Vernon 7 Merritt 1

Was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Merritt 7-1 in front of 1,636 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Blake Voth
Merritt: Keith Hamilton

1st Period: The Cents got the puck in deep off the opening draw, really taking the physical play to the Vipers. Merritt kept the puck in deep attacking the Vernon defence, wich caused a turnover in the Vipers zone, with the play still alive Derek Hills setup Dustin Johnson at 1:08 beating Blake Voth on the Centennials first shot on goal, putting Merritt up 1-0 early. Johnson & Colton Sobchak collected the assists. The Cetennials with some good early pressure forced the play deep in the Vipers zone creating chances. Merritt with some good early physical play had some early jump up 3-0 in shots. Vernon looked a little tense, playing deep in their own end. Merritt would get the games first powerplay of the night but couldnt take advantage as the Vipers killed off the minor. It took the Vipers the first five minutes to get going, Connor Jones with an unreal highlight real goal went through three Centennials before beating Keith Hamilton at 6:28 tying the game 1-1. Curtis Gedig picked up the lone assist. This seemed to give the Vipers some life as just over two minutes later Sawyer Mick setup a wide open Adam Thompson with a nice crease pass, Thompson who had a wide open net put Vernon up 2-1 at 8:31 Mick & Bryce Kakoske with the assists. A very physical 1st period with both teams taking the body, but it was the Cents who had the bigger of the checks in the opening period. Some back and forth action at both ends of the rink as the play seemed to open up a little as the period went along. The Cents with a two on one couldnt beat Voth who made the nice pad save. Cole Ikkala and Jonathan Milhouse with a two on one couldnt beat Hamilton in close. Jeff Jones with a quick shot from the slot was stopped by Voth in close after having trouble with the rebound. Voth who likes to come out of his net to play the puck just about got caught two or three times on a clearing play but was able to recover and get back into his net on time. Connor Jones, Cole Ikkala and Jonathan Milhouse with a three on two couldnt beat Hamilton who made a nice save down low. Vernon had the better of the scoring chances. Late in the period with the Vipers on their first man advantage of the night, Mike Collins walked into the slot and then roofed his shot past Keith Hamilton at 18:25 putting Vernon up 3-1. Bryce Kakoske & Braden Pimm with the assists. Pimm and Kakoske did all the work down low and in behind the goal to setup Collins goal. A fairly entertaining opening period saw Vernon up 3-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Centennials 13-6.

2nd Period: Off the opening draw Connor Jones went hard into the end boards but managed to get up and shake it off after the Vipers got a bit of a scare. Both teams looked a little unorganized at times with some scrambly play coming at both ends of the rink. A very tight checking period with very linited scoring chances as both clubs played one another very defensively. The Centennials best scoring chance came after a three on one, Colton Sobchak, Dustin Johnson & Derek Hills went in but couldnt connect on the final shot. Merritt would get its second powerplay of the night, Derek Hills with a blast from the point was robbed by the glove of Blake Voth. Just as the powerplay come to an end Rob Short with some hustle ripped a low shot just over the blueline that beat Hamilton but hit the post as the Vipers come close to going up 4-1. This was the fifth time Vernon has hit the post in their last three games. Shortly after the Centennials would get another chance with the man advantage but once again some strong penalty kill by Vernon and the Vipers would kill off the minor. A very non-entertaining 2nd period with no real action at either ends of the rink. Merritt thought they scored their second goal of the night at 4:06 but the goal was waived off due to a highstick. It was scoreless after 40 minutes of play, as Vernon was up 3-1. The Cents outshot the Vipers 9-5.

3rd Period: Just 1:08 into the 3rd Connor Jones setup Cole Ikkala who went hard to the net and then beat Hamilton down low putting Vernon up 4-1. Jones with the lone assist. On the next shift Ikkala drove to the net hard going for his 2nd goal of the night but couldnt beat Hamilton who made a nice save down low. Just under two minutes later Bryce Kakoske from the slot beat Keith Hamilton at 3:02 putting Vernon up 5-1 and in full control. Braden Pimm & Mike Collins with the assists. This was the end of the night for Cents goaltender, Keith Hamilton who was yanked in favor of Riley Wall. Hamilton gave up five goals on twenty Vernon shots. The Vipers seemed to turn it up in the final period and really take it to the Cents. Rob Short & Sawyer Mick went in two on one but couldnt beat Wall. Connor Jones with a nice move was also stopped by Wall in close. Merritt with very few scoring chances couldnt seem to slow down to stop the speedy Vipers. Rob Short was sandwiched between two Centennials at the blueline before making a nice pass to Cory Kane who went in all alone beating Wall on the breakaway as the Vipers went up 6-1 at 6:40 of the 3rd. Short & Dan Nycholat with the assists. Stephen Wall with a quick shot from the circle was stopped by Blake Voth who made a nice pad save. The Vipers who were by far the better of the two teams outplayed Merritt for most of the 3rd. Some nice three way passing from Cole Ikkala, Connor Jones & Jonathan Milhouse setup Ikkala who scored his 2nd of the night at 13:35 putting Vernon up 7-1, Jones & Milhouse collected the assists. Late in the 3rd Braden Pimm with a high hit deep in the Vipers zone, caused Captain Jordan Soquila to run in and drop the mits with Pimm. Just under two minutes left in the game Silvan Harper was stopped down low after Voth made a nice pad save keeping the puck out, the puck would come back out front just seconds later as former Vernon Viper d-man, Steve Tresierra was also robbed by Voth who made another big pad save in close. At the buzzer a srum took place deep in the Vernon zone, everyone gathered as some pushing and shoving took place. Sawyer Mick started pushing and shoving with a Merritt player, before Mick got off a few shots. Then Matt Mazzarolo started pushing Rob Short, Mazzarolo was trying to get Short to drop the gloves, as Short tried skating away. The ref and linesmen got between the two breaking up any fight that may have started. Both teams seemed to settle their differences with no real fights starting. Vernon would win its second straight game after defeating Merritt 7-1. The Vipers outshot the Centennials 9-8.

Top Players: (Vernon)

The Vipers top line of Connor Jones (1 goal & 2 assists), Cole Ikkala (2 goals) and Jonathan Milhouse (1 assist) played very well up front. This line was clicking all night, Jones and Ikkala were really flying all night, skating hard. Jones & Ikkala with some real soft hands down low looked very good. Milhouse had a few chances also looking good on the Vipers #1 line.

Bryce Kakoske (1 goal & 2 assists) Has really stepped up his play over the last month playing his best hockey of the season. Kakoske looked very good up front. Worked hard down low and in and around the net.

Blake Voth (22 saves) Improved to 9-0 as a Viper. Voth didnt have to make any real huge saves but did make some timely saves at key times in tonights game. This kid really likes to come out and play the puck, just about got caught two or three times in tonights game, but managed to get back into his crease on time. Nice to see this kid get back to back starts vs some of the Interiors weaker teams.

Top Players: (Merritt)

Jeff Zmurchyk played well on the Cents blueline. Made some nice defensive plays in the first two periods.

Dustin Johnson (1 goal) Was one of the better Merritt forwards. Seemed to always be involved in the play, created some chances.

Silvan Harper looked fairly good up front for Merritt. This young kid had some good chances, drove to the net getting his rebounds and working hard all night.

Mitch Jones played well on the Centennials backend. A solid d-man who looked good in the first two periods. Played physical.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Vernon didnt get off to a good start but once they got going they seemed to play better as the game went along. The Vipers got off to a bit of a slow start but seemed to get things going as the 1st period went on, in the end the Vipers had the better chances in the opening period. Both teams played a very tight checking game in the 2nd with very little scoring chances. Vernon really took it too Merritt in the 3rd opening up the play. The Vipers were no match for the Cents in the final period outplaying and outskating the Centennials for most of the 3rd. Tonight was the smallest crowd of the season on hand to watch tonights game. (1,636) Nice to see the Auzzies back in town, this pretty large group made a ton of noise making for a good atmosphere.

Game Thoughts: (Merritt)

I thought the Cents come out hard really taking it to the Vipers but as the game went on Merritt couldnt seem to keep up with the Vipers speed and skill. The Cents opened the scoring but then couldnt seem to get that 2nd goal that may have put the Vipers back a step. Merritt played physical in the first two periods but got away from the physical presence in the 3rd. I thought Merritt played well for the first two periods but couldnt compete with Vernon in the 3rd. The Centennials need to play a full 60 minutes in order to knock off the Vipers. Specialty teams was the difference as the Cents went 0-4 on the powerplay while Vernon went 1-1.

Gary & Ty Davidson were at tonights game, with notebooks and labtops in hand.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Darrin Robak
Kellen Jones (Injured)
Dylan Walchuk

Merritt:

Ryne Bodger
Alex Valenti

3 Stars:

1st Star: Bryce Kakoske (1 goal & 2 assists)
2nd Star: Connor Jones (1 goal & 2 assists)
3rd Star: Cole Ikkala (2 goals)