Vernon 4 Quesnel 0

Vernon 4 Quesnel 0

Was at todays game as Vernon defeated Quesnel 4-0 in front of 1,889 fans at the Wesbild Center.

1st Period: The Vipers got lucky to start the game as Kyle Bigos was caught on the ice after the final buzzer went to end warm up. Any player wich is caught still on the ice after the final buzzer, the team ends up with a 2 minute minor to start the game. Vipers come out skating hard, playing with lots of energy and shwoing lots of hustle. Vipers looked very atrong in the opening period playing most of the 1st deep in the Quesnel end. Vipers moved the puck well, creating lots of open ice but couldnt generate any shots on net, but sustained alot of solid presure in the Mills zone. A very quick paced period with very few stopages, some good flow coming from Vernon. Quesnel did get control of the play, getting some action in the Vernon end of the rink, but didnt come up with any real solid presure, getting off a few early shots with no real good scoring oppertunities. Vernon would get the first powerplay of the game, moving the puck well, but couldnt get anything fired towards the net. Quesnel would kill off the minor, and then Vernon would get into some penalty trouble taking back to back minors but the Vipers did a good job on the penalty kill, killing off both minors. Ryan Santana had a great scoring chance shorthanded, with a wideopen shot from the slot but former Cowichan Valley netminder Kiefer Smiley stood tall making the big save. Vernon carried most of the play, skating circles around the Millionaires but couldnt get any real good scoring chances. Cory Kane was skating well, flying all over the ice. Really used his speed and skill and was by far the best Vernon player during the 1st period. It was scoreless after the 1st. Shots were even 6-6.

2nd Period: 1:39 into the 2nd Braden Pimm picked up the loose puck from in behind his own net, blowed by one Millionaire along the side wall, skated down the wing, making a nice move around another Quesnel player, cutting towards the center and then ripping a high shot high over Smiley putting Vernon up 1-0. Vipers had some great scoring chances early, Sahir Gill made a nice pass to Vernon product Rob Short who was alone in close but was stopped by Smiley. Steve Tresierra had a good scoring chance coming down the wing, but Smiley was there for the save. Smiley played well in the early goings keeping the Mills in the game. Vernon once again controlled the better of the play, creating alot of open ice with there speed and skill. With a sramble in front of Smiley, and the puck loose in the crease, Ryan Santana couldnt lift his shot over a down and out Smiley, the puck would come back to Cole Ikkala who is wearing Spencer Wards old jersey #12 would score his 2nd goal of the year putting the Vipers up 2-0. Shortly after Ben Payne & Captain Taylor Rovatti went in two on one, Rovatti would keep the puck, getting a shot off as Graeme Gordon made the save. Quesnel did get a few chances but couldnt beat Gordon who looked very confident between the pipes for the 2nd straight game. Ben Payne put a nice move around a Vernon d-man, cut towards the front of the net, and then was stoned in front by Gordon who kicked out the Payne shot making an unreal toe save keeping the Millionaries off the scoreboard. Vipers put some good presure on Quesnel buzzing around Smileys net getting some good chances in close. Vernon carried the edge in play, dominating the Millionaries, as the Vipers were up 2-0 after 40 mins of play. Vernon outshot Quesnel 14-6.

3rd Period: The Vipers started the 3rd with a powerplay wich was carried over from the 2nd period. Vernon struggled on the man advantage and couldnt get any kind of presure going as Quesnel killed off the minor, but the Mills would head right back to the box as Vernon would get back to back powerplays. The Vipers would struggle again on there 2nd powerplay chance of the period, looking very sluggish in the early goings. Quesnel would kill off the minor looking very strong on the penalty kill, forcing the Vipers to the outside, not giving up many shots. Shortly after killing off the minor Taylor Rovatti snuck down the right wing, getting a good shot off from the circle but Gordon made a nice glove save. This was the Mills one and only real good scoring chance as the Vipers picked up there game, and really controlled the play for the remainder of the game. Just 3 minutes into the 3rd, Kellen Jones set up Braden Pimm with his 2nd of the afternoon, as Vernon went up 3-0. The Vipers didnt quit there, Ryan Santana & Rob Short would come in two on one, Santana made a nice pass over to Short who was robbed by Smiley. Short had two great scoring chances this afternoon, playing a strong offensive game. On the next drive Cory Kane made a nice move in the neutral zone, breaking in over the blueline, and then wiring a wrist shot just over the glove of Smiley. Millionaires couldnt seem to generate much of an offensive attack, only getting two shots on Gordon in the final period. Quesnel went a good 7-8 minutes without getting a shot on goal as the Vipers played most of the 3rd in the Mills zone. With 8 minutes left Kyle Bigos dropped the gloves with Joshua Martin after Martin took a late hit on one of the Jones Twins. This was the 2nd straight night Bigos has decided to drop his gloves standing up for the Jones Twins. Late in the 3rd with under 5 minutes remaining, the Vipers broke in three on one, Bryce Kakoske dropped a pass back to d-man Kevin Kraus who then made a sweet saucer pass across ice over to Connor Jones who beat Smiley putting Vernon up 4-0 and in full control. Kakoske went down awkward on the play, having troubles getting up. Kakoske had troubles limping off the ice, and then walked back & forth in the tunnel trying to walk it off. Kakoske stayed on the Vernon bench but didnt hit the ice for the final few minutes of the game. Quesnel had a great chance to break Gordons shutout bid late in the 3rd with a powerplay but the Vipers strong penalty kill would kill off the minor. Graeme Gordon would get his first shutout of the season and first as a Vernon Viper. Vernon would defeat Quesnel 4-0. Vipers outshot the Millionaires 13-2.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Graeme Gordon made two big saves and only had to make 14 saves for his first shutout as a Viper. Gordon started his 2nd straight game, looking very impressive between the pipes. Gordon was wearing his new viper coloured pads and goal equipment.

Cody Ikkala looked very solid on the Vipers blueline. Ikkala played a very defensive game.

Cory Kane played a great 1st period and played a heck of a hockey game this afternoon. Kane was skating hard, played with lots of energy, shwoing lots of hustle. Had some nice moves in close.

Braden Pimm (2 goals) Looked very strong up. Pimm scored two nice goals, working hard and playing physical.

Cole Ikkala (1 goal) Nice to see Cole get some icetime, getting his 2nd straight spot in the lineup. Ikkala played with lots of jump, finishing his check, showing lots of hustle. You could tell this kid wanted to prove something, never gave up, played every shift like it was his last. Was always involved in the play.

Chris Crowell has impressed me alot over the last handfull of games. Crowell has really stepped up his game latley playing some of his best hockey of the year. Played very well this afternoon. Was skating hard and getting involved in front.

Rob Short played a solid game up front, Short was stopped twice on two great scoring chances. Was driving towards the net all afternoon. Skated well, played with lots of energy.

Steven Weinstein played very well on the backend.

Top Players: (Quesnel)

Kiefer Smiley played well, kept the Mills in the game, especially in the 2nd period. Smiley made some big saves at key times, allowing the Mills a chance to get back into the game. Very solid between the pipes.

Captain Taylor Rovatti had two good scoring chances, played with an edge. Was always involved in the play. Ive been impressed with the play of Rovatti in the two games Quesnel has played here.

Ben Payne was on the same line as Rovatti and the two looked very strong together. Payne had a good scoring chance in the 2nd but was robbed by Gordon on a chance in close.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Vipers looked very impressive tonight. Its hard for alot of these kids to get up and be ready and focused to play some of the lower teams like Quesnel. But give Vernon credit after travelling to Trail & Westside over the weekend, the Vipers come to play this afternoon, skating hard, playing with alot of energy and showing good hustle. Very crisp passing all afternoon, and finished there checks, wich is something we havnt seen much of this season. Vernon played as a team and looked very strong. Vernons best line was by far the line of Chris Crowell, Mike Collins and Braden Pimm. This line was buzzing all afternoon. Vipers defence looked very solid, been very impressed with the defensive play as of late. Vernon is now 3-0 against Quesnel this year. With the win, the Vipers move to within 1 pt of Salmon Arm and move 4 pts ahead of Westside.

Game Thoughts: (Quesnel)

Wasnt overly impressed with the Millionaires. Couldnt handle the Vipers speed and skill up front and any real good scoring chance, they couldnt get the puck past Gordon. The Mills were outskated in the 1st. Didnt get any real quality shots, and need more then 6 shots in a period if they expect to win a game. The Mills couldnt seem to generate much of an offensive attack, with very few scoring chances. No real presure sustained in the Vipers zone.

Scratches:

Vernon:

John Digness
Trent Dorais
Nick Amies

Quesnel:

Mitchell Smith
Mitch Galbraith
Joshua Fersovitch
Devin Braden

3 Stars:

1st Star: Braden Pimm (2 goals)
2nd Star: Cory Kane
3rd Star: Cole Ikkala (1 goal)