Vernon 3 Penticton 2

I was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Penticton 3-2 in front of 1,423 fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Blake Voth
Penticton: Joel Rumpel

1st Period: The Vipers wearing their home white jerseys with the Vees sporting the teams black away uniforms faced off against each other for the first time since last years Game 6 where the Vipers went on to knock off the Vees in six games in the Interior Conference Finals. Vernon welcomed back veteran defenceman, Adam Thompson who made his season debut after missing the teams last three games with a concusion. 20 year old forward, Kyle Murphy made his Vipers-BCHL debut tonight as well after coming off a injury. & defenceman Taylor Love made his Vipers-BCHL debut tonight. Vernon would get off to a good start and control most of the opening period. The Vipers moved the puck well, and used their speed to create some nice passing plays. Vernon held the early edge in play as Penticton would register their first shot on goal four minutes into the game on a long shot just outside the Vipers blueline wich handcuffed Blake Voth. From here on in it was all Vipers as Vernon with an early attack carried the better of the play in the Vees zone. No real good scoring chances but the Vipers setup and tried creating some chances in the Penticton zone. The Vipers would open the scoring when rookie speedster John Knisley carried the puck along the boards, cut wide around the Penticton d-man and then cut towards the net putting the puck past second year goaltender Joel Rumpel at 6:57 This was Knisleys first career BCHL goal wich was unassisted. At this point the Vipers were outshooting the Vees 7-1. Just under a minute later the Vipers got the puck in deep, with the puck at the side of the net, Kyle Murphy setup Trevor Fitzgerald who beat Rumpel at 7:42 for his first goal of the season giving the Vipers an early 2-0 lead. Murphy & Patrick McGillis collected the assists. Vernon didnt quit there, Patrick McGillis with a nice feed from the corner setup Trevor Fitzgerald who was coming through the slot but couldnt connect on the pass on a great scoring chance. Bryce Kakoskes shot from the slot was tipped in front by John Knisley who just tipped it wide of the net on another great Viper scoring chance. The Vipers looked very good in the Vees zone, working the cycle down low creating some chances. Vernon with a few nice two or three way passing plays, just couldnt connect on the final pass. Vernon who was outhit in both of the teams first two games of the season, come out hitting tonight laying out some good checks through out tonights game. The Vipers were by far the more physical of the two teams tonight. The Vees who couldnt get much of anything going got just there second shot on net just before the midway mark. Pentictons best chance of the 1st came when Brendan O'Donnell carried the puck in over the Vipers blueline, dangling his way through three Vipers before ripping a quick shot but couldnt beat Blake Voth who made the save on a great scoring chance for the Vees. With just under six minutes remaining the Vees would get the games first powerplay of the night. Veteran forward, Garrett Milan with a great chance wired a wicked wrist shot from the circle, either the puck just graized the crossbar-post or just missed the top corner but the puck didnt find the back of the net. With the man advantage winding down Dylan Walchuk couldnt clear the zone with two Vees on him, Garrett Milan would setup veteran Joey Holka in the slot who beat Voth at 16:42 cutting the lead to 2-1. Milan and Joey Laleggia with the assists. This was just the fourth shot on net for Penticton. Vernon was up 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers who outplayed the Vees outshot Penticton 10-6.

2nd Period: Penticton got off to a quick start and come out hard. Just a minute into the period Kyle Beaulieus point shot was robbed by the quick glove hand of Blake Voth. Voth had to be sharp in the 2nd as the Vees were the ones who carried the better of the play. Just two minutes later Voth made another nice glove save after stopping Stefan Nicholishen. The Vees with some good presure in the Vipers zone had Vernon hemmed in their own end at times through out the 2nd period. The Vipers d-men seemed to be trying to rush at getting the puck out, forcing a turnover inside the blueline. Vernon would get its first powerplay of the night, moving the puck well but was unable to get any good quality shots off. A shot lived powerplay as the Vipers were forced into taking a minor wich saw both teams with a little four on four action before the Vees finished off the end of a short powerplay. Vernon would kill off the minor. Shortly after rookie Joey Benik with a great chance at the side of the Vipers net couldnt sneak the puck past Voth who looked very solid in the middle frame. The Vipers couldnt seem to get much going as far as offence was said as Penticton had the better of the play. The Vipers best of two chances came when rookie Gus Correale caught Joel Rumpel outside of his net, Rumpel lost control of the puck outside of his crease, as Correale missed a wide open cage firing wide on a great chance to re-take the two goal lead. Back come the Vees as former Vernon Viper forward, Mark Hall was stopped in front. Joey Benik was then stopped again by Voth who made his third glovesave of the period. Just after the midway mark Vernon would get its second man advantage of the night but the Vipers would struggle as the Vees would kill off the minor. The Vipers defence seemed to settle down as the period went on, not having as much troubles breaking out of their own end. In the final minute of play Patrick McGillis with a nice move around the Vees defencman, gave the second year Viper a breakaway, but McGillis couldnt beat Rumpel who stayed with McGillis who made a nice save keeping the Vees within a goal. Penticton was the better of the two teams but were down 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. The Vees outshot the Vipers 11-9.

3rd Period: Captain David Robinson with some good hustle beat the Vees d-man along the boards, going around the net before getting off a low shot but couldnt beat Joel Rumpel who just got a peice of the puck with his blocker. Back come the Vees on the same play as Joey Benik on an odd man rush was stopped by Adam Thompson who showed good hustle to get back into the play to break up the odd man rush as Benik was alone in the clear. Some good action in the early goings as back come Vernon as David Robinson got the play in deep before dishing the puck off to Marcus Basara who made a nice pass out front to Dylan Walchuk who went upstairs on Rumpel at 1:33 giving the Vipers a 3-1 lead. Robinson and Basara with the helpers. The Vipers played a very defensive style of game come the final period, getting the puck in deep and then forechecking in after it, killing off valuable time off the clock. Both teams didnt really get any real good scoring chances from here on in until the final six minutes. The Vipers carried alot of the play early but again did alot of time cycling the puck down low along the boards ragging time off the clock. Penticton had troubles getting through the neutral zone as Vernon played a very smart and safe 3rd period clogging up the middle. The Vees turned it up in the final six or so minutes and really put some good presure on the Vipers. With about five and a half minutes remaining the Vees come very close to making it a one goal game after a mad scramble in front, but somehow Penticton couldnt get the puck past Blake Voth. Rookie Steven Iacobellis had a great chance late but was stopped by Voth. The Vees again with some good presure in the final few minutes but couldnt really get any clear quality shots towards the net as the Vipers were doing their best at trying to tie players up in front, or get a body in front to try and block the shot. The Vipers were forced to call a timeout with about a minute and a half remaining before shortly after the Vees would call a timeout and bring Joel Rumpel onto the bench for the extra attacker. Penticton moved the puck well throwing the puck towards the net but Blake Voth and the Vipers defence did a great job at not allowing the puck to get through traffic. With the Vees still pressing Troy Stecher beat a down and out Blake Voth with 5.2 seconds remaining to make it a one goal game. Joey Holka with the lone assist. This would be as close as the Vees would get as Vernon would pick up its first win of the season with a 3-2 victory over the Vees. Penticton outshot Vernon 8-4.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Taylor Love who I thought was cut from the team just after the exibition games made his Vipers-BCHL debut tonight. When the BCHL rosters were announced just days before the BCHL regular season, Loves name wasnt on the Vipers roster. Vernon with a 23 man roster made me think Love was the final cut before the regular season. Well It looks like I was wrong as I seen Love in the stands at the Vipers home opener. Love isnt listed on the Vipers 23 man roster, giving me the impression he is an "AP" Love played a heck of a game for the Vipers on the backend. I was very impressed with the rookies game tonight. Love played very physical, dishing out several good checks tonight, looked very good defensively and played his position very well. Didnt look out of place at all. It will be interesting to see what they do with this kid.

Dylan Walchuk (1 goal) Was very good on the draw most of the night, played very well at both ends of the rink.

David Robinson (1 assist) I thought played very well tonight. Showed alot of hustle.

John Knisley (1 goal) Was the Vipers best player. Knisley didnt really stand out for me during the teams two blue & white games back in late August, but I thought played well in the first two games of the season vs Salmon Arm. This kid looked very good tonight, has some very quick wheels, and nice hands.

Kyle Murphy ( 1 assist) Made his Vipers-BCHL debut tonight and looked very good. Was very good on faceoffs (Don Klepp said on the post game show on the radio after the game Murphy won all 10 draws he took) Murphy who was injured didnt look out of place tonight.

Gus Correale showed alot of energy and hustle tonight, didnt back down from the corners. Battled and competed hard down low and in and along the boards.

Adam Thompson made his season debut after coming back from a concusion. Played fairly well. Showed some good hustle early in the 3rd but jumping back into the play to make a diving play inside the Vipers zone to break up a Vees odd man rush. With just Thompson and Steve Weinstein back from last years Championship team, both players add alot on the backend.

Blake Voth (23 saves) Voth played his best game of the season (exibition and regular season) Voth come up with three nice glove saves in the 2nd period. Voth made the big saves when needed giving this young Vipers team some confidence. Played very well in the 2nd when Penticton carried the better of the play.

Top Players: (Penticton)

Derik Johnson was by far the best defenceman for the Vees tonight. Johnson played very well on the backend, logging alot of minutes.

Joey Benik I thought played well for most of tonights hockey game. I didnt really notice him much in the 1st period but as the game went on I was impressed in the young rookie.

Stefan Nicholishen looked good up front for Penticton. Carried the puck alot tonight, setup a few nice plays.

Joey Holka (1 goal & 1 assist) Played a great game for the Vees. Holka was always in and around the Vernon net looking for a pass or a play in front. Always seemed to find his way to the front of the net.

Brendan O'Donnell looked fairly good up front for the Vees. A big kid who has some nice hands, dangled his way through the Vipers zone late in the 1st before getting a good scoring chance. Penticton fans are going to love watching this kid in a Vees uniform this season.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Congrats to the Vipers for picking up their first win of the season tonight with a hard fought 3-2 victory. I have now watched all three games of this young season and so far each game the Vipers have improved and gotten better as the games go along. This was by far the best performance by Vernon this season. The Vipers won most of the faceoffs tonight, played very physical and were by far the more physical of the two teams. I thought Vernon battled and competed hard tonight and fully deserved tonights win, especially in a tough barn like Penticton where the Vees in past years havnt lost many home games. Coming into tonights game 0-2 this was a big win for this young team, getting their first win of the season in Penticton vs a Vees team who was 2-0 heading into tonight and a Vees team in wich rumor going around is the team to beat this season. This win will give the guys alot of confidence and help get all the new kids to gel together as a team.

Game Thoughts: (Penticton)

I dont think Fred Harbinson will be too pleased with his teams effort and performance tonight. I think the Vees were outhit, outworked and outplayed for most of the game. Yes Penticton did come back and play a good 2nd period but this wasnt a full 60 minute effort. Watch out for a better performance tomorrow night. The Vees just like the Vipers have just seven players back from last years team, a ton of new faces and new numbers to get use too. Penticton's defence and goaltening from what I saw tonight is no where near the same as last years team. But again its a young season so its still very early to predict how teams will look and end up towards the end of the season. Give the Vees credit they battled hard in the final five minutes or so and made it a very exciting finish. Both these same two teams will meet again tomorrow night in Vernon, in the end of a home and home series.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Malcolm Lyles
Bennett Hambrook
Todd Skirving
Colton Sparrow

Penticton:

Jacob Charles
Mark MacMillan (Injured)

3 Stars:

1st Star: John Knisley (1 goal)
2nd Star: Dylan Walchuk (1 goal)
3rd Star: Derik Johnson