Was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 4-3 in front of 1,142 fans at the Sunwave Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Graeme Gordon
Salmon Arm: Tony Ierfino
1st Period: Both teams got off to a bit of a slow start before the Vipers started rolling, creating chances in the Backs zone. Vernon looked very strong in the opening period getting lots of solid scoring chances. Jonathan Milhouse was stopped by Tony Ierfino in close. Cory Kane was stopped down low. Patrick McGillis with some good hard work in the corner, come out with the puck, went behind the Silverbacks net, and tried for the pass out front wich went through a maze of players. The Silverbacks would go down two men as the Vipers with a two man advantage had a great opportunity to capitalize on the games first goal of the game. The Vipers moved the puck well but Salmon Arms penalty kill was superb keeping Vernons powerplay to the outside, wich blocked the shooting lanes. Vernon was forced to move the puck around with very few good quality shots, the Vipers ended up with just two shots on the two man advantage as the Backs killed off both minors. Shortly after the Silverbacks with their first shot on net was a great scoring chance as the puck was throwen in front from the side wall, Graeme Gordon was forced to make a big save with traffic in front. The Vipers come right back again getting some good chances. Adam Thompsons blast from just inside the blueline handcuffed Ierfino who had troubles controlling the rebound as the puck bounced off Ierfino and was laying in the crease as Ierfino was forced to quickly clear the puck from the crease and into the corner. On the same play the puck would come back out front, where Patrick McGillis who played a solid opening period was stopped in close after getting a quick shot off from inside the circle as Ierfino closed the fivehole. Vernon was all over Salmon Arm outshooting the Backs 11-1 at this point. Anytime the Silverbacks tried breaking out of their own end, the Vipers shutdown the neutral zone, not giving Salmon Arm any time or space to get through the Vipers zone. Dylan Walchuk lead the way as the Vipers went in three on one, Walchuk, Rob Short and Cole Ikkala couldnt finish off a great chance three on one. Late in the period Vernon had troubles clearing the zone, Charlie Vasaturo collected the puck off the bad clearing attempt, getting a shot off from the side wall wich was tipped in front by David Killip who beat Gordon at 15:07 putting the Silverbacks up 1-0. Vasaturo with the lone assist. 1:30 later Mark Zengerle beat Erik Soderlund along the boards, dishing off the puck to Tyler Gubb who beat Gordon at 16:37 as the Backs who were outplayed for most of the period jumped out to the 2-0 lead. Zengerle and Jayson Reardon with the assists. Vernon outplayed Salmon Arm but were down 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 15-5.
2nd Period: Salmon Arm got off to a quick start, getting the puck in deep controlling the early edge in play. Mark Zengerle & Travis Statchuk went to work with some nice two way passing, as Gordon made a big save in close as traffic swarmed the Vipers goaltender. Erik Soderlund knocked down a Backs player after the whistle wich gave the Silverbacks their first powerplay of the night. With the Backs on the man advantage Vipers Captain Kevin Kraus fed a wide open Jonathan Milhouse who went in one on one, Milhouse turned on the jets and then wired a shot from just over the circle that beat Ierfino shorthanded at 5:03 getting Vernon on the scoreboard. Kraus with the lone assist. The Vipers would kill off the minor and then 1:09 after Milhouse's goal Cole Ikkala fed Sawyer Mick who wired a shot from the side wall wich beat Ierfino who looked to be screened on the play by his own d-man. Ikkala with the lone assist. Shortly after the Vipers goal Kevin Kraus would be tossed from tonights contest after being called for checking from behind. Kraus had been playing very well up until being tossed. Vernons penalty kill was solid killing off the minor. In the second half the play slowed down a little with both teams getting very little chances. In the final few seconds Garrett Noonan with a poor clearing attempt coughed the puck up to Mark Zenergle who made a nice move just inside the blueline before dishing off the puck to Travis Statchuk who was stopped by Gordon in close. The Vipers got lucky in the dying few seconds. It was tied 2-2 after 40 minutes of play. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 11-8.
3rd Period: 1:53 into the 3rd the Vipers would get their third powerplay of the night but it was the backs who had the first scoring opportunity after Greg Noyes and Tyler Gubb went in shorthanded two on one, as Gordon made a huge save, back come the Vipers, Jonathan Milhouse fed Bryce Kakoske out front who beat Ierfino at 2:28 putting Vernon up 3-2 who now battled back after being down 2-0. Milhouse with the lone assist. Just 37 seconds later Erik Soderlunds shot from the point was deflected in front by Dylan Walchuk who beat Ierfino at 3:05 putting Vernon up 4-2. Soderlund with the lone assist. With the Vipers up two goals they now turned up the offence, creating some good chances in the Backs zone over the next three to four minutes. Dylan Walchuk who played a heck of a hockey game, was solid in the 3rd with some unreal moves had several good chances. Walchuk skated through three Silverbacks before getting a good scoring chance in front. Cory Kane also looked good in the 3rd with some nice moves, getting some good chances. Adam Thompsons wicked slapshot from the blueline just missed Ierfinos head as the puck just whistled high and wide. Vernon with some good chances couldnt beat Ierfino. The Vipers would then get into penalty trouble taking three straight minors. On the Silverbacks first man advantage Travis Statchuk was all alone at the side of the goal, getting three wacks at the loose puck but couldnt beat Graeme Gordon who was down and out but managed to get his stick down acorss the ice to make three huge saves on Statchuk. Vernon would kill off the first minor before heading back to the penalty kill. Salmon Arm couldnt generate any offence attack as the Vipers penalty kill was in their face for the full two minutes, Braden Pimm who also played very well in the 3rd fought off three Silverbacks to come out with the puck in the Backs zone killing off some valuable time. Dan Nycholat jumped up into the play in the Backs zone and ate some valuable seconds off the penalty. Vernons strong aggresive forecheck on the penalty kill was too much for Salmon Arm who was losing the one on one battles down low. Mark Zenergles quick shot from the point was tipped in front, Gordon going the other way, somehow managed to turn his leg around and kick out the puck at the last second making a huge save as the Vipers would kill off the second minor. Salmon Arm would would get their third powerplay of the period late and this time take advantage. With some good puck movement Mark Zengerle setup Greg Noyes whos screen pointshot beat Gordon high at 15:49 as the Backs pulled to within one goal. Travis Statchuk, Mark Zenergle and Tyler Gubb who were dangerous all night saw a ton of icetime in the final period, double shifting most of the third saw most of the final four minutes of the game. Salmon Arm would pull Tony Ierfino with 1:10 remaining in the game but were unable to generate any offensive attack. Give full credit to the Vipers defence who did a great job at not giving much time or space. Jonathan Milhouse with a shot at the empty net, fired a backhand from the Silverbacks blueline, but Cory Chakeen just got his stick on the puck to re-direct the puck into the corner. In the dying few seconds Braden Pimm got the puck in deep killing off the final few seconds giving the Vipers their 11th straight win with a 4-3 victory over Salmon Arm. The Silverbacks outshot the Vipers 8-5.
Top Players: (Vernon)
The line of Braden Pimm, Jonathan Milhouse (1 goal & 1 assist) & Mike Collins played very well up front for the Vipers. Milhouse played a heck of a game tonight. Was dangerous with the puck all night, was skating hard. Pimm also played very well, was solid at both ends of the rink and on the draw. Pimm looked very good on the penalty kill, worked hard all night.
Dylan Walchuk (1 goal) Played a heck of a game tonight, was very dangerous in the 3rd getting some good chances. Walchuk played very well at both ends of the rink, looked good on the penalty kill. This kid had some unreal moves in the 1st and 3rd periods, skated through three Salmon Arm players in the third and just about scored a highlight real goal. Walchuk was very dangerous and hard to knock off the puck.
Graeme Gordon (22 saves) Played well making some big saves when needed too. Gordon made two huge saves in the 3rd while on the penalty kill, robbing Travis Statchuk and another Salmon Arm player. Gordon was wearing his new goalie equipment wich is a dark navy blue with yellow stripes, to match the Vipers new jerseys.
Dan Nycholat was solid on the Vipers blueline. Nycholat saw alot of icetime after Kevin Kraus was tossed from tonights game early into the 2nd period.
Cory Kane stepped up the physical play and also looked good up front. Kane with some good moves, also had some good scoring chances. Was very hard to knock off the puck down low.
Sawyer Mick (1 goal) Looked good, played physical, was skating hard, was driving to the net most of the night.
Patrick McGillis played a good game for Vernon. McGillis didnt see a regular shift in the 3rd but looked very good in the opening period. This kid has improved each game and keeps getting better.
Steven Weinstein played a fairly good game on the backend. Weinstein made some smart plays, looked good defensively.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
The line of Travis Statchuk, Mark Zengerle (2 assists) & Tyler Gubb (1 goal) were Salmon Arms best players, who were very dangerous with the puck. This line saw a ton of icetime, especially in the 3rd double shifting, even playing the full two minutes on one powerplay. But as the game went on, all three kids started to run out of gas. This line had some good chances through out tonights game.
Tony Ierfino (24 saves) Kept his team in the game in the 1st period (15 saves) Ierfino made several big saves keeping the Vipers off the board before his team mates put up two goals late in the 1st before blowing the two goal lead. Ierfino has played Vernon well in all three games this season. Couldnt fault him on any of the four Viper goals.
David Killip (1 goal) Looked very good for the Silverbacks. Killip scored a real nice goal to open the scoring.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The Vipers have now won 11 straight games moving back into top spots in the BCHL one point up on Penticton with a game in hand. The Vipers played very well tonight earning a hard fought two points. Give this team full credit for battling back after down 2-0 after the 1st period. Vernon has showed they can battle back and come back to win games several times this season. How many times have Vernon fans seen the Vipers outplay their opponents in the opening period, and yet are down after the 1st period. Once again it happened tonight, the Vipers were all over the Silverbacks but yet down 2-0. With no Kellen or Connor Jones and losing Kevin Kraus early in the 2nd period, the guys really stuck to their game plan, all stepping up and getting the two points. Vernon won most of the one on one battles and had the better of the chances. Overall this was a very entertaining hockey game. Vernon is now 3-0 against Salmon Arm but all three games have been one goal games.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
Even after being outplayed for most of the 1st period the Backs with just four shots on net took advantage of their opportunities scoring on both of them jumping out to the 2-0 lead but couldnt hold on. Jonathan Milhouse's shorthanded goal early into the 2nd seemed to take some of the life out of the Silverbacks. Salmon Arm had troubles with Vernons forecheck and aggresive play down low, lots many of the one on one battles. The Backs one weak spot is on the backend, I think Salmon Arm needs to upgrade on defence. Add one or two solid d-men and the Backs have a good mix. I dont think playing the Zengerle, Statchuk and Gubb line most of the night and especially most of the 3rd is such a great idea. I didnt see the Silverbacks 4th line out much, but as the game went on the Backs top line was out of gas. This was one of if not the smallest crowd I have seen for a Vernon-Salmon Arm game at the Sunwave Centre.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Darrin Robak
Connor Jones
Kellen Jones
Salmon Arm:
Christopher Hoe
Devon Roeszler
Brett Knowles
3 Stars:
1st Star: Jonathan Milhouse (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: David Killip (1 goal)
3rd Star: Dylan Walchuk (1 goal)
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