Was at tonights BCHL Game as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 4-2 in front of 1,782 fans at the Sunwave Centre.
1st Period: The Vipers come out physical taking the body in the early goings, Cameron Brodie laid out one of the biggest checks of the night off the opening draw, levelling former team mate Brent Vandenberg to the ice. No shots in the first few minutes with the play back & forth, Connor Jones had a great scoring chance in front, all alone but lost the handle on the puck. Justin Cseter skated down the wing and then snapped a shot high over Andrew Hammond at 4:12 putting the Silverbacks up 1-0. Assists going to Brent Vandenberg & Captain Matt Walters. Cseter's shot was a lazer as Hammond didnt even move on the play. Shortly after just seconds into a Backs powerplay, Viper killer Mark Zengerle beat Hammond at 7:39 as Salmon Arm jumped out to a quick two goal lead. Assists going to, Ashford McMaster & Conor Morrison. Hammond made the blocker save on the first shot, as the big rebound went to the side of the net, where Zengerle was wide open, firing the puck past Hammond into the empty net. Two quick goals seemed to put the Vipers back on their heels a little as Salmon Arm now in control had the jump and carried the edge in play for the next few minutes. Vernon didnt back down getting the play back, getting the puck in deep, playing with that aggresive forecheck. The Vipers worked hard down low, winning the battles, coming up with the puck, getting some good quality shots & chances in close but couldnt beat Bryan Gillis. A very tight checking game, so both teams didnt have much time or space. A few scoring chances from both teams after a fairly even period. Salmon Arm was up 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 11-10.
2nd Period: 25 seconds into the middle frame Salmon Arm with a tip in front, just about got through Hammond, who had to be sharpe to make the save freezing the play. Off the next draw the puck would come back to the point, a quick shot would hit Kevin Kraus's stick, deflecting towards Hammond who had to be sharpe once again making the save, as the Silverbacks had two good chances in close. The Backs looked very strong early with some good jump carrying the better of the play for the first five minutes. Some good presure by Salmon Arm, just about put the Backs up 3-0 after a point shot, was tipped in front by Keenan Desmet, as the puck just missed the far corner. With the Vipers on a powerplay, Cameron Brodie wired a shot into the Silverbacks zone, the puck would take a funny bounce off the end boards, bounce out front hitting the back of Gillis's pads and into the back of the net, as Vernon would cut the lead to 2-1 at 7:05. Assists going to Andrew Hammond. This would be Brodie's first goal as a Viper. This goal seemed to give the Vipers some life, as shorthanded Cole Ikkala fed Cory Kane with a crease pass, but Kane couldnt beat Gillis on the two on one. Gillis slid across the crease making the big pad save. Shortly after Kyle Bigos's shot would bounce off super pest Zac Rasmussen, Rasmussen would steal the loose puck, go in all alone for the breakaway, as Andrew Hammond stuck with the play, going down but keeping his pads down, making the save. Some good play at either ends of the rink with once again some tight checking hockey, as both teams had very little space to really move out there. One of the biggest hits of the period came when Braden Pimm was levelled in front of the penalty boxes. In the second half of the period the Silverbacks had two powerplays but some strong penalty kill by Vernon would kill off both minors. Vernon's penalty killers were huge in the period keeping this a one goal game. Vernon got very lucky after a Backs scoring chance in close, Ashford McMaster & Kyle Bigos both went down in the Vipers crease, after the whistle Bigos gave McMaster a buttend to the chops, McMaster getting up with blood coming from his mouth. No call on the play as the Silverbacks argued the play, somehow Keenan Desmet was sent to the box for roughing. Late in the 2nd Justin Cseter beat Mike Leidel wide, going inbehind the Vipers d-man, but couldnt beat Hammond who stopped two breakaways in the middle frame. Salmon Arm was up 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. Shots were even 8-8.
3rd Period: Another strong start by Salmon Arm would force the Vipers deep in their own end, as the Backs had the early jump. A scramble in front of Hammond with the puck loose, no Silverbacks player could collect the puck, as a Viper d-man would clear the zone. Vernon couldnt seem to get on the offensive attack, with no shots in the first eight minutes of play. Conor Morrison went wide on a Viper d-man, then cut towards the goal, but was stopped by Hammond. After some good presure by the Silverbacks, Vernon would finally get the puck in deep, crontrolling the play down low with some strong forecheck in and along the end boards, after a flurry of chances in front of Bryan Gillis, Mike Collins missed a wide empty net with Gillis down and out, the puck would go back into the corner, where Braden Pimm would gather the loose puck, drive towards the net and beat Gillis down low at 7:59 tying the game 2-2. Assists going to Adam Thompson. This was the Vipers first shot of the 3rd but still the shot wasnt put up on the shot clock. On the next play, Connor Jones, Kellen Jones & Sahir Gill come in three on one two, Connor Jones with a quick shot from the slot, went high glove side on Gillis, just missing the top corner. Salmon Arm would go on a powerplay shortly after but it was Vernon who looked very strong on the penalty kill, not giving the Backs any time or space killing off the minor, even getting a few shorthanded chances. Vernon poured on presure on the penalty kill, really forcing the play down low, working over the Backs defence. With some good hustle and strong forecheck the Vipers made Salmon Arm pay, as the minor was coming to an end, Kevin Kraus with good hustle kept the puck in play at the line, showing good patience dished off the puck to Captain Chris Crowell, Crowell wired a blast wich was tipped in front by Connor Jones who beat Gillis at 10:40 as Vernon took there first lead of the game 3-2. From here on in it was all Vipers, with a strong forecheck, and winning all the battles down low Salmon Arm couldnt generate any offence, having all kinds of difficulties coming out of there own end, Vernons relentless forecheck killed off a big chunk of the clock. Vernon played dump and chase hockey for most of the remainder of the game, getting the puck in deep, really working over the Backs defence, winning the battle, getting the puck and then coming out with a scoring chance. Salmon Arm was hemmed in there own end for most of the second half of the 3rd, in the final 4-5 minutes the Silverbacks managed to get two glorious chances in close, one on a mad scramble down low but somehow couldnt put the puck past a maze of players in the crease. In the final few minutes Salmon Arm would finally breakout with the puck, but couldnt seem to get by the strong defensive play of the Vipers. Vernon's strong forecheck, was stopping the Backs from getting Bryan Gillis to the bench for the extra attacker, in the final minute the Silverbacks would finally get Gillis to the bench but it would be Connor Jones who would collect the puck, get a pass up ice to Mike Collins who was very patient with the puck, hitting the empty net at 19:41 putting Vernon up 4-2. The Vipers would kill off the final few seconds of the game defeating the Silverbacks 4-2 moving to within three points of Salmon Arm for first place. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 8-6.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Andrew Hammond (26 saves)(1 assist) Looked very solid between the pipes for Vernon. After being beat with two nice goals early in the 1st period, Hammond stayed focused, looking very strong stopping two breakaways in the 2nd period. Hammond looked very confident all night. Hammond picks up his 20th win of the season.
Kevin Kraus (1 assist) Played a very defensive game on the Vipers blueline. Kraus jumped up into the play on several occasions, making some very solid defensive plays, along with setting up the winning goal.
Cameron Brodie (1 goal) Played a solid defensive game, playing physical all night. Brodie made a few nice defensive plays at the blueline, standing up a few guys. Skates very well, strong with the puck. A huge addition to the Vipers backend.
Connor Jones (1 goal & 1 assist) Played very well. The line of Connor & his brother Kellen and Sahir Gill played well as a unit. Connor was driving towards the net, skating strong, getting involved in the play.
Rob Short Was very impressive in the 3rd. Short played very well on the penalty kill, winning alot of draws. Short ragged alot of time off the clock in the second half of the 3rd, getting involved in the Vipers aggresive forecheck.
Ryan Santana another kid who looked very impressive tonight. Carried the puck alot for most of the game, very hard to knock off the puck, strong on his feet. Was driving towards the net alot, really dominate with the puck down low in the final period.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Keenan Desmet was held off the scoreboard, but did come close a few times getting some chances. Desmet is very shifty, quick and very skilled down low. Very dangerous with the puck.
Brent Vandenberg (1 assist) Was by far the Silverbacks best player. Vandenberg looked very strong all game, not a very big player but very skilled, with some quick wheels. Was dangerous in close, coming close to finding the back of the net. Vipers really had to keep there eyes on this kid tonight.
Justin Cseter (1 goal) I was impressed with the play of Cseter for most of tonights game. Had some chances, works hard on most nights.
Matt Grassi once again logged a ton of minutes for the Backs, playing a solid defensive game on the blueline.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Vernon started out playing physical, taking the body. Didnt get off to a good start going down 1-0 just over four minutes into the opening period, and then was down 2-0 after giving up a quick powerplay goal. Give the Vipers credit they didnt fold the tents and pack er in, worked hard, and chipped away getting some chances in the 2nd half of the 1st. Outplayed and outworked in the first five minutes of the 2nd period but seemed to get some life after a bit of a strange goal off a funny bounce, getting the Vipers on the board. Vernon played well in the middle frame other then the first five minutes. Hammond's two breakaway stops in the 2nd period was the turning point, as this could have blowen the game wide open, but now kept the Vipers in the game, giving them a chance to win. Hard work and determination was the difference in the 3rd, Vernon really worked hard, winning most of the battles and one on one races, showed lots of hustle, forcing the Backs to turnover the puck. Give credit to Vernons penalty kill, giving up the lone PP goal, some strong penalty kill in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Vipers won most of the faceoffs tonight, a very gutsy effort getting a huge road victory, moving just three points within first place Salmon Arm.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
Salmon Arm got off to a quick start, scoring two quick goals. Had some chances to go up 3-0 but couldnt beat Andrew Hammond. The Backs top two lines didnt seem to have much room, like in past games where they have been able to dangle in the Vipers zone, racking up a ton of points. Vernons defence really shut down the Silverbacks top players, as both teams played a tight checking game. The Silverbacks started out strong, looking very good in the first five minutes or so in both the 2nd and 3rd periods but couldnt capitalize on their chances. A very well played game for both teams, this was basically anybodys game. Salmon Arm seemed to have troubles with the Vipers strong forecheck and relentless cycle down low in the 3rd. The two breakaways in the 2nd period come back to haunt the Backs, this could have out them up 3 or 4-1. Nice to see a big crowd on hand tonight.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Kory Roy
Steven Weinstein
Nick Amies
Salmon Arm:
Greg Noyes
Christoper Hoe
David Killip
Travis Statchuk
3 Stars:
1st Star: Andrew Hammond (26 saves-1 assist)
2nd Star: Connor Jones (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Keenan Desmet
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