Vernon 6 Penticton 2

Vernon 6 Penticton 2

Was at todays game as Vernon defeated Penticton 6-2 in front of 1,809 fans at the Wesbild Center.

Before the game during warm up Vipers Kyle Bigos, & Captain Chris Crowell were yapping back & forth at center ice with Vees Anthony Perdicaro & Elias Grossman. As warm up was wrapping up Bigos & Perdicaro stopped at center ice and were beaking back & forth, as things started to heat up.

1st Period: To start the game Chris Crowell, & Kyle Bigos from the Vipers along with Vees, Anthony Perdicaro & Elias Grossman were all given 10 min misconducts for the display during the teams warm up. Vipers got off to the quick start, getting the play in deep, with some good puck control deep in the Vees zone. Minutes into the opening period Penticton would get into penalty trouble and it cost them, after some nice passing between Ryan Santana & John Digness, Adam Thompson snuck in from the point and roofed a high shot from the circle over Anthony Borelli putting the Vipers up 1-0. The Vees would head back to the penalty box just minutes later and once again The Vipers would make them pay after Adam Thompson made a nice pass over to Bryce Kakoske who beat Borelli with a soft goal between the fivehole, as Vernon was up 2-0 and in full control. Vernon was skating hard, looking very good in the early goings, with some good speed and puck movement. The Vipers were also playing physical laying out some big checks through out the 1st period. Cory Kane tried going in splitting the Vees Defence but was stopped, Bryce Kakoske picked up the loose puck and then made a nice move around the Penticton D-man, making a nice pass through the crease where Ryan DePape beat Borelli putting Vernon up 3-0. Penticton didnt get off to a good start, looking very disorganised and having all kinds of trouble staying out of the penalty box. The Vees didnt record there first shot on goal till 7 mins into the period. Once again the Vees were playing very undisaplined all afternoon, taking another minor and the Vipers would head back to the powerplay. Chris Crowell fed Braden Pimm who then found Kyle Bigos at the point, where Bigos blasted a shot which beat Borelli as the Vipers were up 4-0, scoring three PP goals. Vees starting goaltender Anthony Borelli looked very average at best, allowing two soft goals. Vernon was by far the better of the two teams, carrying the better of the play for most of the period. Vipers were up 4-0 after 20 mins of play. Vernon outshot Penticton 14-5.

2nd Period: Sean Bonar replaced Anthony Borelli to start the 2nd after Borelli gave up four goals on just 14 shots after 20 mins of play. The Vipers seem to have troubles come the 2nd period and it showed once again today, Vernon struggled in the early goings as the Vees got off to the quick start, having the better of the play. With very little good scoring chances in the 1st, Penticton come very close within the first few mins of the 2nd to getting on the board, but David Andreassen fired a shot off the post. Vernon looked slow and didnt have the jump they had in the 1st period. The Vees had some good chances in close but Andrew Hammond looked very solid. With the Vees now on a powerplay, they would make the Vipers pay after getting the puck in deep, with some good hustle down low, Brent Vandenberg & Ryan Viselli did all the work down low, banging away at the loose puck, as Vernons defence couldnt clear the zone, after Hammond come up with two saves down low, Vees veteran forward Anthony Perdicaro slid the puck under Hammonds pad on the third scoring chance, as penticton would finally get on the board, cutting the Vernon lead to 4-1. Vipers didnt look like the same team in the first half of the 2nd but did seem to get back some of the play in the 2nd half, Chris Crowell come close to putting Vernon up 5-1 as the puck slid through the crease after a scramble in front. Sean Bonar was tested a few times in close was but was quick on his feet, kicking out a few shots wich were fired from the point or in the slot. Penticton come close once again but this time Anthony Perdicaro would ring a shot off the crossbar as he had Hammond beat. Vernon would jump ahead 5-1 on another powerplay chance, Bryce Kakoske took a shot from the slot wich looked to be going wide, somehow the puck would hit Braden Pimm at the side of the net, Pimm would recover the puck and then sneak it around from the side of the goal, and tuck it inbehind Sean Bonar, as the Vipers would get there fourth powerplay goal of the afternoon. The Vees just couldnt seem to get the bounces this period as once again come up with a great scoring chance in close, as Captain Brent Vandenberg was in close but was stopped by Andrew Hammond. Penticton had the better chances and carried the better of the play come the 2nd period. Vernon was up 5-1 after 40 mins of play. Shots were even 13 each.

3rd Period: Some sloppy play to start the final period of the game after both teams couldnt seem to get much flow going. Alot of whistles early with some pushing & shoving after each stopage in play. Both teams had some scoring chances but nothing over the top. With the score 5-1 you had to wonder if both teams just wanted to get todays game over with. Vernon would put this game away just four minutes into the 3rd after some nice tic tack toe passing between, Sahir Gill, Rob Short & Trent Dorais. Gill & Dorais made a few nice passes back & forth before feeding Short who beat Bonar. After the Vipers couldnt clear the zone, Anthony Perdicaro fed Captain Brent Vandenberg in the slot who would beat Andrew Hammond cutting the lead to 6-2. Things started to heat up as Rob Short was heading off for a change, Ryan Viselli gave Short a shot to the head, and then wrapped his arm around Short, putting him in a head lock, before Short got loose and gave a few shots back at Viselli. Mark Ferner was furious on the play as Kris Hartly didnt see the play, and gave the Vipers the extra minor. Ferner was down on the Vipers bench yelling at Hartly. Just mins later Chris Crowell dropped the gloves with Curtis McKenzie. With just under five mins remaining, Anthony Perdicaro skated by the Vipers bench and must have done something as the Vipers bench erupted (I didnt see) as Ryan DePape then skated over towards the two benches and crosschecked Perdicaro, then giving him a shot to the head, as a few Penticton players jumped into the action. Some pushing & shoving took place in front of both team benches, when Cody Ikkala come skating over towards the Vees bench and then dropping the gloves with Joey Holka. Both benches started yapping back & forth as things started to get heated up between these old two rivals. Vipers Assistant Coach Jason Williamson then stepped down off the bench, coming over to the gate between the two benches and was yelling towards the Vees bench. This is when Pentictons GM & Head Coach Fred Harbinson come down over towards the two benches getting in Williamsons face, yelling at him. Harbinson then pushed Williamson before Williamson pushed Harbinson back, Kris Hartly then skated over breaking up the two Coaches. Both Harbinson & Williamson were tossed from the game. On the play, Kyle Bigos, & Braden Pimm were give 10 min misconducts for the Vipers, and Anthony Perdicaro, & Elias Grossman were give 10 min misconducts for the Vees. As the game resumed play, David Andreassen tried laying out a huge elbow on the play, as they play stopped in front of Andrew Hammond, Andreassen started pushing & shoving as it didnt take long before Steve Tresierra dropped the gloves Andreassen. On the play Vees Travis Oulette was given a 10 min misconduct. In the final two mins of the game, Pentictons bench was empty with only a handfull of players remaining on the bench. The Vipers would defeat the Vees 6-2. Penticton outshot Vernon 13-9.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Adam Thompson (1 Goal & 1 Assist) Looked very solid on the Vipers blueline defensivly and offensivly.

Andrew Hammond looked very solid between the pipes for Vernon. Hammonds saves early in the 2nd kept the Vipers in the game, a goal here or there and the Vees are right back in the game.

Bryce Kakoske (1 Goal & 2 Assists) Looked very good up front especially in the first two periods. Kakoske played alot on the backend when the Vipers were on the powerplay. Made some unreal passes today.

Kyle Bigos (1 Goal) Played a solid physical game on the point. Bigos was in the face of many Penticton players this afternoon.

The Vipers 4th line of veteran Rob Short (1 Goal), Sahir Gill (1 Assist) & Trent Dorais (1 Assist) saw a ton of icetime in the 3rd, played very well and matched up very well against the Vees 4th line. Braden Pimm (1 Goal & 1 Assist) Played with alot of emotion and showed good hustle through out todays game. Has looked very solid the last three games for Vernon.

Top Players: (Penticton)

Garrett Milan showed alot of hustle all afternoon, one of the smaller kids on the ice today, but stood tall, played physical and was always involved in the play. Never quit, worked hard.

Brent Vandenberg (1 Goal & 1 Assist) Looked very good for the Vees, would have scored two goals but was stopped by Hammond in the 2nd period on a nice scoring play.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Vipers looked very solid in the 1st, scoring three PP goals. Vernon had good jump, lots of speed and was skating hard. This was one if not the best period I have seen this team play. Once again the team struggled in the 2nd, but were lucky Penticton only scored the one goal. Vipers played well, nice to see the guys stand up for one another come the 3rd period. This is a great long time rivalry and it showed tonight, some good heated battles. This was the first meeting between these two teams since Game 7 of last years playoffs. Vernon played very physical all afternoon, knocking the Vees around for most of the game. Vipers with some slick passing on a few of the goals tonight. Vernons powerplay was clicking and looked very deadly. This was a big test for Vernon against one of the best teams in the league and they faired well.

Game Thoughts: (Penticton)

Got off to a slow start and couldnt stay out of the penalty box. Penticton played very undisaplined all afternoon, taking some dumb penalties and it cost them. I dont think Fred Harbinson will be pleased with his clubs effort today, a poor performance in goal from Anthony Borelli giving up two soft goals. This is a much different hockey club I have seen from past years, Penticton didnt hit much at all, wasnt involved in the play for most of the game and just didnt have that hard work ethic like teams in the past. A pretty poor performance from the Vees this afternoon. This is the teams 3rd game in 3 days, all on the road, coming home with two wins. Too bad such a small crowd missed a good game.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Cole Ikkala
Kellen Jones (Injured)
Steven Weinstein

Penticton:

Colton Jobke

3 Stars:

1st Star: Bryce Kakoske (1 Goal & 2 Assists)
2nd Star: Braden Pimm (1 Goal & 1 Assist)
3rd Star: Adam Thompson (1 Goal & 1 Assist)