Westside 4 Vernon 3

Was at tonights BCHL game as Westside defeated Vernon 4-3 in front of 1,253 fans at Royal Le Page Place.

1st Period: The Vipers won the opening faceoff, the puck come back to Kyle Bigos, who then wired a shot right at Mark Howell & the Warriors bench, Captain Ron Kelly went right after Bigos, as Captain Chris Crowell tried getting involed with Kelly. Both teams started yapping back and forth with some pushing & shoving. On the next faceoff Kelly started jabbing at Crowell who tried getting Kelly to drop his gloves, Kelly was yapping at Crowell but didnt drop his gloves. Garrett Watson then started yapping with a few Vipers, and then tried dropping the gloves with Bigos as things started to heat up between these two Okanagan rivals. A bit of a slow start as both teams played a little tenative with some scrambly play. No real flow with a few stopages in play within the first four minutes before the Warriors went on the first powerplay of the game. Some good puck movement by Westside, Vince Mihalek & Cory Pritz passed the puck back and forth before setting up a nice pass through the slot to super pest Trevor Bailey who beat Graeme Gordon upstairs at 5:06 on the powerplay. Assists going to, Mihalek & Pritz. Just over two minutes later Connor Jones & Kellen Jones with the cycle down low, Kellen Jones dropped the puck back to Adam Thompson who wired his shot from the circle, the puck beat Kevin Jebson and laid in the crease, Jebson went down with a scramble in the crease as the puck somehow crossed the goal line with a mad scramble in front as the Vipers tied the game at 7:49. Adam Thompson was credited with the goal, assists going to, Connor & Kellen Jones. Jebson would like to have this one back. Westside would get two more powerplays in the period but couldnt capitalize as Vernons penalty kill played well. Both teams went back and forth with a few scoring chances. The Warriors seemed to have the better of the jump as the Vipers got off to a bit of a slow start. Shortly after a Vernon powerplay, Kellen Jones with some good hustle at the blueline made an unreal diving play to keep the puck in at the line, Connor Jones picked up the loose puck before setting up Sahir Gill at the side of the net who wired one upstairs over Jebson at 15:46 putting Vernon up 2-1. Assists going to, Kellen and Connor Jones. As the period went on Vernon seemed to pick up there play, with some good forecheck deep in the Warriors zone. Sahir Gill was stopped in front on a good scoring chance, as Kevin Jebson looked a little shaky in the opening period. In the dying seconds the Vipers showed some good hustle, really forcing the play down low, and with just seconds remaining Rob Short had a great chance in front but was stopped by Jebson who made a big save just before the buzzer. Vernon was up 2-1 after 20 minutes of play, the Warriors outshot the Vipers 10-9.

2nd Period: Just 49 seconds into the 2nd Cameron Brodie coughed up the puck just inside the Vernon blueline, and then made a soft attempt at checking Michael Quinn who then stepped over the circle and ripped a high shot over Gordons blocker tying the game 2-2. Garrett Watson with the lone assist on the goal. The Warriors got off to a good start really moving the puck well, getting some good chances. Vernon couldnt seem to generate much of an offensive attack, after Jebson looked shaky in the opening period the Vipers were firing shots on Jebson from almost everywhere, but getting no solid scoring plays. Westside carried the edge in play for most of the middle frame. Vernon did get a few powerplays but struggled with the man advantage giving up two scoring chances. Alex Grieve went in two on one with Craig Eisenhut, Grieve fed Eisenhut with a pass through the slot, as the puck bounced over his stick. On the same powerplay Trevor Bailey stole the puck going in all alone before Kevin Kraus hustled back, diving breaking up the breakaway. The Warriors would kill off both minors. Vernon gave up way too many odd man rushes in the period as the Warriors were all over the Vipers. Kyle Singleton was stopped by Gordon at the side of the net on a good scoring play. Give credit to the Warriors defence, clogging up the neutral zone, not giving the Vipers much room to move. Vernon finally got the play in deep late in the period, with some good cycle down low, the line of Sahir Gill, Connor Jones & Kellen Jones went to work. This line was by far the Vipers best line, Connor & Kellen Jones were unstopable down low, creating all kinds of havoc, Kellen Jones fed Sahir Gill down low, Gill fired a shot from the corner wich somehow went in past Jebson putting Vernon ahead 3-2 at 14:19 assists going to Connor & Kellen Jones. On the next rush and just over a minute later Westside battled back, getting the play in deep. Cody Ikkala was being forced along the wall, Ikkala with too hard of a pass caused a turnover inside the blueline, as Alex Grieve picked up the puck, moving and roofing a shot over Gordons glove at 15:29 tying the game 3-3. This was the Vipers second blowen lead of the game as both teams were tied 3-3 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Westside 18-11. Alot of the Vipers shots were shots from the perimiter with no traffic in front.

3rd Period: The Warriors with a good chance to take the lead jumped on an early powerplay but couldnt find the back of the net. Garrett Watson with a shot from the circle was stopped by Gordon. Both teams battled hard with some good action at both ends of the rink in the first half. Sahir Gill had a great chance out front to get the hat trick but couldnt beat Jebson in close. Trevor Bailey at the other end had a good chance at the side of the net but couldnt beat Gordon. Rob Short & Mike Collins played very well especially in the 3rd showing lots of hustle all night. Short also played very well on the penalty kill. Just before the midway mark the Warriors would get into penalty trouble going down two men, this was an excellent opportunity with Vernon on a two man advantage. With some good puck movement down low, the Vipers had some great chances while on the powerplay, Mike Collins was stopped twice at the side of the net. Kevin Jebson looked very confident making some key saves on the penalty kill. Vernon couldnt capitalize as the Warriors killed off both minors. This seemed to give Westside the momentum as shortly after the Warriors would get the man advantage. This time it was Chris Crowell who stole the puck at the blueline, going in on the parcial breakaway, but Justin Schultz with some good hustle, got back into the play, breaking up the play. The Warriors re-grouped and moved the puck well, getting traffic in front of Gordon come up with three solid scoring chances. Vernon would kill off the minor in a very entertaining period coming at both ends of the rink. Late in the period the Vipers would get a great chance, going on another powerplay. Vernon couldnt seem to generate much offence on this man advantage, coming out of there own end, Kevin Kraus coughed up the puck inside the line, Michael Quinn scooped up the loose puck, going around Kraus and then sliding the puck past a sprawling Gordon shorthanded as the Warriors went ahead 4-3 at 18:17 the goal was unassisted. Royal Le Page Place erupted with the most noise I have ever heard at a Warriors-Vipers game. With Vernon still on the powerplay the Warriors really forced the play, hemming the Vipers back in their own end, as Vernon was having all kinds of trouble breaking out of their own end, trying to get Gordon to the bench for the extra attacker. Give Westside credit as the Warriors forecheck was unstopable clogging up the neutral zone. As the minor expired the Vipers would finally get the play in the Warriors zone, the puck went to Brendan Ellis with just seconds remaining, as Ellis dumped the puck inbehind the goal, Rob Short come flying in, checking Ellis from behind with just 4.2 seconds left. Captain Ron Kelly rushed into the play, taking a crosscheck at Short, Kyle Bigos then come flying in going after Kelly as both teams started pushing and shoving while Ellis laid lying on the ice. Short was tossed from the game with five minutes for checking from behind and a match penalty. As Short was skating off the ice, the Warriors bench erupted yelling and screaming at the Viper veteran, Short started yapping back. One of the Warriors assistant coaches was yelling and screaming at Short before Mark Howell had to hold him back and settle him down. Ellis got up on his own and skated off the ice, wich was very good news. On the final faceoff Kyle Bigos was trying to line up with Joel Woznikoski, trying to drop the gloves, but both linesmen and the ref got between everyone as the buzzer sounded. Westside snapped Vernons four game winning streak as the Warriors jumped onto the ice in a big celebration. Vernon wins the season series 5-3. The Warriors outshot the Vipers 10-8.

Top Players: (Vernon)

The line of Sahir Gill, Kellen and Connor Jones was by far Vernons best line. Sahir Gill (2 goals) looked very strong in and around the goal, Gill had some great chances to record his first career BCHL hat trick. Connor Jones (3 assists) Was very dangerous down low, was knocked around several times, but kept battling coming out with the puck each and every time. Kellen Jones (3 assists) was also very dangerous with the puck. Kellen made an unreal diving play in the 1st period to keep the play alive, keeping the puck inside the line to assist and setup the Vipers 2nd goal. Kellen played with lots of energy and showed a ton of hustle all night.

Other then coughing up the puck on the Warriors game winning shorthanded goal, Kevin Kraus played very well on the Vipers backend. Kraus made a huge defensive play, breaking up Trevor Baileys shorthanded breakaway.

Mike Collins looked very good up front. Collins played an excellent 3rd period, coming up with two solid chances while on the Vipers two man advantage.

Rob Short played his second straight good game. Other then the bad check from behind late in the final few seconds, Short was flying all game. Showed lots of hustle, looked very good on the penalty kill. Was skating hard, had some good chances through out tonights game.

Adam Thompson looked good defensivly in the first two periods. I thought played very well in the 1st period, making a few nice defensive plays, and also jumped up into the rush on a few plays. Looked very confident for most of the game.

Top Players: (Westside)

Justin Schultz looked very good on the Warriors blueline. Shultz showed good hustle getting back into the play in the 3rd breaking up Chris Crowells shorthanded breakaway.

Michael Quinn (2 goals) had a heck of a game tonight. Scored two real nice goals, not bad for a d-man. A very nice skater, with some real nice hands.

Craig Eisenhut played well up front. Had a great chance shorthanded on a two on one with Alex Grieve but couldnt connect on Grieves pass that hopped over his stick at the last minute.

Kyle Singleton looked good for most of the night. Seemed to always be involved in the play.

Ron Kelly was tonights super pest. The Warriors Captain was beaking with many Vipers all night. Kelly was getting under the skin of Chris Crowell and Kyle Bigos.

Garrett Watson (1 assist) played physical, had a few scoring chances, was in and around Vernons net most of the night.

Trevor Bailey (1 goal) played a pretty clean game, on most nights, Bailey is the teams super pest trying to get under anyones skin. This kid is always yapping at the visitors, giving little wacks after the whistles etc but tonight stuck to hockey and looked good. Had a few nice scoring chances. Showed lots of hustle all game. A very quick smaller player who is hard to get off the puck.

Kevin Jebson looked shaky in the 1st period but seemed to settle down as the game went on. Jebson seemed to have troubles with his rebounds and shots from the perimiter but was very good down low with traffice in front.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

The Vipers need to have more then one line going if they expect to beat a good team in Westside as well as go far in the Playoffs. The Gill-Jones line was by far the Vipers best line but seemed to be really the only one line that come to play tonight. You think after lossing 4-1 just two weeks ago to the Warriors Vernon would be fired up and ready to go tonight. The Vipers played spirts in the 1st period and was outplayed for the most parts of the 2nd period. I thought the team looked good in the 3rd showing more consistancy but couldnt capitalize on a two man advantage. Had troubles breaking out of their own end for most of the night, alot of bad-poor first passes coming out from their own end. Gave up way too many odd man rushes, Westside had some great shorthanded chances scoring the game winner while shorthanded. Vernon needs to tighten up defensively come playoff time. The Vipers need to step up the physical play vs a team like Westside, match their intensity and physical presence. Mark Ferner and the coaching staff wont be happy blowing two leads and coughing up the puck on three out of the four Westside goals. Very uncharacteristic of the Vipers defence. With Salmon Arm lossing 6-0 in Penticton the Vipers have clinched first place in the Interior Division for the first time since 2004-05.

Game Thoughts: (Westside)

I wouldnt want to face the Warriors come playoff time. Westside has looked very impressive against the Vipers in the last two meetings and has been playing its best hockey of the year over the last two months. Westside once again come to play vs Vernon tonight, having some good jump, playing with fire in their eyes. The Warriors were the better team tonight, having the edge in play. This team looked very hungry for the win, going after 3rd spot in the Interior. Westside showed good hustle winning alot of the races and battles down low. Give the Warriors credit for not giving up, battling back twice coming back down twice and then scoring shorthanded late in the game to get the win. Westside plays with that in your face style of play, a very hard working and well coached team, once again was trying to get under the skin of many Vipers. After Brodies giveaway on the Warriors 2nd goal the Warriors were yapping at Brodie every time he was heading off to the bench, trying to get under his skin. Vernon was in full control of the season series early in the year, but the Warriors have now won the last two meetings. With the Rockets out of town, you think the Warriors would have got a bigger crowd for such a big game.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Kory Roy
Steven Weinstein
Nick Aimes

Westside:

Tyler Miller
Jordan Gidaro
Grayson Downing

3 Stars:

1st Star: Michael Quinn (2 goals)
2nd Star: Kellen Jones (3 assists)
3rd Star: Kevin Jebson (32 saves)