Penticton 4 Vernon 2

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 as Penticton defeated Vernon 4-2 in front of 1,675 fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon:  Austin Smith
Penticton:  Chad Katunar

1st Period:  1:05 into the opening frame Brad McClure tried splitting the Vernon defence before losing control of the puck and going down to the ice after just about sneaking through the two Viper d-men for a parcial breakaway.  Both teams were very evenly matched for most of tonight's game as the play went back and forth early with no real good scoring chances at either ends of the rink.  The Vees would get the games first powerplay giving Penticton an early man advantage.  The Vees with just one chance come very close to opening the scoring after highly touted Louie Nanne couldnt connect on a slap pass from the slot getting off a weak shot that went through the crease missing a wide open cage.  Vernon would kill off the penalty.  Brendan Persley would get the Vipers first scoring oportunity of the night after trying to get off a quick shot from the side of the goal crease but Chad Katunar wasnt moving staying tight against the post as Persley gave a few extra wacks before the whistle went.  A very quick opening period with some good back and forth play but with very little scoring chances.  Austin Smith made his biggest save of the 1st after making a quick glove save off Ryan Gropp in the slot.  The Vees with another great chance to open the scoring after Cody Depourq and Alex Jewell on an odd man rush, Smith stopped Depourq making the big pad save kicking out a big rebound to a wide open Jewell who couldnt connect on the rebound missing the open net on a glorious chance.  Adam Tambellini with a great chance at the other end couldnt beat Katunar.  Vernon would open the scoring after a smart heads up play by Michael Statchuk who made the long lead pass up ice, before a breakdown in the neutral zone where Adam Tambellini scooped up the loose puck breaking by his man before going in all alone for the breakaway putting a nice move going fivehole on Chad Katunar giving the Vipers a 1-0 lead at 15:20 Tambellini's goal was unassisted.  Three minutes later Penticton would get their second powerplay of the night and capitalize early after Michael Rebry beat Austin Smith in close tying the game 1-1 at 19:17 Troy Stecher and Sam Mellor collected the helpers.  On the next play Pearce Eviston with a huge hit inside the Vees zone on Dexter Dancs, Dancs didnt like the hit going after Eviston as both players dropped the gloves.  On the next faceoff before the puck was dropped both teams were exchanging words while Aaron Hadley and Sam Mellor exchanged a few words while both players gave each other a wack with their sticks as both players were spereated.  At the buzzer more pushing and shoving occured deep in the Vees zone as tempers started to heat up a little in the final minute of play.  A very quick first period with not alot of scoring chances in a very evenly matched period.  It was 1-1 after 20 minutes of play.  Penticton outshot Vernon 11-9.

2nd Period:  Just fourty five seconds into the second frame Brendan Persley one on one got off a hard low shot from the circle that Chad Katunar was forced to make a tough but big left pad save keeping this game tied.  The Vipers would get an early powerplay getting their first man advantage of the night.  Vernon would struggle with the powerplay getting just a single shot.  In the dying seconds of the powerplay Vernon couldnt clear their zone just as the penalty expired, Brendan Persley forced a turnover inside the Vipers zone as veteran Wade Murphy capitalized on a Viper turnover jumping on the loose puck and wiring a hard shot blocker side past Austin Smith at 4:23 giving the Vees a 2-1 lead.  Louie Nanne & Brad McClure with the assists.  Just three minutes later the Vipers would jump right back on another powerplay but again Vernon would struggle with the man advantage having all kinds of trouble setting up as Penticton would kill off the minor.  Just as the penalty expired Michael Stachuk raced deep into the Penticton zone to collect the puck before making a nice pass out front where Brendan Persley couldnt connect on a great chance. On the same play Penticton would get their third powerplay of the night, moving the puck well Wade Murphy with a quick shot from the top of the circle couldnt beat Smith who made a nice glove save and then Smith stopped Sam Mellor from a quick shot from the slot.  The Vipers penalty kill was also pretty good killing off the minor.  The Vees slowly started to carry the edge in play and were the better team in the second half.  Penticton won alot of draws and battles down low in the 2nd period.  The Vees with some good push in the second half were moving the puck well down low and using their body and speed to win the battles along the wall.  Michael Rebry with a quick shot from the slot couldnt beat Austin Smith who made a nice glove save, his second of the game.  Penticton would get their fourth powerplay of the game late in the period.  Again some good pressure but this time the Vees couldnt get pucks through towards the net.  Aaron Hadley with a big block before Michael Statchuk getting his stick in the way of a shot from the point that deflected the puck up into the stands as Vernon would kill off the penalty.  The Vipers with two good chances in the first half also had back to back powerplays, couldnt capitalize before the Vees come back with two powerplays of their own and some good pressure in the second half.  Penticton with an early goal off a turnover was the better team in the second half was up 2-1 after 40 minutes of play.  The Vees outshot the Vipers 13-9.

3rd Period:  With Vernon down a goal heading into the final frame the Vipers come out hard and had atleast four or five real good chances early.  First Colton Sparrow got the puck in deep, showed some hard work along the wall beat his man before winning the battle behind the goal setup Pearce Eviston in the slot who was robbed by Chad Katunar who come up with a huge left pad save just a minute and a half into the third.  The Vipers kept coming, just two minutes later TJ Dumonceaux carried the play across the Vees line setup a wide open Landon Robin in the slot who was stoned by Katunar who again made another big pad save.  The Vipers with two big opportunities in the first few minutes.  The Vipers then thought they come close to tying the game or atleast thought they deserved a penalty shot after Katunar was going down with traffic in front the puck looked to have got through the Vees goaltender before Troy Stecher dove across the crease and looked to have put his hand over the puck to stop the puck from going in before Katunar fell on the puck before the whistle went.  The Vipers argued the play but no goal or penalty shot was rewarded.  Vernon would then get an early powerplay, Aaron Hadley got through the Penticton defence going in for the parcial breakaway but with a Vees d-man right behind him Hadley was in too deep couldnt lift the puck up and over a sliding Katunar who just stuck out his right pad to make a huge pad save keeping this a one goal game.  The Vipers still on the man advantage moved the puck around well setup captain Brett Corkey for a quick shot from the point that just went wide, Corkey would get the puck back again for another rip from the point this time Katunar come out to challenge went down making another big save.  The Vipers with some good pressure couldnt beat Katunar as the Vees killed off the minor.  On the next play Marc Hetnik stepped into one from the point but again Chad Katunar come out to challenge making another big save.  Penticton with just one shot in the first seven minutes as the Vipers were really pouring on the pressure early and often.  On the next play Vernon would get its second powerplay of the period.  Brett Corkey with another quick shot from the point was stopped by Katunar.  With the Vees attacking and sending two forwards high this forced a turnover at the Vees blueline as Wade Murphy would steel the missed pass, carry the play into the Vernon zone, go around Corkey before snapping a low shot under the right pad of Austin Smith giving the Vees a 3-1 lead at 8:35 Murphy's shorthanded goal was unassisted.  This is a goal I think Smith would like back.  The Vipers defence got too fancy with the puck and caused the turnover wich resulted in the goal.  With the Vipers still on the man advantage the Vees would win the draw and come right back on a two on one, Cam Amantea and Dexter Dancs couldnt connect as the Vipers got lucky.  Penticton was able to kill off the remainder of the penalty kill up by two goals.  Vernon really took it too the Vees in the first half were the better of the two teams but the Vipers couldnt beat Chad Katunar.  In the second half the Vipers got a bit of a lucky break-bounce after Chad Katunar come out behind his goal to get the puck but fired the puck around the boards right to Pearce Eviston who chopped a high shot up and over Katunar as the puck dropped in the crease a charging Aaron Hadley was there at the side of the blue paint to tap in the puck getting Vernon to within a goal at 11:42 Eviston and Adam Tambellini with the helpers.  Penticton then tightened up defensivly in the second half as both teams slowed down a litte over the next few minutes.  The Vipers finally got the offence going with about four minutes remaining but just as soon as Austin Smith was thinking of heading to the bench for the extra attacker, Aaron Hadley was called for slashing in the final two minutes on a bad call.  Hadley did slash a Vees stick but the play went on for atleast twenty seconds before the referee made the call.  There was no call being made when the slash took place, as the Vipers moved the puck around the boards the call was then made giving Penticton a late powerplay.  The Vees didnt take long to capitalize after Sam Mellor setup Wade Murphy in front giving the Vees a 4-2 lead at 18:20 Mellor with the lone assist.  Vernon would keep Smith between the pipes, get the play in deep but as time wound down the Vipers couldnt get the puck towards the goal as the Vees would defeat the Vipers 4-2 to improve to a league best 8-1.  The Vipers outplayed the Vees for most of the period and were the better of the two teams but couldnt beat Chad Katunar.  Penticton's specialty teams was the difference in the third, one shorthanded and one powerplay goal sealed the victory.  Vernon outshot Penticton 11-7.

Top Players:  (Vernon)

Brett Corkey played very well at both ends of the rink tonight.

Michael Statchuk was very good on the Vipers blueline, played one of his better games of the season.

Adam Tambellini (1 goal & 1 assist) Played very well for the Vipers.  Tambellini who scored once created a few scoring opportunities this evening.

Aaron Hadley (1 goal)  I thought played with alot of jump and energy tonight.  Really battled and played hard most of the game.  Had a great chance to tie the game early in the third but just couldnt raise the puck up and over the right pad of Chad Katunar.

Brendan Persley who always plays hard, played well tonight.  Had a few good scoring chances, also battled and competed hard, played physical and wore down his ooponents.

Game Thoughts:  (Vernon)

I thought the Vipers played hard and had chances to win tonight's game.  Vernon played and competed with the Vees for most of the night, two turnovers and specialty teams was the difference.  After struggling with an early powerplay, the Vees kill off the penalty then capitalize on a turnover inside the Vipers zone.  While on the man advantage the Vipers make one too many passes at the blueline, a turnover and the Vees score shorthanded to grab a two goal lead.  Penticton with two powerplay goals and one shorthanded goal was the difference.  I thought the Vipers matched up fairly well against the Vees, just a few little things were the difference.  Tonight was a game Vernon could have won.  I thought tonight was a fairly even and entertaining hockey game.  The Vipers have now lost three straight and have just two wins in eight games this season.  Just like last year the Vipers look to have troubles winning on the road with just one win in four road games so far this season.  The Vipers have to forget about tonight and regroup for tomorrow's game vs West Kelowna.  The Vipers have a tough month of October, lets see how they do.

Top Players:  (Penticton)

Ryan Gropp played well, a bigger kid that is also quick and moves the puck well.

Michael Rebry (2 goals) I really liked the looks of this kid.  Very quick, moves the puck well and has a quick shot.  Was very active with and without the puck tonight coming up with a few good opportunities.

Rob Mann played very well on the Vees backend tonight.

Troy Stecher (1 assist) Plays a ton for Penticton, almost out every third shift.  Played very well at both ends of the rink.

Brad McClure (1 assist)  I liked the looks of this kid.  Another player who was involved in the play and come up with a few good chances.

Chad Katunar (27 saves)  Made his biggest saves of the night in the third period.  Made several huge pad saves as well as tough saves from the slot-point giving his team a chance to win.  Other then the turnover giving the puck away to Pearce Eviston wich gave Vernon their second goal Katunar played very well between the pipes.

Game Thoughts:  (Penticton)

The Vees are no where near having the all-star team they had last season, but with just four returning players give Fred Harbinson and the Vees full credit for putting together another solid club this season.  The Vees sit atop the BCHL with a 8-1 record and look good.  The Vees dont have the firepower or offensive threat as they did last season but still have some players that can make you pay.  I thought the Vees are quick, move the puck well and hungry along the boards, winning alot of the battles and one on one wars.  Penticton was good on the faceoff and has a fairly good powerplay.  The Vees capitalize on their chances and took advantage of Vernon's mistakes. This is a young team that will just get better as the season moves on.  The Vees are already ten points up on Vernon and pulling away slowly.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Mitch McAllister (Injured)
Braeden Russell (Injured)
Kevin Guiltinan

Penticton:

Jordan McCallum
Mitchell Ferguson

Energy Player of the game:

Troy Stecher (1 assist)

Three Stars:

1st Star:  Michael Rebry (2 goals)
2nd Star:  Adam Tambellini (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star:  Chad Katunar (27 saves)

For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1102822&link=bchl