Game Preview: Vernon (12-8) @ Spruce Grove (13-4)The Fred Page Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & Enerflex Cup Champion Spruce Grove Saints meet in Game 2 of the Doyle Cup tonight. Spruce Grove is coming off a 6-5 Overtime victory last night in Game 1. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller on 107.5 Kiss FM starting at 5:45pm
Last Game Played: Game 1: Friday April 16th Spruce Grove defeated Vernon 6-5 (Overtime)
Lets take a look at both teams,
Vernon Vipers: (12-8)
2010 Vernon Vipers Playoff Schedule & Results:
1st Round: First Round Bye
2nd Round: Defeated Quesnel in six games
Interior Conference Finals: Defeated Penticton in six games
Fred Page Cup (BCHL Finals): Defeated Powell River in seven games
Home Playoff Record: 7-3
Road Playoff Record: 5-5
The Vipers are coming off a disappointing 6-5 Overtime loss in Game 1 last night, a game where Graeme Gordon was fighting the puck and didn’t have his best game of the season, some funny bounces and not being able to score that huge goal to grab a two goal lead cost the Vipers. This is the first time all playoffs the Vipers have dropped the first game of a series. Vernon was the better of the two teams but didn’t get the big save when needed. Im not sure whats going on with the Vipers powerplay, but it has really been struggling as of late. It struggled vs. Powell River in the last series and now again tonight. Vernon really needs to get their powerplay going and take advantage of a very over aggressive Spruce Grove team that takes a lot of penalties. The Saints took 1585 minutes in the regular season while taking 465 in the AJHL playoffs. Vernon on the other hand took just 657 minutes in the regular season and 213 in the BCHL playoffs. Two totally different teams when it comes to taking penalties.
-The Vipers have four kids from Alberta, one from Saskatchewan and seven Americans. Ten are from BC with three local kids.
-The Vipers need to get off to another good start and try and score early
-Graeme Gordon has to be better between the pipes tonight, the Vipers need the big save when called apon
-Vernon has to stay out of the penalty box as the Saints look like they have a very solid powerplay.
-Vernon needs to play with their aggressive forecheck and strong cycle down low, the Vipers are very good and very hard to knock off the puck down low.
-Vernon might want to get a little more traffic in and around the Saints net, make it difficult for the Spruce Grove goaltender to make the save with some bodies in front.
-The Vipers look like they have a little bit more speed and skill up front, Vernon needs to use this to their advantage.
-A win tonight by Vernon and Game 3 will be played in Spruce Grove tomorrow night. A Saints win tonight and the remainder of the series heads back to Vernon.
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)
Vernon Vipers Playoff Scoring:
Connor Jones (9-11-20)
Kellen Jones (5-14-19)
Sahir Gill (6-9-15)
Jonathan Milhouse (6-7-13)
Rob Short (6-6-12)
Dan Nycholat (3-7-10)
Cory Kane (2-8-10)
David Robinson (3-7-10)
Cole Ikkala (6-3-9)
Mike Collins (2-6-8)
Braden Pimm (3-5-8)
Adam Thompson (2-5-7)
Kevin Kraus (1-5-6)
Garrett Noonan (3-3-6)
Bryce Kakoske (3-3-6)
Curtis Gedig (1-5-6)
Steven Weinstein (0-5-5)
Dylan Walchuk (1-4-5)
Patrick McGillis (0-0-0)
Darrin Robak (0-0-0)
Blake Voth (1-1 Record, 3.08 GAA)
Graeme Gordon (11-6 Record, 4 Shutouts, 1.90 GAA)
Vernon Vipers Doyle Cup Scoring:
Cole Ikkala (1-1-2)
Kellen Jones (1-1-2)
Braden Pimm (1-1-2)
Connor Jones (1-0-1)
Cory Kane (1-0-1)
Curtis Gedig (0-1-1)
Kevin Kraus (0-1-1)
Dan Nycholat (0-1-1)
Adam Thompson (0-1-1)
Graeme Gordon (0-1 Record, 5.49 GAA)
Spruce Grove Saints: (13-4)
2010 Spruce Grove Saints Playoff Schedule & Results:
1st Round: First Round Bye
2nd Round: Defeated Bonnyville in four games
3rd Round: Defeated Camrose in five games
Enerflex Cup: (AJHL Finals): Defeated Fort McMurray in seven games
Home Playoff Record: 8-2
Road Playoff Record: 5-2
Spruce Grove come’s into Game 2 with a chance at taking a 2-0 series lead and heading to Vernon for the remainder of the series. The Saints pulled out a huge 6-5 OT victory last night in Game 1 in a game they really wernt in at times. But give Spruce Grove credit they kept battling back, tying the game, never falling behind two goals and got the bounces. If Graeme Gordon was playing at his best last night, you have to wonder if Vernon wouldn’t have won this game 5-1 or 5-2? But hey Game 1 is in the books and the Saints have a 1-0 series lead. I thought Spruce Grove had troubles containing Vernon’s speed and skill for most of the night, the Saints managed some good chances but for the most part scored on either a soft goal or a lucky bounce in and around the net. This team is very strong on the powerplay, well atleast they were last night going 3-4. The Saints were a little lucky the Vipers powerplay wasn’t clicking or this game would have been all but over. Spruce Grove takes a lot of penalties in the regular season and even through out these playoffs.
-The Saints have just three kids from BC and one from the Yukon. The remainder of the team’s roster is from Alberta, including two local kids.
-Spruce Grove is going to have to try and find a way to slow down and contain the Vipers speed and skill
-The Saints need to be a little more discaplined and stay out of the box, If Vernon can get their powerplay going, look out.
-Spruce Grove needs to fire lots of traffic and pucks towards Graeme Gordon, Gordon seemed to be fighting the puck last night and wasn’t at his best. If the Saints can get to Gordon early, we may see a goaltending change for the Vernon Vipers.
-You can bet the Saints will come out with maybe a little bit different of a game plan tonight, now after seeing and playing against the Vernon Vipers for the first time last night. What kind of game plan with the Saints have in store for the Vipers tonight?
-It will be interesting to see who gets the start between the pipes for Spruce Grove. The Saints don’t have a #1 goaltender and rotate Vincenzo Marozzi & Travis Rolheiser each and every game. Marozzi played last night picking up the win, will Rolheiser get the start tonight?
-The Saints who have a bigger hockey club, may want to use the body a little more and play physical against the Vipers.
-I think if your Spruce Grove head coach Steve Hamilton, you may want to see a little more going to the net, trying to create some chances. Look for the rebounds coming off of Graeme Gordon.
Here’s a story from the Edmonton Sun on the Saints taking Game 1 of the Doyle Cup in Overtime,
http://www.edmontonsun.com/sports/hockey/2010/04/17/13621646.html
Spruce Grove Saints Regular Season Scoring:
Joshua Lazowski (26-52-78)
Nate Fleming (23-38-61)
Adam Henderson (21-35-56)
Jordan Draper (22-30-52)
Scott Allen (25-26-51)
Kodie Curran (10-38-48)
Dillon Simpson (12-29-41)
Ryan Kerr (12-17-29)
Brett Cameron (9-20-29)
Brett Switzer (13-14-27)
David Glen (12-13-25)
Liam Darragh (11-14-25)
Josh Keizer (12-11-23)
Carson Cooper (6-15-21)
Malcolm Tomlinson (2-16-18)
Bryce Van Brabant (8-6-14)
Josh Koper (9-2-11)
Shaun Rolling (7-4-11)
Wes McLeod (4-6-10)
Jesse Slobodian (0-10-10)
Rory Connop (1-4-5)
Tim Nolte (2-1-3)
Tyler Hart (1-1-2)
Travis Rolheiser (26-3 Record, 4 Shutouts- 1.58 GAA)
Vincenzo Marozzi (26-1-4 Record, 7 Shutouts- 1.67 GAA)
Spruce Grove Playoff Scoring:
Adam Henderson (14-6-20)
Brett Cameron (9-7-16)
Jordan Draper (6-9-15)
Kodie Curran (3-8-11)
Scott Allen (5-5-10)
Josh Koper (5-5-10)
Joshua Lazowski (3-6-9)
David Glen (3-5-8)
Carson Cooper (2-5-7)
Wes McLeod (2-5-7)
Nate Fleming (1-6-7)
Dillon Simpson (0-6-6)
Josh Keizer (2-3-5)
Bryce Van Brabant (1-4-5)
Ryan Kerr (1-3-4)
Liam Darragh (1-1-2)
Tyler Hart (0-2-2)
Rory Connop (0-1-1)
Tim Nolte (0-1-1)
Brett Switzer (0-0-0)
Malcolm Tomlinson (0-0-0)
Shaun Rolling (0-0-0)
Jesse Slobodian (0-0-0)
Travis Rolheiser (4-4 Record, 1 Shutouts- 2.10 GAA)
Vincenzo Marozzi (8-0 Record, 2 Shutouts- 1.63 GAA)
Spruce Grove Saints Doyle Cup Scoring:
Nate Fleming (2-1-3)
Adam Henderson (1-1-2)
Tim Nolte (1-1-2)
Scott Allen (1-0-1)
Josh Koper (1-0-1)
Brett Cameron (0-1-1)
Carson Cooper (0-1-1)
Jordan Draper (0-1-1)
Ryan Kerr (0-1-1)
Joshua Lazowski (0-1-1)
Dillon Simpson (0-1-1)
Vincenzo Marozzi (1-0 Record, 4.57 GAA)
Let’s take a look at last night’s Game 1:
Game 1: Friday, April 16th @ Spruce Grove: Spruce Grove won 6-5 in Overtime
Cole Ikkala opens the scoring just 1:08 into the hockey game giving Vernon a 1-0 lead. Adam Henderson’s powerplay goal at 11:28 ties the game 1-1. Braden Pimm gives Vernon a 2-1 lead at 16:00 before Josh Koper’s late goal at 19:39 sends the game 2-2 heading into the 2nd period. Cory Kane at 2:21 on the man advantage gives the Vipers a 3-2 lead before Nate Fleming’s powerplay goal ties the game at 6:58. Fleming then give’s Spruce Grove their first lead of the night with a goal at 12:21 Kellen Jones just 1:09 into the 3rd ties the game early. Tim Nolte’s goal at 9:30 gives the Saints their second lead of the game before Connor Jones sends the game to Overtime with a goal at 16:43. In Overtime Scott Allen’s powerplay goal at 5:58 gives the Saints a 6-5 OT victory. Vernon outshot Spruce Grove 33-31. Vincenzo Marozzi made 28 saves picking up the win, while Graeme Gordon made 25 saves taking the loss.
http://www.esportsdesk.com/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=2668&leagueID=6616&gameID=819175&link=DoyleCup
Here's a look at the Vipers-Saints Doyle Cup Schedule:
#2 Vernon Vipers vs #1 Spruce Grove Saints
2010 Doyle Cup Schedule:
Sweep First Two Games
Game 1 April 16, 2010 @ Spruce Grove 7:00 PM
Game 2 April 17, 2010 @ Spruce Grove 7:00 PM
Game 3 April 20, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Game 4 April 21, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Game 5 April 23, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Game 6 April 24, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Game 7 April 25, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Split First Two Games
Game 1 April 16, 2010 @ Spruce Grove 7:00 PM
Game 2 April 17, 2010 @ Spruce Grove 7:00 PM
Game 3 April 18, 2010 @ Spruce Grove 7:00 PM
Game 4 April 21, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Game 5 April 22, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Game 6 April 24, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Game 7 April 25, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
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