Vernon 4 Westside 3

Was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Westside 4-3 in front of 1,156 fans at Royal Le Page Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Graeme Gordon
Westside: Kevin Jebson

1st Period: Some good flow to start tonights hockey game with both teams going back and forth with very little scoring chances. Some good early hits between both teams in the opening minutes. Bryce Kakoske had the best scoring chance early after trying to go for the wrap-around on Kevin Jebson but couldnt get a good shot off on the play. No real good scoring chances early other then Kakoske's wrap-around play, but it was Vernon who had the edge in play and was up early outshooting Westside 5-1. The Vipers would get the first powerplay of the night but before it ended Jonathan Milhouse was give four minutes for spearing, wich put an end to the man advantage. With the Warriors now on the powerplay the Vipers defence kept the Warriors to the outside, not giving any time or space as the Vipers killed off Milhouses penalty as both teams went back to even strength. Vernon picked up the play in the second half of the 1st creating chances down low but couldnt beat Kevin Jebson who looked very strong with shots from inside and down low. Colton Sissons had Westsides best chance of the period after ripping a quick shot from the circle as Graeme Gordon made the save. Mike Collins graized the far post with a shot from the slot wich just about beat Jebson. Late in the 1st Dan Nycholat carried the puck in through the neutral zone and across the blueline, before feeding a saucer pass over to Braden Pimm who beat Jebson from the slot at 16:45 putting Vernon up 1-0. Nycholat with the lone assist. The Vipers were unable to hold the lead as under a minute remaining in the period, superpest Trevor Bailey with some nice moves across the Vernon blueline, roofed hos shot high over Gordon at 19:14 to tie the game 1-1. Cam Reid & Scott MacDonald collected the assists. It was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon had the edge in play outshooting Westside 13-8.

2nd Period: Off the opening draw Connor Jones carried the puck in over the blueline, cut towards the goal and then tried to stuff the puck fivehole past Jebson, but the veteran goaltender shut the door. The Warriors stepped up their play in the 2nd period coming out hard, taking it to the Vipers in the first few minutes of action. Braden Pimm & Mike Collins on a turnover went in two on one, Pimm with the pass over to Collins who was robbed by Jebson who made a highlight real glove save to keep the scored tied 1-1. Back come Westside as the Warriors speed seemed to give the Vipers some trouble early on, with some nice passing Westside finally started creating chances of their own. Cole Wilson setup Grayson Downing in the slot who was stopped by Gordon. Captain Kevin Kraus made a huge defensive play, sliding across to break up a Warriors three on one. Cam Reid setup Scott MacDonald late on a Warriors powerplay to put Westside up 2-1 at 5:19. MacDonald beat Gordon from the slot after being left alone. Reid & Brendan Ellis with the assists. This was the first time all season that the Vipers have trailed in any hockey game. Westside changed their system a little in the middle frame, really attacking and forechecking the Vernon defence, wich resulted in many turnovers in the Vipers defensive zone. The Vipers d-men also were caught pinching on several plays, wich resulted in an odd man rush going back the other way. Westside carried the better of the play in the first half of the 2nd period. Things heated up in the 2nd period as both teams were getting under the skin of one another after some pushing and shoving after several stopages in play. The Warriors were in the Vipers face most of the period, trying to get the Vipers off their game. The Warriors would get into penalty trouble and it would cost them. Kellen Jones with a nice feed from down low, caught a pinching Steven Weinstein who snuck in from the point and beat Jebson at 13:39 as the Vipers tied the game 2-2. Vernon would get a two man advantage but failed to connect and take advantage. Some good puck movement but the Vipers couldnt beat Jebson who played very well all night. Give credit to the Warriors penalty kill who also played well, Cam Reid stole the puck from a Vernon d-man and then cut towards the goal, after having Gordon down and out, Reids stick was lifted at the last second and couldnt hit the empty net on a great shorthanded scoring chance. The Warriors really forechecked the Vipers strong in the middle frame. Westside would kill off both minors, before heading right back to the penalty box after being called for two many men shortly after the Vipers two man advantage. Vernon would once again get another great opportunity to re-take the lead but once again couldnt solve Kevin Jebson. The line of Cory Kane and the Jones Twins was Vernons best line creating chances all night long, with some good cycle down low both Jones boys had several good scoring chances down low. Adam Thompson with a shot from the point was stopped by Jebson after making another big glove save. Late in the period the Warriors would get a late powerplay, with time running down on the clock the Vipers would take an undisaplined penalty sending Westside on a two man advantage to start the 3rd. The Vipers carried the better of the play in the second half, as Kevin Jebson was the difference keeping the Warriors in the game. It was tied 2-2 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Westside 20-5.

3rd Period: With the Warriors on the two man advantage, Cam Reid's point shot beat a screened Graeme Gordon high giving Westside the 3-2 lead just 30 seconds into the period. Scott MacDonald picked up the lone assist. The Warriors would try and connect again on the man advantage but the Vipers would kill off the second minor. It was basically all Vernon from here on in as the Vipers poured on the offensive attack peppering Kevin Jebson. Cory Kane with a nice move at the Westside blueline, ripped a quick shot but was stopped by Jebson. Braden Pimm with some hard work down low, was stopped at the side of the net. The Vipers were flying most of the 3rd buzzing in and around the Warriors goal but couldnt beat Kevin Jebson who looked very solid. Cole Ikkala thought he had tied the game after beating Jebson high but the goal was waived off after Kris Hartley called off the goal after the whistle was blowen. The Vipers were robbed on this play after a srum in the Warriors crease, with the puck still loose in front, Hartley blew the play dead, just before Ikkala beat Jebson. The Vipers bench was very unhappy with the call. Vernon would get the next three powerplays after the Warriors got into penalty trouble, Kevin Jebson was give a ten minute misconduct after saying something to Hartley after one of the Warriors penalties. Vernon moved the puck well on the man advantage getting some good chances but once again couldnt beat Jebson. Kellen Jones was stopped on the door step on a good play down low. Kevin Kraus come very close to tying the game after ringing a shot from the point off the post. Give the Vipers credit they played hard, getting many quality chances but couldnt beat Jebson as the Warriors killed off all three minors. Dylan Walchuk looked very dangerous in the 3rd, making some unreal moves getting some good chances. This period was all Vernon and it paid off after some nice three way passing, Connor & Kellen Jones setup Cory Kane who beat Jebson in close at 16:12 to tie the game 3-3. Dylan Walchuck come close to putting Vernon ahead in the final two minutes. In the final minute and a half Westside forechecked the Vipers deep in their own end, coming up with the puck, coming close to beating Gordon from down low. The Vipers defence was caught running around in their own end in the final seconds before finally getting the puck out, Jonathan Milhouse carried the puck in over the blueline and then fed a wide open Mike Collins who put a nice move on Kevin Jebson sliding the puck into the empty net putting Vernon up 4-3 with just 2.6 seconds remaining. The Vipers would pull out a huge 4-3 victory improving to 7-0 and continue there 22 game winning streak. (Going back to last years playoffs) The Vipers dominated the Warriors for most of the 3rd period. Vernon outshot Westside 19-6.

Top Players: (Vernon)

The line of Cory Kane (1 assist), Kellen (1 goal & 1 assist) and Connor Jones (1 assist) was by far the Vipers best line tonight. This line was on fire all game, buzzing everwhere. These three kids were flying, really dominating down low and in and around the net. Both Connor & Kellen Jones played a heck of a game, both were hit and checked hard all night but still managed to get away with the puck and come up with a scoring chance. Connor took a beating in the trenches but battled hard all night.

Dan Nycholat (1 assist) played his best game as a Viper. Nycholat looked very strong on the backend, played well at both ends of the rink. Was solid defensively, broke up several Warriors scoring chances.

Dylan Walchuck was a little spark plug all night, really used his speed and skill in the 3rd to get several chances. Walchuck also took some big checks but still kept going.

Kevin Kraus looked very strong on the Vipers blueline.

Mike Collins (1 goal) Played well for most of the game.

Top Players: (Westside)

Scott MacDonald (1 goal & 2 assists) was very strong up front for the Warriors. Was very dangerous with the puck.

Michael Quinn was very impressive on the Westside blueline. I really like this young man, I was very impressed with him last year. Looked very good tonight.

Cam Reid (1 goal & 1 assist) Another Warriors player who was very dangerous. This kid is a heck of a hockey player, really see's and reads the ice well.

Trevor Bailey (1 goal) Looked very good in the first two periods. This kid is very quick with some soft hands. Had some good chances in the first two periods.

Kevin Jebson (48 saves) Was by far the Warriors best player. Without Jebson the Warriors wouldnt have been in tonights game. Jebson who always plays Vernon tough was amazing tonight making some huge saves. Jebson made two real nice glove saves, come up big down low with some big pad saves. This kid is very hard to beat down low and in close, you need to get him moving side to side.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Wow what an entertaining hockey game! I knew going into tonights game this wasnt going to be an easy two points, Vernon & Westside play some very tight checking one or two goal games in past years. Westside gave Vernon a good run for their money but if it wasnt for Kevin Jebson this may have not been a close one goal game. The Vipers who have faced some of the leagues weaker teams over the past two weekends had their hands full tonight with the Warriors. Vernons defence was caught pinching on several plays, wich resulted in an odd man rush. The Vipers had troubles at times defensively in their own end. Up front as all three periods went on the Vipers seemed to get better and carry the edge in play. Scoring just one powerplay goal the Vipers had some great opportunities with the man advantage but couldnt take advantage. With four minutes remaining the Vipers unbeaten season was close to coming to an end, but give this team full credit for not giving up and battling hard right till the end coming back with two late 3rd period goals. The Vipers now at 7-0 and on a 22 game winning streak (going back to last years playoffs) look very strong so early into the season. Not all four Vernon lines looked or played well but it just goes to show you how much depth this team has up front, if one line isnt getting it done, another line will take over. Tonight was by far the Vipers toughest game of the season.

Game Thoughts: (Westside)

The Warriors showed spirts of being a strong hockey team but couldnt compete for a full 60 minutes. Westside seemed to fair well against Vernon in the first half of two of the three periods but couldnt keep that up for the full 20 minutes of each period. The Warriors did change things up a little in the 2nd period, forechecking and attacking the Vipers d-men, wich resulted in a few turnovers. I noticed Westside dosnt like to shoot alot, they move the puck well, but look for the perfect setup. The Warriors are a young club with a ton of speed and some skilled kids up front and have solid goaltending with Kevin Jebson. But you have to wonder where this team would be without Jebson? Five on five and the first half of the first two periods and the Warriors are right their, they just need to try and do that for a full 20 minutes. The Warriors have a good powerplay. This was one if not the biggest crowd for a Vernon-Westside game, great to see! Good atmosphere tonight, in past years, its been half empty and no atmosphere at all.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Darrin Robak
Rob Short (Injured)
Patrick McGillis
Erik Soderlund

Westside:

Jason Nash
Justin Bertow
Darren Gillen

3 Stars:

1st Star: Kevin Jebson (48 saves)
2nd Star: Connor Jones (1 assist)
3rd Star: Cam Reid (1 goal & 1 assist)