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 Vernon defeated Nanaimo 4-3 in double overtime in front of 1,741 fans at the Wesbild centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Austin Smith
Nanaimo: Jayson Argue
1st Period: The Clippers come out with lots of energy and were really skating hard. The Vipers looked a little slow and didnt seem to have their legs going as a strong Nanaimo forecheck was giving Vernon troubles early and through out the period. Nanaimo would get the games first powerplay just three minutes into the opening frame. The Vipers penalty kill started off good clearing the zone atleast twice but Vernon couldnt hold off Nanaimo's powerplay as a Clipper shot or pass hit someone in front of the Vipers goal leaving a wide open Luke Gordon to beat Austin Smith at 4:05 giving Nanaimo the early 1-0 lead. Brendan Taylor & Colton Dahlen picked up the assists. The Clippers with a very hard working hockey club really pressured Vernon's defence with a strong forecheck most of the night, forcing the Vipers defence into several turnovers in their own end. Nanaimo with three quick three on two's about six minutes into the game couldnt capitalize. Ryan Renz with a solid defensive play broke up the first Clipper odd man rush, before Nanaimo missed the net on their next two back to back odd man rushes. Just a minute or so late the Vipers would get their first powerplay of the night but it was the Clippers who would get the scoring chance after Reid Sturos and former Vernon Viper Trevor Fitzgerald who broke out on a two on one shorthanded play. Fitsgerald with a great chance couldnt beat the quick glove hand of Austin Smith who made a nice glove hand save before Fitzgerald got into a pushing and shoving match with the Vernon d-man after the whistle. The Vipers struggled with the man advantage as Nanaimo would kill off the minor. Just two minutes later Vernon would head back to the powerplay, with a better man advantage the Vipers had better pressure before Jedd Soleway with a quick low crease pass setup Adam Tambellini who wired a hard low snap shot past Jayson Argue at 12:43 tying the game 1-1. Soleway and Pearce Eviston with the helpers. Just over two minutes later the Vipers would get their third powerplay and try for almost the exact same play as the last goal but the puck would hit a Clipper d-man in front as Tambellini was alone at the side of the goal waiting for the onetimer through the crease. The Clippers would kill off the minor. Late in the period Mitch Van Teeling fed TJ Dumonceaux in the slot who beat Jayson Argue but rang his shot off the crossbar. It was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Clippers were a slight better in the first half but the Vipers come back and had a slight edge in the second half in a fairly even played period. Vernon outshot Nanaimo 14-7.
2nd Period: Just a few minutes into the middle frame Adam Tambellini found Jedd Soleway driving towards the goal but Jayson Argue come across the crease to make a huge pad save off Soleway keeping this game tied. The Vipers struggled at times in the first half having all kinds of trouble breaking out-clearing their zone turning over the puck on several occasions. Vernon's forwards were playing way to high up and the defence couldnt make the long stretch pass without being picked off. Again the Clippers with atleast three odd man rushes in the first half couldnt capitalize. Not alot of shots or scoring opportunities in the 2nd period for either team. Just before the midway mark the Vipers turned the puck over inside their own blueline giving Nanaimo a three on two, Kyle Kramer with a hard shot from the slot beat Austin Smith but hit the post on a close call. Shortly after the Vipers would get their fourth powerplay of the night but again couldnt capitalize after a good penalty kill by Nanaimo. In the final two and a half minutes Kyle Kramer's long shot from just outside the circle was stopped by Smith who made a real nice pad save. In the final minute and a half Argue made a nice pad save off Jedd Soleway. It was tied 1-1 after 40 minutes of play. Very little scoring chances at both ends of the rink. Shots were even 6-6.
3rd Period: Vernon would get an early powerplay just 1:17 into the final frame but it was the Clippers who come up with the first scoring opportunity. With just one d-man on the man advantage the Vipers just about got burned after Reid Sturos with some good hustle tried going around his man for a parcial breakaway but couldnt beat Austin Smith who stayed with Sturos making the save. With a minute remaining with the man advantage Jedd Soleway with another nice cross crease pass found Adam Tambellini for Vernon's second goal giving the Vipers a 2-1 lead at 2:17 Soleway and Pearce Eviston collected the assists. But Vernon couldnt hold the lead for very long, with the Clippers pressing and carrying the better of the play Kyle Kramer setup Greg Fraser for the games tying goal at 5:12 Kramer and Michael McNicholas collected the helpers. On the next shift the Vipers come right back Pearce Eviston and Adam Tambellini on a two on one but Tambellini couldnt get wood on his shot on a great chance. Nanaimo carrying the better of the play kept coming and come very close to taking the lead after Trevor Fitzgerald was stopped in close by Austin Smith before Smith somehow kept his pad down making a big save off the rebound on Brenden Forbes in close. Both goaltenders made a real nice pad save off a quick shot from the point keeping this game tied. Vernon would get a bit of a scare after Geoff Crisfield took a bit of an awkward collision with a Clipper forward inside the Viper blueline. Both players went down but it was Crisfield who was a little shaken up on the play and slow to get up before going to the Vipers dressing room. Crisfield would be ok and return to the bench a few shifts later. TJ Dumonceaux who played very well tonight, turned up the jets went coast to coast but couldnt beat Argue in close. With about five minutes remaining Brendan Taylor with a hard shot beat Smith but hit the crossbar as Nanaimo come very close to taking the lead. On the same play the Vipers moved the puck up ice, Ryan Renz with a heads up play fed Craig Martin who beat his man wide along the boards cut hard towards the net was stopped in close by Jayson Argue before getting off a late second shot as the puck looked to hit Argue's pads and somehow find it's way into the back of the goal at 15:30 giving Vernon a 3-2 lead on a hard working goal by Martin. Renz and Brett Corkey with the assists. Once again the Vipers couldnt hold onto the lead and just under two minutes later with the Clippers really forechecking the Vipers hard Vernon would ice the puck and it would cost them. Reid Sturos won the draw deep in the Vipers zone, setup Trevor Fitzgerald who fed Josh Bryan whos pointshot somehow found a way through the traffic in front beating Smith tying the game 3-3 at 17:06 I thought this shot-puck was re-directed along the way but Bryan was credited with the goal. Fitzgerald and Sturos picked up the helpers. Vernon with two leads in the third couldnt finish the deal. It was tied 3-3 after 60 minutes of play. I thought Nanaimo really carried the better of the play for most of the third. Both teams with some chances made for a very exciting finish. The Vipers outshot the Clippers 14-10.
Overtime: Off the opening faceoff the Vipers won the draw, Brett Corkey got the play into the Clippers zone dropping the puck for Adam Tambellini who couldnt get off a good shot was stopped by Jayson Argue who didnt cover the puck as Tambellini and a Nanaimo defenceman went crashing into Argue and the Clipper goal hard. Both teams looked a little cautious early into the extra period waiting for the other team to make the first mistake. No real opportunities through out the first overtime but with about thirty seconds remaining Austin Dick snuck in from the right boards ripped a hard high shot that beat Smith but again went off the post. In the dying seconds Adam Tamebllini beat Argue from a weird angle but hit iron as well as both teams come close to ending it late in overtime. It was still tied 3-3 after 65 minutes of play. Nanaimo outshot Vernon 3-2.
Double Overtime: Michael McNicholas somehow was left all alone behind the Vernon net, McNicholas got the loose puck and tried stuffing the puck shortside but Austin Smith stood tall making two saves off the Clipper forward at the side of the net. Greg Fraser with a great chance beat Smith but for the fourth time tonight hit the crossbar on a close call. On the same play back come the Vipers, getting the puck into the Clippers zone before TJ Dumonceaux stepped over the blueline and wired a hard shot past Jayson Argue at 2:32 giving Vernon the 4-3 double overtime victory as the Vipers bench erupted onto the ice. Ryan Renz with the lone assist on the game winning goal. Vernon outshot Nanaimo 4-2.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Adam Tambellini (2 goals) Played very strong up front for Vernon. This kid has a wicked wrist shot. Tambellini with several scoring opportunities was very dangerous for the Vipers tonight.
Craig Martin (1 goal) Also played very well for the Vipers and created-generated some scoring chances. Had lots of jump and energy is a smooth skater that really played with alot of confidence tonight and made some real nice smart heads up plays.
TJ Dumonceaux (Overtime Winner) Played a heck of a game tonight. This kid was flying all night, played with a ton of speed and jump all game really adds alot to the Vipers lineup. Played at both ends of the rink, hustled and competed tonight. Hit the post in the opening period, really sees and reads the ice well, A very offensive minded forward who makes plays happen and in a hurry.
Jedd Soleway (2 assists) I thought played one of his better games in a long time. Soleway worked and played hard but also played well at both ends of the rink. Had atleast one or two scoring chances, also created and generated some goals assisting on Vernon's first two goals of the night.
Austin Smith (26 saves) Smith gives the Vipers a chance to win each and every night. Smith has really kept a struggling Vipers team in most if not all of their games this season. Made some big saves tonight but also has to thank his goal posts for a bit of luck.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Well after a huge 5-1 victory over the visiting Chilliwack Chiefs last Saturday, their biggest win of the season I really wanted to see how the Vipers would fair tonight. This team has been very uncosistant all season, I was hoping to see this team build off of last weekends win over Chilliwack and get some momentum going, hopefully put together a winning streak of their own. Well for the first time all season I can say after watching tonight's game I see some improvement with this team. The Vipers played very well in a very entertaining hockey game that could have gone either way. I thought Vernon battled and competed most of the night. I thought the passing wasnt the greatest and the Vipers defence had all kinds of trouble with the Nanaimo forecheck turning over the puck on several occasions. Other then that I thought the Vipers have put together back to back good games and for the first time this season have won back to back games. Let's hope the boys can build off of these two big wins and start to gain some confidence and put together a little winning streak of their own. Vernon now travels to Trail tomorrow night in a big matchup vs the Smoke Eaters, a team they are chasing in the standings. Former Vernon Lakers defenceman and Vernon Vipers Assistant Coach Bob Dever was in attendance tonight, as was former Vernon Viking goaltender Kenny Holand and former Vernon Lakers goaltender Murray Caton.
Top Players: (Nanaimo)
Josh Bryan (1 goal) Played very well on the Clippers backend.
The line of Michael McNicholas (1 assist), Kyle Kramer (1 assist) & Greg Fraser (1 goal) was the Clippers top unti-most dangerous line. This line was very crafty and always generate offensive chances. Saw alot of icetime and worked hard all night. Kramer saw alot of icetime, while McNicholas also saw lots of ice was very dangerous with and without the puck. A very skilled player that goes hard to the net.
Reid Sturos (1 assist) Was also very dangerous with the puck, worked and competed hard, this kid come up with atleast three different scoring chances. A very good skater moves the puck well.
Jayson Argue (36 saves) Played very well between the pipes tonight. Made some big saves through out the game. Plays very well positionlly, dosnt give up alot of rebounds and is very quick.
Game Thoughts: (Naniamo)
For the second time former Vernon Vipers head Coach-GM Mike Vandekamp made his return to Vernon as a member of the Nanaimo Clippers coaching staff. Things havnt changed much with Vandy other then maybe his tiraits behind the bench the Nanaimo Clippers have a very hard working, foreching, defensive team that is very hard to play against. The Clippers who forechecked the Vipers hard most of the night played very well defensively as well as positionally. Nanaimo moves the puck well and isnt afraid to back down from the pushing and shoving after the whistles. This was a very exciting-entertaining hockey game, in a game where either team could have won. Tonight snaps the Clippers two game losing streak as well as just their second loss in four games vs an Interior Division team. Penticton Vees Head Coach-GM Fred Harbinson who has been spotted at a few Viper home games this season was in attendance again tonight as was part owner of the Clippers and former NHL goaltender Kelly Hrudey.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Aaron Hadley (At World Jr A Challenge)
Colton Sparrow (Injured)
Brendan Persley (Injured)
Nanaimo:
David Iacono
Kevin Miller
Vipers energy player of the game:
Craig Martin (1 goal)
3 Stars:
1st Star: TJ Dumonceaux (Overtime Winner)
2nd Star: Adam Tambellini (2 goals)
3rd Star: Josh Bryan (1 goal)
For more on tonight's game visit the BCHL boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1102895&link=bchl
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