Vernon 4 Merritt 1

Vernon 4 Merritt 1

Was at tonights game as Vernon defeated Merritt 4-1 in front of 2,059 fans at the Wesbild Center.

1st Period: The Vipers got off to a quick start getting the puck in deep and really controlling the play down low, but couldnt get many shots or any chances. Vernon carried the better of the play in the early going but give the Centennials credit, they were keeping the Vipers to the outside, limiting shots as well as scoring chances. Vernons best scoring chance came just two minutes into the opening period as Chris Crowell fed a nice pass down low out front to Mike Collins, but Harrison May come up with the save in close. The play was held deep in the Cents end for most of the first half but it was still scoreless. Merritt didnt record there first shot on goal till six minutes into the 1st. Vernon would get the first powerplay of the game 12 minutes into the game but it was the Centennials who would open the scoring after Andrew Hammond made a bad pass up the middle, Alessio McMillan picked up the erand pass, dishing it off in the slot to, Paul Forster who rang a shot off the inside of the post wich beat Hammond shorthanded giving Merritt the 1-0 lead on just three shots on goal. Shots were 8-3 in favor of Vernon. This goal seemed to change the flow of tonights game as the Vipers seemed to get sloppy in there own end at times and were having all kinds of trouble generating any kind of offence. Vernons best chance to tie the game came when Connor Jones come down the wing, feeding a nice pass through the slot over to his brother Kellen Jones who rang his shot off the far post. The second half of the period was very scrambly with very few chances, alot of turn overs and poor decisions coming from both teams. Late in the period with just over 4 minutes remaining and the Vipers on a PP, Bryce Kakoske & Kyle Bigoes worked the puck back and forth before Kakoske fed a nice pass down low to a wide open Rob Short who beat May tying the game 1-1. It was 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Merritt 16-4. Most of the Vipers 16 shots fired towards Harrison May were easy wrist shots taken from the slot, with very little traffic in front. May saw most of the Vernon shots, wich were shot mostly right at him.

2nd Period: Merritt started off the 2nd on a powerplay wich was carried over from the end of the 1st period. Off the opening draw, the Cents got the puck in deep but Vernon quickly recovered the puck, sending it up ice catching Braden Pimm open all alone, Pimm went in for the breakaway but was stoped by May. With Merritt still on the powerplay, the Vipers would get into penalty trouble as Pimm was off for two minors giving the Cenntenials a two man advantage. Vernons strong penalty kill along with Merritts poor powerplay and the Vipers would kill off all three minors only giving up just three Centennial shots. This was a very scrambly and penalty filled period with the Vipers having to kill off seven minors playing most of the period shorthanded. The Vipers were very lucky Merritts powerplay wasnt clicking as the Cents could have burried the Vipers in the middle frame. Merritts best scoring chance came when Dustin Johnson was stopped by Andrew Hammond at the side of the goal. Very little scoring chances or shots from both teams in the 2nd. The Vipers best scoring chance came when Cory Kane made a nice move cutting through the neutral zone, dishing the puck off to Ryan Santana who wired a wrist shot from the slot but May come up with the big blocker save keeping the game tied 1-1. Vernon had just one powerplay chance but couldnt find the back of the net. A very non-entertaining period with very little flow. Vernon did play a physical 2nd laying out some solid checks sending a few Centennial players to the dressing room. Jordan Grant was hit hard by Kyle Bigos and had to head off to the dressing room, but did return to the bench. Kevin Philp took two solid checks and went down to the ice, heading off to the dressing room holding his arm, but did return to the Cents bench. Merritts strong forecheck through out tonights game was giving Vernon all kinds off trouble, the Cents really forechecked the Vipers, causing lots of turnovers in the Vipers zone, resulting in some odd man rushes or good scoring chances. It was tied 1-1 after 40 minutes of play.

3rd Period: Some good flow to start the 3rd with both teams creating some chances. The Centennials best chance of the final period came when Alex Goodship was stopped at the side og the goal by Hammond. Vernons defence played a solid defenisve 3rd making some nice defensive plays in there own end. Kevin Kraus broke up a two on one play, wich could have resulted in a scoring chance for Merritt. After the first five minutes Vernon stepped up there play, getting the puck in deep and really cycling the puck well down low, creating all kinds of space, resulting in some good scoring chances. Rob Short was stopped in close by May. Short played with alot of energy, getting all kinds of chances. Vipers were now skating circles in the Merritt end of the rink as the Cents were looking a little tired as Vernon was pouring on the presure. Rob Short with another good scoring chance, wired a quick shot from the circle, May kicked out the big rebound outfront where Cory Kane gobbled up the rebound but fired a shot high and wide over an empty net. About halfway through the 3rd Vipers finally solved May and took there first lead of the game, Captain Chris Crowell fed Mike Collins wearing Tyler Harltons old jersey #5 wired a high shot from the slot over Mays glove putting the Vipers up 2-1. The Vipers kept up the presure and forecheck, and while on the powerplay just four minutes later Mike Collins would score his 2nd goal of the night in almost the exact same spot, beating May once again high over the glove as Vernon jumped out to the 3-1 lead. Just over two minutes later the Vipers would put the game away as Sahir Gill made a nice pass out front, as James Kerr would tapp in the puck for his first goal as a Viper as Vernon was up 4-1 and now in full control. The final few minutes of the hockey game Vernon would just get the puck in deep, holding the puck along the end wall, taking some of the time off the clock. Merritt didnt seem to have much left in the tank as the Vipers got lucky and skated away with the 4-1 win, and now 4-0 against the Centennials this season. Vernon outshot Merritt 10-8.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Kevin Kraus played a solid defensive game for the Vipers. Kraus looked very solid on the backend, breaking up atleast two Centennial scoring chances. Kraus was Vernons best d-man tonight.

Mike Collins (2 goals) Collins had a great scoring chance two minutes into the game but was stopped in close by Harrison May. Collins score two real nice top shelf goals in the 3rd to give the Vipers the lead and the win.

James Kerr (1 goal) Kerr showed lots of hustle all night, adds some spark and jump to the Vipers lineup. Saw alot of icetime on the penalty kill, likes to go to the front of the net.

Cory Kane skated well, made some nice moves in close, had a great scoring chance midway through the 3rd. Was very solid up front.

Rob Short (1 goal) Scored a nice powerplay goal in the 1st, had some good chances through out tonights game but couldnt find the back of the net. Played with alot of hustle, worked hard all night.

Top Players: (Merritt)

Jordan Grant saw a ton of icetime tonight. Had to have been on every second shift, was always buzzing around the Vernon net. Took some solid checks but didnt back down, was involved in the play all game. A good skater with some nice hands in close.

Paul Forster (1 goal) Played a good game up front for the Cents. Forster was another kid who always seemed to be around the goal, looking for the loose puck or fighting for a rebound.

Jordan Soquilla played with some good jump, showed some quickness at times.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

The Vipers started off good, getting the puck in deep but couldnt generate any offence. Really dominated the play in the first half of the 1st period but after giving up the shorthanded goal, seemed to give up alot of turnovers, along with making some sloppy plays and poor decisions in there own end. Vernon was very lucky in the 2nd Merritts powerplay wasnt clicking or this could have been a different outcome in the final score, give the Vipers credit though, a very strong penalty kill, killing off 7 minors in the middle frame. Ive been very impressed with Vernons penalty kill over the last 5 or 6 games. Vipers havnt given up a powerplay goal in atleast there last four games. Vernons defence & goaltening has also stepped up there play, now having the best goals against in the League. Vipers played and looked much better in the 3rd, really taking it to Merritt for most of the period. This game could have gone either way, Vernon didnt want to lose to a team like Merritt when there fighting for top spot with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Wasnt a very entertaining game, very sloppy at times with alot of penalties, taking away any flow from the game. Nice to see the Vipers gut out a win late in the 3rd.

Game Thoughts: (Merritt)

This was a much better performance from the Cents, compared to there last visit to Vernon. Merritt played well for the team they have, giving the Vipers all kinds of trouble, putting a little scare into them. I was very impressed with Merritts hardwork and great forecheck tonight. The Vipers were having all kinds of trouble with the Centennials forecheck all night. Merritt needs to work on there powerplay, they could have burried Vernon in the 2nd but couldnt generate many shots or even quality chances. A very poor looking PP tonight. Merritts defence looked pretty good in the first two periods, kept the Vipers shooters to the outside, not allowing any chances in close. You could see the Cents ran out of gas come the 3rd, they just couldnt keep up with the strong cyclying of Vernon down low, lost most of the one on one battles along the wall and in front of the goal. The Centennials were in the face of the Vipers for most of the night, alot of pushing and shoving after the whistle.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Steve Tresierra
John Digness
Trent Dorais
Kory Roy (AP)

Merritt:

Matt Mazzarolo
Jordan Zalba
Colton Sobchak

3 Stars:

1st Star: Mike Collins (2 goals)
2nd Star: Kevin Kraus
3rd Star: Rob Short (1 goal)