Vernon 2 Westside 1

Vernon 2 Westside 1

Was at tonights game as Vernon defeated Westside 2-1 in front od 2,064 fans at the Wesbild Center.

1st Period: The Vipers welcomed back Kellen Jones after Jones was out of the teams lineup with an injury. A good entertaining start to tonights game with some good flow at both ends of the rink. Both teams were skating hard, with some good jump. Just 3 minutues into the game Vernon got the first solid scoring chance after Ryan DePape made a nice pass at the Warriors blueline feeding Cory Kane who went in on the breakaway but was stopped by former Burnaby Express goaltender Kevin Jebson. Michael Quinn made a nice pass off the rush breaking out of the Warriors zone, Jordan Gagne broke down the left wing and then wired a high shot over Andrew Hammond putting Westside up 1-0 scoring on there first shot on net. This goal seemed to suck the life right out of the Vipers as it was all Warriors for the remainder of the 1st. Vernon looked lifeless, not hitting, not skating and lossing most of the one on one battles. Westside on the other hand was skating hard, playing with that typical hard nosed forecheck they always bring to the games. Warriors came close to going up 2-0 after d-man Cory Pritz rang a shot off the post. Former Westside Warrior & Surrey Eagle Andrew Hammond had to be sharpe coming up with atleast three to four good saves in close, coming from the slot. Vipers couldnt seem to generate any kind of an attack and was having all kinds of troubles clearing there zone. Westside carried the better of the play out playing & out hustling the Vipers for most of the period. Warriors were up 1-0 after 20 mins of play. Westside outshot Vernon 8-6.

2nd Period: Vernon ended the 1st period on the penalty kill and then early started the 2nd period on the penalty kill but managed to kill off the minor. First few minutes were a little sluggish to start the 2nd but Vernon seemed to finally generate some attack down in the Warriors zone with some good forecheck by Kellen & Connor Jones along with new linemate Ryan Santana. Vernons best scoring chance came when John Digness showed some good hustle down low, then cut out front and got a quick shot off from the slot as Jebson kicked out the shot with his pad. Vernon played much better come the 2nd but still didnt come up with a solid 20 min performance. Vernon didnt seem to get any bounces after having the better of the play for a good 7-8 mins midway through the period. Westside had some good chances of there own but couldnt take advantage, getting a good three to four odd man rushes. Justin Schultz & Vince Mihalek went in two on one, with Schultz keeping the puck but firing it high and way over the Vernon net. Kyle Singleton & Jordan Gagne had another two on one later in the 2nd but Hammond made a nice save on the play. With just 23 seconds to go, Viper d-man Adam Thompson would find the back of the net to get the Vipers on the scoreboard tying the game 1-1. The puck hit something in front on its way towards the net, as the puck changed directions and fooled Kevin Jebson. It was tied 1-1 after 40 mins of play. Vernon outshot Westside 14-7.

3rd Period: Just a few minutes into the final period with the Vipers breaking up ice, Kyle Bigos dropped the gloves with Warriors Captain Ron Kelly. Westside would come out of the fight with a 4 min powerplay. Vernons penalty kill was very solid not allowing the Warriors any room to set up. Vipers come close to scoring shorthanded as Connor Jones skated into the Westside zone with the puck, made a njice move around the Warrior d-man, cutting towards the net but was stopped in close by Jebson. Vernon managed to excape, killing off the 4 min penalty. Shortly after killing off the 4 min powerplay, Steve Tresierra would drop the gloves with Brett Howe. Both fights seemed to give the Vipers life and some energy as they fed off the crowd really coming together and picking up there play. This was a very tight checking period with very little scoring chances. Both teams were playing with caution as Vernon had the trap setup not giving the Warriors anyroom to setup or create chances. With now the Vipers on a powerplay, Bryce Kakoske made a nice pass down low, as Ryan Santana was on his back in the slot, but somehow managed to get off a shot while on his back, and would beat Jebson putting Vernon up 2-1 with there first lead of the hockey game. Some real nice passing and hard work on the powerplay made this goal happen. The final 8 mins of the game was like a playoff game, both teams were playing man to man, not giving any room. Vipers played very well defensively down the stretch and would not allow Westside to get past center and generate any kind of an offensive attack. The Warriors were having all kinds of trouble getting the puck in deep, to try and tie the game. Vipers defence looked and played very strong in the final period. The Warriors would pull Jebson for the extra man with 1:08 remaining but couldnt generate any offence, with just seconds remaining Westside came close to getting a two on zero breakaway but the play was called offside. The Vipers would defeat the Warriors 2-1. Vernon is now 3-0 against Westside this season. Shots were even at 11 each.

Top Players: (Vernon)

The 4th line of Rob Short, Sahir Gill & John Digness played a heck of a hockey game. This line was Vernons best and most hardest working line tonight. All three young men played with lots of energy and showed alot of hustle and determination.

Connor Jones (1 Assist) Played with alot of jump, looking very solid down low and in close. Andrew Hammond played very well all night, kept the Vipers in the game at times in the first two periods.

Braden Pimm played very hard, looked very solid tonight. Won alot of key draws.

Top Players: (Westside)

Jordan Gidaro is a smaller kid but showed alot of hustle all game. Was involved in the play alot in the first two periods.

Kyle Singleton looked very good up front for the Warriors.

Michael Quinn played a great game on the Warriors backend.

Jordan Gagne (1 Goal) also looked very impressive.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Once again the Vipers cant seem to put together a solid 60 mins. The Warriors first goal of the game seemed to take the life out of them. Vipers lacked speed and showed no hustle or emotion for most of the 1st. Vipers wernt hitting, skating or winning any battles all 1st period and were lucky to come out only down 1-0. Vernon picked up there play come the 2nd playing a little better for half of the period and then looked very good come the 3rd. I really liked the teams defensive play come the 2nd & 3rd periods. Very effective. Vipers won alot of faceoffs tonight, looking very good in the circle. This was a very tight checking game with very little room to move or create chances. One of the more less physical-emotional Vernon-Westside games as seen in past years. Vernon needs to work on giving up so many odd man rushes, gave up a good three to four in the 2nd period alone. The defence seemed to settle down come the 3rd period. Good to see Kellen Jones return to the lineup, Connor plays much better along side his brother. Nice to see the guys gut out a hard nosed 2-1 playoff type win tonight.

Game Thoughts: (Westside)

Another typical hard working Warriors hockey game tonight. Westside always comes to play and works hard all night. A very good skating team with good puck movement. Warriors had many odd man rushes come the 2nd but couldnt capitolise. Westside gets some good chances in close but misses on many of them, shooting high and wide missing the net most of the time. This was kind of a different style of game the Warriors brought to town tonight, usally when these two teams meet up guys like Brad Plumton, Trevor Bailey, Joel Woznikoski and Garrett Watson are always getting in guys faces, doing alot of chirpping, stirring the pot etc but you didnt see much if any of that tonight. Ron Kelly, was very quiet tonight. Always has a good game vs Vernon. I noticed the Warriors coaching staff all stands down in the tunnel during the nathional anthem, and then joins the team on the bench come the start of the game. I disagree with this, I have seen a few other teams coaches get away with this and think the league should put a stop to it.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Cole Ikkala
Trent Dorais
Steven Weinstein

Westside:

Brendan Ellis
Brett Lyon
Devon Murtagh

3 Stars:

1st Star: Braden Pimm
2nd Star: Rob Short
3rd Star: Trevor Bailey