Vernon 4 Trail 1

Was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defated Trail 4-1 in front of 1,835 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

1st Period: Both teams started out strong, with some early jump. Just 1:37 into the opening period Steven Weinstein setup Vernon product Rob Short in front who beat Marco Raimondo putting Vernon up 1-0. Some good flow to start tonights game, both teams carried the play in the early goings, but it was the Vipers who had the better chances. Sahir Gill with a quick shot from the circle was the Vipers best scoring chance but Raimondo made a nice glove save. Trail played a physical period taking the body. Vernon got away with a non call on John Digness. Digness hit Patrick Martin from behind in the Smokies zone, with no call on the play, Martin went right back at Digness, giving him a few pokes, trying to get the Vernon veteran to drop his gloves. The Vipers really forced the cycle down low come the midway mark of the 1st, creating all kinds of chances in close and around the Smoke Eaters net. Vernon was up early in shots 5-2. Vernons defence looked very solid, not giving Trail any room to generate much of an attack, but this didnt seem to stop the Smokies. Late in the period Trail stepped up there play, getting the puck in deep, coming up with a few chances in close, Graeme Gordon had to be sharpe making some key saves. Danny DeKeyser was stopped in tight by Gordon. Trail carried the play for a good few minutes wich resulted in a Vipers penalty. With the clock winding down, Connor & Kellen Jones come down the wing shorthanded, Connor made a nice feed across the crease, where Kellen tapped the puck past Raimondo with one second remaining as Vernon went ahead 2-0. The Vipers were up 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Trail 8-5.

2nd Period: With the Smoke Eaters still on the man advantage the Vipers looked very sharpe on the penalty kill, killing off the minor. Vernon really stepped up there play come the middle frame, with some nice breakout plays. The Vipers owned the 2nd period outplaying the Smoke Eaters, as Trail would get one shot on net in the first few minutes of the period, and then not register another shot on goal, till just under five minutes remaining. The Vipers skill and speed took over firing everything towards Raimondo who looked very solid making 21 saves. Chris Crowell & Braden Pimm just about put Vernon up 3-0 if it wasnt for Pimm breaking his stick on a two on one, Crowell fed Pimm with a pass before Pimms stick broke on the shot. Kyle Bigos rang a shot off the post with a shot from the point. Rob Short had a nice scoring chance in close but couldnt beat Raimondo. John Digness was also stopped by the Smokies goaltender who stood tall, keeping his club in the game. Vernon was buzzing in and around the Trail zone but couldnt buy a goal. Trails best chance came when Jadon Porterfield & JF Boisvert went in two on one, but couldnt hit the net. The Smoke Eaters were a much different looking club come the 2nd period, almost sitting back, waiting for the Vipers to come to them. Trail turned away from the physical play, and didnt have that aggresive attack going. After finally getting a late shot on goal, with the Smokies on the powerplay, Steve Koshey found the back of the goal with under four minutes remaining, putting Trail on the scoreboard. The puck looked to have gone off the chest of Captain Ryan Bulach. Danny DeKeyser & Chad Gehon recorded the assists. Vipers were up 4-1 after 40 minutes of play, dominating the 2nd period. Vernon outshot Trail 21-4.

3rd Period: Vernon controlled the play early but couldnt come up with any scoring chances. Mike Collins had a good chance shortly after taking a shot from the circle but was stopped by the glove of Marco Raimondo. A few shifts later Collins on almost the exact same play, took a shot for the top corner but once again was stopped by Raimondo who made a nice glove save. The Vipers were shooting high on Raimondos glove hand for most of the night. Ryan Santana who returned to the Vipers lineup after missing the last two games, looked very good in the 3rd period. Santana really used his size and strength down low, carrying the puck going in and out and then getting off a shot from in close. Santana come up with a few good chances for Vernon. The Vipers held the edge in play in the first half, as Trail once again couldnt seem to get much going, it took the Smokies the first seven minutes to get a shot on goal. Bryce Kakoske who also returned to the Vernon lineup after missing his last two games, had a great scoring chance in close, after getting inbehind the Trail d-men, but couldnt beat Raimondo. Raimondo was the difference as the score could have been alot higher if it wasnt for the Smokies goaltender. The Smoke Eaters finally reeled off a few shots in a row, getting some chances in close on Gordon. Trail got some presure in and around the Vernon net, but couldnt get much traffic towards the goal as Vernons defence played a very defensive game. The Smoke Eaters come close to sneaking one past Gordon, after a few wacks at a loose puck at the side of the net, but Gordon stood tall, covering up the loose puck. JF Boisvert went down after taking a hit, then while down and having troubles getting back up, Boisvert took a shot from one of his own team mates in the hand. Boisvert left the game, heading to the Smoke Eaters dressing room and not returning. Just after the midway mark Braden Pimm set up Mike Collins as Collins & Pimm went in two on one, Collins decided to keep and shoot, this time going blocker side, beating Raimondo putting Vernon up 3-1. This goal seemed to take the wind out of the sails of the Smoke Eaters, as just two minutes later with the Vipers on a powerplay, Braden Pimm setup Captain Chris Crowell as Vernon put this game away going up 4-1 and now in full control. Both teams carried the play in the final five minutes with no rough stuff taking place. A pretty tame and quiet period with very little emotion coming from either club. Vernon would hang on for there third straight win defeating Trail 4-1. The Smoke Eaters outshot the Vipers 13-11.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Mike Collins (1 goal) Played a good 3rd period. Collins had back to back scoring chances but was stopped by the glove of Marco Raimondo. Collins then on a two on one with Braden Pimm, went blocker side to score his 16th goal of the season.

Ryan Santana was another kid who looked impressive come the 3rd period. Sanatana carried the play alot, used his upper body strength to power through the zone with the puck, Santana's very tough to fight off the puck.

Braden Pimm (2 assists) Pimm played an excellent game. Was skating hard all night, showed alot of hustle, was driving to the net all game. Should have scored tonight if it wasnt for his stick breaking on the shot.

Chris Crowell (1 goal & 1 assist) The Vipers captain played his second straight good game. Crowell has really stepped up offensivly this season.

John Digness played an excellent game at both ends of the rink tonight. Digness played physical, played very well on the penalty kill. Was involved in and around the net, showed alot of hustle and determination all night.

Rob Short (1 goal) Played well for most of tonights game. Short also played very well on the penalty kill, plays very well with John Digness, the two play very well with each other.

Steve Weinstein looked very impressive on the backend. Weinstein is a very smooth skater, showed some jump tonight, hustling back into the play, broke up once nice scoring chance after showing some good hustle to get back into the play.

Top Players: (Trail)

Patrick Martin seemed to play with an edge. Played fiesty, showed some hustle.

Marco Raimondo looked very solid. Raimondo kept the Smoke Eaters in tonights game, if it wasnt for him in the 2nd period this could have easily been a 7 or 8-1 final. Has a nice glove hand. Plays his position well, dosnt give up many rebounds.

JF Boisvert looked impressive up front for the Smokies, before leaving the game in the 3rd period.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

A good paced first period with some good jump coming from both teams. A fairly even matched period other then Vernons two goals. Vernons late 2nd goal with one second remaining with clutch as this could have been a different game. As the game went on, the Vipers speed and skill pulled away and took over, like I mentioned before if it wasnt for Marco Raimondo this could have been a different score. The Vipers were the better hockey club, carrying the better of the play for most of the game. Vipers looked very strong in the 2nd, really dominating the play. Vernon played well, really liked the way they were breaking out of there own zone. Some nice passing plays coming out of there own end. Tonights game started off a little physical but tappered off after the 1st.

Game Thoughts: (Trail)

I thought the Smoke Eaters come ready to play, having some good jump early. Trail gave up the early lead and then giving up the late 2nd goal seemed to hurt them, going into the 2nd. A poor 2nd period, as they were outplayed but were still in the game. Trail was having troubles generating offence and shots towards the goal, having only one shot in the first 16 minutes of the middle frame, isnt going to win you hockey games, and then not getting a shot for the first seven minutes of the 3rd. Raimondo really kept them in tonights game. Trail was missing some key players tonight, Bradon Clark adds alot of the backend, a solid d-man. CJ Legassic usally plays well against Vernon.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Steve Tresierra
Cory Kane
Kory Roy

Trail:

Brandon Clark
CJ Legassic
Justin Brown
Jeff Zmurchyk

3 Stars:

1st Star: Chris Crowell (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Braden Pimm (2 assists)
3rd Star: Rob Short