Vernon 3 Westside 2

I was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Westside 3-2 in front of 2,215 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Graeme Gordon
Westside: Kevin Jebson

1st Period: Both teams looked a little tenative on the first few shifts. Just 2:38 into the game, a turnover at the Vernon blueline allowed Cole Wilson & Cam Reid to go in two on one, Wilson waited before dishing the puck off to Reid who beat Graeme Gordon on the Warriors first shot on goal. Wilson with the lone assist on the play. The Vipers looked flat and disorgainzed early and often through out the opening period. Vernon did come right back with a great chance, Braden Pimm setup Mike Collins in the slot who was stopped by Kevin Jebson. The Vipers managed to move the puck around and get some good pressure for a few minutes, their only real good pressure of the period. Trevor Bailey with a great chance in front was stopped by Gordon. Gordon was fighting the puck early and often through most of the period, giving out some pretty big rebounds. Westside who had lots of jump, playing fairly physical was by far the better of the two teams in the opening period. Kyle Singleton with a chance in front was stopped by Gordon. Vernon would get the first powerplay of the game, Cole Ikkala would turn the puck over at the Warriors blueline giving Westside the two on one, Alex Grieve would keep the puck and shoot, as a Viper d-man went crashing into the net with the puck. The ref blew the play dead as both the Vernon d-man and puck were already in the goal, the ref went to talk things over with the goal judge as the goal stood putting the Warriors up 2-0 at 9:15 Grieve's shorthanded goal was unassisted. The Warriors would kill off the remainder of the minor. Vernon would go back to the powerplay three minutes later but once again the Warriors strong penalty kill killed off the penalty as the Vipers were unable to record a single shot on the man advantage. The Vipers couldnt seem to get much of anything going, looking very sloppy at both ends of the rink. Tyler Brickler just about made it 3-0 Westside but was stoned at the side of the net after a diving Graeme Gordon made a huge save to keep the Vipers down just two goals. The Warriors with several odd man rushes looked very good in the 1st period getting some quality chances. The Vipers with very little jump, seemed to have no energy, wernt skating and were losing most of the battles along the boards and races to the puck. Vernon would get a lucky bounce in the final minute of play, Connor Jones and David Robinson would go in two on one, Jones held and waited before dishing off to Robinson who roofed his shot high and over a sprawing Kevin Jebson at 19:26 Connor & Kellen Jones with the helpers. Westside carried the edge in play, up 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Warriors outshot the Vipers 16-12.

2nd Period: Off the draw the Vipers would get the puck in deep, Kellen Jones left all alone in front fired wide on a great chance for Vernon. On the same shift Connor & Kellen Jones with some nice two way passing, lead to Kellen Jones getting off a quick shot from the slot but this time was stopped by Jebson. The Vipers with some good early pressure looked good in the opening few minutes. Kyle Singleton with a good chance shortly after was stopped by Graeme Gordon. The Vipers then got a little sloppy in their own end, on several occasions Vernon had chances to clear the zone but didnt and it just about cost them as Westside had a few good chances. The Warriors would get their first powerplay of the night but the Vipers played well on the penalty kill killing off the minor. As the penalty expired Dan Nycholat lost the handle on the puck inbehind the Vernon net, as the puck come out front, where Cole Wilson was all alone but couldnt get to the puck before Gordon as the Warriors come very close to sneaking one past the Vipers netminder. Bryce Kakoske with a great solid individual effort carried the puck through the neutral zone, stepped over the blueline and then wired his shot top corner past Jebson at 10:52 tying the game 2-2. Kakoske's goal was unassisted. This goal seemed to give Vernon life and turn the tables of tonights game. Shortly after the Vipers would get their third man advantage of the night, moving the puck well Vernon had some good chances. Adam Thompson's screened shot somehow was stopped by Kevin Jebson. Dan Nycholat's point shot just missed the far corner. Westside would kill off the minor. Just over three minutes later Vernon would go back to the powerplay, Dan Nycholat rang his shot off the post and then David Robinson couldnt find the handle on a loose puck in the crease as the Vipers come very close to taking the lead. Vernon with several goal mouth scrambles had some good pressure on their fourth man advantage but couldnt beat Jebson. Vernon finally started skating and seemed to have some jump as the Vipers were the better of the two teams in the second half of the period. In the final minute of play Kyle Singleton with a shot from the circle was stopped by the blocker of Graeme Gordon, and then Cam Reid and Trevor Bailey went in two on one late before a Viper d-man showed good hustle getting back into the play, to break up the odd man rush. It was tied 2-2 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Westside 12-7.

3rd Period: The Vipers come out strong taking it to the Warriors for most of the period. Bryce Kakoske was stoned in front after Kevin Jebson slide across to make the big pad save. Dan Nycholat walked in from the point and then wired a high wrist shot that just went over the top corner. The Vipers thought they took their first lead of the game just two minutes into the 3rd after, Rob Short would tipp a point shot past Jebson. The goal was waived off by the ref saying it was knocked in with a highstick. The Vipers were really skating hard in the3rd taking it to the Warriors. Jebson stopped Sahir Gill from the slot. Grayson Downing with a goal mouth scramble couldnt beat Gordon as the Warriors looked like a different team in the 3rd. Westside fell asleep in the final period getting only three good chances all period. Cory Kane busted down the wing and then snapped a quick shot that just missed the far corner. Jonathan Milhouse with a nice move at the side of the net was stopped by Jebson. Vernon would get the only powerplay of the 3rd after the Warriors were caught withb two many men. Curtis Gedig's point shot went in and off the post past a screened Kevin Jebson at 10:59 putting Vernon up 3-2. Mike Collins and Braden Pimm with the helpers. The Vipers didnt quit, putting lots of pressure on the Warriors hemming them in their own zone for most of the period. Westside was losing most of the battles and races to loose pucks. The Warriors had several chances to clear the zone but failed as it looked like Vernon was on one long powerplay. On a bad line change, Connor Jones was left all alone in front, with two great chances Jones couldnt get the puck high and over Kevin Jebson who made two huge saves down low keeping his team in tonights game. Vernon with a three on two was once again stopped by Jebson who looked very solid between the pipes. With three minutes remaining, Trevor Bailey left alone in the slot was stopped by Gordon. This was just the second quality scoring chance by Westside the entire 3rd period. Westside would pull Kevin Jebson with just over a minute remaining, for the extra attacker. The Warriors would get the puck in deep, Graeme Gordon robbed Trevor Bailey from the circle making a huge pad save with under a minute to go. The Warriors would press for the game's tying goal but couldnt generate any offence as the Vipers kept the puck to the outside, and along the boards. Vernon would ice the puck as the Warriors would get a late faceoff in the Vipers zone but couldnt get the puck anywhere near the front of the net as the Vipers would comeback to defeat Westside 3-2. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 13-6.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Graeme Gordon (27 saves) Was fighting the puck early and often in the 1st period but settled down as the game went on making some key saves at times to give the Vipers the victory.

The line of Connor Jones (1 assit), Kellen Jones (1 assist) & David Robinson (1 goal) started off very slow but got going in the second half of the 2nd period and looked very strong for the remainder of the game. Both Jones Twins were skating hard, were very hard to knock off the puck down low. Robinson looked very dangerous with and without the puck. What a pickup this was for the Vipers. Robinson had some real good chances down low.

Braden Pimm (1 assist) Played a heck of a game up front for the Vipers. Pimm worked very hard all night, battled and competed at both ends of the rink. Was very good on the draw, another player who was very hard to knock off the puck tonight.

Cory Kane I thought played well for most parts of tonights game. Kane had his wheels going at times, had some real good chances in the 2nd and 3rd periods.

Rob Short played very well for Vernon. Was skating hard, played with an edge, laid out some decent checks. I didnt think Shorts goal early into the 3rd was knocked down with a highstick.

Kevin Kraus played very well on the Vipers blueline.

Dan Nycholat for the most parts also played very well on the backend. Coughed up the puck and made a few mistakes but overall played very well. Was quick getting those shots off from the point.

Bryce Kakoske (1 goal) Played very well up front. Kakoske's goal midway through the 2nd period seemed to give the Vipers some life and turned the tables on tonights game.

Top Players: (Westside)

The line of Kyle Singleton, Colton Sissons & Alex Grieve (1 goal) played very well for the Warriors. Singleton and Grieve had several good chances in the first two periods.

Cole Wilson impressed me alot tonight. Wilson saw alot of icetime and was always in and around the Vipers goal. Another kid who had some good chances.

Tyler Brickler looked very good in the 1st period, getting a good chance early and then had two chances in the 2nd period.

Cam Reid (1 goal) played very good up front for Westside. Had some real good chances, one of the leagues best skaters, very smooth skater and nice soft hands.

Spencer Humphries played a very physical-defensive game on the Warriors backend.

Trevor Bailey was another player that impressed me. Had some real good chances, was in and around the Vernon net most of the night.

Kevin Jebson (34 saves) It seems like anytime this kid plays the Vipers he comes up with a big game. Well Jebson did that again tonight. The veteran goaltender actually gave his team a chance to win tonight, or atleast a chance to tie the game making several key-big saves in the 3rd period.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

The Vipers come out flat, very disorganized and didnt come ready to play tonight. Vernon was outplayed and outworked most of the opening period and even at times early into the 2nd period. Bryce Kakoske's goal midway through the 2nd period seemed to give them some life and turn around tonights game. Vernon seemed to get their legs going, started skating and showing some energy. The Vipers really took it to the Warriors in the 3rd dominating the final period. Down 2-0 its nice to see the guys rebound and comeback scoring three straight. Mark Ferner seemed to be changing his lines once again through out tonights game. Vernon is now 3-1 against Westside this year.

Game Thoughts: (Westside)

The Warriors looked very good in the 1st period, come out with lots of jump, played physical, went up 2-0 early and then seemed to fall asleep as the game went on. A team who normally never quits and plays hard and competes for a full 60 minutes, you had to wonder what happened to the Warriors in the second half of the 2nd period and the entire 3rd? Lost most of the battles and races to the loose pucks, had troubles clearing their zone all 3rd period. Got caught on some bad linechanges. Onething I did notice and like was the amount of blocked shots coming from the Warriors. Westside blocked a ton of shots especially in the first two periods. The puck was bouncing all night, taking some weird bounces. Darren Yopyk wont be pleased with his teams effort tonight, you can bet the Vipers will face a tougher Warriors team tomorrow night.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Darren Robak
Sawyer Mick
Patrick McGillis

Westside:

Quinn Gould
Max French
Tyler Krause

3 Stars:

1st Star: Bryce Kakoske (1 goal)
2nd Star: Cam Reid (1 goal)
3rd Star: Kevin Kraus