I was at tonight's BCHL game as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 4-2 in front of 1,268 fans at the Sunwave Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Graeme Gordon
Salmon Arm: Tony Ierfino
1st Period: Salmon Arm waisted very little time jumping on Vernon early and often. Just 29 seconds into the hockey game, the Silverbacks got the play in deep, with a very lack luster start to the game, the Vipers looked very flat on the opening shift. Greg Noyes setup David Killip who spotted a wide open Mark Zengerle who beat Graeme Gordon putting the Backs up 1-0. Killip and Noyes with the helpers. Off the draw the Silverbacks got the play again deep in the Vipers zone, Lumby product Jayson Reardon and former Trail Smoke Eater fired the puck towards Gordon, a scramble in the crease with players banging away at the puck, before Josh Manson beat Gordon at 1:03 putting Salmon Arm 2-0 early. Reardon & Bobby Lipsett collected the assists. Graeme Gordon tried talking to Steve Papp as Gordon thought their should have been a whistle on the play. Salmon Arm controlled the play early as Vernon looked flat and disorganised at times. The Backs were up 5-0 in shots early as the Vipers didnt record their first shot till the first three and a half minutes. The Silverbacks had the play in the Vernon zone for the first four or five minutes before the Vipers were rewarded with the games first powerplay. Salmon Arms penalty kill looked very good clogging up the shooting lanes, giving the Vipers no time or space to get any pucks towards the net, as the Silverbacks would kill off the minor. Vernon with just a single shot on the man advantage. The Vipers didnt seem to have any jump-energy getting outshot 9-2 early. League leading scorer Mark Zengerle with a quick shot from the slot was stopped by Graeme Gordon. Gordon had to make a save off David Killip from in close. Devin Gannon played a spirited contest getting under the skin of the Vipers. Both Gannon & Bryce Kakoske had words after a whistle, some pushing and shoving occured before both players were sent to the penalty box. As the period went along Vernon seemed to gain some momentum. Vernon would get a two man advantage and make the Backs pay. Off the draw Connor Jones made a nice pass throught the slot setting up Jonathan Milhouse who beat Tony Ierfino on the powerplay at 14:23 Jones & Curtis Gedig with the assists. With Vernon still on the powerplay the Silverbacks penalty kill went back to work and did a great job at killing off the second of the back to back minors. The Vipers who were being outplayed and outshot early now had climbed back catching up in shots. Vernon would get a late powerplay but once again Salmon Arms penalty kill was solid killing off the minor. Connor Jones with a shot from the side of the net, just about snuck past Ierfino who was quick to clear the loose puck from the side of his crease. Salmon Arm was the better of the two teams haing a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of play. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 12-11.
2nd Period: Vernon for the second straight period come out flat, as the Backs with some early presure but couldnt register a shot on goal. With no real quality scoring chances early as both teams went the first four minutes without a shot on net. Vernon seemed to turn the tables finally getting their legs going. Braden Pimm with a breakaway was stopped by Tony Ierfino. Shortly after Jonathan Milhouse & Cory Kane with a two on one, Milhouse made a nice pass over to Kane who missed on the open net. Vernon would get another chance with the powerplay, but once again Salmon Arms penalty kill was very sloid shutting down Vernons league leading scoring attack. Vernon struggled with the man advantage all night. The Vipers who played a much better period couldnt burry their chances. Jonathan Milhouse and Connor Jones two on one, but Jones couldnt connect on the pass. The Backs would finally get their first powerplay of the night but it was now the Vipers penalty kill who was very good killing off the minor. Shortly after the Vipers would get another powerplay but once again the strong penalty kill from Salmon Arm killed off another minor. The Backs penalty kill looked very solid tonight. Vernon carried most of the play in the period, give credit to the Vipers defence who played a heck of a period giving up just two shots. Late in the 2nd Adam Thompson took a four minute high sticking penalty and it cost them. Vernon looked very strong on the penalty kill early keeping the Backs to the outside, at one point Rob Short & Dylan Walchuk played keep away between the two players, ragging off some valuable time on the penalty kill, back come the Silverbacks on the odd man rush, Walchuk didnt change and got caught on a long shift, the Vipers couldnt clear the zone as the puck come back to the point where Mark Zengerle's shot was tipped in front by David Killip with just four seconds remaining in the period. Salmon Arm went up 3-1 as Zengerle with the lone assist. The Backs were up 3-1 after 40 minutes of play after the Vipers were the better of the two teams. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 6-2.
3rd Period: For the third straight period the Vipers come out flat, the defence got caught standing around as Tyler Gubb with a shot off the end boards picked up the rebound before Gordon had to be sharp pouncing on the loose puck. Salmon Arm with some good early presure got the Vipers running around in their own end, wich resulted in Connor Jones hauling down his man putting the Silverbacks on just their third powerplay of the night. Vernon with a great chance shorthanded went in three on two as Curtis Gedig setup Mike Collins who tipped his shot just high and over the top corner. The Vipers would kill off the minor. Vernon finally seemed to turn it up a notch just before the midway mark, Braden Pimm with some hard work down low tried setting up a play in front as the Vipers couldnt connect on the pass through the slot. Braden Pimm, Sawyer Mick & Steve Weinstein come in three on one, after some nice three way passing Weinstein eventually found the back of the net at 8:05 cutting the lead to 3-2. Pimm & Mick with the assists. The Vipers carried the play from here on in getting some good chances in close. Kevin Kraus's blast from the circle was stopped by Ierfino. Mike Collins was stopped in the slot. Salmon Arm was back on their heels as the Vipers were putting on some good presure. Rob Short was stopped by Ierfino. Curtis Gedig walked in from the circle, making a nice move couldnt get off a good shot in close. As the clock was now against the Vipers, Salmon Arm with some solid forecheck hemmed the Vipers deep in their own end, as Vernon couldnt get out of their own end, as the Backs killed off a good minute and a half leaving Vernon with just over a minute and a half to try and get the games tying goal. On the next play the Vipers would get the play in deep as Gordon headed to the bench for the extra attacker, with some good presure the Vipers couldnt beat Tony Ierfino who played very well late in the game. Connor Jones tried wacking away at a loose puck in the crease, as Mark Zengerle then put Jones in a headlock as both players exhcnaged words. Salmon Arms strong forecheck forced the play out over the blueline forcing Dan Nycholat back into his own zone, Nycholat with a long pass through the middle ended up on the stick of David Killip who hit the empty net putting the Silverbacks up 4-2 at 19:38 the goal was unassisted. After the final buzzer sounded the Backs would defeat the Vipers 4-2. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 12-7.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Curtis Gedig (1 assist) Was Vernons best d-man on the night. Gedig looked very strong coming out from his own end, carried the puck on several rushes up ice. Looked very strong with and without the puck. Made some nice heads up plays.
Braden Pimm (1 assist) Was strong down low and in front for the Vipers. Didnt win many draws early in tonights game but won some big draws in the 3rd period.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Tyler Gubb had some good chances, played well up front. Was working hard all night.
Josh Manson (1 goal) Had a very strong game up front for the Backs. Manson played physical, was a force down low and in and around the net. Battled hard all game.
Devin Gannon played a spirited game, especially in the first two periods. Was getting under the skin of several Viper players. Getting involved in some minor scrimiages after the whistle.
Mark Zengerle (1 goal & 1 assist) I didnt think Zengerle was as dangerous as in past games but was a force tonight for the Silverbacks. Zengerle with some smart heads up plays setup a nice goal and created chances. Zengerle made some real nice passes tonight.
Tony Ierfino (30 saves) Ierfino picks up his first win against the Vipers this season. Ierfino was very solid between the pipes making some key saves in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Ierfino looked very calm and relaxed between the pipes, didnt give up any big rebounds, and saw everything fired at him.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The Vipers need to play a full 60 minutes if they expect and want to win. I wasnt overly impressed with the teams effort and performance tonight. All three periods the Vipers got off to a slow start, looking very flat. Most of the night the team didnt have much jump or energy. I didnt see that strong aggresive forecheck Vernon fans are use to watching each and every game, the Vipers didnt win many battles or races and I thought didnt compete like we have seen them this season. Vernon did get things going and play a fairly good 2nd period but only recorded six shots on net, couldnt capitalise on two two on ones and a breakaway. In the third it took them the opening six or seven minutes to get going, yes they played hard and finished off strong getting some great chances, but where was this performace during the rest of the game. Specialty teams was the difference, Vernon went 1-7 struggling on the man advantage. Going down 2-0 just over a minute into the game wasnt the start the team wanted, giving up that late powerplay goal with just four seconds remaining in the 2nd period was a killer. I saw several players tonight who looked tired, just didnt have their best game. Mark Ferner was not behind the bench tonight as Jason Williamson was doing the coaching duties.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
The Backs come out hungry scoring two quick goals putting Vernon back on their heels. I thought Salmon Arm played one of its best games against Vernon this year. The Silverbacks played some undisaplined hockey but the teams strong penalty kill bailed them out. I was very impressed with the Backs specialty teams, very good on the penalty kill. Salmon Arm burried their chances, took advantage of their opportunities. Rylan Ferster was behind the bench tonight. Salmon Arm picks up its first win of the season against Vernon. Both teams get to play one another Saturday in Vernon.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Darrin Robak
Kellen Jones (Injured)
Salmon Arm:
Rick Soo
Brandon Mistal
3 Stars:
1st Star: Tony Ierfino (30 saves)
2nd Star: Josh Manson (1 goal)
3rd Star: Braden Pimm (1 assist)
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