Vernon 4 Westside 1

I was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Westside 4-1 in front of 952 fans at Royal LePage Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Blake Voth
Westside: Cam Gorchynski

1st Period: Neither team could get really anything going off the start of the game. The Vipers with just one shot in the first four minutes unable to get the offence clicking, while the Warriors with a few shots early but no real scoring chances. Westside would get the games first chance as Tyler Brickler was stopped by Blake Voth after driving towards the goal on a nice Warriors passing play. The Warriors slowly took possetion of the play for a few minutes, but again no real good scoring chances. Vipers starting goaltender Blake Voth looked a little shaky early on fighting the puck and letting out some rebounds as Westside was outshooting Vernon 8-1 at this point. On the Vipers first real rush up ice, a nice give and go between Bryce Kakoske, Kyle Murphy and Elliott Richardson wich setup former Warrior Bryce Kakoske who beat Cam Gorchynski at 8:55 giving Vernon the 1-0 lead on just their second shot of the game. This goal seemed to turn the tables as Vernon seemed to gain momentum and slowly start to get their wheels going, taking control of the play for a good three to four minutes. The Vipers with some nice passing plays created some open ice wich resulted in a few chances but with no real threat. Still Vernon was now carrying the play at this point and now come back in the shot department down 9-7. Izaak Berglund looked to have try and dump the puck in from just outside the Warriors zone, Voth had troubles with the puck, wich bounced off the Vernon goaltender, over him and dropped into the back of the net on a weird play wich resulted in a Warriors game tying goal. But just as Westside was celebrating the goal was waived off as the Warriors were being called for the delayed offside as Vernon would get lucky and still lead 1-0. Vernon would get a short powerplay, the Vipers moved the puck well getting some shots towards the net that were very close to being tipped in but thats as close as they would come as Westsides penalty kill took over from here, just before the penalty expired Malcolm Lyles wired a wicked onetimer that missed the net, the puck would make its way around the boards meeting up with Matthew Maher who stepped out of the penalty box giving him the clear cut breakaway, with Lyles in full speed almost catching Maher, Maher put a nice move around Blake Voth and into the net at 17:55 tying the game on a bit of a lucky bounce for the Warriors. This goal would give Westside a little momentum as the Warriors would move the puck well deep in the Vernon zone for the final minute of play. In the final minute Brayden Sherbinins point shot was tipped in front and just missed the net as the Warriors come oh so close to taking the lead of the game. The game was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. Westside outshot Vernon 15-14.

2nd Period: The Vipers would get off to a good start, in the opening minutes Patrick McGillis and Darren Nowick on a two on one, McGillis would wait and shot but rang his shot off the far post. The Vipers used their speed and good forecheck down low to carry the better of the play for most of the 2nd period. Vernon with some good presure had the Warriors back on their heels early but was unable to get any real good scoring chances before Cam Gorchynski lost an edge behind the net, one of the Warriors then through the puck out front to Aaron Hadley who fired the puck into the empty goal as Gorchynski tried diving back into the goal but it was too little, too late as Hadley gave Vernon a 2-1 lead at 4:25 Mike Zalewski with the lone assist. Just over two minutes later Kyle Murphy just about went in all alone for the breakaway but was called offside, Murphy continued to slowly skate towards Cam Gorchynski when the Warriors goaltender poked the puck away from Murphy before Murphy turned around and was up in the face of the Warriors goaltender. Murphy was then dumped in front of the Westside goal by a Warriors defenceman before David Robinson jumped into the action as Robinson and veteran Kyle Singleton fell to the ice in a scrum. Both players were given ten minute misconducts as tempers slowly started to get a little heated. Brett Corkey would try and feed Colton Sparrow on a two on one but Sparrow couldnt connect on the pass on a good scoring chance for Vernon. Just two minutes later John Knisley and Tyler Brickler got tangled up in front of both teams benches as words were exchanged. The Vipers would come out of the works with a powerplay. Vernon would struggle with the man advantage as the Warriors penalty kill looked good killing off the minor. Westside couldnt get anything going in the period recording just a single shot on goal in the first ten minutes. It was then when the Warriors finally got the play in deep and put some presure on the Vipers in their own end. Vernon got caught chasing the puck and couldnt clear the zone as the Warriors moved the puck well opening up some ice. Jordon Wood with a quick shot from in close was stopped by Blake Voth after making a nice pad save down low, as the play continued the Warriors moved the puck back to the point, Michael Kings blast from the blueline was kicked out again by Voth who had to be on his game with Vernon just up a goal. At this point Voth seemed to settle down after a shaky opening period. The Vipers would finally clear the zone after a bit of a fire drill in their own end as Westside couldnt beat Voth. In the final five minutes Grayson Downing was tossed from the hockey game after checking Bryce Kakoske into the boards from behind. Vernon would struggle again on the man advantage as this time the Warriors penalty killers did a great job ragging the puck on several occasions as Vernon was unable to register a single shot, but just before the penalty was coming to an end Mike Zalewski setup Kyle Murphy who beat Gorchynski at 16:18 giving Vernon a 3-1 lead. Zalewski with the lone assist (second of the night). Late in the period Aaron Hadley would send a Warrior player (I was unable to see who it was) into the boards. The Warrior player went into the boards awkward and needed help off the ice. Hadley was orginally give two minutes for boarding but Andrew Guest changed it to five minutes for boarding and a game misconduct as Hadley was done for the night. Both Darren Yopyk and Mark Ferner were upset with the call as both coaches talked to Guest. The Warriors would call a timeout. With the Warriors on a late five minute powerplay it was Vernons penalty killers who did a great job at keeping Westside to the outside as the Warriors were unable to get a shot on the man advantage as Vernon would get out of the 2nd period up two goals. The Vipers outplayed and outshot the Warriors 9-3.

3rd Period: With Westside still on the five minute major carried over from the end of the 2nd the Vipers went back to work on the penalty kill. Vernons penalty kill was superb allowing just one shot on the five minute major as the Vipers would kill off Hadleys major. Westside struggled on the man advantage unable to get setup for any period of time in the Vipers zone. From here on in Vernon would try and kill off as much time off the clock as possible, as the Vipers played a very smart 3rd hitting centre and dumping the puck in deep. This was the scene for most of the final frame as the Warriors couldnt get through the neutral zone. Just before the midway mark the play became real scrambly at times as Vernon was called for icing on several occasions. The Warriors were starting to get frustrated wich resulted in taking a minor as Vernon went back on the powerplay, at this point the small crowd of just under 1000 were starting to get on Andrew Guest. The Vipers would struggle on the powerplay again as Vernon just couldnt seem to get much going with the man advantage most of the night as Westside killed off the minor. Neither team got any scoring chances as the Vipers just played dump and chase hockey trying to pick up a greasy road win. Brett Corkey was lucky after trying to go through the neutral zone, coughing up the puck but the Vipers recovered with a nice defensive play. Late in the period Brayden Sherbinins long point shot went through a crowd in front and just missed the far corner as Voth looked to be screened on the play, this puck goes in and we have a one goal game. On the same play Vernon would get lucky after hauling down a Warriors player inside the Vernon zone, the play would continue up ice, the Vipers with another nice give and go setup captain David Robinson who ripped his shot high upstairs over Gorchynski at 16:37 giving the Vipers a 4-1 lead. Bryce Kakoske and Kyle Murphy with the helpers. The Warriors wouldnt quit and get some late presure in the final few minutes, Westside with some good chances from in close missed the net on several occasions but then also got some quick shots away from in close but Blake Voth was their to make the save looking very confident at this point in the game. The Warriors would get a late powerplay but it was too little too late as Vernon would kill off the minor and pick up the 4-1 win. Just before the buzzer went Max French was yapping at Darren Nowick, at the buzzer Nowick and French exchanged words and both took a poke at one another with their sticks. As the linesmen got between the two French pushed the linesmen away as nothing else would evolve. Westside outshot Vernon 7-2.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Malcolm Lyles played his second straight solid game for the Vipers. I thought Lyles played very well against Quesnel Wednesday night and come back with another good performance tonight.

The line of David Robinson (1 goal), Bryce Kakoske (1 goal & 1 assist) & Kyle Murphy (1 goal & 2 assists) played and looked very strong up front for Vernon. I thought Kakoske looked very good up front as did Murphy. Murphy really saw and read the ice and plays well tonight, seemed to know where his linemate was at all times.

Mike Zalewski (2 assists) Played very well at both ends of the rink.

Colton Sparrow showed alot of hustle, didnt back down from the corners. Took a few big checks through out tonights game but come back with a check or two of his own. Kept his legs going, didnt quit working.

Trevor Fitzgerald played a hard nosed game up front for the Vipers. Fitzgerald who also played very well at both ends of the rink looked strong on the penalty kill, come up with atleast two blocked shots, battled hard in and along the boards.

Adam Thompson saw alot of icetime on the blueline and played very well defensively. Thompson was by far Vernons best d-man tonight. Made some real smart heads up plays on the penalty kill and through out tonights game.

Blake Voth (24 saves) Started out a little shaky, had troubles controling the puck, let out some big rebounds. Seemed to be fighting the puck but really settled down in the 2nd and 3rd, didnt see much rubber in those periods but come up with the big saves when needed. Looked very confident in both the 2nd and 3rd.

Top Players: (Westside)

Michael King I thought played a steady game on the Warriors backend.

Brayden Sherbinin was another defenceman that I really liked for Westside. This kid come up with some big shots from the point, looks good offensively with the puck as well. Skates well.

Tyler Brickler played well up front. Brickler was in and around the net on the Warriors few good scoring chances.

Jordon Wood I thought played well up front. Has a nice quick release.

Izaak Berglund saw alot of icetime, was another d-man that played well tonight for Westside.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

Tonight was the first of a home and home between these two teams, as Vernon comes away with a big two points on the road. The Vipers with their 5th win of the season away from home, seem to play better on the road. I thought the Vipers played a very well road game and fully deserved the victory. I thought Vernon was the better of the two teams, it took them a bit to get going but played very well. The Vipers were good on the draw tonight, had troubles connecting with most passes (need some work) struggled on the powerplay but looked very solid on the penalty kill. Killing off the five minute major was huge and a turning point in tonights game. Westside scores or scores twice and we have a different game. I thought the Vipers played very well defensively, I think twice they got caught running around in their own end for a few minutes but otherwise looked very strong defensively. After being outshot 8-1 early in the 1st the Vipers only gave up ten shots in the final two periods. Vernon looked very good in the 3rd playing dump and chase hockey, made some very smart plays and kept it simple with very little mistakes. Things got a little heated at times through out tonights game, will any of that boil over into tomorrows rematch?

Game Thoughts: (Westside)

With several veterans back from last years team I was expecting the Warriors to be one of the top teams in the Interior Division this season. Its still early but the Warriors with a 500 record didnt impress me much tonight. Like I said before I thought Vernon was the better team tonight and outplayed Westside for most of the game. The Warriors did get a few chances but had troubles all night controling and setting up plays. Had troubles getting through Vernons defence most of the game, especially in the 3rd. Struggled on the powerplay but looked very solid on the penalty kill. Your not going to win games when you get just one shot on a five minute powerplay. Westside was the more physical team but didnt have much in their game overall tonight. Not much of an offensive attack. Maybe they had an off night? Lets see how they respond tomorrow night.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Max Mowat
Dylan Walchuk
Marcus Basara

Westside:

Tom Kroshus
Brett Mulcahy
Travis Blanlell

3 Stars:

1st Star: Kyle Murphy (1 goal & 2 assists)
2nd Star: David Robinson (1 goal)
3rd Star: Matthew Maher (1 goal)