I was at tonight's exhibition game as West Kelowna defeated Vernon 5-4 at Royal le Page Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Austin Smith
West Kelowna: Steven Myland
1st Period: The Warriors would get the games first powerplay early, recording just two shots on goal with not alot of sustained pressure the Vipers were able to kill off the man advantage. Not long after Vernon would get their first powerplay and capitalize after Brendan Persley setup Jason Bird who ripped a hard high shot that beat Steven Myland going crossbar and in giving the Vipers the early 1-0 lead at 4:09 Persley with the lone assist. A very rough and physical game with both teams hitting, laying out some good hard checks. Josh Bryan would drop the gloves with Warriors captain Matt Anholt as both players were tossed from the game. The Vipers slowly started to get rolling and after being outshot 3-0 early and needing almost three minutes to record their first shot on goal were now outshooting the Warriors 5-3 and again later on 8-5 as Vernon was carrying the edge in play. Shortly after a mini scrum formed in front of the West Kelowna goal as TJ Dumonceaux was mixing it up right in the middle of the pushing and shoving as the Vipers come out of the scrum with their second powerplay of the night. Vernon couldnt get much going as West Kelowna was able to kill off the penalty. Just after another mini altercation broke loose again in the Warriors zone as more pushing and shoving occured. Tempers were really heating up as both teams were showing alot of anger and frustration towards one another. The Vipers come out with a third powerplay, this time it was the Warriors who would get a great chance on a parcial three on two bt Austin Smith made a nice save as Vernon struggled with the man advantage. The Warriors would kill off the penalty. Late in the period another mini scrum broke out but this time in front of the Vernon net. Several players throwing punches as West Kelowna come out of the melay with a five minute powerplay. Mark Hamilton was tossed from the contest after given five minutes for crosschecking. Vernon was now down to just four defencemen. With both teams four on four to start the Warriors would eventually get the man advantage going. Adam Plant with a long dump in from the neutral zone took a funny bounce off the end glass-boards coming right out front where Ambrose Firkus hit the empty cage and a diving Austin Smith who was caught out of position as West Kelowna tied the game 1-1 at 15:02 Plant with the only helper. The Vipers would kill off the remainder of the five minute major. Just as the penalty expired Brendan Persley took the puck from centre going in for the breakaway but couldnt beat Steven Myland with two and a half minutes remaining on a great chance. Not alot of great chances for either team as Vernon had a slight edge in play. At the buzzer Braxton Bilous and Brendan Persley dropped the gloves as both players were tossed from the game. It was 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. Shots were even 13-13.
2nd Period: Just thirty six seconds into the middle frame TJ Dumonceaux stepped over centre and wired a hard slap shot from just inside the West Kelowna blueline that beat Steven Myland but went off the post. Dumonceaux with a ton of hustle gathered up the rebound and tried beating Myland down low on a second opportunity as Vernon with two good chances in the opening few seconds. On the same play Taylor Graham setup Brennan Clark who was able to walk in from the slot and beat Austin Smith fivehole giving West Kelowna a 2-1 lead just fifty seven seconds into the 2nd Graham with the lone assist. Not alot of room for either team as far as offence goes as both teams were playing a very physical, tight checking game. Vernon would tie the game at 6:03 after Dexter Dancs setup Liam Coughlin in front who beat Myland on a nice play in front. Dancs and Michael Statchuk collected the assists. This is where the wheels sorta fell off as shortly after West Kelowna turned it up a notch and slowly took over the play. The Warriors with some good pressure had three real good scoring chances. Taylor Graham from the slot beat Smith but hit the post. Morgan Johnston and Carl Hesler both had real good opportunities in close but couldnt beat Austin Smith. The Vipers defence started running around and got caught on a few plays leaving a few West Kelowna players open and it cost them. Ambrose Firkus went high on Smith at 9:47 giving West Kelowna a 3-2 lead, Mac Ferner with the assist. Just under two minutes later Liam Blackburn on a parcial two on one beat Smith at 11:31 giving the Warriors a two goal lead. David Pope and Brennan Clark with the assists. The Vipers couldnt get much offence going as West Kelowna was outplaying Vernon at this point. The next four or five minutes there wasnt much action at all as both teams just moving the puck with not alot of room. Both teams went several minutes without a shot on goal. Late in the period TJ Dumonceaux setup Logan Mick who got the Vipers to within a goal at 19:31 on a two on one. Dumonceaux with the assist on a nice pass. The Warriors with three in the second grabbed a 4-3 lead after 40 minutes of play as the Warriors were the better of the two teams in the middle frame. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 11-7.
3rd Period: The Vipers come out ready to go for the final period getting some good pressure early creating and generating a few real good quality chances. Just three minutes into the third Liam Coughlin setup Jason Bird who jumped up into the rush on a two on one just hit the bottom of the post on a great chance to tie the game. Just a shift or two later Colton Sparrow broke free from his man for the breakaway but was stopped in close by Warriors starting goaltender Steven Myland. The Vipers with all kinds of pressure and quality chances couldnt tie the game. West Kelowna without a shot in the first four minues of action. Vernon would get a two man advantage and capitalize on the second powerplay tying the game. With some good pressure and puck movement the Vipers with a hard working shift allowed Michael McNicholas with a nice pass setup Jason Bird for his second of the night at 8:55 McNicholas and Mason Blacklock with the assists. But shortly after the Vipers would get into some penalty trouble. West Kelowna with a shot with the powerplay didnt generate much offence as Vernon's penalty kill was pretty good killing off the minor. Once again the Vipers would take another powerplay, this time the Warriors with a double man advantage. But another strong penalty kill by the Vipers as Vernon would excape with the game still tied 4-4. West Kelowna would get a late powerplay, Brennan Clark was stopped on a great chance in front before seconds later Ambrose Firkus went high beating Smith for his third goal of the night giving the Warriors the 5-4 lead at 16:28 David Pope with the assist. The Vipers would get Austin Smith to the bench for the extra attacker with 1:30 remaining but would take a penalty sending Smith back to the crease. With Vernon shorthanded it was the Vipers with all kinds of pressure and forecheck as the Vipers with two good chances down low couldnt convert. With under a minute left Dallas Calvin with a nice indvidual pass setup Craig Martin on a two on one but Martin was robbed by Myland at the side of the net. The Vipers with all kinds of pressure late couldnt find the back of the net for a wild finish as West Kelowna would sweep the home and home series with a 5-4 victory.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Kenny Citron I thought played a heck of a first and second period until getting into penalty trouble in the third. With the Vipers down to just four d-men Citron played very strong in the first two periods. Was playing physical, jumping up into the play & blocking shots.
Liam Coughlin (1 goal) Playing in just his second game with the Vipers had a strong game up front tonight. This kid can skate, puck handle and read the ice well. I think Coughlin is going to be a real play maker with the Vipers.
TJ Dumonceaux (1 assist) Was this kid flying all night. Played with a ton of jump, was showing alot of hustle, speed and determination all game long. Dumonceaux played a heck of a game, was hitting, battling down low, working hard and giving it his all all night.
Colton Sparrow played a heck of a game for the second night in a row. I thought Sparrow was one of the better Vipers this weekend. Another kid that showed alot of hustled, battled hard, worked hard and played with alot of jump.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
I thought the Vipers played well but struggled in different areas tonight. Vernon didnt get as many offensive chances as they did last night in a tight checking, physical game tonight with not lot of room out there. I thought in the 2nd period especially the Vipers left a few players open and it cost them giving up two quick back to back goals. I was very pleased with the penalty kill, I thought other then giving up two goals Vernon was very good with the penalty kill tonight. Give the Vipers credit they were down by two and battled back. They battled, competed and fought very hard in the 3rd but just couldnt come up with the game tying goal on a few real good chances late shorthanded. They also played with just four d-men after losing Josh Bryan and Mark Hamilton. With the loss the Vipers finished the pre-season with a 2-3 record will open the regular season next Saturday vs Surrey at the BCHL Showcase.
Top Players: (West Kelowna)
Ben Tegtmeyer I thought was the Warriors best defenceman tonight. Jumped up into the play, was involved in the play, got some quick shots off from the point and overall was very solid on the blueline.
Adam Plant (1 assist) Also played very well on the backend.
Carl Hesler played well up front for West Kelowna. This kid was hustling all night, involved in the play and had a good chance in the 2nd.
Ambrose Firkus (3 goals) Had a very strong game. Was really skating, seemed like everything he through at the net went in. Two real nice goals and had an easy empty netter on the game tying goal on the lucky bounce off the end wall-glass.
Brennan Clark (1 goal & 1 assist) also played very well. Was involved in the play, made some nice plays to creat and generate chances.
Steven Myland played very well between the pipes making some big saves at key times through out the game.
Game Thoughts: (West Kelowna)
A very physical game that could have gotten out of hand after a wild first period with atleast three scrums and two fights. Overall both teams with not alot of chances in a very tight checking game. Not alot of room for either team to get moving out there. Overall I thought both teams outplayed each other at times or for a period or so but both teams were pretty even through out the entire game. Both teams battled, competed and worked hard all night in a game with alot of emotion and intensity. With the win the Warriors finish the pre-season at 2-1-1.
Here is a look at both teams rosters from tonight
Vernon:
Kenny Citron
Mark Hamilton
Michael Statchuk
Liam Coughlin
Josh Bryan
Craig Martin
TJ Dumonceaux
Mason Blacklock
Mike Iovanna
Logan Mick
Colton Sparrow
Michael McNicholas
Dexter Dancs
Dallas Calvin
Tyler Povelofskie
Brendan Persley
Ryan Renz
Danny Todosychuk
Austin Smith
West Kelowna:
Ben Tegtmeyer
Brett Mennear
Adam Plant
David Pope
Carl Hesler
Morgan Johnston
Ambrose Firkus
Adam Osczevski
Matt Anholt
Kylar Hope
Brennan Clark
Connor Bucsis
Taylor Graham
Will Peterson
Brandon Duhaime
Liam Blackburn
Braxton Bilous
Mac Ferner
Steven Myland
Andy Desautels
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