Vernon 7 Trail 1

Was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Trail 7-1 in front of 1,904 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Blake Voth
Trail: Kiefer Smiley

1st Period: Vernon looked very strong in the first half really taking it to Trail. Just a few minutes in Connor Jones broke in over the Smokies line, cut towards the goal but was stopped in close by Kiefer Smiley who stood tall making the big save. The Vipers outhustled, outworked and outskated the Smoke Eaters early with most of the play deep in the Trail zone. Vernon was skating hard, moving the puck well, tape to tape passing creating lots of good chances. Smiley had to be sharp early as the Vipers were throwing alot of pucks on net. Vernon would get the first powerplay of the night, a nice shot from the point by Dan Nycholat was tipped in at the side of the net by Cole Ikkala at 4:54 putting Vernon up 1-0. Ikkala scored the games opening goal for the second straight night. Nycholat and Adam Thompson recorded the assists. Vernon was up 8-0 in shots before Trail would record its first shot on goal eight minutes into the hockey game. Connor Jones put the Vipers up 2-0 at 9:51, Cory Kane & Kellen Jones setup Connor on some nice passing. Just under two minutes later Bryce Kakoske ripped a high shot high over Smiley putting the Vipers up 3-0 and in full control. Braden Pimm & Mike Collins with the assists. This line played very well tonight, looking very dangerous. The Smoke Eaters didnt have nearly the same jump as last night, looking tired through out tonights game. Trails one and only good chance came when Scott Jacklin was stopped in close by Blake Voth who had to be sharp making the save. Rob Short with a breakaway in the second half was stopped by Smiley. Vernon tightened up defensively looking much sharper on the backend tonight. The Vipers outplayed the Smoke Eaters for most of the period carrying the better of the play. The Vipers with a late two man advantage couldnt find the back of the net. Vernon was up 3-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Smokies 18-11.

2nd Period: Vernon started the period on the man advantage and didnt waist little time. Adam Thompson's big blast from the point somehow got through traffic in front as the puck just went through the crease as no Viper player was able to get near the puck to tap it into the empty net. Braden Pimm made a nice pass cross ice setting up Mike Collins who onetimed his shot past Smiley at 1:54 as Vernon went ahead 4-0. Pimm & Dan Nycholat with the assists. Vernon again started off the period strong with most of the play in the Smokies zone. Connor Jones with a breakaway couldnt beat Smiley. Jones would get revenge beating Smiley at 4:52 as Vernon went ahead 5-0. Cory Kane & Kellen Jones with the assists. This was the end of the night for Kiefer Smiley who was given the hook in replace for Garrett Beckwith. Smiley allowed five goals on 22 shots. Vernon looked very good with and without the puck in the first half of the 2nd. Some nice three way passing with Mike Collins, Bryce Kakoske and Braden Pimm but the trio couldnt connect to find the back of the net. With the Vipers on a powerplay Braden Pimm with a great solo individual effort went around the net, and then beating Smiley on the wraparound tp put Vernon up 6-0. Trail would go straight to the referee pointing towards the netting inbehind the Smokies net. The referee and linesmen would discuss the goal and eventually wave off the Pimm goal. Vernon was still up 5-0 midway through the 2nd period. In the second half of the period Trail finally seemed to get going with a bit of pressure. Travis St. Denis had two good chances down low but couldnt get the puck past Voth. The Vipers would get into penalty trouble, Trail would get three straight powerplays but it was the Vipers who were the ones that looked like the team with the man advantage. Vernons penalty kill was superb, Braden Pimm who played a heck of a game tonight, killed off most of one powerplay with some great forecheck deep in the Smokies zone. On another powerplay it was Connor & Kellen Jones who took over with the puck, dangling in and out of the Smoke Eaters zone, getting some good chances shorthanded. Trail did manage to get two good scoring chances while on the powerplay, Paul Mailey with a chance in front was stopped by Blake Voth. Travis St. Denis was then stopped by Voth at the side of the net after a quick whistle. The Vipers would get more shots on net over the Smokies while playing shorthanded. Vernons penalty kill killed off all three minors. After killing off a powerplay, Connor Jones would go in for his 2nd breakaway of the night putting a nice move on Beckwith sliding the puck under him putting the Vipers up 6-0 with just three seconds remaining in the 2nd. Kellen Jones with the lone assist, made a nice long stretch pass up ice to setup Connor for the breakaway. Vernon was up 6-0 after 40 minutes of play. Shots were even 12-12.

3rd Period: Sawyer Mick with a hard shot from the faceoff circle was stopped by Beckwith who come out to challenge the shooter making the save. Vernon with a good breakout was really moving the puck well tonight, the Vipers had several odd man rushes all night long. Mike Collins with a quick shot from the slot hit the post coming close to putting Vernon up 7-0. The Vipers had a few flurries early to start the 3rd before both teams opened up play with some good back and forth action. A breakdown in the Vipers zone, broke Blake Voth's shutout bid. Paul Mailey beat Voth at 4:34 after being alone in front. Scott Jacklin collected the lone assist. Trail cut the Vernon lead to 6-1. Darnell Dyck was stopped in tight by Voth. Rob Short was very lucky for not being called for checking from behind after nailing Tye Lewis into the boards by the Smokies bench. Lewis was slow getting up and skated very awkwardly towards the bench before being looked at. Braden Pimm with another solid individual effort down low was stopped by Beckwith. Trail would get the one and only powerplay of the period but it was the Vipers who would take advantage. Cory Kane beat Beckwith at 13:43 with Connor Jones picking up the lone assist. Trail really struggled with the man advanatage tonight. The Smokies come very close to putting their 2nd goal past Voth but couldnt beat the Vernon backup after a scramble in front. The Vipers took their foot off the gas for most of the period as Vernons 3rd and 4th lines saw some good quality icetime. In the final few minutes Nick Sandor beat Voth but hit the post. At the buzzer Dylan Walchuk laid out a hit between both benches wich caused a bit of a stir, as some pushing and shoving took place. The Vipers would win their 17th straight game with a 7-1 win over Trail. Vernon outshot Trail 11-7.

Top Players: (Vernon)

The line of Braden Pimm (2 assists), Mike Collins (1 goal & 1 assist) and Bryce Kakoske (1 goal) played their second straight good game. Collins scored a real nice goal on the powerplay early in the 2nd period. Rang one shot off the post early into the 3rd. Seemed to know where guys were at all times, made some real nice passes tonight. Bryce Kakoske has really stepped up his game since being moved up to the Vipers 2nd line, Kakoske looked good for the 2nd straight night, was a force down low and in and around the net. Braden Pimm was a workhorse tonight, Pimm looked like he was out to prove somebody, finishing his checks, looked real strong down low, good with and without the puck, was good on the draw, played with a bit of a mean streak tonight. Overall Pimm was the Vipers best player.

The Vipers 1st line of Connor Jones (3 goals & 1 assist), Kellen Jones (3 assists) & Cory Kane (1 goal & 2 assists) was also very dangerous tonight. Both Connor & Kellen Jones were flying this evening, both brothers were very hard to knock off the puck, were very strong on the penalty kill, and on the powerplay. Both kids took hits and delivered them at the same time. It was like watching the puck tied to a string.

Dan Nycholat (2 assists) Played his 2nd straight solid game. Nycholat looked very good again at both ends of the rink. Played very well defensivly, setup two goals.

Rob Short looked solid again tonight, was stopped on the breakaway in the opening period. Short battled hard all night.

Blake Voth (29 saves) Improves to 6-0 with a 1.33 GAA as the leagues best goaltender. Voth was close to picking up his third shutout of the season.

Top Players: (Trail)

Travis St. Denis wasnt given the time and space he had last night but did still manage to get some good scoring chances in the 2nd and 3rd periods. St. Denis was quiet in the 1st period but picked up his game in the final two periods, didnt have much room to move out their, but was dangerous down low in and around the net area. The Vipers really kept their eye on St. Denis who recorded a hattrick in last nights 8-4 loss.

Scott Jacklin (1 assist) I thought was Trails best player. Jacklin who played well last night, looked good up front for the Smokies. Had some chances, skated well.

Ben Matthews stood tall on the Smoke Eaters backend. Matthews who really took it to Braden Pimm last night, played very well on the Smokies blueline. Didnt back down from the rough stuff, laid out some good hits, was in the face of several Vipers tonight. Battled hard.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

The Vipers tightened up defensively and overall looked much stronger tonight over last night. Vernon didnt give Trail much time or space, really shutdown any real offence the Smokies through at the Vipers. Vernons breakout was unreal, all night crisp taoe to tape passes led to a quick attack. Vernon had many odd man rushes setting up some pretty goals. The Vipers skated hard, were really moving the puck well. Vernon battled hard, played more of a physical game tonight, didnt back down in the corners. The Vipers outplayed and outhustled the Smokies for most of tonights game. Specialty teams was a difference, Vernons penalty kill looked awsome, it looked as if the Vipers were the ones with the man advantage. If my memory is correct the Vipers have tied one of their longest winning streaks in team history. The 2002-03 Vipers I think also won 17 straight games during that year. The Vipers record for most wins in a row is set at 22 wich the 1998-99 RBC Cup Champion team did before losing back to back games vs Quesnel just before the Christmas break.

Game Thoughts: (Trail)

The Smokies looked like a much different team tonight, Trail looked tired, they just didnt seem to have the same jump or energy they did in last nights game. The Smoke Eaters struggled on both the penalty kill and powerplay giving up two powerplay goals and one shorthanded goal. Trail was outworked and outskated for most of tonights game, it was like men against the boys tonight. As the game went on, you could see the Smokies were getting frustrated. Trail even tried to take the body and play a physical game against the Vipers at one point, but even this didnt slow down Vernon. In back to back games Vernon outscored Trail 15-5 outshooting them 91-51

Scratches:

Vernon:

Eric Soderlund
Jonathan Milhouse
Kevin Kraus (Suspended)

Trail:

Graeme Strukoff
Matt Wilkins
Michael Betz
Marc-Antoine Chaput

3 Stars:

1st Star: Connor Jones (3 goals and 1 assist)
2nd Star: Kellen Jones (3 assists)
3rd Star: Blake Voth (29 saves)