Tuesday, September 17, 2013

West Kelowna 5 Vernon 3

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 5-3 in front of 892 fans at Royal Le Page Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon:  Danny Todosychuk
West Kelowna:  Andy Desautels

1st Period:  Both teams with not alot of action early, alot of back and forth play with very few to almost little scoring chances at both ends of the rink.  The Vipers needed almost five minutes to record their first shot on goal.  Vernon would get the games first powerplay, with only shots on goal and not much pressure the Warriors penalty kill would kill off the penalty.  Just over a minute later a mad scramble in front of Vipers starting goaltender Danny Todosychuk, as everyone was battling for the loose puck, before the puck shot out of the scrum to a wide open Seb Lloyd who beat Todosychuk low giving West Kelowna a 1-0 lead at 9:22 Lloyd's goal was unassisted.  On the next rush the Vipers fired the puck in deep, the puck come out front to Mason Blacklock who though he had an empty net before Will Paterson slid across the front of the goal making a huge save, saving the Warriors a goal.  On the next play West Kelowna would get their first shot with the man advantage.  Veteran Divid Pope come close to giving West Kelowna a 2-0 lead after beating Todosychuk but hit the post.  The Warriors would eventually capitalize just as the powerplay expired, Carl Hesler setup a wide open Jordan Masters who beat a diving Todosychuk giving West Kelowna a 2-0 lead at 14:45 Hesler and Adam Plant picked up the helpers.  This goal gave the Warriors a extra boost of momentum as West Kelowna took over the play from here on in until the end of the period.  The Vipers with not a shot in almost seven minutes finally got a shot with a minute remaining and then again one in the final minute.  Not alot of scoring opportunities but the Warriors did capitalize on both of there's as West Kelowna was the better of the two teams up 2-0 after 20 minutes of play.  The Warriors outshot the Vipers 9-5.

2nd Period:  In the opening minute veteran Brennan Clark with a nice move come in the Vipers zone ripping a hard shot from the circle that forced Danny Todosychuk to make a nice save.  The Warriors would get an early powerplay and just about made it 3-0 after Jordan Masters went in all alone for the breakaway but Todosychuk made a nice save.  Off the next faceoff the Warriors won the draw back to Adam Plant, Plant's long point shot forced Todosychuk to make another good save, kicking out the puck with a nice left pad save.  West Kelowna with just three shots and a good Vernon penalty kill would kill off the man advantage.  Less then a minute later Jason Bird with a nice pass up ice setup Dallas Calvin for a two on one, Calvin setup Mason Blacklock who beat Warriors starting goaltender Andy Desautels at 5:22 cutting the lead to 2-1.  Bird and Calvin collected the assists.  On the next shift Dexter Dancs with a breakaway put a nice move in close tried beating Desautels fivehole but couldnt as the Warriors netminder shut the pads making a huge save in close keeping this a one goal game.  Vernon would get a shot with the man advantage at the midway mark.  Liam Coughlin would be sent in all alone for the breakaway but miss the net on a good chance to tie the game.  Mason Blacklock woul eventually tie the game on the powerplay at 12:37 with his second of the game.  Blacklock's goal was unassisted.  Under two minutes later Matty Saharchuk with a nice inside-outside move in the Warriors zone couldnt finish after being stopped in close by Andy Desautels.  The next few minutes become scrambled with both teams having trouble getting much of anything going.  Like the opening period, not alot of scoring chances at both ends in a fairly even played period.  It was tied 2-2 after 40 minutes of play.  West Kelowna outshot Vernon 14-11.

3rd Period:  West Kelowna would get an early powerplay just twenty nine seconds into the final frame.  A strong penalty kill by the Vipers as Vernon would kill off the man advantage.  Just over a minute later Vernon would get there shot with the man advantage, with some sloppy play in the neutral zone Brett Mennear stole the puck, going in all lone for the breaking beat Danny Todosychuk low blocker side giving the Warriors a 3-2 lead shorthanded at 5:04 Carl Hesler with the lone assist.  But just sixteen seconds later Mason Blacklock driving hard to the goal beat Andy Desautels shortside on the powerplay, tying the game 3-3 at 5:20 Blacklock's goal was unassisted.  This was Vernon's first shot of the period.  The Warriors would get a scare after Ben Tegtmeyer fell down with Logan Mick, both players fell to the ice but Tegtmeyer didnt get up.  The Warriors defenceman was in some pain and needed help off the ice, going off on just one skate-leg.  Tegtmeyer would return to the game later in the period.  Under two minutes later West Kelowna would go on the powerplay, as teams were going back and forth with the powerplays this period.  Adam Plant fed Ambrose Firkus who went high on Todosychuk giving the Warriors a 4-3 lead at 8:10 Plant with the only assist.  The Vipers just couldnt get anything going, several poor breakout passes ended up the the Warriors sticks as Vernon was having all kinds of defensive issues.  Braxton Bilous would head to the bench after taking a hit and looked to have something wrong with his arm-wrist.  Bilous didnt return to the game.  The Warriors carried the edge in play but with very little scoring opportunities.  West Kelowna put the game away after David Pope with a long low shot from just over the blueline beat Danny Todosychuk giving West Kelowna a 5-3 lead at 12:42 Seb Lloyd with the only helper.  This was a goal Todosychuk would like to have back.  Just over two minutes later a minor scrum broke out in front of Andy Desautels with some pushing and shoving.  The Vipers who had troubles getting bodies and pucks to the net all night recorded just their second shot of the period late, going ten minutes without a single shot.  Vernon's last shot was on Mason Blacklock's goal.  West Kelowna did alot of dump and chase in the final few minutes winding down the clock as in the end the Warriors would win their seventh straight over Vernon at home with a 5-3 victory.  West Kelowna was the better of the two teams and outplayed Vernon for most of the period.  The Warriors outshot the Vipers 10-2.

Top Players:  (Vernon)

Mason Blacklock (3 goals) was by far the best Viper tonight and the only Viper that really stood out.  Blacklock was one of the only Vipers who was skating, worked hard and competed.

Game Thoughts:  (Vernon)

The Vipers just cant win in West Kelowna, its been over two years since there last win here, a 5-2 win back on Saturday, September 24th 2011  Another dissapointing game-loss by the Vipers tonight.  Vernon with just one win in their first five games has now given up eleven goals in their last two games and seventeen in their last three games.  Things dont get any easier for Vernon as they host Merritt this weekend and Penticton next week before a home and home series with Surrey.  The Vipers need some wins and soon.  The Vipers didnt seem to have that jump-intensity like they did Saturday night vs Salmon Arm.  Both teams didnt have alot of scoring chances but it dosnt help when you only get five shots in the 1st and just two in the final period.  The Vipers had troubles getting bodies and pucks to the net all night, very little hitting, several turnovers defensively and nobody going hard to the net-going to those grey areas.  Two very undisaplined penalties in the third and a brutal turnover shorthanded wich resulted in the goal was pretty dissapointing.  The Vipers did play hard and have a real good second period but a very poor and dissapointing third. 

Top Players:  (West Kelowna)

The line of David Pope (1 goal), Jordan Masters (1 goal) & Seb Lloyd (1 goal & 1 assist) was by far the Warriors best and most dangerous unit tonight.  This line was very good and very strong tonight.  Pope has a wicked shot (hit the post tonight) Lloyd always seems to play very well against Vernon and Masters is very quick, can skate but dosnt like to backcheck much, plays high waiting for the long breakout pass.

Ben Tegtmeyer played very well on the blueline.  I thought his night was done after falling to the ice with Logan Mick.  Not putting any pressure on his right leg it looked to be serious, but the second year Warriors returned to the lineup and played well all night.

Adam Plant (2 assists)  Also played very well on the backend for West Kelowna. 

Carl Hesler (2 assists)  Can skate and move, picked up two helpers in the win played well.

Game Thoughts:  (West Kelowna)

With only nine shots in the opening period and very little scoring chances the Warriors took advantage and capitalized on there opportunities.  Scoring twice in the 1st jumped out to a 2-0 lead before giving up two in the middle frame.  West Kelowna with a few chances but again not alot of scoring opportunies for either teams tonight.  Both teams swicthed back and forth in the third on the powerplay but it was the Warriors who capitalized, scoring shorthanded and on the man advantage to pick up there third win of the season and pass Salmon Arm into 2nd place.  Give West Kelowna credit they played very well defensively only giving up five shots in the 1st and just two in the third.  Come up with a few blocked shots as well as played the man very well, not giving Vernon alot of time or space to create and generate chances, leaving the Vipers with little to no room for a shot to get through.  The Warriors battled hard all night and were fully deserving of the win.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Josh Bryan (Injured)
Tyler Povelofskie
Colton Sparrow (Injured)
Ryan Renz (Injured)

West Kelowna:

Jaden Schmeisser

Energy player of the game:

Carl Hesler (2 assists)

Three Stars:

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

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

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1231160&link=bchl

For more on tonight's game and the West Kelowna Warriors visit Jon Zacks Warriors blog,

http://thegeneralsreport.wordpress.com/

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