I was at todays RBC Cup game as Vernon defeated Brockville 4-2 in front of 1,160 fans at Credit Union Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Blake Voth
Brockville: Justin Gilbert
1st Period: Vernon would get the games first powerplay just 15 seconds into the contest. Curtis Gedig's quik shot from the point was tipped by Braden Pimm in front as the Vipers with a good early chance. The Vipers would get a two man advantage, with some good puck movement Vernon waisted several key opportunities not shooting the puck as Brockville killed off the two man advantage. Vernon with just a single shot on the two man powerplay. Brockville's Shayne Tompson with a nice move around Curtis Gedig and Adam Thompson, going in on the breakaway and beating Blake Voth shortside at 3:44 giving the Braves the 1-0 lead on their first shot on goal. Dylan Robichaud with the lone assist. Shortly after Trevor Fitzgerald with a quick shot from in close couldnt beat Justin Gilbert. The play really slowed down with some scrambly play at both ends of the rink with no real flow to the game. Just before the midway mark Curtis Gedig with two real nice moves inside out on the Brockville d-men then put a nice move on Gilbert, making him go down before hitting the post after having the Braves tender down and out. The Braves with their first powerplay had all kinds of trouble with Vernon's penalty kill. Kellen Jones & Jonathan Milhouse did a great job on the penalty kill, before the minor expired the Vipers would get another powerplay. Vernon with just one good chance after a mad scramble in front the Vipers couldnt get the puck through a maze of players in the crease as the Braves killed off the minor. The Vipers seemed to get going in the second half of the 1st but had no real good opportunities. At 4:51 a shot from the corner come through the crease where Nathan Slack & #18 (not listed on the Braves lineup) both couldnt connect on the puck as Blake Voth was there to cover up. Off the draw the Braves fired the puck towards the net where Shayne Thompson was left all alone in front but couldnt beat Voth. Back come the Vipers as Curtis Gedig's shot from the point was stopped by Gilbert, before Kellen Jones collected the rebound but couldnt beat Gilbert on the second chance. The Vipers looked much better in the second half of the period. In the final two or so minutes Brockville with a late powerplay but were unable to find the back of the net. The Braves with a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Vernon carried the better of the play in the second half and had the better of the scoring chances. Vernon outshot Brockville 17-10.
2nd Period: Brockville with an early man advantage just over a minute into the period. Vernon would kill off the minor. Scott Arnold on a parcial breakaway would be stopped by Voth who let out a rebound, Mike Skakum would collect the rebound but couldnt beat Voth who come up with two big saves early in the 2nd. Brockville kept coming really skating hard. Sebastien Gingras & Shayne Thompson on a parcial two on one, Thompson setup Gingras who was stoned by Voth, the puck would come back to the other side of the net where Shayne Stockton beat Voth at the side of the net at 4:27 putting the Braves up 2-0. Thompson & Gingras with the helpers. Brockville didnt quit there, as the Braves really started to put on the pressure. The Braves were skating hard, outskating the Vipers, winning most of the one on one battles and races to the puck for most of the period. The Braves with some good pressure down low were giving the Vipers all kinds of trouble in their own end. Vernon couldnt seem to slow down or stop the speedy Brockville forecheck. The Vipers would finally get the puck in the Braves zone, a quick shot from the corner went through the crease but the Vipers couldnt beat Justin Gilbert who come across the crease to make the big pad save. Just after the Braves would jump on the PP and come very close to grabbing a 3-0 lead. Mark Williamson's shot from the slot beat Blake Voth but rang off the crossbar. Vernon would kill off the penalty but as the penalty come to an end, Alex Boak's shot from the point was tipped in front just missing the far corner. Brockville had the Vipers number in the 2nd period as Vernon with just 3 shots in the first 15 minutes of the 2nd period. Tempers started to heat up a bit through out the middle frame as the Braves didnt seem to like Vipers Captain Kevin Kraus. Kraus & Mike Skakum exhanged shots and words several times through out the period. Brockville on another powerplay moved the puck well but couldnt capitalize. With 2:33 remaining Patrick McGillis & Dylan Walchuk on the two on one, McGillis kept and shot but couldnt beat Justin Gilbert. Vernon seemed to wake up and get some late pressure in the final three or so minutes. Jonathan Milhouse with a minute remaining made a nice move in close beating Gilbert but hit the outside of the net. Kellen Jones then with twenty seconds remaining beat Gilbert but hit the post on a great chance. Brockville owned the 2nd period outplaying Vernon for the first 15 minutes. The Braves were up 2-0 after 40 minutes of play. The Braves outshot the Vipers 9-6.
3rd Period: The Vipers on the powerplay wich was carried over from the end of the 2nd period got to work quickly. With some good puck movement the puck come over to Adam Thompson who missed a wide open net, Sahir Gill picked up the rebound and beat Gilbert at 1:14 getting Vernon on the board. Kellen Jones & Adam Thompson with the assists. The Vipers kept coming, the line of Trevor Fitzgerald, Dylan Walchuk & Patrick McGillis worked hard down low, battled hard in behind the Brockville goal, as McGillis with the wrap around went hard to the net beating Gilbert at 3:04 tying the game at 2-2. Walchuk & Fitzgerald with the helpers. Vernon looked very focused and had lots of energy to start the 3rd and didnt quit skating. Kevin Kraus's point shot was picked up by Jonathan Milhouse who couldnt beat Gilbert in tight. The Vipers were the ones now who were skating hard, showing some good hustle and carrying the better of the play. It was all Vernon in the opening ten minutes and for most of the 3rd period. Just before the ten minute mark Shayne Thompson setup Tyson Wilson who couldnt beat Voth, back the play went the other way as Mike Collins fed Cole Ikkala on a parcial two on one as Ikkala was unable to beat Gilbert. Two big saves at bot ends of the rink. The Vipers would get a powerplay and get another real good chance. Garrett Noonan from the point was stopped by Gilbert before Braden Pimm jumped on the rebound but again Gilbert come up with another big save on the penalty kill. The Vipers with one last chance on the man advantage forced a huge scramble down low, with Gilbert down and out Vernon couldnt get the puck up and over the massive pile of bodies in the crease as the Braves killed off the minor. Shortly after Curtis Gedig with a good chance was stopped by Gilbert. Brockville couldnt seem to get much of anything going in the 3rd having all kinds of trouble with Vernons speed and solid forecheck down low. Jonathan Milhouse setup Kellen Jones who was stopped again by Justin Gilbert. Vernon was peppering the Braves goaltender with a ton of shots in the final frame. Brockville with there only powerplay of the 3rd come late with under five minutes remaining but the Braves couldnt capitalize. Just as the powerplay come to an end Rob Short fed David Robinson who skated down the wing and then ripped wich looked to be a harmless looking shot high over the glove of Justin Gilbert to give Vernon there first lead of the afternoon at 17:25 Short with the lone assist. Brockville would get Gilbert to the bench with 1:12 remaining for the extra attacker but the Braves couldnt get any off ence going as the Vipers carried the puck out, before Cole Ikkala hit the empty net at 19:01 giving the Vipers the 4-2 lead. In the final minute Vernon with three huge checks, there biggest of the game would defeat Brockville 4-2 to finish the Roud Robin at 3-1. The Vipers outshot the Braves 21-8.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Curtis Gedig really impressed me once again during the RBC Cup. Gedig who has looked very solid in all four Vernon games has been one of if not the Vipers best d-man at the RBC Cup. Gedig with several good chances this afternoon, hit the post once. Played very well at both ends of the rink.
Jonathan Milhouse & Kellen Jones for the second straight game looked very strong and dangerous on the penalty kill. Both players have looked very good on specialty teams. Milhouse has really been skating hard giving the opponents powerplay all kinds of trouble.
The line of David Robinson (1 goal), Rob Short (1 assist) & Cory Kane looked very strong this afternoon. Robinson & Short especially looked very solid most of the game. Robinson played with a bit of an edge in the opening period and really showed alot of hustle and physical play today. Short also worked very hard, played physical, and had that edge in his game.
I also liked the line of Dylan Walchuk (1 assist), Trevor Fitzgerald (1 assist) & Patrick McGillis (1 goal). This line really stepped up their play in the 3rd, playing their role, with some good hustle and forecheck forced & scored the Vipers game tying goal early in the 3rd. For a kid who hasnt played much over the last few months, Trevor Fitzgerald had alot of jump, didnt look out of place at all, was skating hard, moving his feet and created some good chances.
Braden Pimm Impressed me this afternoon. Pimm worked very hard like on most nights. Had some real good chances, was battling hard down low and in front.
Top Players: (Brockville)
Justin Gilbert (40 saves) I have been very impressed with this kid all tournament. Gilbert didnt have much action in the 2nd period but played very well in the 1st and 3rd periods. Come up with some big saves. Very quick on his feet, moves well and plays his position very well.
Shayne Thompson (1 goal & 1 assist) Here's another kid who has impressed me all tournament. Thompson moves the puck well, likes to get involved in the play. Good skater.
Shayne Stockton (1 goal) A New York kid who also stood out this afternoon. Went to the net alot, good skater, always involved in the play. Hard worker.
Mike Skakum Played with a bit of an edge today, was in the face of Kevin Kraus along with several other Viper plays all afternoon. Isnt afraid of the rough stuff, dosnt back down, battles and competes hard all game.
Alex Boak Played a solid game on the Brockville blueline.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
In a mean nothing game other then maybe how you finish in the standings. I thought the Vipers finally looked like the Vipers were use to watching come the 3rd period. Vernon played well in the second half of the 1st period but were outplayed for almost the entire 2nd period. I thought the Vipers carried the better of the play and had the better of the chances in the second half of the 1st but were down 1-0. In the 2nd Brockville was skating circles around the Vipers, outplaying us, outhitting us, winning the battles, & the races to the puck. Vernon was having all kinds of trouble with the Braves speed and strong forecheck in the middle frame. Im not sure what Mark Ferner said to the boys in between periods but the 3rd was by far the best period I have seen the Vipers play so far at the RBC Cup. Now if the Vipers could play like that for entire game, we would be fine. Vernon struggled early on in the first two periods with there passing as well as the powerplay. I still havnt seen the Vipers play a full 60 minutes, and show everyone here what they are really capible of doing. Vernon finished the roud robin at 3-1 and now will play Saturday in the semi finals.
Game Thoughts: (Brockville)
I have been impressed with the Braves in all there games at the RBC Cup. This team is quick, moves the puck well, has a good powerplay and solid goaltending. They can play physical and dont back away from the rough going. The Braves had the Vipers on the ropes after 40 minutes of play but like the Vipers have shown in this RBC Cup they couldnt hold the lead. Both teams took way too many penalties, Im sure both coaches wont like that. Brockville cant be happy with giving up a 2-0 lead in the 3rd. The Braves drop to 1-2 and will faceoff against La Ronge tomorrow night. Vernon could see Brockville again in the semi-finals.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Connor Jones (Injured)
Bryce Kakoske
Dan Nycholat
Brockville:
Stephen Bird
#25 (not listed in the teams lineup)
Players of the game:
Vernon: Jonathan Milhouse
Brockville: Justi Gilbert
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