Vernon (3-2) @ Quesnel (6-5)Last Game Played:
Monday, March 15th Vernon defeated Quesnel 4-0
Tonight is Game 6 of the 2nd round of the BCHL Playoffs between the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Quesnel Millionaires. Vernon leads the series 3-2. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller on 107.5 Kiss FM starting with the pregame at 6:45 pm
Let’s take a look at the Vernon Vipers: (3-2)
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: 2-1
Away Playoff Record: 1-1
Vernon’s Powerplay vs. Quesnel this Series: 3-25
Vernon with a huge 4-0 victory in Game 5 last night now has a chance at knocking off the Quesnel Millionaires in six games. With the Interior Conference Finals starting Friday night, it would be nice if the Vipers could win tonight to get a few days rest before the next round. The Vipers head into Quesnel tonight with just a single loss in four games at the Vault (regular season & playoffs). Vernon needs to come out with another solid 60 minute effort, play physical & try and score early and get to Kirby Halcrow as well as get the crowd out of tonights contest. Halcrow can be beat and taken off his game. The Vipers need all 14 players that won the RBC Cup last year to elevate their game to the next level tonight and put an end to the Mills season. The Vipers need to start cashing in on some of these powerplays, Vernon has really struggled with the man advantage all series. Ive said this several times, the Vipers are a much better hockey team when the Jones-Robinson or Jones-Gill line is playing well and putting up numbers. This line is very dangerous even strength and on the penalty kill. This line come to play last night and needs another big game tonight. It looks as if Mark Ferner has gone back with Graeme Gordon, as Blake Voth played in Games 3 & 4 in Quesnel. Gordon struggled towards the end of the regular season, as well as out of the lineup with an injury. With Gordon out Blake Voth played very well playing in seven of the Vipers final eight games of the regular season, winning all seven games. But it was Gordon who started in Games 1 & 2 for the Vipers before giving way to Voth for Games 3 & 4. Will the Vipers go back with Gordon tonight? Gordon was 4-0 vs. Quesnel during the regular season with 1 shutout. Vernon needs to use their speed and skill to their advantage.
Key Players To Watch:
Connor Jones (3-4-7)
Kellen Jones (2-3-5)
Rob Short (3-2-5)
Cory Kane (1-3-4)
Sahir Gill (2-2-4)
Braden Pimm (2-2-4)
Kevin Kraus (0-4-4)
Curtis Gedig (1-1-3)
Mike Collins (1-2-3)
Dan Nycholat (0-2-2)
David Robinson (1-0-1)
Jonathan Milhouse (1-0-1)
Blake Voth (1-1 Record, 3.56 GAA)
Let’s take a look at the Quesnel Millionaires: (6-5)
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: (4-1)
Away Playoff Record: (3-3)
Quesnel’s Powerplay This Series: 2-15
You can throw all the stats out the window, tonight is a must win for the Quesnel Millionaires. The Mills actually need to pull off back to back victories vs. Vernon in oder to upset the defending National Champions. Vernon has lost back to back games just twice all season. The Vipers fell to Westside & Penticton in late October and early November and then fell back to back games to Salmon Arm in late December and early January. The Mills will need solid Goaltending and have Kirby Halcrow stand on his head in order to get a win tonight. Quesnel needs to find the offence, after struggling offensively last night in Game 5. The Millionaires also need to be physical, get under the skin of the Vipers and try and contain and shutdown the leagues highest scoring offensive team. You can expect a wild and rocking packed house at the Vault tonight, Quesnel needs to feed off the crowd and use the noise and smaller ice surface to their advantage. The Mills also need to start capitalzing on some of their chances, Quesnel needs to take advantage on a struggling powerplay and try and get on the board early and build some momentum. Quesnel will have to spend extra attention to Vernons penalty kill, the Vipers scored a league high 23 shorthanded goals in the regular season. Will any of the extra after the whistle activities and fights late in last nights game carry over into tonights game? It will be interesting to see what developes as the game goes on. Tonights game will come down to coaching, goaltending, experience and leadership.
Key Players To Watch:
Darick Ste-Marie (9-6-15)
Taylor Holst (5-9-14)
Justin Hogan (3-7-10)
Trever Hertz (4-6-10)
Joshua Desmarais (4-4-8)
Jacob Verheyden (1-5-6)
Eliot Raibl (2-4-6)
Clayton Chessa (3-3-6)
Skyler Smutek (0-5-5)
Tyler French (2-3-5)
Kirby Halcrow (6-5 Record, 3.30 GAA)
Here’s a look at both teams rosters:
Vernon Vipers Playoff Scoring:
Connor Jones (3-4-7)
Kellen Jones (2-3-5)
Rob Short (2-3-5)
Cory Kane (1-3-4)
Cole Ikkala (3-1-4)
Sahir Gill (2-2-4)
Braden Pimm (2-2-4)
Kevin Kraus (0-4-4)
Curtis Gedig (1-2-3)
Adam Thompson (1-2-3)
Mike Collins (1-2-3)
Steven Weinstein (0-2-2)
Dan Nycholat (0-2-2)
Garrett Noonan (0-2-2)
David Robinson (1-0-1)
Jonathan Milhouse (1-0-1)
Dylan Walchuk (0-0-0)
Bryce Kakoske (0-0-0)
Patrick McGillis (0-0-0)
Darrin Robak (0-0-0)
Blake Voth (2-1 Record, 1 Shutout, 2.00 GAA)
Graeme Gordon (1-1 Record, 3.00 GAA)
Quesnel Millionaires Playoff Scoring:
Darick Ste-Marie (9-6-15)
Taylor Holst (5-9-14)
Trevor Hertz (4-6-10)
Justin Hogan (3-7-10)
Joshua Desmarais (4-4-8)
Eliot Raibl (2-4-6)
Jacob Verheyden (1-5-6)
Clayton Chessa (3-3-6)
Skyler Smutek (0-5-5)
Tyler French (2-3-5)
Spencer Graboski (2-2-4)
Rylan Stanyer (1-1-2)
Mitch Galbraith (0-2-2)
Sam Higgins (1-1-2)
Chris Kerr (2-0-2)
Tyler Billon (0-1-1)
Brandon Watson (0-1-1)
Tyson Price (0-0-0)
Marley Keca (0-0-0)
Anderson White (0-0-0)
Luke Siemens (0-0 Record, 11.30 GAA)
Kirby Halcrow (6-5 Record, 3.30 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
Game 4: Saturday, March 13th @ Quesnel: Quesnel wins 3-1
Cole Ikkala on the powerplay at 19:38 gave Vernon a 1-0 lead after the opening period. Joshua Desmarais at 1:31 tied the game 1-1 before Clayton Chessa at 11:36 gave the Mills their first lead of the night. The Millionaires took a 2-1 lead heading into the 3rd. Trever Hertz scored the lone goal of the period at 11:35 giving Quesnel the 3-1 victory to tie the series 2-2. Kirby Halcrow made 35 saves for the win, while Blake Voth took his first loss of the playoffs making 31 saves. Vernon outshot Quesnel 36-34.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=806860&link=bchl
Game 5: Monday, March 15th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 4-0
Connor Jones opened the scoring shorthanded at 10:01 giving Vernon the 1-0 lead. Mike Collins at 14:33 put the Vipers up 2-0 after the opening period. Kellen Jones at 2:05 with the lone Vernon goal of the 2nd period. Cole Ikkala at 18:24 put Vernon up 4-0. The Vipers defeat the Millionaires 4-0 and now take a 3-2 series lead. Vernon outshot Quesnel 38-26. Graeme Gordon made 26 saves for the shutout, while Kirby Halcrow made 34 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=806861&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
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