reach of the teams ahead of them in the standings they need to get on a five or six game winning streak other wise this is going to be a very long season with no playoff hockey in Vernon for a second straight season. Lets face it this team is very uncosistant. Vernon needs to start playing a full 60 minutes.
Top Players: (Merritt)
Dylan Chanter (1 goal & 1 assist) Played very well on the Cents blueline.
Brent Fletcher really stood out tonight for me, I thought Fletcher played with alot of jump and energy and was involved in the play most of the night. Really battled and competed hard.
Brendan Lamont Not the biggest kid on the ice tonight but showed alot of hutsle and determination. Played very well at both ends of the rink, made some real nice heads up plays, as well as come up with a few good chances. Very hard working kid.
Payton Schaefer (1 assist) Took a high stick to the face I think in the 2nd period but stayed in the game and played well. Another kid who hustled and battled hard.
Jeff Wright caught my eye at times, thought he played well.
Tyler Steel (32 saves) Steel who was released after the 2010-11 Vipers pre-season schedule in favor of Bryton Udy has played very well against his hometown team. Steel didnt see alot of action in the opening period but played very well in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Come up with two huge saves in the final minute to preserve the Centennials victory.
Game Thoughts: (Merritt)
For the second straight season Luke Pierce has his Merritt Centennials playing their best hockey in many years. Yes I know its very early but I was impressed with the Centennials tonight. They have a very quick puck moving team that also plays very well defensively. Steel is solid between the pipes as Merritt sits in 2nd place. Merritt come out strong really taking it to the Vipers, getting that early goal gave them some life and jumping out to the 2-0 on the road was key. The Cents got off track a little in the 2nd period giving up three goals but still played well. In the third it was all Vernon but give Merritt credit they battled and hung in for the big win on the road.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Bryce Eviston
Mitch McAllister (Injured)
Braeden Russell (Injured)
Logan Mick
Merritt:
Bennett Huber
Vipers energy player of the game:
Cody Fowlie (1 goal)
Three Stars:
1st Star: Dylan Chanter (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Craig Martin 2 goals)
3rd Star: Richard Sabourin
For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1102854&link=bchl
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