Was at tonights BCHL Game as Westside defeated Vernon 2-1 in Double Overtime in front of 2,222 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Graeme Gordon
Westside: Kevin Jebson
1st Period: Vernon would get an early powerplay just over a minute into the opening period. A quick one timer by Adam Thompson just missed the far corner as the Vipers come close to scoring on the man advantage. Before the powerplay was over the Warriors would get a man advantage as both teams played a little four on four before Westside would get a late powerplay with no teams scoring. The Vipers come out hitting finishing their checks, Connor Jones laid out some good hits deep in the Warriors zone, Sawyer Mick also laid out some good checks. The Vipers had the early edge in play with no real good scoring chances other then Thompsons shot from the point while on the powerplay. It took Westside six minutes to record their first shot on goal. Vernon would then get its second powerplay of the night but just five seconds later the Vipers would head off to the penalty box cancelling the man advantage. Both teams would go back and forth with some good end to end action four on four, again no real quality scoring chances. Westside would get a powerplay in the second half of the period but the Warriors couldnt capitalize, Vernon would get a few odd man rushes on the penalty kill, thinking offence the Vipers got too fancy trying for the perfect play, wich forced the Warriors back the other way on an odd man rush. Vernon would kill off the minor. Brendan Ellis with a quick blast from the point went through a screen in front as Graeme Gordon somehow made the pad save. In the final five or six minutes the play really opened up with some good end to end action as both teams were skating hard. Vernon would get a late powerplay getting a few good chances but couldnt get one past Kevin Jebson as the period come to an end before the man advantage ended. It was scoreless after the first 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Westside 12-5.
2nd Period: The Warriors would go down two men for just a few seconds as Westside would take an early penalty to start the 2nd period. Westside would kill off the first minor and still on the penalty kill the puck would come to Dylan Walchuk at the side of the net who hit the post coming close to putting Vernon up 1-0. Vernon moved the puck well creating chances but couldnt find the back of the net. Westside would kill off the minor. The play would really slow down as both teams looked to be playing very cautious waiting for the other team to make the first mistake. Tyler Krause with a good chance was stopped by Graeme Gordon. Westside then started forcing the play in deep, pressuring the Vernon defence wich caused several turnovers resulting in a scoring chance. The Vipers defence started to panic a little as the strong forecheck by the Warriors was really making the Viper d-men uncomfortable. The Vipers struggled several times getting the puck out as the Warriors come close to opening the scoring. Vernons defence had three chances to clear the zone, and didnt Westside fired the puck back in deep, the puck took a funny bounce off the end boards-glass and just about caught Graeme Gordon off gaurd as the puck was laying at the side of the crease with Gordon looking the way. A mad scramble in front and Gordon and the Vipers were lucky to cover up and stop the play. Westside looked very strong on the forecheck, really punishing the Vipers down low. Another dump in by Westside and again the puck took a funny bounce off the side boards-glass Gordon was already heading in behind the net, losing an edge as the puck come off the side boards out front where the Vipers had to sramble to clear the zone as again the Warriors come close to scoring on a funny bounce off the boards-glass. The Warriors come on strong in the second half of the period outplaying the Vipers for several minutes. Westside would get a powerplay, again Vernon would get a few shorthanded chances but again getting fancy and not shooting on the net, resulted in a turnover and back come the Warriors on the odd man rush. Just before the minor expired the Warriors would get a late two man advantage. Alex Grieve was robbed at the side of the net after Gordon come diving across to get his paddle down keeping the puck out and the game scoreless. Vernon would kill off the late two man advantage. Vernon again played a physical period Max French took a huge check inbehind the Warriors net, French would head to the bench and then was being looked after the by the teams trainer. French looked very daized but would return. The Warriors would take a late penalty giving the Vipers another man advantage. Newcomer Curtis Gedig would setup Kellen Jones who fed Connor Jones in the slot who wired one past Kevin Jebson at 17:49 giving the Vipers the 1-0 lead. Kellen Jones & Gedig would collect the assists. Just seconds later the Warriors would head back to the box giving Vernon another powerplay with just a handfull of seconds remaining on the clock. The Vipers were up 1-0 after 40 minutes of play. Westside outshot Vernon 15-12.
3rd Period: With the Vipers still on the powerplay wich carried over from the end of the 2nd period Vernon couldnt generate much offence as the Warriors penalty kill was very strong, blocking all the shooting lanes keeping the Vipers to the outside. Before the Warriors could even kill off the minor, Westside would get into penalty trouble again giving Vernon a late two man advanatge. With most of the first powerplay almost over Westside would kill off the first minor but before the second minor expired Cole Ikkala took a stick to the face giving Vernon a four minute powerplay and again another late two man advantage. The Vipers couldnt get anything going as the Warriors really forced the Vipers to the outside, attacking the defence with some solid pressure. The Vipers with a great chance to burry the Warriors hit the post on a shot from the circle. Vernon only managed just four shots on the last two man advantages as Westsides penalty kill did an amazing job killing off both minors along with the four minute high sticking minor. You can bet this gave the Warriors life giving them a chance to win tonights game. The play once again would open up but no real quality scoring chances as both teams played a very tight defensive game in the final period. Westsides defence really stepped up in the 3rd shutting down the Vipers high powered offence. Brendan Ellis come back breaking up a Vipers two on one, Peter MacIntosh also showed some good hustle getting back to break up a Vipers odd man rush. A shot from the point was tipped in front by Cole Wilson as Wilson just about beat Gordon on a nice play. Kevin Kraus just about caused a turnover coming out of his own end, after coughing up the puck just outside the blueline, but managed to get back to break up the play on a Warriors rush. As the game went on Vernon really started to look tired. Westside would finally tie the game after some nice three way passing resulted in a Warriors goal at 9:45. Veteran Trevor Bailey and Colton Sissons setup Dru Morrison for the game tying goal. From here on in the Vipers went down to just three lines as the Vipers top two lines looked tired for the remainder of the game. Both teams went back and forth with very little good chances. The Warriors would gain a point forcing overtime. Vernon outshot Westside 6-3.
Overtime: No real good chances until late in the extra period when Curtis Gedigs point shot beat Jebson fivehole as the puck come out the other end, it hit the bottom of the post and stayed out as Vernon come oh so close to winning their 22nd straight game. It was tied 1-1 after 65 minutes of play. The Warriors outshot the Vipers 4-2.
Double Overtime: Off the draw Kellen and Connor Jones would go in two on one but Connor was stoned by Jebson in close and then both Twins come right back with another chance in front as Jebson made a huge blocker save keeping the score tied 1-1. Joel Woznikoski with a blast from the point just missed beating Gordon shortside. With the faceoff deep in the Westside zone, the Vipers would win the draw as the puck would come back to Curtis Gedig, the puck took a funny bounce hopping over the stick of the Viper d-man, Kyle Singleton turned on the jets going in all alone on the breakaway and then beat Gordon fivehole at 1:42 snapping the Vipers 21 game winning streak as the Warriors are now undefeated in their last seven games. Singletons goal was unassisted. Shots were even 3-3.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Braden Pimm worked very hard all night, was a force with the puck down low and in and around the net. Pimm carried the puck lots tonight.
Sawyer Mick I thought played a physical game, especially in the games first two periods. Mick finished his checks playing an all round decent game. Didnt see much icetime in the 3rd.
Steve Weinstein played his second straight good game on the Viper blueline. Weinstein seems to have alot more confidence this year and especially over the last month or so. Really carried and rushed the puck alot tonight. Made a few nice passes.
Curtis Gedig (1 assist) Gedig is a very smooth skating d-man who handles the puck well, makes that nice first breakout pass coming out from his own end. Not a very physical kid but looks calm, looked very good on the Viper backend. This was a great pickup for the Vipers. I really felt bad for the kid on the overtime winning goal.
Graeme Gordon (28 saves) Played well, didnt have many tough saves to make but made the big save when called apon. Made a huge save in the 2nd robbing Alex Grieve at the side of the net.
Top Players: (Westside)
Joel Woznikoski played a solid game on the Warriors blueline. Woznikoski jumped up into the play a few times getting a few good chances.
Alex Grieve played well up front for Westside. This kid seemed to be always involved in the play when the Warriors had the puck. Had some good chances.
Brendan Ellis was another d-man who looked very solid for the Warriors. Ellis with a few good shots from the point, showed some good hustle breaking up a few Viper odd man rushes. Had a heck of a game, saw a ton of icetime on the penalty kill.
Tyler Krause was another kid who showed alot of hustle, very gritty, didnt quit. Always involved in the play, had some good chances. Good skater, looked good with the puck, really reads the ice well.
Cole Wilson looked good up front.
Kevin Jebson (35 saves) Jebsons two saves early in the second overtime period on both Connor & Kellen Jones was by far game savers. This was the Vipers two chances to end it in Overtime but Jebson had other ideas. Jebson didnt have to stand on his head, as most of the Vernon shots were from the outside and shot right at him, but still had to make the saves when called apon. Jebson did make a few big saves while the Warriors were on the penalty kill. I really like Jebson, always have. I think this kid is the best goaltender in the league. Jebson always gives the Warriors a chance for the win.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The Vipers 21 game winning streak finally comes to an end, after the team was one win away from tying the Vernon record of 22 straight wins, wich is held by the 1998-99 Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers. Vernon played well but just couldnt capitalize on their chances. I thought the Vipers had the better of the chances. Specialty teams was the difference as Vernon went 1-9 on the powerplay. The team had several great chances late in the 2nd period and early in the 3rd period with several two man advantages but yet couldnt score. At times the Vipers tried getting too fancy, instead of just shooting the puck, getting a shot on goal, going to the net, looking for a rebound. In the end one too many passes at times, wich resulted in a turnover on a great scoring chance. Vernon allowed Westside to hang around for too long, wich gave them a chance to win. The Vipers had trouble in their own end especially in the 2nd period with strong forecheck coming from the Warriors. The Vipers looked very tired in the 3rd, tonight was the first time I have seen them look tired towards the end of a game all season. Heres a game where Vernon could have burried the Warriors on the powerplay but couldnt make them pay. Overall this was a very entertaing hockey game, a very playoff like game for sure. At times we saw some wide open hockey and then other times we saw some very slow paced defensive hockey. Vernon was by far the more physical team. A loss could be good for Vernon, give Mark Ferner and the coaching staff to really look at the team and a chance for the guys to not get too over confident. You can bet the Vipers will learn from this game and be ready for the next one. In the end this was a great streak and something very special, you just dont see very often. Congrats boys on a great run!
Game Thoughts: (Westside)
First off Id like to congratulate the Westside Warriors for a very well played game and also for snapping the Vipers 21 game winning streak. The Warriors deserve a pat on the back for really other then Penticton (1 game) shutting down the leagues highest scoring team. As the game went on you could really see the chances the Warriors coaching staff did inwich resulted to shutting down Vernons offence. Westside went 0-5 on the powerplay getting very little quality chances. I was very impressed with the Warriors penalty kill, they didnt give Vernon any time or space to creat chances. Vernon was very limited to where they could move, being forced to the outside. The Warriors defence did a great job at shutting down the #1 offence in the league. Westside is a good skating club that also moves the puck well, with some shifty-speedy kids up front this team is a team to watch. Remember it was the Warriors who snapped the Penticton Vees 10 game winning streak just a few weekends back. The Warriors were also very strong on the draw, winning most of the draws all night. Nice to see a good handfull of Warrior fans who made the trip up.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Darrin Robak
Eric Soderlund
Westside:
Michael Quinn
Patrick Bartoshyk
Izaak Berglund
3 Stars:
1st Star: Kyle Singleton (Scored OT Winner)
2nd Star: Kevin Jebson (35 saves)
3rd Star: Graeme Gordon (28 saves)
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