Vernon 3 Victoria 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 Vernon defeated Victoria 3-2 in front of 1,573 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon:  Danny Todosychuk
Victoria:  Michael Stiliadis

1st Period:  The Vipers come out strong and took it too Victoria early and often.  Vernon with lots of early pressure early cycled the puck well in the Grizzlies zone creating and generating several good chances.  Mark McLellan was setup in the slot after a nice pass but just missed the top corner after looking to have Danny Todosychuk beat.  Just before the midway mark "AP" Dallas Calvin making his Viper debut with a great chance in front couldnt beat Michael Stiliadis in close.  On the play the Vipers would get the games first powerplay of the afternoon (two man advantage)  Vernon struggled early as the Grizzly penalty kill was sharp killing off most of the Viper two man advantage but the Vernon powerplay would get going late after Michael Stiliadis come across the crease to rob Dallas Calvin with a huge glove save.  With thirty seconds remaining in the two man advantage the Vipers moving the puck well allowed Jason Bird to get a quick shot off from the point Bird's shot was stopped by Stiliadis who let out the rebound to Dallas Calvin who burried the rebound into the back of the net giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 11:09 Bird & Viper captain Brett Corkey collected the assists.  The Vipers would strike again under two minutes later Mitch McAllister setup Craig Martin who beat Michael Stiliadis at 12:55 giving the Vipers a 2-0 lead.  McAllister with the lone assist.  Off the next faceoff the Vipers come right back with a hard working shift that allowed Braeden Russell on the door step to get a great chance in front but Russell couldnt beat Stiliadis.  Vernon would get their third powerplay of the afternoon and capitalize after Ryan Renz setup Colton Sparrow on a nice passing play giving the Vipers a 3-0 lead and in full control of the contest.  Renz with the only assist on the goal.  The Vipers outplaying Victoria were outshooting the Grizzlies 11-0 at this point.  Just seconds after the Vernon goal Victoria would get their first shot with the man advantage and early on the powerplay would get their first of two shots on goal.  The Grizz with a few good chances early with the man advantage couldnt get back into the game after Vernon would kill off the minor.  In the final minute Dexter Dancs and Jaden Schmeisser dropped the gloves as tempers started to heat up between both clubs in the final minutes of the opening period.  The Vipers outplayed and dominated the 1st period were up 3-0 after 20 minutes of play.  Vernon outshot Victoria 12-4.

2nd Period:  The Grizz come out strong and ready to roll got the play in deep and took it too Vernon early.  The Grizzlies with some good pressure early had Vernon hemmned in their own end for the first few minutes but didnt really get any good scoring opportunities.  Logan Mick come down the right wing and let go a hard slapshot from inside the Victoria blueline that forced Victoria starting goaltender Michael Stiliadis to make a quick glove save.  The Grizzlies would get an early powerplay but it was Dexter Dancs who chased down a loose puck as Dancs and Michael Stiliadis who come out to get the puck got lucky as the puck went rolling by Stiliadis and just rolled by the side of the net coming very close to going into the open cage.  Victoria got the powerplay clicking, moving the puck around Danny Todosychuk had to be alert making three quick pad saves early keeping the Grizz off the board.  Todosychuk was solid on the penalty kill as Victoria with some chances couldnt capitalize as Vernon would kill off the penalty.  The Grizz with a much better showing in the second period really stepped up their game and turned things around taking it too the Vipers.  Victoria also played a very physical period really laying the hits on Vernon through out the period.  Victoria kept coming and didnt slow down after former Vipers defenceman-forward Turner Lawson with a great chance in close was stopped by Vipers starting goaltender Danny Todosychuk.  Todosychuk made two big saves off Leo Fitzgerald and then Lawson on back to back scoring plays by the Grizz.  Victoria would finally get on the board after Turner Lawson with a nice move in close, got off a quick low shot from inside the circle beat Todosychuk at 9:10 cutting the lead to within two.  Stefan Nicholishen & David Mazurek with the helpers.  The Grizzlies who dominated the play were outshooting the Vipers 7-3 at the halfway mark.  Just past the midway mark Andrew Tegeler went in for the breakaway but couldnt corall the rolling puck couldnt get a shot off.  The Vipers would then get a flurry of good chances but couldnt hit the net.  Craig Martin and Mason Blacklock in close couldnt find the target.  Mitch McAllister would get a parcial breakaway but was hauled down on the play with no call.  Victoria would get a powerplay and make this a one goal game after former Vernon Vipers forward Pearce Eviston avoided the check, went hard to the net and beat Danny Todosychuk at 14:30 as Vernon with a 3-2 lead.  Former Vipers d-man Zach Urban and DJ Jones with the assists.  Vernon who had lots of spark and jump in the opening period looked to be intiminated in the second period.  The Vipers with just two shots in the final ten minutes couldnt get much of anything going.  Turner Lawson with a great chance to tie the game couldnt beat Todosychuk who come up with a huge pad save with two and a half minutes remaining.  Both teams exchanged words at the end of the period.  The second period was all Victoria who outplayed, outhustled and outhit Vernon scored twice to cut the lead within a goal.  The Vipers up 3-2 after 40 minutes of play.  Victoria outshot Vernon 16-6.

3rd Period:  The final frame was pretty even in the opening few minutes as both teams went back and forth.  Dallas Calvin with a great chance was alone in front but couldnt beat Michael Stiliadis just a few minutes into the period.  The Grizz come very close to tying the game after Chris Alberttini fired a rocket from the circle beat Danny Todosychuk but went off the crossbar.  With traffic in front I dont think Todosychuk saw the shot.  Back come the Vipers with a great chance to jump ahead by two, Mitch McAllister and Liam Board on a two on one but Chris Albertini with a big defensive play broke up McAllister's pass.  The Grizzlies who were playing their third game in three days looked a little tired and not playing as physical come the third.  Dante Hahn with a parcial breakaway was stopped by Todosychuk who made a blocker save keeping this a one goal game.  I didnt see Geoff Crisfield on the ice or the bench in the third period.  Brett Corkey's point shot was just about redirected at the side of the goal after Colton Sparrow just missed the net.  The goal judge got trigger happy turning on the goal light but the puck clearly missed the net.  Vernon would get a powerplay come the midway mark after the Grizz would lose Chris Albertini who was given a two minute penalty and then a ten minute misconduct was gone from the game but the Vipers couldnt capitalize with the man advantage.  The Vipers got a bit of a scare after Danny Todosychuk was slow to get up after a small scramble in front of the Vernon net.  The trainor would come out and have a look as Todosychuk seemed ok and stayed in the game.  Mason Blacklock come close to giving Vernon a two goal lead after nearly coming close at the side of the net tapping home a setup pass but the Viper forward broke his stick on the play.  Victoria started to take over the play late in the game and forced the Vipers into turning over the puck.  The Grizz thought they tied the game at 4:58 after Danny Todosychuk and a Viper player got tangled up behind the goal, the puck was caught up in Todosychuk's skates before it slide into the crease.  A pile of bodies rushed the crease with Todosychuk falling on the puck as the puck looked to have squeeked out the back of Todosychuk and come close to the goal line a very quick whistle was blown just before the Grizz shoved the puck into the open cage.  The referee blew the goal off right away before getting together with the linesmen to discuss the call.  The goal was waived off as the whistle went before the puck crossed the line.  Vernon would get lucky as the puck was still loose in the crease when the whistle was blown.  With the Vipers in panic mode in the final few minutes the Grizzlies with all kinds of pressure were going for the game tying goal.  The Vipers with atleast two or three turnovers couldnt clear the zone or hit the empty net.  Victoria with a few shots couldnt muster any real good scoring opportunity ran out of time as the Vipers would clear the zone to kill off the final few seconds as Vernon upset Victoria 3-2.  I thought the first half of the period was fairly even but it was Victoria who was the better of the two teams in the second half.  Victoria outshot Vernon 14-9.

Top Players:  (Vernon)

Marc Hetnik I thought played a solid game on the Vipers backend this afternoon.  Hetnik made atleast two or three real smart defensive plays to keep the puck alive inside the Victoria blueline. 

Mitch McAllister who hasnt shown me much latley I thought played with alot of jump-energy.  McAllister who was very good for the Vipers earlier in the season hasnt been as effective the last month or two.  Played a strong game today, won some races, battled and competed hard.

Craig Martin (1 goal)  Played a very solid game up front for Vernon.  Martin who looked very good was in and around the net, creating and generating chances most of the game.  One of Vernon's better forwards.

Dallas Calvin (1 goal) Made his Vipers debut today and was probally the best Viper today.  This kid has some size, didnt play very physical but was always involved in the play.  Come up with atleast three or four scoring chances.  I was very impressed with the looks of Calvin. 

Danny Todosychuk (32 saves)  Who has been playing some very good hockey for the Vipers here in the second half played another solid game this afternoon.  The Vipers have a great goaltending duo with Todosychuk and Austin Smith.  Todosychuk looked very good making several big pad saves.  Didnt give up many rebounds and played his position well.

Game Thoughts:  (Vernon)

Coming off a tough loss last night to West Kelowna the Vipers played another good game this afternoon.  Jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead Vernon would hang on in the end for the 3-2 victory.  I thought the Vipers come out with lots of jump-energy and took it too Victoria who didnt have their legs going early.  Not sure what happened between periods but the Vipers kinda sat back and let the Grizz get back in the game come the 2nd period.  The Vipers with just six shots in the middle frame struggled and looked to be a little intiminated with the physical play from Victoria.  I thought Vernon responded better to start the third but again didnt seem to know how to buckle down and hold onto the one goal lead late in the hockey game, making several turnovers-mistakes.  Late in the game the Vipers looked to panic and couldnt seem to settle things down.  Just a little to excited they tried making that extra little move or step and it cost them.  Give the boys credit they held on to upset the leagues best.  This team has really been playing much better since the trade deadline and what has pleased me the most is they are improving and as a fan thats all you can ask for.  This team has improved the last eight to ten games and been playing more like a team.  Ive said it before, where was this team at the start of the season?  The Vipers last three or four games, if it wasnt for a good goaltender at the other end the Vipers would be riding a pretty good winning streak right about now.

Top Players:  (Victoria)

Chris Albertini played a strong game on the Grizzlies blueline.  Come close to tying the game in the third after hitting the crossbar and then made a strong defensive play to break up a Vernon two on one.

Mark McLellan was one of the more offensive players on the Grizz forward unit.  This kid seemed to play well and come up with a few nice plays.

Brett Hartskamp played a strong game for Victoria.  Was very physical, was hitting all game.  Very quick, moves the puck well was also involved in the play.

Turner Lawson who played last season with the Vipers played a strong game up front for Victoria.  Lawson looked good up front, getting involved in the play and coming up with a few good opportunities vs his former club.

DJ Jones (1 assist)  Played a strong game on the Grizz backend. 

Michael Stiliadis (24 saves)  Didnt look very solid-confident between the pipes early to start the game, but seemed to settle down as the game went along.  After giving up three first period goals played well making some good saves at key times in the game keeping his club in the game and a chance to tie or win the game.

Game Thoughts:  (Victoria)

The Grizz who were playing their third game in three days didnt get off to the start they wanted.  Victoria fell behind 3-0 early after a slow start.  The Grizzlies didnt have their legs going and didnt have much spark needing almost fifteen minutes to record their first shot of the game.  Victoria sure stepped up their game and turned things around in a hurry with a very solid-physical performance in the middle frame.  The Grizz really took it too the Vipers scoring twice making for a wild finish come the third.  Victoria with some chances in the third looked to be running out of gas as they didnt play with much physical presence.  A quick whistle late in the game maybe cost Victoria a point after a scramble in the Vipers crease the Grizz thought they tied the game with 4:58 remaining but a quick whistle saved the Vipers the win.  A late push by the Grizzlies couldnt send the game to overtime in a pretty entertaining hockey game this afternoon.  Victoria has a very big club that can comeback in a hurry, they play physical and move the puck well.  This is a team that could be hard to beat come playoffs.  Congrats to Bill Bestwick for a great job in his first season with the Grizzlies. 

Scratches:

Vernon:

Bryce Eviston
Michael Roberts

Victoria:

Kade Pilton
Myles Fitzgerald
Gerry Fitzgerald

Energy Player Of The Game:

Dallas Calvin (1 goal)

Three Stars:

1st Star:  Danny Todosychuk (32 saves)
2nd Star:  Ryan Renz (1 assist)
3rd Star:  Turner Lawson (1 goal)

For more on today's game visit the BCHL boxscore,

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1103133&link=bchl