Vernon 4 Westside 1

Vernon 4 Westside 1

Was at tonights game as Vernon defeated Westside 4-1 during parents weekend in front of 1,386 fans at Royal Le Page Place.

1st Period: Off the opening faceoff Connor Jones carried the puck deep into the Warriors zone, cutting around the goal and getting a wrap around off with the puck sliding through the crease. The play would come back the other way into the Vernon zone and Jordan Gagne took a shot from the circle with Graeme Gordon just getting a piece of the puck with his glove. Westside got an early powerplay but struggled as Vernon would kill off the minor. The Warriors had two early powerplays but couldnt solve the solid penalty killing of the Vipers. Some good back & forth play at both ends of the rink in the first half. Sahir Gill had a great scoring chance, cutting wide around the Warriors d-man, cutting towards the net but couldnt get the puck past veteran Kevin Jebson. Westside looked very good on the breakout, with some quick puck movement. Vernon would get there first powerplay of the night and take advantage. With 7 minutes remaining Braden Pimm worked hard along along the end wall, dishing the puck off to Captain Chris Crowell, Crowell cut behind the Warriors net, and made a nice pass out front to former Warrior Bryce Kakoske who beat Jebson with a softie from the slot wich just trickled through Jebsons pads. Vipers played physical and looked very solid defensively. An overall entertaining 1st period with both teams getting chances. Vernon was up 1-0 after 20 mins of play. The Warriors outshot the Vipers 11-7.

2nd Period: Just 24 seconds into the period Connor Jones tripped up a Warrior who went crashing into the corner boards. The player hit the side entrance for the zamboni, wich the door popped out from the rollers. The game was delayed for a good 30 minutes with both teams having to head back to the dressing room, with repairs taking place on the side boards. Both teams returned to the ice after the off ice crews fixed the side boards, as play resumed. Westside couldnt seem to generate much of an offensive attack, as the Vipers strong penalty kill played very well, once again killing off the minor. Just seconds later the Vipers would get a powerplay but it was the Warriors who had the best scoring chance shorthanded. Kyle Bigos made a bad pinch at the blueline, as Trevor Bailey, Justin Schultz, & Jordan Gagne went in three on one but it was Graeme Gordon who slid across the crease making an unreal save to keep the puck out. This was by far the save of the night. The Vipers struggled on the powerplay as Wesisde killed off the minor. The Warriors had the better jump and carried the edge in play for the first 10-11 minutes of the 2nd moving the puck well, getting some good chances in close. Gordon played well making a difference, keeping Vernon in the game. Gordon made another big save in close this time on Vince Mihalek. Vernon would go ahead 2-0 after Chris Crowell worked hard down low, feeding Braden Pimm who wired a shot from the circle who beat wich looked like a screened Jebson with just under 7 minutes remaining. Off the faceoff former Bulldog James Kerr drops the gloves with Craig Eisenhut. This goal seemed to give the Vipers life as the tables now turned and Vernon carried the edge in play in the remainder of the 2nd. Just 3 minutes later Ryan Santana was a horse, Santana wearing Jason Elders old jersey #27 carried the puck into the Warriors zone, making a nice move along the boards to get around the Warrior d-man, then cut towards the net beating Jebson as Vernon was up 3-0. On the next play deep in the Westside zone, Brendan Ellis was heading off on a penalty, with a stopage in play Kyle Bigos charged at Ellis, levelling Ellis to the ice and then dropping the gloves. Bigos was given 5 minutes for fighting and tossed from the hockey game. With both teams playing four on four in the final 3 minutes it was Westside who carried the play, getting some chances in close. Gordon had to be sharpe looking very solid in the 2nd period. Vernon was up 3-0 after 40 mins of play. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 9-7.

3rd Period: Brendan Ellis returned to the ice to start the 3rd where the Warriors were now on the man advantage with 3 mins remaining in Bigos's 5 min major. Vernons penalty kill was very strong, not giving the Warriors room to generate any offence. Vernon would once again kill off the major. Vernons defence looked very strong, playing sound defensively, not allowing any second chances down low. Vipers played a smart 3rd period just getting the puck in deep, sending in the forecheck after the loose puck. Vernon come up with very little scoring chances as the Warriors were firing everything at Gordon, who played very strong. Westside had spurts of chances in the Vipers zone, but couldnt get any second scoring chances on Gordon. Gordon was gobbling up all rebounds not giving the Warriors any second chances. Westside would break Gordons shutout bid with 11 minutes remaining in the game. Justin Schultz & Cory Pritz set up Jordan Gagne in the slot who beat Gordon upstairs cutting the Vernon lead to 3-1. Vernon had a great chance to put the game away late in the 3rd with another powerplay but struggled as the Warriors penalty kill looked very effective killing off the minor. Vernon used a strong forecheck late in the 3rd to rag alot of time off the clock, with 1:30 left in the game Jebson would head to the bench for the extra attacker and with some good presure deep in the Vipers zone, Westside couldnt beat Gordon who made a nice save late. Vernon would get the puck into the neutral zone on the next faceoff and with 57 seconds remaining Cory Kane would hit the empty net with a backhand from the blueline giving Vernon the 4-1 lead and putting the game out of reach. As the clock was winding down, Brad Plumton would crosscheck Sahir Gill giving the Vipers a late powerplay. The Vipers wouldnt score but did skate away with the 4-1 win, improving to 4-1 against Westside this season. The Warriors outshot the Vipers 16-7.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Graeme Gordon looked very sharpe between the Vipers net, keeping the Vipers in the game throughout the 2nd period. Gordon was very quick on his feet, not allowing any rebounds or second opportunities in close. Gordon improves to 5-2 and is now 5-0 as a Viper.

Chris Crowell (2 assists) played a strong game. Crowell set up two goals, played very well on the PK. Come up with a huge shot block in the 3rd period. Crowells stepped up his game over the last 3-4 games.

Braden Pimm (1 goal & 1 assist) Pimm played well and looked effective for the Vipers up front. Pimm played with alot of hustle all night.

Ryan Santana (1 goal) Looked very strong with the puck, was a horse down low.

Kevin Kraus played one of his best games of the year. Kraus looked very solid defensivly, making some heads up plays.

Steve Tresierra also played very well defensivly.

Top Players: (Westside)

Jordan Gagne (1 goal) looked very impressive for the Warriors. Gagne was always involved in the play, buzzing around the net.

Justin Schultz (1 assist) Played very well on the backend and jumped up into the play on many rushes. Matt Betker looked good up front. Hard to get off the puck.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

This was one of the better played games I have seen by the Vipers. A well deserved road win after coming up with a tough 3-2 loss last night in Trail. Vipers scored two timely goals in the 2nd wich was the difference. Looked very strong on the penalty kill. Vipers defence also looked very strong, playing very well down low. Westside had some good scoring chances in close but Vernons defence didnt give them any room to get in on a second chance. Vipers defence was collapsing down low most of the night. Graeme Gordon kept the Vipers in the game come the 2nd period, Gordons huge save on the Warriors three on one was a game saver, keeping the score at 1-0. If Westside scores this could have been a different game.

Game Thoughts: (Westside)

The Warriors played well, looking very strong breaking out of there own zone, with some quick puck movement. Warriors had some good chances through out tonights game but couldnt get any second chances or rebounds on Gordon. Westside usally has a very strong & effective powerplay but really struggled tonight. Specialty teams was the difference as Westside went 0-7 on the PP. The Warriors usally play the Vipers physical with that in your face style of hockey but tonight, stayed away from the physical play and getting involved after the whistle, very little pushing & shoving, getting in guys faces etc. Westside couldnt solve Gordon getting alot of chances & shots but didnt seem to get the puck luck they needed.

Scratches:

Vernon:

John Digness
Trent Dorais
Steven Weinstein

Westside:

Tyler Miller
Tyler Krause

3 Stars:

1st Star: Graeme Gordon (33 saves)
2nd Star: Justin Schultz
3rd Star: Chris Crowell (2 assists)