Vernon (2-1) @ Quesnel (5-4)Last Game Played:
Friday, March 12th @ Quesnel: Vernon defeated Quesnel 8-4
Tonight is Game 4 of the 2nd round of the BCHL Playoffs between the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Quesnel Millionaires. Vernon leads the best of seven series 2-1. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller on 107.5 Kiss FM starting with the pregame at 7:15 pm
Let’s take a look at the Vernon Vipers: (2-1)
The Vipers clinched top spot in the BCHL and the Interior Division with a record of 51-6-0-3 and was ranked #2 in all of Canada. Vernon scored a league high 298 goals and broke the Penticton Vees BCHL record for least amount of goals, giving up just 119. Vernon was 25-4-0-1 at home & 26-2-0-2 on the road during the regular season. The Vipers finished at 9-0-0-1 in their last 10 regular season games. The Vipers had three players in the leagues top 20 in regular season scoring. Connor Jones (36-45-81), Mike Collins (30-46-76) & Braden Pimm (25-43-68). Blake Voth lead the league as the BCHL’s top goaltender. Voth has a record of 21-2 with 3 shutouts and broke the BCHL record with the lowest GAA with 1.79 Graeme Gordon was 3rd in the leagues top 10 goaltenders with a record of 30-7 with 2 shutouts and a GAA of 2.06
1st Round: 1st Round Bye
Home Playoff Record: 1-1
Away Playoff Record: 1-0
Vernon’s Powerplay This Series: 2-18
In 5 games this season (regular season & playoffs) Vernon has outscored Quesnel 37-14
Vernon comes into tonight’s Game 4 of the BCHL Playoffs with a chance to win both games up North and come home for Game 5 Monday night with a chance to move onto the Interior Conference Finals. The Vipers handed the Millionaires their first home loss of this year’s playoffs and are now 3-0 in Quesnel this year. (Regular season & playoffs) Vernon needs to get off to a good start just like last night, score early, get to Kirby Halcrow and use their speed and skill to their advantage. The Mills will be expecting another large loud crowd on hand tonight, so the Vipers need to try and get the crowd noise out of the game early. Blake Voth made his first career BCHL Playoff start and picked up his first career BCHL victory, you have to think Mark Ferner will go back with Vother for Game 4 tonight. I think the Vipers coaching staff will want to tighten up a little and have their defence play a more consistant 60 minutes after giving up three goals in the final period last night. Vernon needs the line of David Robinson, Connor Jones & Kellen Jones to once again be at their best. When this line and three kids are playing well, the Vipers are very hard to beat. Again specialty teams will be the difference, I think Mark Ferner would like to see a few less penalties tonight.
Key Players To Watch:
Rob Short (3-2-5)
Cory Kane (1-3-4)
Connor Jones (2-2-4)
Kellen Jones (1-3-4)
Sahir Gill (2-1-3)
Braden Pimm (2-1-3)
Curtis Gedig (1-1-2)
Kevin Kraus (0-2-2)
Mike Collins (0-2-2)
David Robinson (1-0-1)
Dan Nycholat (0-1-1)
Jonathan Milhouse (1-0-1)
Blake Voth (1-0 Record, 4.00 GAA)
Let’s take a look at the Quesnel Millionaires: (5-4)
The Millionaires finished the regular season in 5th place in the Interior Division with a record of 22-32-0-6 The Millionaires scored 208 goals and gave up 245 goals. Quesnel was 12-16-0-2 on home ice & 10-16-0-4 on the road during the regular season. Quesnel finished 4-4-0-2 in their last 10 regular season games. The Mills had one player in the leagues top 20 in regular season scoring. Trevor Hertz lead the way with (35-38-73)
1st Round: Defeated Salmon Arm in Six Games
Home Playoff Record: (3-1)
Away Playoff Record: (2-3)
Quesnel’s Powerplay This Series: 2-8
Well tonight’s Game 4 is a must win for the Mills. Quesnel dosnt want to head back to Vernon for Game 5 Monday down 3-1 in the series. The Millionaires need to get off to a better start and try and get the game’s first goal and get the crowd into the hockey game. Quesnel needs to try and either slow down or shut down the Vipers #1 line of Robinson and the Jones Twins. This line was deadly last night in the Vipers 8-4 win. You had to wonder how much longer Kirby Halcrow was going to be able to bail out his team making 40 plus shots a night, well that come to an end last night after Halcrow gave up seven goals and was pulled in the 3rd period. If Quesnel wants any chance at winning this series they need Halcrow to come up huge game in and game out. The Mills are just the third team this season to score four or more goals against Vernon, so trying and shutting down the Vipers high scoring offence will be key. The line of Trever Hertz, Taylor Holst and Justin Hogan have been the go to guys this series and need to come up big again tonight. Quesnel needs to take advantage of home ice and the smaller rink, make Vernon pay in the corners, play physical and try and get under their skin.
Key Players To Watch:
Darick Ste-Marie (9-5-14)
Taylor Holst (5-8-13)
Justin Hogan (3-6-9)
Trever Hertz (3-6-9)
Joshua Desmarais (3-4-7)
Jacob Verheyden (1-5-6)
Eliot Raibl (2-4-6)
Skyler Smutek (0-5-5)
Clayton Chessa (2-3-5)
Tyler French (2-2-4)
Kirby Halcrow (5-3 Record, 3.48 GAA)
Here’s a look at both teams rosters:
Vernon Vipers Regular Season Scoring:
Connor Jones (36-45-81)
Mike Collins (30-46-76)
Braden Pimm (25-43-68)
Cory Kane (22-33-55)
Jonathan Milhouse (19-34-53)
Kellen Jones (12-41-53)
Rob Short (22-28-50)
Dylan Walchuk (19-28-47)
Cole Ikkala (22-23-45)
Dan Nycholat (7-38-45)
Bryce Kakoske (13-28-41)
Kevin Kraus (5-22-27)
David Robinson (15-10-25)
Adam Thompson (5-20-25)
Steven Weinstein (4-18-22)
Curtis Gedig (11-10-21)
Patrick McGillis (7-14-21)
Garrett Noonan (2-16-18)
Sahir Gill (3-9-12)
Darrin Robak (2-5-7)
Blake Voth (21-2 Record, 3 Shutouts- 1.79 GAA)
Graeme Gordon (30-7 Record, 1 Shutout- 2.06 GAA)
Quesnel Millionaires Regular Season Scoring:
Trevor Hertz (35-38-73)
Taylor Holst (27-30-57)
Darick Ste-Marie (17-35-52)
Eliot Raibl (7-39-46)
Justin Hogan (15-29-44)
Joshua Desmarais (20-22-42)
Jacob Verheyden (12-23-35)
Sam Higgins (7-28-35)
Skyler Smutek (7-27-34)
Tyler French (15-17-32)
Spencer Graboski (10-9-19)
Clayton Chessa (4-13-17)
Rylan Stanyer (3-7-10)
Mitch Galbraith (6-3-9)
Chris Kerr (4-4-8)
Tyler Billon (0-7-7)
Tyson Price (1-3-4)
Marley Keca (1-3-4)
Brandon Watson (1-2-3)
Anderson White (0-3-3)
Luke Siemens (9-12 Record, 1 Shutout- 3.70 GAA)
Kirby Halcrow (13-25 Record, 0 Shutouts- 4.23 GAA)
Let’s take a look back at the series:
Game 1: Tuesday, March 9th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 6-2
Taylor Holst opened the scoring at 8:42 giving the Mills the early 1-0 lead before Rob Short scored two to give Vernon a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of play. Just one goal in the 2nd as Braden Pimm’s goal at 1:12 was the game winner. After a strong Vipers attack and no goals, Chris Kerr cut the lead to 4-2 before Braden Pimm, Cory Kane & Curtis Gedig would round out the scoring in the 3rd giving Vernon the 6-2 victory, taking Game 1. Graeme Gordon made just 12 saves for the win, while Kirby Halcrow made 40 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=806856&link=bchl
Game 2: Wednesday, March 10th @ Vernon: Quesnel wins 4-2
David Robinson opened the scoring just 4:05 into the 1st period before the Millionaires responded just 45 seconds later, Darick Ste-Marie tied the game before Tyler French’s late goal at 17:35 put Quesnel ahead 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Quesnel 22-6 in the 2nd but it was Taylor Holst with the lone goal of the period as the Mills took a 3-1 lead into the final frame. Just 1:40 into the 3rd Branden Redschlag would pick up his first BCHL goal giving the Millionaires a 4-1 lead wich was more then enough. Rob Short would get Vernon to within two goals late at 16:34 but Kirby Halcrow was huge down the stretch making some big saves to give the Mills the 4-2 win and tie the series 1-1. Vernon outshot Quesnel 57-22. Kirby Halcrow made 55 saves getting the win, while Graeme Gordon made 18 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=806857&link=bchl
Game 3: Friday, March 12th @ Quesnel: Vernon wins 8-4
Connor Jones opened the scoring early, while Sahir Gill scored late in the 1st giving Vernon a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. A penalty filled 2nd period with five goals made for an interesting period. Adam Thompson on the powerplay & Kellen Jones put Vernon up 4-0 before Rylan Stanyer at 16:02 got the mills on the board. Cole Ikkala late in the 2nd gave the Vipers a 5-1 lead before former Vernon Vipers defenceman, Eliot Raibl scored at 19:42 on the man advantage as the Vipers had a 5-2 lead heading into the 3rd. Taylor Holst at 11:02 on the powerplay cut the lead to 5-3 but two quick goals by Jonathan Milhouse & Connor Jones gave Vernon a 7-3 lead and put this game away. This was also the end of the night for Kirby Halcrow who was pulled in favor of Luke Siemens. Clayton Chessa late in the 3rd gave Quesnel their fourth goal of the night, but Sahir Gill would score his second of the night at 19:54 with the man advantage giving Vernon the 8-4 victory. Quesnel outshot Vernon 37-27. Blake Voth made his first career BCHL Playoff start and picked up his first career BCHL Playoff win. Kirby Halcrow gave up seven goals on 25 shots.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=806859&link=bchl
Here’s a look at the Vipers-Mills Playoff Schedule:
#1 - Vernon Vipers vs. #5 - Quesnel Millionaires
Game 1 - Tuesday, March 9th at Vernon - 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre
Game 2 - Wednesday, March 10th at Vernon - 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre
Game 3 - Friday, March 12th at Quesnel - 7:30 PM, Quesnel Twin Arenas
Game 4 - Saturday, March 13th at Quesnel - 7:30 PM, Quesnel Twin Arenas
Game 5 - Monday, March 15th at Vernon - 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre
Game 6 - Tuesday, March 16th at Quesnel - 7:30 PM, Quesnel Twin Arenas
Game 7 - Wednesday, March 17th at Vernon - 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre
No comments:
Post a Comment