Friday, November 30, 2012

West Kelowna 7 Vernon 1

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 West Kelowna defeated Vernon 7-1 in front of 1,018 fans at Royal Le Page Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon:  Danny Todosychuk
West Kelowna:  Tyler Briggs

1st Period:  Off the opening faceoff Ryan Renz was caught way inside the Warriors blueline giving up the two on one as Seb Lloyd & Brennan Clark went in before Clark dished off to Lloyd who went in for the breakaway beating Danny Todosychuk fivehole on the Warriors first shot just twenty nine seconds into the hockey game.  Clark with the lone assist.  Off the next faceoff and just twenty seconds later Colton Sparrow setup Adam Tambellini on a odd man rush who beat Tyler Briggs tying the game at :49 seconds.  Sparrow with the only helper on the goal.  Two minutes later Braeden Russell setup Liam Board on a odd man rush but it was Briggs who come up with the nice save off Board.  West Kelowna come right back after Matt Anholt stole the puck from Ryan Renz before being stopped in the slot by Danny Todosychuk.  The Warriors with some good pressure deep in the Vipers zone took a 2-1 lead after former Vernon Vipers forward Marcus Basara setup Seb Lloyd for his second of the night at 3:30 Basara with the lone assist.  West Kelowna was the better of the two teams early and often carrying the better of the play.  Brennan Clark and Jetlan Houcher on a two on one was stopped by Todosychuk.  Vernon would get the games first powerplay but with no real scoring opportunities the Warriors killed off the minor.  Just as the penalty expired a shot from the side of the net went through the Warriors crease and out the other side on a close call.  Jedd Soleway took a stick or elbow to the chops and had to get some repairs done on the Vipers bench but stayed in the game.  West Kelowna carried the edge in play and was the better of the two teams in the first half.  The Vipers did play a little better early in the second half getting some pressure and carried the edge in play but didnt get any real good scoring chances before the Warriors would get back to back powerplays and blow the game wide open before the end of the first period.  David Pope setup Adam Plant who walked in from the slot beat Todosychuk giving West Kelowna a 3-1 lead at 16:50 with Pope and former Salmon Arm Silverbacks d-man Josh Monk collecting the assists.  On the second man advantage Vernon had two chances to clear the zone but didnt and it cost them after Seb Lloyd scored his third of the game giving the Warriors a 4-1 lead at 18:39 Adam Plant & Josh Monk picked up the helpers.  This was the end of the night for Danny Todosychuk who gave up four goals on thirteen shots as Austin Smith sporting his new goal equipment replaced Todosychuk in the final minute and a half.  The Warriors were the better of the two teams and outplayed the Vipers for most of the period.  West Kelowna was up 4-1 after 20 minutes of play.  The Warriors outshot the Vipers 13-8.

2nd Period:  Just twenty two seconds into the middle frame West Kelowna went on their third powerplay of the game and capitalized.  Moving the puck around the Warriors setup David Pope for a wide open net but it was Austin Smith who somehow come across his crease diving to rob Pope with a huge glove save leaving Pope shaking his head.  Pope would get the last laugh on the next shift the Warriors moved the puck around setting up Pope who beat Smith from the slot giving West Kelowna a 5-1 lead at 1:14 Seb lloyd and Adam Plant picked up the helpers.  Off the next faceoff the Warriors come right back and just about went up 6-1 after ringing a quick shot off the post.  A few minutes later Warriors captain Marcus Basara was stopped by Smith who made another quick glove save.  Brennan Clark left the ice during the 2nd and didnt return.  Atleast I didnt notice him for the remainder of the game.  The Warriors went up 6-1 after Matt Anholt's point shot was stopped by Austin Smith who thought he had it covered under his pads, but with no whistle Shawn Hochhausen went to the net found the loose puck in the crease before tapping the puck into the back of the net at 8:43 Anholt with the only assist on the goal.  Just over three minutes later Matthew Berry setup Ambrose Firkus who put West Kelowna up 7-1 at 12:04 Berry with the only assist.  On the next shift West Kelowna would then get their fourth powerplay of the night but it was the Vipers who had a pretty good penalty kill would kill off the minor.  Just two minutes later a huge scrum formed deep inside the West Kelowna zone with everyone pushing and shoving punches were thrown as everyone had a dancing partner.  In the end the Warriors come out of the scrum with the man advantage after Brendan Persley was given a ten minute misconduct and hit the dressing room.  The Warriors would get a four minute powerplay but unable to capitalize on the first two minutes West Kelowna would take a penalty as both teams played a little four on four late in the period.  The Warriors with three goals in the second put this game out of reach as the Vipers didnt record a single scoring chance this period.  The Warriors took their foot off the gas once they went up 7-1 as both teams kinda coasted for the remainder of the period.  West Kelowna was up 7-1 after 40 minutes of play.  The Warriors outshot the Vipers 20-15.

3rd Period:  The Vipers would get an early chance after Tyler Briggs was forced to make back to back saves off Braeden Russell and Liam Board before the Warriors come right back with an odd man rush.  Devon Hascarl and Brent Lashuk on a two on one but Hascarl was stopped by Austin Smith.  A few shifts later TJ Dumonceaux who returned to the Vipers lineup tonight went in for the breakaway but shot high and over the goal.  West Kelowna would call an early timeout before getting an early powerplay.  Vernon would kill off the minor.  Marc Hetnik had a great chance jumped up into the play and alone behind the net tried beating Tyler Briggs on the wrap around but the Warriors veteran goaltender come up with the big save.  With Vernon on a late man advantage it was the Warriors who come up with a two on one.  Matt Anholt and Brent Lashuk were hauled down as both teams played a little four on four.  With about four minutes remaining the Vipers with lots of traffic in front come up with atleast three or four good opportunities in close but it was Tyler Briggs who was down and out but somehow made three or four big saves.  In the dying ten seconds Logan Mick made a nice move around his defenceman before making another move on Briggs, looking to have the goaltender out of position Mick was unable to get off a shot before the final buzzer went.  The Warriors snapped a three game losing streak with the 7-1 victory.  With the game already over before the period started there wasnt alot of action in the final frame as both teams were just playing out the clock.  Vernon outshot West Kelowna 11-10.

Top Players:  (Vernon)

Adam Tambellini (1 goal)  I thought played hard, skated hard and was one of the Vipers lone bright spots.

Colton Sparrow (1 assist)  I thought also played hard, battled and competed and made atleast three maybe four shot blocks through out tonight's game.

Aaron Hadley who didnt show much of anything from the start of the hockey game really seemed to play with a bit of an edge and looked mean in the final three or four minutes of the 2nd period and into the final period.  Hadley played with some emotion and probally frustration but was hitting anybody in sight.

Game Thoughts:  (Vernon)

Last weekend & this weekend are two big home and home series vs teams the Vipers are trying to catch.  Splitting last weekends home and home series with Penticton the Vipers come into tonight's game-home and home series vs a West Kelowna team that has been struggling as of late.  Riding a three game losing streak and winners of just two games in their last eleven games tonight was a great opportunity for Vernon to make a statement.  So what happens they get blown out 7-1 and dont show up to play.  Ive said it all season, this team is very uncosistant and you just never know what team your going to see from game to game.  Where's the Vipers team that I watched defeat the Vees 2-1 last weekend in Penticton?  Saturday night's 3-1 loss at home to Penticton and tonight's 7-1 loss was not the same team.  This was a very dissapointing game and loss as a fan and should be as the Vipers team-organization.  I didnt see anything positive tonight from the Vipers side, this game was over before the end of the opening period.  You couldnt blame the Vipers goaltenders on any of the seven goals.  Vernon had maybe ten good scoring chances all night as Tyler Briggs didnt see alot of action.  Once again too many mistakes for this time of year.  With tomorrow's BCHL Card Deadline you have to wonder if the Vipers are going to shake things up or stick with this group that cant seem to get the job done.

Top Players:  (West Kelowna)

Seb lloyd (3 goals & 1 assist)  Played a heck of a game tonight.  I remember when West Kelowna played in Vernon back in October Lloyd was the lone Warrior to score that night and really stood out.  Well he played very well tonight.  Saw alot of ice and was always open and in and around the goal.

Adam Plant (1 goal & 2 assists)  Was very solid on the Warriors blueline.  A strong-smooth skater, moves the puck well, reads and sees the ice-play.  Jumps up into the play and makes things happen in a hurry.

David Pope (1 goal & 1 assist)  Played a strong game for West Kelowna.

Shawn Hochhausen (1 goal) Played very well for the Warriors.  Always seems to play well against Vernon.

Brent Lashuk played with alot of jump-energy, was involved in the play, had some chances.

Brennan Clark (1 assist)  I thought made things happen tonight, very involved in the play early.  I saw him leave the ice and the bench in the 2nd period and didnt notice him return for the remainder of the game.

Matt Anholt (1 assist)  Another kid who stood out, created some chances and was involved in the play.

Game Thoughts:  (West Kelowna)

Riding a three game losing streak and just two wins in their last eleven games the West Kelowna Warriors without captain Max French and injured Brett McKinnon made a statement tonight dumping the Vipers 7-1 in the first of three meetings between these two teams within a week.  Give the Warriors credit with some big-key injuries and in a slump they come to play tonight and jumped five points up on Vernon in a big Division game.  I thought West Kelowna's powerplay was very strong.  The Warriors capitalized on their chances and made the Vipers pay off their mistakes-penalties.  The Warriors are quick, move the puck well and show they can find the back of the net.  Up 7-1 the Warriors took their foot off the gas and sat back as both teams didnt really put up much in the final period and a half.  Max French took the warmup but didnt play tonight. 

Scratches:

Vernon:

Michael Roberts
Craig Martin (Injured)

West Kelowna:

Brett McKinnon
Max French

Warriors Energy Player Of The Game:

Brent Lashuk

Three Stars:

1st Star:  Seb Lloyd (3 goals & 1 assist)
2nd Star:  Adam Plant (1 goal & 2 assists)
3rd Star:  Shawn Hochhausen (1 goal)

For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1102966&link=bchl

For more on tonight's game & the West Kelowna Warriors visit Jon Zack's West Kelowna Warriors blog,

http://thegeneralsreport.wordpress.com/

No comments: