Royal Bank Cup: Dauphin 6 Vernon 5 (Overtime)

I was at tonights Royal Bank Cup as Dauphin defeated Vernon 6-5 in Overtime in front of 2,135 fans at Credit Union Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Graeme Gordon
Dauphin: Joe Caligiuri

1st Period: 30 seconds into the game Rob Short & Cory Kane both went in on the breakaway, Short passed off to Kane before Joe Caligiuri come up with the big pad save. The Vipers with some good early pressure carried the play in the opening few minutes. Cole Ikkala left all alone in front couldnt beat Caligiuri. The Kings didnt record their first shot on goal until three minutes into the game. Dauphin would get the games first powerplay but were unable to get much going as Vernon killed off the minor. Back come the Vipers, Mike Collins was then setup in the slot but couldnt connect on the pass. Vernon would open the scoring after Jonathan Milhouse setup Kellen Jones who beat Joe Caligiuri fivehole at 10:08 giving the Vipers the first lead of the game. Milhouse with the lone assist. The Kings didnt really generate much offence or get any real good scoring oportunities other then when they scored. Rob Short with a quick shot from the circle was stopped by the glove of Caligirui. The Vipers would get their first powerplay of the night and take advantage. Braden Pimm at 15:06 gave Vernon a 2-0 lead. Mike Collins & Curtis Gedig with the assists. But just over a minute later Devin Mitzner created havoc for the Viper d-men, setting up in behind the Vernon goal, Mitzner tried going for the wrap around before setting up Colton Graf out front who got the Kings back in the game at 16:07. Mitzner with the lone helper. The Vipers would get a late powerplay but unable to hit the back of the net as the Vipers would take the remainder of the man advantage into the 2nd period. Vernon carried the better of the play at times, and did get the better scoring chances. The Vipers with a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of play. Shots were even 8-8.

2nd Period: Vernon was unable to capitalize as the Kings would kill off the minor. Dauphin come out skating hard finally generating some offence. The Kings with some good pressure carried the better of the play for most of the 2nd period. Patrick Kozyra with a quick shot from the circle forced Graeme Gordon to make a big pad save giving up a huge rebound. Zeenan Ziemer made a nice pass through traffic setting up Shane Luke who ripped a shot from inside the circle but couldnt beat Gordon. Dauphin would get an early pwerplay and capitalize. Cody Esposito beat Gordon at 6:17 tying the game 2-2 with Patrick Kozyra & Mitch Czibere collecting the assists. Back come the Vipers just seconds later, Kellen Jones at 7:27 gives Vernon back the lead. Sahir Gill & Jonathan Milhouse with the helpers. This was Vernon's first real good scoring chance of the period. The Vipers couldnt get much going in the middle frame. Vernon did manage a little forecheck but no real good scoring chances. Mike Collins would then re give Vernon its two goal lead at 11:14 Cole Ikkala & Braden Pimm wit the assists. Give the Vipers credit they only had two real good quality scoring chances and scored on both of them. Dauphin would then get a two man advantage but early on it was the Vipers penalty kill who looked good being aggresive on the forecheck. Both Kellen Jones & Jonathan Milhouse kiled off some valuable time. The Kings would get two great chances just before the first powerplay come to an end. Steven Shamanski & Bryce Lamb wit two good chances. Vernon got lucky but managed to kill off the two man advantage. The Kings kept coming, Devin Mitzner with a blast was stopped by Gordon before Angus Klassen jumped on the big rebound but just fired the puck wide of the net. Dauphin was the better of the two teams in the 2nd but were down 4-2. The Vipers outshot the Kings 14-12.

3rd Period: Vernon couldnt clear the zone, with a scramble in front the Kings with a few wacks away at the loose puck couldnt get the puck through traffic before finally Troy Hunter lifted the puck up and over Graeme Gordon just 24 seconds into the 3rd as the Kings were within a goal. Dauphin would get an early powerplay but it was David Robinson & Rob Short shorthanded on a parcial two on one, with Short just a little behind the play, Robinson decided to shoot but couldnt beat Caligiuri. The Kings were unable to tie the game on the man advantage as Vernon killed off the minor. Just after the man advantage Dauphin would win the battle along the end boards, Mike Boese setup Cody Esposito at 5:12 tying the game as Vernon blew there second two goal lead of the night. Vernon didnt quit and really turned it up a notch. Dylan Walchuk with a great chance in front was stopped by Caligiuri. Just shortly after the Vipers dumped the puck in deep, the puck took a funny bounce coming right back out front of the Kings net. Vernon looked ery good on the cycle-forecheck down low, giving Dauphin all kinds of trouble. Vernon carried the play for a good six or eight minutes with some solid pressure. The hard work paid off, David Robinson cut hard towards the net, trying to stuff the puck in shortside, Robinson and Cory Kane with a few good wacks finally got the puck to sneak through the legs of Joe Caligiuri at 12:36 Kane with the lone assist. But once again Vernon couldnt hold the lead, just under twominutes later Zeenan Ziemer's long hard shot beat Gordon at 14:20 to once again tie the game. Back come the Kings off the faceoff, Troy Hunter with a long hard shot handcuffed Gordon as Dauphin just about took their first lead of the night. The Kings with a goal and a good chance in the final six minutes. Bryce Lamb with a chance wit just under fiv minutes remaining was stopped by Gordon. The Kings with some late pressure had some of their best chances in the final six minutes. With 2:17 remaining Cory Kane & David Robinson with a great chance on a two on one but couldnt find the back of the net. The Vipers with some good pressure carried the better of the play, but it was the Kings who scored three goals sending it to overtime. Dauphin outshot Vernon 12-11.

Overtime: The Vipers would lose the draw, as the Kings would carry the puck in over the line, Matthew Backhouse's shot from the point beat Gordon high just 43 seconds into the extra period giving the Kings the 6-5 OT win. Dauphin outshot Vernon 1-0.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Mike Collins (1 goal & 1 assist) Played a very strong game for the Vipers. Collins played very agressive in and along the boards. Really read the ice well, making some nice smart plays.

Kellen Jones (2 goals) Without having his twin brother Connor in the lineup Kellen played very well. Scored two goals, looked very good on the penalty kill and o the cycle-forecheck down low. Was really skating hard all night.

David Robinson (1 goal) I thought local boy David Robinson had a strong game. Robinson with a few two on ones, used his hard work to give the Vipers the lead in the 3rd. Robinson battled hard most of the night.

Jonathan Milhouse (2 assists) Milhouse was one of Vernon's best players tonight. Was really skating hard, carried the puck lots, used his speed to his advantage beating guys to the puck all night. Another player who was very dangerous o the PK.

Braden Pimm (1 goal & 1 assist) Played hard, laid out two big checks.

Adam Thompson and Steve Weinstein both played very well on the Vernon blueline.

Top Players: (Dauphin)

Steven Shamanski caught my attention tonight. This kid who is listed as a d-man played most of the night upfront. I was very impressed with his game. Saw lots of ice time and was always involed in the play.

Cody Esposito (2 goals & 1 assist) Esposito played a strong game for the Kings. A big kid who dosnt really use his size but looked good up front most of the night.

Zeenan Ziemer (1 goal) Another kid that impressed me tonight. Made some nice plays through out the game to setup some good chances.

Mitch Czibere (2 assists) played well up front for Dauphin.

Devin Mitzner had a few good chances tonight, a shifty player who always seemed to find an opening in traffic.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

I dont think Mark Ferner will be too happy with giving up two, two goal leads and also giving up three goals in the 3rd period. Both teams are fairly even in certain departments but I would have to say Vernon was the better of the two teams at times. The Vipers definitly had the better scoring chances and carried the edge in play at times but couldnt hold the lead. A fairly quick game with no real physical play. Vernon also may hae played a little too aggresive at times, the Vipers took seven minors. I thought the Vipers played well but givig up two, two goal leads this was their game for the win. Especially up 4-2 heading into the 3rd. Vernon's speed, breakout and cycle-forecheck down low was giving Dauphin all kinds of trouble trough out tonights game. The Vipers just couldnt seem to get that three goal lead in order to put away the Kings. The Vipers are in a must win tomorrow, they dont want to drop to 0-2 in their first two games.

Game Thoughts: (Dauphin)

The Kings got off to a bit of a slow start but seemed to get things going as the game went along. Give the Kings full credit for battling back three times, coming back twice down two goals as well as tying the game just over two minutes after Vernon took the lead midway through the 3rd. I was very impressed with the Kings breakout, nice tape to tape crisp passing, they like to get guys towards and in front of the net, waiting for the screened shot from the point. They dont really generate alot of pressure or forecheck other then when they outplayed the Vipers in the 2nd period. Coming back down two goals twice against the defending champs and then pulling out the win in oertime will give this team alot of confidence. The Kings gave Vernon way too much time and space in their own end to setup plays. & were having all kinds of trouble with Vernons cycle and forecheck down low. Dauphin is very good on the draw, winning most of the faceoffs tonight. A packed house tonight for the Kings first game of the RBC Cup, but I was very surprised with a very quiet crowd. You could hear a pin drop in the 1st period it was so quiet. Walking around the rink between periods, talking to people or oer hearing other conversations, the Dauphin crowd was very impressed with the Vpers. I talked to two guys who said this was and has been the Kings toughest opponent this year. They both thought the Vipers were the better team.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Darrin Robak
Connor Jones

Dauphin:

Justin Michaud
Travis Cech

Players of the game:

Vernon: Kellen Jones (2 goals)
Dauphin: Cody Esposito (2 goals & 1 assist)