Was at tonights Game 2 of the Doyle Cup as Vernon defeated Grande Prairie 6-2 in front of a sold out Civic Arena (2,252)
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Andrew Hammond
Grande Prairie: Matt Milne
During warmup Kevin Kraus & Captain Blake Clement were having words with one another, Clement skated hard towards Kraus, acting as if he was going to wind up and shoot a puck at Kraus. Then later on Clement fired a puck down towards the Vipers net. Both players picked up 10 minute misconducts to start the game.
1st Period: The Storm come out laying the body, playing very physical. The first few minutes the Vipers couldnt seem to get much going. Grande Prairie would get the first early powerplay, the Storm had all kinds of trouble as Vernon would kill off the minor. For the second straight night Grande Prairie would open the scoring, Bobby Tyson would beat Andrew Hammond at 5:09 on wich looked to be a tipped puck that got past Hammond. Jordon Harrison would collect the one assist. A very physical period with lots of penalties. Vernon would get a six minute powerplay and take advantage. The Vipers would score two quick goals in the next four minutes. Sahir Gill beat Milne down low at 6:32 on the powerplay with Kyle Bigos and Connor Jones picking up the assists. On the same man advantage, Kellen Jones beat Milne at 9:52 as Vernon takes the 2-1 lead. Connor Jones & Sahir Gill would pick up the assists. Both teams stepped up the physical play as the Storm come tonight with a ton of jump and much needed energy after last nights slow start. Morgan MacLean with a shot from the slot beat Hammond but hit the post. For the second straight night Grande Prairie was having troubles getting pucks through the Vernon defence. The Vipers defence did a great job at keeping the Storm to the outside. Just as the Vipers powerplay expired, Cameron Brodie with a shot from the point would beat Milne putting Vernon up 3-1 at 16:51 Sahir Gill & Connor Jones would collect the assists. Grande Prairie was very physical, but once again had troubles offensivly. The Vipers had the better chances. Vernon was up 3-1 after 20 minutes of play. Vipers outshot the Storm 14-3.
2nd Period: Chad Carder replaced Matt Milne to start the middle frame. Grande Prairie finally got the puck in deep, forcing the Vipers down low, but were having troubles getting pucks towards the net. The Storm carried the early edge in play but couldnt muster any real good scoring chances. In the early going Sahir Gill setup Kellen Jones on a two on one, as Jones rang his shot off the post. The Storm finally got some presure deep in the Vipers zone, getting a few good chances. Carter Rowney was stopped in front by Andrew Hammond. Hammond and the Vipers got very lucky on one play, the puck was shot from the side of the goal, as it jumped over Hammonds shoulder, rolled across the back of the net, bouncing back in front before Hammond was able to cover up the puck at the side of the net. After some good presure by the Storm, Bryce Kakoske come back the other way, beat Carder at 7:43 putting the Vipers up 4-1. Cory Kane & James Kerr picked up the assists. This line played very well all night, Kerr, Kane and Kakoske added a ton of energy. This goal seemed to deflat Grande Prairie after not being able to score on some close chances. Cole Ikkala on a parcial breakaway went racing in for the loose puck, Chad Carder come way out of his crease to get the puck, as Ikkala won the race and then just missed the open cage by inces, Rob Short with some good hustle, raced into the corner to win the battle, come up with the puck and then fired the puck through the crease as the Vipers come very close to scoring as Carder was caught way out of position. Grande Prairie couldnt capitalize on their chances and it cost them. In the final three minutes tempers flared as some pushing and shoving started, before a mini line brawl broke loose. Some punches were being throwen by both teams, as things started heating up. As the officials were trying to send players to the penalty boxes, players that were still on the ice, started yapping at one another, with punches being throwen. The Vipers would come out of all this with the man advantage but were unable to score. The Storm had the better of the play in the 2nd but were down 4-1 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Grande Prairie 11-10.
3rd Period: Vernon got some good presure on Carder and the Storm buzzing around the goal. James Kerr with a chance in front come close to scoring. The Vipers top line of Connor Jones, Kellen Jones and Sahir Gill saw very limited ice time in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Cole Ikkala who played a solid game, was a work horse all night, really fyling hard, winning alot of one on one battles. James Kerr & Darren Kramer were having words all night and finally decided to drop the gloves. Chris Crowell with a quick shot from the side boards, rang his shot off the far post. Crowell would get revenge after beating Carder at 10:12 after some nice two way passing with Braden Pimm. Pimm & Cole Ikkala would collect the assists. As the game wore on, the Storm couldnt generate much offence all 3rd as the Vipers started hitting centre and dumping the puck in. Both teams still playing physical, were laying out some big checks all night. Vernon had some good chances in close coming close to scoring on a few chances. Doug Reid would beat Hammond late at 17:23 to get the Storms second goal of the night, Dennis Rix & Zahn Raubenheimer would get the assists. Carder tried twice to get to the Storm bench with just over two minutes remaining, but couldnt as Vernon wasnt allowing Grande Prairie in across the blueline, Carder would finally get to the bench before Rob Short added an empty netter at 18:36 to put this game away. Shorts goal was unassisted. In the dying seconds former Penticton Vee, Elias Grossman levelled Bryce Kakoske deep in the Grande Prairie zone with a hueg elbow to the head. The Vipers come flying in, as both teams started pushing and shoving as tempers once again started to flare up. Cole Ikkala was hit across the face-side of the head with a blatent slash by Josh Juell, and then Kevin Kraus was speared and slashed as the Storm were gooning it up. The officials were having all kinds of troubles trying to contain Grossman who went nuts, pushing and shoving the linesmen, at one point Grossman had the linesmen by the neck wrestling with him as he was trying to excorted off the ice. As Grossman and the linesmen were by the far end gates, Grossman spit in the face of the official and was man handling him. After a long delay Andrew Guest warned both benches as the Vipers would kill off the final 26 seconds and take a 2-0 series lead with a 6-2 victory in Game 1. Vipers outshot the Storm 15-9.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Cody Ikkala (1 assist) Played a very steady and solid defensive game on the blueline.
Mike Leidl played his second straight solid game on the backened.
Kevin Kraus looked very good, was skating hard, looked good at both ends of the play.
The Vipers line of James Kerr (1 assist) Cory Kane (1 assist) & Bryce Kakoske (1 goal) Played with alot of jump and energy all night. Kerr who rarley never fights was fired up when dancing with Darren Kramer. Kane was really skating hard, Kakoske has really stepped up his play as of late, really played well tonight.
Cole Ikkala was a work horse all night. Really worked hard, had lots of jump. Won alot of races, battled hard down low.
Braden Pimm played well again for the second straight night.
The Vipers #1 line of Sahir Gill (1 goal & 2 assists), Kellen Jones & Connor Jones (3 assists) Looked very dangerous in the 1st and 2nd periods before seeing limited ice time as the game went on. Grande Prairie tried very hard to play physical and in your face style of hockey against this line, but still couldnt contain these young kids. All three worked very hard, Gill took a pounding in and along the end wall.
Top Players: (Grande Prairie)
Chad Carder (24 saves) The Storm went with Matt Milne who allowed three goals on 14 shots, you couldnt blame him for the three goals. Carder who only gave up two goals in Game 1 was forced back between the pipes tonight to start the 2nd period. Carder played well making some key saves at times through out tonights game. Once again Carder did look shaky with the odd long shot and with his rebound control. In the final few minutes the crowd was chanting Carders name, as Carder was having some fun with the crowd.
Carter Rowney had some chances, played well for most of tonights game.
Doug Reid (1 goal) was really moving the puck well, scored a late goal in the final few minutes of the game.
Mark Stojan played well defensivly.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
For the second straight night the Vipers got the job done after another solid effort. Vernon played well, contained their emotions with all the pushing and shoving late in the hockey game. Vernon once again had the better of the scoring chances, held the better of the play for most of the game and looked very strong defensivly. It took the Vipers the first few minutes to adjust to the physical play from the Storm, but as the game went on, Vernon shutdown any offensive attack from Grande Prairie. Vipers defence did a excellent job at keeping the shots to the outside. Vernons powerplay looked much better tonight, was clicking in the 1st period. The Vipers are very hard to contain down low, especially the Jones-Gill line when on the cycle. Tonight was the Vipers final and last home game of the season, as the series now swicthes to Grande Prairie for the remainder of the series. The winner will then advance to the Royal Bank Cup in Victoria.
Game Thoughts: (Grande Prairie)
The Storm have some good defencemen and good goaltending but where is the offence? Is it the Vipers defence is just that strong or are the Storm relying on grit and hard work to get them this far? You knew Mike Vandekamp would have his team ready to play tonight, and it showed. Vandekamps Storm come out playing very physical, and all game. But at times they went over the top with some very dirty hits-shots towards the Vipers. The Storm were called for two boarding calls in the 1st and got away with another wich was missed. Either of these three hits could have been called checking from behind. You have to wonder why Vandy went with Matt Milne after Carders 36 save performance last night in Game 1? Once again getting four shots on goal in the opening period isnt going to win you hockey games, for the second straight night the Storm opened the scoring before the Vipers would tie the game and wouldnt look back. Grande Prairie is somehow going to have to try and get more pucks and traffic towards the net, and try and generate some much needed offence. Grande Prairie is going to have to try and find ways at shutting down the Vipers top two lines. These top two lines have done most of the Vipers scoring. I havnt been all that impressed with the Storm so far. This series is far from over, as now the Storm head home for the remainder of the series on the bigger ice surface.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Steven Weinstein
Nick Amies
Ryan Santana (Injured)
Trent Dorias (AP)
Grande Prairie:
Derek Ginnell
Mitch Kaufmann
3 Stars:
1st Star: Connor Jones (3 assists)
2nd Star: Sahir Gill (1 goal & 2 assists)
3rd Star: Kellen Jones
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