Vernon 3 Westside 1

Vernon 3 Westside 1

Was at tonights game as Vernon defeated Westside 3-1 in front of 2, 114 fans at the Wesbild Center.

1st Period: Kory Roy & Bryce Kakoske made there Viper debuts tonight. Vipers got the early jump on Westside laying the body on any chance they had, getting the puck in deep, cyclying well down low. Just 2 and a half mins into the game Cory Kane stepped over the blueline and wired a wrist shot high over the glove of former Express Goaltender, Kevin Jebson. Vernon kept the pressure on and 3 mins later Chris Crowell did all the work down low, keeping the puck along the boards, getting out front getting a shot on net, as the Vipers were being rewarded a powerplay, Crowell fed the puck into the coner for Viper newcomer Ryan DePape who would fire a shot from the corner and sneak through Jebsons pads as Vernon jumpaed ahead 2-0. This would be DePapes 1st BCHL Goal. Jebson looked very soft allowing two Goals on just 5 shots. Westside couldnt generate any offence as the Vipers looked very good carrying the better of the play within the first half of the 1st. Vernon was skating well and moving the puck well down low, getting some chances. The Warriors didnt record there first shot on goal till 7 and a half mins remaining in the period. Shortly after Ryan DePape & Brad Plumton would drop the gloves in a solid tilt. Plumton & DePape were having words all period before dropping the mits. This fight seemed to give the Warriors some life as they turned the game around getting the puck in deep but having all kinds of trouble hitting the net. Westside had some very close scoring chances down low but couldnt hit the net, missing on some great scoring chances. Westsides best scoring chance came with a quick wrap around from behind the Vernon goal but Hammond was quick getting over to the side of the post to just keep the puck out with the toe of his skate. The Vipers defence got caught a few times having troubles clearing the puck from there zone, wich resulted in a panic attack. Vernon was lucky the Warriors couldnt hit the net as this could have been a different score after the first period. Vernon was up 2-0 after 20 mins of play. Vipers outshot the Warriors 11-5.

2nd Period: A scrambly 2nd period with alot of powerplays and very little good scoring chances for either teams. Both teams seemed to have troubles making some clear passes breaking out from there own end. Vipers once again had troubles defensivly. With Vernon on the powerplay the Vipers moved the puck well down low, Jebson made the first save but couldnt handle the big rebound as Mike Collins jumped on the loose puck, and roofing it high over Jebson as the Vipers were now up 3-0 and in full control. Westside played not a very physical game, but was always in the faces of the Vipers either during or after the play. Vernon didnt lay back, giving it right back as some pushing & shoving took places after many whistles. Connor Jones was taking a beating all game, getting pounded any chance the Warriors got. Jones was hit hard and often on almost every shift. Vernons best chance to put away the Warriors came with a two man advantage but struggled getting shots towards the net as well as keeping the play in the offensive zone. Give the Warriors credit they really pressured the Vipers not giving them much room to move or shoot, as Westside did a solid job on the penalty kill, killing off both minors. It was actually the Warriors who had the better scoring chances, but Andrew Hammond robbed newcomer Tyler Krause with a big pad save in the crease, after Krause & D-man Justin Schultz went in on a two on one shorthanded. It didnt take long before the Warriors were rewarded with a two man advantage of there own, Westside really moves the puck well, getting off the one timer in a hurry. Andrew Hammond was the Vipers best penalty killer making 3-4 big saves down low in the crease keeping the puck out. Hammond made two back to back pad saves. Matt Betker was all alone at the side of the goal, the puck come through the crease, Betker had all day at a wide open net but waited way too long and then fired wide missing on a great scoring chance. Vernons penalty killers were very strong killing off both minors. Late in the 2nd the Vipers had another defensive letdown as Garrett Watson went in two on one, Watson decided to keep the puck and shoot, beating Hammond but ringing the puck off the crossbar with just 33 seconds remaining. Vernon excaped the period up 3-0 after 40 mins of play. Westside outshot Vernon 10-9.

3rd Period: Some good open flow to start the 3rd made for some back & forth hockey. Very few scoring chances as once again Vernon had yet another chance to put away the Warriors getting back to back powerplays but once again really struggled, getting very little shots. Midway through the 3rd Vernon sat back a little playing more of a defensive shutdown, as the Warriors carried the edge in play at times. Not many shots or great scoring chances at both ends with Westside still trying to get under the skin of the Vipers. One thing Westside didnt quit on was finishing there checks and always getting a glove in the face or a little tap at the back of the legs or a shot here or there, as the Vipers seemed to allow this, not giving back any kind of retaliation. Westside had back to back powerplays late in the period coming close on a few times but still couldnt seem to muster anything in close. Andrew Hammonds shutout bid was finally broken with just under 5 mins remaining as Ron Kelly made a nice pass over to Garrett Watson who beat Hammond on the powerplay, cutting the lead to 3-1. The Warriors would press late really rushing the puck up ice but failing to generate an offensive attack as the Vipers defence managed to clear the puck from there zone. With about a min and a half to go Kevin Jebson headed to the Warriors bench for the extra man, the Vipers would get the puck in deep and Braden Pimm had a great scoring chance but fired high and way over the empty net, as the clock ticked down Westside would run out of time as Vernon gets its first ever home win over the Warriors in three years. This was just the 3rd win ever against Westside, since the Warriors moved to the Okanagan Valley. Vernons only other two wins against Westside came last year in Westside and then last weekend in Westside. Warriors outshot the Vipers 8-6.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Former Westside Warrior & Surrey Eagle Goaltender Andrew Hammond played very well, especially in the 2nd period on the penalty kill. Hammond has been the biggest surprise so far this season for myself, I didnt think Hammond could or would be playing this well, but he has proved me wrong. Hammond has looked very solid in each Viper game he has played so far this early hockey season.

Cory Kane (1 Goal) Played well up front for Vernon. This kid has one of the best wrist shots I have ever seen.

Chris Crowell (1 Assist) Played a very hard nosed game, worked hard in the corners and made some real smart plays in the offensive zone.

Top Players: (Westside) Garrett Watson (1 Goal) A bigger kid who plays with an edge. Always getting his elbows up, getting under the skin of players, but works hard and plays hard. This kid has played very well in the two games against the Vipers so far. Watson has two Goals against Vernon. This kid has a cannon for a shot. Great scoring chance late in the 2nd ringing a shot off the post.

Kyle Singleton played well for the Warriors, always buzzing around the Viper net.

Tyler Miller may have seen alot of mins in the penalty box but was steady on the backend, getting in the face of many players.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Vernon is now 2-0 against the Warriors. Played very well for the first half of the 1st, getting the early 2-0 lead really helped. Vipers could have put this game away during the 2nd but failed on many times struggling on the powerplay, not getting many shots. The Vipers move the puck around way too much, killing off most of there own PP. Vernon needs to work on the one timers as well as getting more shots towards the net while on the PP. Vipers struggled defensively for most of the night but did seem to get things together a little in the 3rd. Nice to see Vernon get back in the face of the Warriors, play with that bit of an edge, but still need to be a little more physical-rough. Connor Jones was being pushed-knocked around way too much, you cant let your top players get knocked-pushed around. Vipers need a little more toughness, cant be so soft. This is a big weekend with two games vs top rivals.

Game Thoughts: (Westside)

Going down 2-0 early seemed to deflate the hockey club, you need better goaltending from a veteran goaltender like Kevin Jebson. Jebson looked soft in the 1st and midway through the 2nd but did managae to get his game back and play well to finish the game. Warriors lost alot of scoring over the off season and it has showed, they just dont have that relentless forecheck us Viper fans are use to seeing over the last two seasons. Dont get me wrong Westside did play well but just lacked in the scoring department. Westside played hard, always is one of the hardest working hockey teams, no quit in Mark Howells team, like I said before they make you pay when you go into the corners or along the boards. They always have someone yapping in your ear, getting under your skin, a little wack here or a jab here, and always finishing there checks. This could have been a different game if Vernon didnt jump out to the quick two goal lead. Both teams struggled on the PP.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Kellen Jones (Injured)
Sahir Gill
Trent Dorais
Nick Amies

Westside:

Brendan Ellis
Brett Lyon
Devon Murtagh

3 Stars:

1st Star: Ryan DePape (1 Goal & 1 Assist)
2nd Star: Cory Kane (1 Goal)
3rd Star: Andrew Hammond