Interior Conference Finals: Game 6 Vernon 3 Salmon Arm 1

Was at tonights Game 6 of the Interior Conference Finals as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 3-1 in front of the second largest crowd in Silverbacks history, 2,108 were at the Sunwave Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Andrew Hammond
Salmon Arm: Bryan Gillis

1st Period: Off the opening draw Vernon would get the puck in deep, Chris Crowell with a shot from the side boards just about caught Bryan Gillis off guard as the Vipers with a good early scoring chance. Both teams looked good in the early few minutes, Connor Jones would open the scoring at 2:58 after a nice tip wich beat Bryan Gillis. Adam Thompson & Kellen Jones with the assists. The first goal of the game was key, this goal gave the Vipers some big momentum wich seemed to carry them through tonights game. The Vipers would get the first powerplay of the game, with some good puck movement couldnt beat Gillis. Salmon Arm would go down two men as Vernon would get a two man advantage, the Vipers moved the puck well, Connor Jones with a shot from the slot was stopped by Gillis. Kyle Bigos with a big blast from the point was also stopped by Gillis who played well. The Backs would kill off both minors. Both teams went back and forth but it was the Vipers who had the better scoring chances. The Silverbacks would get their first powerplay of the night but it would be the Vipers with the best scoring chance, Braden Pimm all alone in front had Bryan Gillis down and out as Gillis come across with a big glove save keeping the puck out. The Vipers penalty kill played well with some big shot blocks. Vernon would kill off the minor. The Silverbacks had some chances but didnt get many quality chances. Rob Short with a great scoring chance was stopped by Gillis. Vernon come to play tonight, the Vipers kept pace with Salmon Arm, really skating hard, playing physical and winning most of the one on one battles. Mark Zengerle with a tip in front, just missed the net as the Backs come very close to tying the game. Kevin Kraus dove down to block a shot, taking a puck off the head, Kraus who has been a warrior for the Vipers, went to the dressing room but returned for his next shift. A very entertaining 1st as Vernon was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 13-8.

2nd Period: Connor Jones would score his 2nd goal of the night 1:43 into the period on the powerplay, Jones was left alone in front, beating Gillis fivehole. Sahir Gill & Kellen Jones would collect the assists. Vernon looked very good on the man advantage, moved the puck well with some good passing. Vernon was the better of the two teams in the 2nd, the Vipers defence did an excellent job at shutting down the Backs offence. The Vipers who are very strong and very dominate when they get the cycle going, got the puck in deep on several occasions playing with that cycle down low. The line of Sahir Gill, Connor and Kellen Jones really looked good down low as the Silverbacks had all kinds of trouble containing the Vipers top unit. Braden Pimm looked very good with and without the puck all night, Pimm with some good hustle stole the puck from the Backs defence several times, causing a turnover wich resulted in a Vipers scoring chance. Vernon carried the better of the play looking very good on the forecheck. Salmon Arm didnt seem to have their legs going for the first time all series, the Backs couldnt seem to get any bounces. Max Grassi, Keenan Desmet and Mark Zengerle went in three on one, Grassi kept and fired but couldnt beat Andrew Hammond. The Silverbacks with two powerplays were having trouble getting pucks through the Vernon defence. The Vipers penalty kill looked very strong killing off both minors. Salmon Arm would get a late powerplay but couldnt solve Hammond as the penalty would continue into the 3rd. Chris Crowell come up with a big shot block in the dying seconds, Crowell would head off limping. Vernon was up 2-0 after 40 minutes of play. Shots were even at 11 each.

3rd Period: The Vipers were now 20 minutes away from clinching their second Interior Division Championship in the last three seasons. The Backs with still 49 seconds remaining on the powerplay couldnt capitalize as the Vipers would get a big kill early to start the 3rd. Vernon would get an early powerplay but once again couldnt bury their chances on the PP. Vernon seemed to have Salmon Arm on the ropes as the Backs didnt have much life as the Vipers were getting the puck in deep, really cycling the puck down low, eating time off the clock. James Kerr with a turnover just inside the Silverbacks blueline, resulted in a goal. The play would turn up ice as Salmon Arm would get the play in deep, a Vernon d-man would fall behind the net, with a scramble in front Colin Lidster would sneak a puck past Andrew Hammond at 4:09 getting the Silverbacks on the scoreboard as Andrew Hammonds shutout minutes ended at 119.11 Matt Wray & Justin Cseter picked up the Backs assists. This goal gave the Silverbacks life & got the crowd back into the game, as Salmon Arm really stepped up their play. The Backs started skating, buzzing around the Vipers net. Keenan Desmet with a chance in front was stopped by Hammond. Max Grassi really stepped up his play, rushing the puck up ice on several occasions. Grassi looked very good in his final junior hockey game. Vernon didnt back down, Rob Short & Braden Pimm on a two on one had a great chance to regain their two goal lead, Short with a nice pass but Pimm just missed the net. The Vipers had some great odd man rushes in the 3rd but couldnt capitalize. Salmon Arm had several chances in close with some mad scrambles, Hammond was down and out on with a ton of traffic in front but the Backs couldnt get the bounce as the puck stayed out. Max Grassi with a blast from the point couldnt beat Hammond who looked very solid. Connor Jones had a great chance in the second half but was stopped by Gillis. Kellen Jones was robbed by Gillis at the side of the net as Gillis was keeping the Silverbacks in tonights contest. Colin Lidster had a great chance in front but was stopped by Hammond. Conor Morrison couldnt connect on the crease pass on a great chance in front of a open net. Salmon Arm would get one last powerplay with eight minutes remaining but had troubles getting pucks through the traffic in front, give the Vipers credit they did a great job at clogging up the middle, doing a great job at blocking shots. Connor Jones with a huge shot block at the blueline forced the puck out wich killed off the minor. A very exciting final period as both teams played with alot of heart and determination, with some great action at both ends of the rink. Sahir Gill, Connor and Kellen Jones with a three on one had a great chance to put the Silverbacks away, Connor setup Gill who instead of shooting, went back to Connor for the pass wich resulted in a turnover. In the final few minutes Max Grassi went end to end, Grassi stepped over the line and wired a shot wich went off the end of Hammonds stick. Chris Crowell come down the right wing and wired a shot from the circle but Bryan Gillis made the big blocker save. The Backs would pull Gillis in the final minute and a half with the Silverbacks putting presure in the Vernon zone, Connor Jones would steal the puck and from his own end hit the empty net at 19:16 for his 3rd of the night to seal the Vipers victory. The goal was unassisted, this was the Vipers first hat trick of the season. As the buzzer sounded the Vipers would pour onto the ice to celebrate the series clinching victory with Andrew Hammond. Vernon would outshoot Salmon Arm 15-11 The Vipers defeated the Silverbacks in six games winning the Interior Division Championship for the 2nd time in three years. Chris Cowell didnt touch or take the Ryan Hatfield Memorial trophy as he got his picture taken and then skated away.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Kevin Kraus was a warrior the last two games. Kraus who was beatup in last nights game and then takes a puck off the side of the head tonight, sucks it up and continues the game. Kraus played very well defensivly, showed alot of heart and character.

Mike Leidl played a very solid defensive game.

James Kerr looked very good up front. Was really skating well.

Connor Jones (3 goals) What a performance from this young man, Connor was hit hard, took a beating all series. Another kid who is a warrior. Connor played physical, looked very good at both ends of the rink, very solid on the penalty kill, come up with a few big block shots.

Braden Pimm stepped up his play and it showed. Pimm was a workhorse tonight, was skating hard, showed alot of determination all game, caused many turnovers inside the Backs line. Had some great chances in and around the net but couldnt finish. Played very well on the penalty kill and on the draw.

Kellen Jones another kid who was a warrior tonight. Kellen looked very good at both ends of the rink. Setup his brother Connor on two out of the three Vernon goals. Kellen looked very good in the attacking zone, caused some big turnovers during the 2nd period.

Sahir Gill played well on the Vipers top line. This line was very dominate with the cycle down low, Ive said it many times before, when the Vipers play with the cycle down low, they are very hard to beat and very dangerous.

Chris Crowell played physical, took a few shots off the shins, made a few big blocks. Was a warrior down low and in the corners. Played very well all night.

Rob Short played his second straight solid game. Short was very good with the puck, made some nice moves for a few good scoring chances.

Adam Thompson played another good defensive game on the blueline. Has really stepped up his play.

Andrew Hammond played another stellar game, didnt have many big saves to make but made the ones he needed too. Hammond was by far the Vipers MVP in this series.

Top Players: (Salmon Arm)

Bryan Gillis was by far the Silverbacks best player tonight. Gillis kept the Backs in tonights game, giving them a chance to win. Come up with some key saves while on the penalty kill and then robbed a few Vipers on several odd man rushes in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Gillis played his final Junior hockey game in a Silverbacks jersey.

Matt Grassi looked very good defensivly and offensivly all night, after the Salmon Arm goal, Grassi really stepped up his play, looking very dangerous with the puck, was involved in the play alot tonight. Another Silverback veteran player who wont be back next season.

Jason Beatie played very well on the blueline tonight. Beatie was physical, really added that gritt the Backs needed in front of the net. Beatie is another player who wont be back next season.

Colin Lidster (1 goal) I thought played well this series and looked good tonight. Used his body in and around the net, had a few chances.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

This was by far the best performance & effort the Vipers put in all series. What a gutsy effort tonight, alot of guys stepped up their play. Nick Amies didnt see a single shift, Steven Weinstein and Kory Roy were lucky if they saw two maybe three shifts all night. The Vipers basically went with three lines, in the 3rd Mark Ferner went with his top two lines. Scoring the first goal was key, especially just three minutes into the game, A- you get the crowd out of the game and B-the Vipers are so strong playing with the lead. In 40 games that the Vipers have led going into the third period this season, they have won 38, tied 1, and lost 1 in overtime. Vernon really matched the Silverbacks for most of the night, in most of the games this series the Vipers were outhit, outworked and outplayed at times. Not tonight, the Vipers looked very good, played physical, outworked the Backs for most of tonights game. Won alot of draws, one on one battles and had alot of odd man rushes, wich Salmon Arm usally dosnt give up. The Vipers played a solid road game and deserved the win, how sweet it is to win the Interior Division Championship at the Sunwave Centre. Congrats Boys, very well deserved!!

Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)

First off Id like to thank the Salmon Arm Silverbacks hockey club and their fans for a great series. Since joining the league, this has been one of the biggest rivalries in the BCHL. This was just the second Playoff meeting between these two teams as each team has now won a series. Id like to wish the veteran 20 yr olds, and the players who wont be back next season all the best in their hockey careers. Id also like to thank the Silverback fans who come on this message board and have kept me informed on all the Silverbacks news, trades and scores and also for the many much appreciated updates during any Vernon-Salmon Arm games. Now back to the game, the Silverbacks didnt get any bounces or breaks tonight, until scoring early in the 3rd Salmon Arm really didnt have much jump, and didnt have their legs going until the goal wich seemed to give them life. I thought the Backs looked tired at times, Rylan Ferster was mixing his lines all night, the Backs had troubles scoring all series getting shutout twice, only scoring eight goals all series. Salmon Arms top line who killed the Vipers in the regular season was no where to be seen this series. Salmon Arms powerplay really struggled, going 0-6 tonight and 1-26 in the series. The Backs seemed to light up the Vipers on the powerplay during the regular season, this was one of the teams strong points. Salmon Arm had some chances but were very limited at times, through out the first two periods. It wasnt until the 3rd when they had some good chances down low. In the end the Silverbacks made it close, making for one heck of a nail biter. This series was very entertaining and more like a war, as both teams and both cities dont like one another. The Vipers come out bruised and beaten up after taking a pounding from the Silverbacks.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Cameron Brodie (Injured)
Ryan Santana (Injured)
Mike Collins (Injured)

Salmon Arm:

Mike Puddifant
Levi Hantula
Brent Vandenberg (Suspended)
Bobby Lipsett

3 Stars:

1st Star: Connor Jones (3 goals)
2nd Star: Bryan Gillis (36 saves)
3rd Star: Andrew Hammond (30 saves)