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-Clippers game as Vernon defeated Nanaimo 6-2 in front of 1,823 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Andrew Shortridge
Nanaimo: Jonathan Reinhart
1st Period: Just fifty one seconds into the opening frame Liam Finlay with a burst of speed come into the Clippers zone before setting up Steven Jandric who ripped a quick high shot couldnt beat Jonathan Reinhart to made a big blocker save on a good scoring opportunity by Vernon in the opening minute. On the next play-shift Nanaimo would get the games first powerplay, just 1:20 into the game. The Clippers had trouble getting pucks to the net didnt get a single shot on the man advantage until DJ Petruzzelli walked in down low couldnt beat Andrew Shortridge who made a big save in the dying seconds of the PP before Vernon would kill off the minor. Seconds after the powerplay expired the Vipers come back with a good hard working shift. Michael Roberts got the play in deep before Joe Cipollone setup Brett Stapely in front who beat Jonathan Reinhart down low for his first career BCHL goal, giving Vernon an early 1-0 lead at 3:37 Cipillone & Roberts collected the assists. Vernon product Spencer Hewson come right back for Nanaimo but was denied by Andrew Shortridge who come up with a big save in close as the Clippers were pressing right after the Viper goal. Riley Brandt looked to give the Vipers a 2-0 lead just over five minutes in. Brandt's long hard shot was stopped by Jonathan Reinhart before two Vipers went hard to the net, the puck somehow went in and under Reinhart with bodies in the crease before the net was knocked off. It looked to me as if the puck went in and the goal light went off before the net was dislodged. The play was blown dead with a faceoff inside the Clippers zone. I was surprised the Vipers coaching staff didnt talk to the referee's as it was still 1-0 Vernon. About a minute later the Shipmen would get their second PP of the period, with some pressure the Clippers couldnt capitalize were 0-2 with the man advantage. Vernon was up 4-1 in shots early but it was now 9-6 in favor of the Clippers. Just before the halfway mark Corey Renwick would lead a two on one, decided to keep and shoot couldnt beat Shortridge who made another good save keeping this a one goal game. These two teams had a bit of a chippy afair in Nanaimo last weekend got into the after the whistle activities again this evening. At the stopage in play at the halfway mark Andrew Shortridge and a Nanaimo player bumped into each other after the Clipper forward gave him a tap on the pads on the way to the bench. Some pushing and shoving occured while both teams got a little excited. Shortridge had a bit of traffic in his face-crease in the opening period as the Clippers were going to the net alot tonight. In the second half the Vipers would their first look with the powerplay. Vernon would struggle with back to back powerplays. The Vipers would get some good pressure but unable to get shots on goal, moving the puck around killed off alot of the PP with no shots. Late in the frame Brendan Shane got a lucky break when the puck bounced off a Vernon defender Shane was able to break out on the odd man rush, Shane decided to go hard to the front of the net before getting Andrew shortridge to go down somehow couldnt find the open cage missing the goal going high and over the net on a missed opportunity by the Clippers. Jimmy Lambert come very close to giving the Vipers a two goal lead wound up and wired a rocket of a shot beat Jonathan Reinhart but hit the crossbar on a close call. In the final minute newcomer Zach Andrusiak making his Vipers home debut forced Reinhart into making a big pad save, kicking out Andrusiak's shot with the right pad with twenty five seconds to go in the period. Vernon was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers returned home after a five game road trip, played their first game on home ice in three weeks come out with alot of energy and jump. This was a very good opening 1st period with chances at both ends of the rink. I thought the Clippers had a slight edge in play but Vernon had the lone goal. Nanaimo did a great job at using their size boxing the Vipers out from the front of the net, most of the period. Both clubs struggled with the man advantage going 0-2. Andrew Shortridge had to be sharp as the Clippers were going hard to the net all period-all game. Vernon outshot Nanaimo 13-12.
2nd Period: The Clippers got off to a quick start, moving the puck around Nanaimo looked to be on a powerplay but werent as the Shipmen with a strong forecheck off the opening faceoff were all over the Vipers early and often. Vernon back on their heels early, had all kinds of trouble with the Clipper attack. Viper captain Colton McCarthy would break up the play before getting off a quick shot from the top of the circle, forced Clippers starting goaltender Jonathan Reinhart into flashing the leather, making a big glove save in the opening minutes. Nanaimo carried the play early but couldnt generate any real grade a scoring chances would have to kill off a penalty early in the middle frame. Former West Kelowna Warriors defenceman Mac Ferner's shot would get redirected in front by Joe Sacco giving Vernon a 2-0 lead at 6:32 Ferner and Zach Andrusiak with the assists. Less then thirty seconds later the Clippers would get a long two man advantage. But it was a very determinded Vipers penalty kill that went to work, come up with several big blocked shots and Vipers starting goaltender Andrew Shortridge also had to be at his best made some big saves but none better then robbing Zach Court coming across the blue paint to stop the puck with the shaft of his goal stick. Vernon would kill off both penalties on wich would end up being the TSN turning point. About a minute and a half later Odeen Tufto tried splitting the Nanaimo defence was hauled down on his way to the goal would be rewarded with a penalty shot. Tufto skating in very slow beat Jonathan Reinhart fivehole giving Vernon a 3-0 lead at 10:42 Tufto's goal was unassisted. Just thirty seconds later the Vipers would strike again, on a odd man rush Jonathan Reinhart come up with a huge save before Joe Cipillone scored on the rebound giving Vernon a 4-0 lead at 11:12 Mac Ferner with the helper. This was the end of the night for Clippers starting goaltender Jonathan Reinhart who was pulled in favor of backup goaltender Jakob Walter. Reinhart who defeated the Vipers 5-2 in Nanaimo Saturday was done for the night giving up four goals on seventeen Viper shots. Thirty seconds later tempers heated up inside the Vernon blueline. Nanaimo captain Devin Brosseau lost his cool, started throwing punches at Riley Brandt. As the referee and linesmen jumped in, Sheldon Rempal's stick got caught inside the linesmen's visor. With the linesmen trying to remove the stick, Rempal who I dont think had any idea his stick was caught in the linesmen's visor was yanking-pulling his stick from the melay along the boards. Everyone got involved with lots of pushing and shoving. Both teams exchanging words. Once the scrum was broken up the Shipmen would come out on top with the PP. The Clippers once again couldnt capitalize with the man advantage as the Vipers would kill off the minor, Vernon would get a bit of a scare after Mac Ferner's shot from the point would catch Odeen Tufto in the side of the head-helmet-face before going down to the ice in a hurry. Tufto would skate off to the Viper bench, get looked at by the team trainer before staying in the hockey game. Vernon would get a late powerplay but unable to get anything going as Nanaimo would kill off the penalty. Vernon was up 4-0 after 40 minutes of play. The Clippers with a strong start to the middle frame took it too the Vipers off the opening faceoff. Nanaimo with a ton of pressure early on couldnt muster any offence. After the Vipers held off Nanaimo's pressure-forecheck, The Vipers would get a huge powerplay goal to give them a two goal lead before the Clippers would get a long two man advantage. Vernon with a great penalty kill would kill off both minors would gain some momentum before scoring two quick back to back goals thirty seconds apart to give them a 4-0 lead and chase Nanaimo starting goaltender Jonathan Reinhart. This was a period where it was all Nanaimo but Vernon would catch some breaks and capitalize on their chances. The Vipers did come back late in the period and played much better. Nanaimo outshot Vernon 12-10.
3rd Period: The Vipers would get hemmed in their own end off the opening faceoff, had troubles clearing the zone before the Clippers would get on the board early. Andrew Shortridge come up with a huge pad save before a pile of players crashed the net inwich the goal light would come on. Zach Court would get Nanaimo's first goal of the game at :49 breaking Shortridge's shutout bid. Corey Renwick with the assist. Nanaimo didnt stop, as the Shipmen kept coming. With a ton of pressure Devin Brosseau's shot beat Shortridge cutting Vernon's lead to 4-2 at 1:19 Sheldon Rempal & Matthew Hoover with the helpers. Mark Ferner and the Vipers would call a timeout. Just over two minutes later Riley Brandt with a big open ice hit would go hard to the net would take a high stick to the face from Clippers goaltender Jakob Walter. Brandt would hit the ice before Will Reilly crosschecked Brandt while he was down on the ice. Brandt would leave the ice bleeding and not return. Walter would get a double minor for high sticking as Mark Ferner lost his cool at the Vernon bench. Ferner was really giving it to the one referee for a good minute or two before Mike Vandekamp then lost his cool with one of the referees. The Vipers couldnt put the Clippers away once again struggled with the PP as Nanaimo would kill off the double minor. Lots of chippy stuff going on during and after the play as the Clippers started to come unglued at times. It looked like Vernon was getting under the skin of Nanaimo in the 3rd. As the period went on Vernon seemed to carry the play a little more before. The Shipmen didnt get alot of scoring chances while the Vipers peppered Jakob Walter with eighteen shots in the third forcing the Clipper netminder to make some good saves keeping his team in the game. The Vipers would put this game away after Jimmy Lambert with a rocket beat Walter from well out gave Vernon a 5-2 lead at 17:24 Lambert's goal was unassisted. The Clippers then come out hitting and hitting hard, going after the Vipers. Vernon would take advantage of some undisaplined penalties by Nanaimo. Griffin James with his first career BCHL goal scoring a late powerplay goal giving the Vipers a 6-2 lead at 19:19 was assisted by Hunter Zandee. The Clippers falling apart took another undisaplined minor late to finish the game as Vernon come away with the 6-2 victory evening the season series 1-1. Nanaimo gave the Vipers and most of the fans at Kal Tire Place a scare with a strong start to start the 3rd period. The Shipmen with two quick back to back goals in the first 1:19 got to within two goals before falling apart with several undisaplined penalties. The Vipers got off to a slow start but settled down as the period went on, played very well to finish the frame scoring two late goals for insurance. Vernon outshot Nanaimo 18-10.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Austin Cho played very well on the Vernon blueline tonight. The rookie d-man played well in all situations was very reliable.
The Vipers top line of Odeen Tufto (1 goal), Steven Jandric and Liam Finlay were by far Vernon's best unit tonight. This line played with alot of jump, energy and really used their speed. I thought the Clippers defence did a great job at boxing out these three early to start the game but gave the Nanaimo defence troubles all game. A big scare in the 2nd period when Odeen Tufto took a Mac Ferner shot-puck to the head. Great to see Tufto stay in the game and finish the game. This kid is very exciting to watch, good hands, really sees and reads the ice well. Im very impressed with Steven Jandric, had a heck of a game, threw his weight around on a few big checks along the boards, was skating hard, going to the net, played very well. Liam Finlay was once again flying around all night.
Griffin James (1 goal) I thought played well on the point. A little slow and sluggish at times played well.
Jimmy Lambert (1 goal) Had a shot go off the crossbar in the 1st period had a strong night. Really skating hard, another player that sees and reads the ice well. Has some nice moves.
Darren Rizzolo was another defenceman that I thought played well on the blueline.
Mac Ferner (2 assists) Kept his cool tonight, played hard and strong picked up two helpers in a strong game at both ends of the rink.
Andrew Shortridge (32 saves) Looked to be in the zone tonight, made some big saves in the first two periods gave his team a chance to win. Dosnt give up alot of rebounds or second opportunities was very solid on the penalty kill.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
After returning home with just two wins on their five game road trip the Vipers won their second straight after making a statement with their 6-2 win over a very strong Nanaimo hockey team. I really liked the Vipers start to the game, I thought Vernon played with alot of jump and energy, used their speed and got some solid goaltending. It was key to get on the board first, were able to hold their own with the Clippers until the 2nd period. Nanaimo really took it to the Vipers early and often to start the 2nd period but give Vernon credit, they got some big saves from Andrew Shortridge and then got a key powerplay goal to get a big two goal lead. The TSN turning point was killing off a long two man advantage in the 2nd. Just as the penalties expired the Vipers get two quick back to back goals to grab a 4-0 lead. These two goals also seemed to change the pace of the game as Vernon played and looked better in the second half. The Vipers got a bit of a scare in the third after two quick Nanaimo goals but give the Vipers credit as the period went on I thought the Vipers played smart hockey, they got Nanaimo into taking some very undisaplined penalties. The Vipers outshot the Clippers in the 3rd had the better of the scoring chances played very well. I thought the Vipers were outplayed for most of the 2nd period and early in the 3rd but didnt break, kept plugging away and battled through it. This was a big turn around after some so so hockey on the five game road trip. I thought the Viper defence played very well this evening. These two teams dont like each other and it showed again tonight. A very chippy game.I thought the Vipers powerplay struggled, even though they did get two PP goals. The Vipers move the puck around way too much-dont get enough pucks-shots on goal. I really like the Viper penalty kill so far this season and again tonight they played-did very well against a strong team like Nanaimo. After struggling on the road the past few weeks this was a huge win and a great way to start off this home stand. This team needs to pull together a string of wins here to get on a bit of a roll and gain some confidence.
Top Players: (Nanaimo)
Yanni Kaldis was by far the Shipmen's best defenceman tonight. Played a ton, saw a ton of ice, was very good with and without the puck. A good skater, reads and sees the ice well, gets that quick shot off from the point in a hurry.
Edwin Hookenson also was solid on the Clippers blueline.
Lucas Finner was good on the draw most of the night, a shifty player that goes to the net alot.
Brendan Shane looked good up front, good skater, handles the puck alot, creates and generates offensive chances. Played very well.
Corey Renwick (1 assist) Was another Clipper forward who stood out, I thought played well at both ends of the rink.
Zach Court (1 goal) Had a good game, got the Clippers on the board early to start the 3rd played very well.
Jakob Walter (20 saves) Took over for Jonathan Reinhart who allowed four goals on 17 Viper shots. Played well to finish the game. Gave up just two goals, both late in the 3rd dosnt give up alot of rebounds. Quick on his feet, plays his position well.
Game Thought's: (Nanaimo)
Nanaimo played well for most of the night until taking some very undisaplined penalties in the 3rd. The Clippers who couldnt score on their chances didnt get any breaks tonight. Nanaimo Struggled with the PP had a chance to get back into the game and take control of the game on several different powerplays, couldnt capitalize on their chances. Not scoring on the long two man advantage in the 2nd period was a killer but also giving up two quick back to back goals just thirty seconds apart just after the two man advantage was the back breaker. Down 4-0 on the road in a building where you havent had much sucsess the past few seasons is going to be tough to mount a comeback. The Clippers who sit 2nd in the Island Division are one of the top teams in the league, do have a very strong, bigger, skilled hockey team. Nanaimo moves the puck well, takes the body, finishes their checks, good transition game, really likes to use the defencemen on the point. This team is pretty chippy, yes I know all teams are chippy now and again. but It just seemed like the Clippers were always giving a late wack or punch to a Viper after a whistle, going hard to the net and not stopping bumping into Andrew Shortridge on several plays should have been called for alot more penalties. & yes the Vipers got away with their fare share but not as much as Nanaimo. The Clippers started alot of the after the whistle activities. Once the game was out of hand, typical Mike Vandekamp sends out his boys to try and mix things up late in the game. I wonder why Jakob Walter wasnt given a five minute major after Riley Brandt was high sticked in the 3rd? The Clippers last win in Vernon was a 4-3 double overtime victory on January 16th 2009.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Jagger Williamson (Injured)
Callum Volpe
Nanaimo:
Matt Creamer
Adam Pilotte
Jordan Low
Energy Player of the Game:
Odeen Tufto (1 goal)
Three Stars:
1st Star: Joe Cipollone (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Mac Ferner (2 assists)
3rd Star: Andrew Shortridge (32 saves)
BCHL Boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1477125&link=bchl
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