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 Vipers-Vees game as Penticton defeated Vernon 6-1 in front of 1,893 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Austin Smith
Penticton: Olivier Mantha
1st Period: The Vipers would get the games first powerplay, early just 2:11 into the game and halfway through the man advantage Demico Hannoun was robbed by Olivier Mantha who come across the blue paint making a huge blocker save off Hannoun who was alone at the circle. The Vipers couldnt capitalize with some good pressure as Penticton would kill off the minor. Vernon was firing everything towards Olivier Mantha and the Vees net early and often. The Vipers were outshooting Penticton 5-1 early as the Vees needed five and a half minutes to record their first shot of the game. The Vipers would come very close to opening the scoring after a quick shot from the point was redirected in front by Brett Mulcahy as the puck just went wide of the net on a great opportunity. Vernon with a good start to the game had a slight edge in play were outshooting the Vees 6-3 at this point. Penticton would get their first powerplay just past the midway mark and capitalize. Brett Beauvais's shot was stopped by Austin Smith before Erik Benoit beat Smith fivehole on the rebound giving Penticton a 1-0 lead at 14:35 Beauvais and former WHLer Shane McColgan collected the helpers. Just eighteen seconds later the Vees went up by two. Off the draw Ben Dalpe found Cody DePourcq wired a shot through traffic that beat Smith giving the Vees a 2-0 lead just seconds later at 14:53 Dalpe & Jack Ramsey with the assists. Penticton with two opportunities cashed in on both capitalizing on their chances had a two goal lead. The Vipers were stunned and couldnt recover looking lost for most of the remainder of the period. The Vees responded with two quick back to back goals now carried the edge in play in the second half. Very little scoring chances at both ends of the rink in a fairly tight checking game. At the buzzer a scrum would form deep in the Vees end as several players were involved before the referee's were able to seperate both teams. Penticton was up 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Vipers got off to a fairly good start, were firing everything to the net only had two chances couldnt capitalize before the Vees with two goals in eighteen seconds killed any momentum away from Vernon. The Vipers didnt know how to respond and looked lost after the back to back goals. Vernon outshot Penticton 13-9.
2nd Period: The Vipers come out hard to start the second period, getting the puck in deep off the opening draw the Vipers going to the net hard had a flurry of bodies in and around Olivier Mantha couldnt jam home the loose puck after a hard working shift to start the period. Penticton would get their second powerplay of the night early just 1:20 into the period. The Vees moving the puck around didnt get any real good chances as the Vipers were able to kill off the minor but just seconds later Chris Rygus found a wide open Jarod Hilderman in the slot who beat Austin Smith for his first of the season at 3:27 giving the Vees a 3-0 lead. Rygus with the lone assist. Both teams went back and forth again with very little scoring chances at both ends of the rink. Vernon would get on the board after Michael Statchuk with a hard working shift kept the puck alive inside the Penticton zone before setting up Demico Hannoun who was stopped by Vees starting goaltender Olivier Mantha before Logan Mick crashed the net banging home the rebound cutting the Penticton lead to within two at 9:36 Hannoun and Michael Statchuk picked up the helpers. The Vipers were rewarded after a hard working shift. Just three minutes later Michael McNicholas and Liam Coughlin on a two on one, McNicholas setup Coughlin who was stopped by Mantha who made the big pad save keeping this a two goal game as Coughlin couldnt get the puck up and over the left pad of Olivier Mantha. On the next shift Erik Benoit setup Shane McColgan who was left alone in the slot beat Vipers starting goaltender Austin Smith for his first career BCHL goal and first goal as a Vee giving Penticton a 4-1 lead at 13:10 Benoit and Steen Cooper picked up the helpers. A minute later the Vipers would get their second powerplay of the game but a good penalty kill by the Vees would kill off the man advantage as Vernon couldnt capitalize on their chances tonight. The Vees would get a late powerplay and once again make Vernon pay. Ben Dalpe setup Cody Depourcq who was alone in front giving the Vees a 5-1 lead at 18:17 Dalpe and Brett Beauvais with the assists. This was the end of the night for Smith who was pulled in favor of Danny Todosychuk. Smith allowed five goals on just fifteen Penticton shots. The Vees were up 5-1 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers with a good opening shift to start the period couldnt bang home a loose puck with a huge scramble in and around the Vees goal fell down 3-0 early couldnt capitalize on their chances. The Vees who took advantage of their opportunities were very optomistic. Vernon outshot Penticton 10-7.
3rd Period: Just a few minutes into the final frame Colton Sparrow fed Brendan Persley in the slot who was robbed by Olivier Mantha who made a big save, on the same shift back come Nic Pierog and Travis Blamleil on a two on one rush, Pierog would keep and get in close was stopped by Danny Todosychuk in close who made a nice save off Pierog's backhand. Vernon would get an early powerplay but again couldnt get any offensive opportunities as Penticton was able to kill off the penalty. With the game out of reach at this point didnt make for much of a third period as Penticton took their foot off the gas and Vernon was just playing out of the final twenty minutes showing very little life-energy. A pretty big scrum broke loose deep in the Vipers zone at the side of the goal with lots of pushing and shoving before the players were seperated. On the next shift the Vees would get their third powerplay of the night didnt really generate much couldnt capitalize as Vernon killed off the minor. Just less then a minute later Josh Blanchard beat Todosychuk low gave Penticton a commanding 6-1 lead at 12:10 Nic Pierog with the lone assist. This would send several of the Viper fans home early as lots of fans headed for the exits. A pretty dull and non exciting period with very few scoring plays at either ends of the rink. In the final minute and a half Brendan Persley tried getting Alex Coulombe to drop the gloves as both players headed to the penalty box. Persley looked very frustrated at this point. In the end Penticton walked away with a 6-1 win. With the game already out of reach both teams put up very little fight. Both teams with very little scoring chances were basically trying to just wind down the clock and call it a night. The Vipers outshot the Vees 9-7.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Colton Sparrow played most of the night with alot of jump and energy was really working hard, atleast in the first two periods until the score-game was out of reach. Sparrow has really stepped up his game as of late and been playing his best hockey of the season latley.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
After beating Penticton 3-1 back on September 25th the Vipers have not been able to solve the Penticton Vees losing four straight against the Vees this season. In a game with very little scoring chances at both ends of the rink Vernon couldnt capitalize on their limited opportunities. The Vipers were firing everything on goal to start the game but that didnt last very long. Vernon struggled offensively to create and generate chances getting a total of four or five good opportunities all night. The Vipers also struggled defensively leaving the Vees all alone on atleast three or four of the Vees six goals. Give credit to Penticton's defence they were very good, limiting the Vipers chances and shots. You also have to give the Vipers a little credit for limiting the Vees to just twenty three shots but it was Penticton that was optomistic and pounced on their chances scoring those big goals on limited opportunities. I didnt think Vernon played well enough to win tonight's game no matter what the score was. I think the turning point was Penticton's two goals in eighteen seconds in the opening period. The Vipers were stunned, and didnt know how to react or what to do after the two back to back Vees goals. Vernon looked lost and didnt seem to know how to respond after the back to back goals. I thought this would have been a perfect time for a timeout, settle the boys down, let them know its still early, play hard, try and get the next goal because you know the next goal is the biggest goal. And look who scored the next goal.... Penticton grabbed the third goal taking a 3-0 lead and basically putting the game away at that point. I thought the Vipers played well in spurts but didnt create or generate much offence in a game that you need to beat a team like Penticton. Most of the Viper shots were from well outside, the Vipers also could have used a big save sometime in the 1st or 2nd period to stay within a goal or two and still have a chance to climb back in the game. Vernon who is much bigger needed to play and be very physical, drive to the net, get bodies in and around the goal, make Olivier Mantha's job that much tougher to see and stop pucks. I didnt see the Vipers with much jump-energy all night, the Vipers looked lifeless through out most of the night. This is not the time of year you want to go in the tank but the Vipers are fading and fading fast, this team isnt getting better, there getting worse as the season goes along. The Vipers havnt been the same team since mid December and this all started with a 4-2 loss in Salmon Arm in mid December. Since that game the Vipers have struggled and have been very inconsistant. What happened to Demico Hannoun and Michael McNicholas? The two leading scorers-point getters on the Vipers havnt done much since before Christmas. I also dont like the recent two trades around the BCHL trade deadline as both two new Vipers have been almost invisible. Back to back losses Vernon has just one win in their last five games and three wins in their last ten. I said before tonight's game if the Vipers dont win both of these big games this weekend Vernon will miss the playoffs for a third year in a row. It dosnt get any easier after tonight as the Vipers have a tough schedule for the remainder of the season and need to get things turned around and in a hurry or they will miss the playoffs once again.
Top Players: (Penticton)
Brett Beauvais (2 assists) Played a very strong-physical game on the Vees backend. Beauvais played very well two weeks ago in a Penticton 2-1 victory here in Vernon. This kid is very good, hard to beat one on one and dosnt back down from the rough stuff.
Alex Coulombe also played very well on the blueline. A bigger kid also played physical, didnt back down and was very good in and around the net defensively.
Ben Dalpe (2 assists) Played very well for Penticton. Took a couple of big hits tonight but kept going strong all night. Not one of the biggest kids but plays big, goes hard to the net, goes to the grey areas.
Cody DePourcq (2 goals) This kid always seems to play well against Vernon. Another kid who dosnt have the size but isnt afraid to go to the net, battle down low, in and around the net, and works very hard for his goals-assists. A good quick skater, can really see and read the ice.
Erik Benoit (1 goal & 1 assist) In two games now that I have seen Benoit play, the Vees picked up a very good hockey player. Benoit was by far the Vees best player tonight, atleast I thought. Generates and creates chances, goes to the net, can skate and works hard all night. A great addition to the Vees lineup.
Chris Rygus (1 assist) Another kid who plays well against the Vipers. Well atleast the last two games. Rygus another big d-man that played very well on the Vees backend.
Shane McColgan (1 goal & 1 assist) Recorded his first career BCHL goal and first point-points as a Vee since being signed on the BCHL trade deadline. I thought McColgan played hard all night, was in and along the boards all night, battled and competed hard, was left alone in the slot for the Vees fifth goal seemed to be in the right place at the right time.
Game Thoughts: (Penticton)
After losing three straight games for the first time all season you knew Fred Harbinson and the Vees were going to be looking for blood and they found it tonight with a commanding 6-1 win over the Vipers. This was a big greasy road win for Penticton who have been struggling as of late. The Vees with just three wins in their last nine games before tonight had troubles scoring as of late but opened the flood gates tonight scoring six times. I wouldnt say Penticton played one of their most complete games thats for sure but give the Vees credit, they did a great job at limiting the Vipers opportunities, kept the Vipers to the outside most of the night and played very well defensively. Both teams had troubles generating offence but give Penticton credit, they scored and capitalized on their chances. This team is very quick, moves the puck well and very optomistic with the puck. You give this team a man open or a lane open and there going to find the back of the net and make you pay everytime. This team plays hard and competes hard for a full sixty minutes and earns there goals and wins.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Mark Hamilton (Injured)
Mason Blacklock (Injured)
Penticton:
Max Coatta
Energy player of the game:
Shane McColgan (1 goal & 1 assist)
Three Stars:
1st Star: Cody Depourcq (2 goals)
2nd Star: Erik Benoit (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Ben Dalpe (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=1231490&link=bchl
For more on tonight's game and the Penticton Vees, visit Fraser Rodgers Penticton Vees blog,
http://pentictonvees.wordpress.com/
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