Vernon 5 Penticton 0

I was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Penticton 5-0 in front of 2,239 fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Blake Voth
Penticton: Joel Rumpel

Vernon was wearing their away baby blue road jerseys, while Penticton was wearing (Im guessing a new third set jersey) Wich was all white, with dark blue shoulders and smaller sets of red stripes around the base of the jersey with a blue maple leaf logo and the word Canada across the top of the logo. The jerseys looked like an older replica jersey from maybe way back when the first Penticton Vees took to the ice.

1st Period: The Vipers got off to a good start and played on of if not their best opening period of the season. Vernon would get the puck in deep off the opening draw, some good hard work down low by captain David Robinson and Bryce Kakoske got the Vipers off to a good start. Vernon who battled and competed hard all night cycled the puck well down low hemming the Vees in their own end on the first few shifts. Darren Nowick with two good chances early, one with a shot from the circle and then on a wrap around on the same shift. Vernon would open the scoring early after Malcolm Lyles point shot was tipped in front by second year Viper Patrick McGillis at 1:45 giving Vernon the 1-0 lead. Lyles and Steve Weinstein with the assists. The Vipers didnt stop their as they really took it to the Vees in the opening period. Vernon would once again get the puck in deep and with that good forecheck, the Vipers won the battles moving the puck well down low, getting pucks towards the net. Penticton was having all kinds of trouble stopping Vernon as the Vipers speed, puck movement and forecheck was just too much for the Vees. Vernon didnt come up with alot of real good chances but was working hard, getting pucks towards the net and creating chances. A few nice little give and goes from down low almost connected. It was all Vipers for the entire 1st period. Penticton would get the games first powerplay of the night just before the midway mark. Patrick McGillis was lucky he wasnt tossed from the game for checking from behind, only being called for boarding. This was a good change in the game for the Vees as up to this point Vernon dominated the play outshooting Penticton 13-1 at this point. Off the draw on the man advantage, the Vees spotted third year veteran forward, Garett Milan at the side of the net, but Milan shot and missed on a good scoring chance. This was all the Vees could muster as Vernon held Penticton to just three shots on the powerplay killing off the minor. Late in the period Lane Werbowski with a great chance from the slot fanned on his shot as the Vees couldnt seem to muster any offence. In the final few minutes of the period Vernon would get a late powerplay. The Vipers moved the puck well, before setting up Adam Thompsons one-timer from the point. Thompsons shot got through Joel Rumpel and just snuck behind the Vees netminder almost crossing the goal line before Rumpel fell backwards to cover the puck and stop the play as the Vipers come oh so close on a good scoring chance. Still on the man advantage the Vipers once again moved the puck well setting up Thompson again for the one-timer, this time Thompsons shot went high and over Rumpels glove giving Vernon a 2-0 lead at 17:37 with Steve Weinstein and Kyle Murphy collecting the assists. Penticton looked flat and was out worked and out played by a very hungry looking Vernon team who dominated the play taking a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Vees 17-9.

2nd Period: Both teams got off to a bit of a slow start. Just two minutes into the 2nd Malcolm Lyles jumped up into the play throwing the puck towards the goal setting up Dylan Walchuk who was alone in front, Walchuks shot beat Rumpel but rolled through the crease and stayed out as Vernon came very close to taking a 3-0 lead. Vernon would get an early powerplay but it wouldnt last long as the Vipers were called on a strange call. Both teams played a little four on four action before Penticton would get a late powerplay. The Vees moved the puck well before setting up a big shot from the point wich was tipped in front but missed the net. Late on the man advantage the Vees went back to the point for another shot wich was tipped in front, but this time Blake Voth was their to make the save. Vernon would kill off the penalty after Penticton come up with their first real presure of the game. Just after the powerplay Blake Voth come out of his crease to play the puck, but gave the puck right to a Penticton player, lucky for Voth and the Vipers no Vees were anywhere near the front of the net. Penticton would get another powerplay just a few minutes later, moving the puck well James Polk setup Brendan O'Donnell in front but O'Donnell couldnt connect on the pass on a great chance in front. Towards the end of the man advantage, on a sloppy play deep in the Vees zone Trevor Fitzgerald with some good hustle knocked over the Vees defenceman, stole the puck, and then fed a wide open Kyle Murphy in front who was stopped by Joel Rumpel but collected his own rebound and beat the second year Vees goaltender shorthanded at 13:37 giving Vernon a 3-0 lead. Fitzgerald with the lone assist. The Vipers were unable to play dump and chase hockey like they did in the 1st period, in the 2nd Vernon seemed to have a little troubles breaking out of their own end, having to ice the puck on several occasions. In the final six or so minutes Penticton would finally get a little presure deep inside the Vernon zone but couldnt manage to get much offence going, as the Vipers defence did a great job at keeping the Vees to the outside. Any shots the Vees did get were from well outside and mostly from the point. Give credit to Blake Voth who also saw most of the shots in the middle frame. Late in the period captain Derik Johnson started exchanging words with Marcus Basara, Basara who wanted no part with Johnson skated away. Johnson followed Basara up ice trying to get Basara to drop his gloves but the Vipers rookie wasnt interested. In the final minute Joey Holka with a shot from in close at the side of the net, tried to jam away at the loose puck, with a Vipers d-man pushing a Vees player into and ontop of Voth, with Voth down and out and a Vees player still ontop of the Vernon goaltender Penticton was unable to get the puck towards the goal for a shot at the open cage. Just as the Vees player was getting up Max Mowat got involved in the crease and was given a penalty at the end of the period as some pushing and shoving started. At the buzzer Vees head coach and gm Fred Harbinson was very upset banging a stick along the bench trying to get the refs attention. Very few scoring chances and shots on goal as Vernons defence played a very solid defensive 2nd period as Vernon was up 3-0 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Vees 8-7.

3rd Period: Penticton would start the 3rd on the powerplay. Off the draw the Vees got the puck in deep, moving the puck around Penticton was unable to generate any shots as the Vipers defence and penalty killers did a great job at keeping the Vees to the outside. In the final few seconds of the powerplay, Tyler Hlookoffs big blast from the point was kicked out by the pad of Voth who made a big save to keep the Vees off the board. The Vipers would kill off the minor giving up just a single shot. Back come the Vipers with a three on two, Mike Zalewski with a chance but was stopped by Rumpel. Back come the Vees just a few minutes later as Joey Holka stepped into one but again Voth was their to make the big pad save. Some back and forth action before Marcus Basara wearing Andrew Lords old #17 beat Rumpel at 7:41 giving Vernon a 4-0 lead. Todd Skirving and Malcolm Lyles with the helpers. This was the end of the night for Joel Rumpel who was pulled in favor of Billy Faust. Rumpel gave up four goals on twenty seven shots. Faust was tested early and often. Aaron Hadley with a great chance in front was stopped by Faust. The Vipers with a few nice give and goes created a few good chances but Faust who come in cold played fairly well making a few good saves early. The Vees once again couldnt get much of anything going as Vernon was just too good on this night. The Vipers would go up 5-0 after some great hustle by Darren Nowick who beat his man to the loose puck, Nowick then fed Patrick McGillis in front who setup Dylan Walchuk who hit the empty net at 12:26 McGillis and Nowick with the assists. This goal was all due to Nowicks hard work and winning the battles for the puck. Just after the Vipers goal a scrum started in front of Blake Voth as everyone got involved in some pushing and shoving as the Vipers would come out of the minor scrum with a powerplay. Vernon was unable to capitalize as the Vees would kill off the minor. From here on in the Vipers went back to work dumping the puck in deep, winning the battles down low, using their strong forecheck to kill off some valuable time off the clock. The Vees once again had troubles with the Vipers speed, forecheck and cycle all night. Vernon would kill off most of the clock before the Vees would get a late powerplay in the final seconds but it wasnt enough as Vernon defeated Penticton 5-0. The Vipers outshot the Vees 10-5.

Top Players: (Vernon)

The line of Dylan Walchuk (1 goal), Darren Nowick (1 assist) & Patrick McGillis (1 goal & 1 assist) was by far Vernons best line. This line was very dangerous and effective all game. McGillis now has four goals in his last four games was very strong down low for the Vipers. Walchuk was another player who was dangerous with the puck down low. Darren Nowick really impressed me tonight, this kid isnt the biggest kid but battled and competed hard all night. Was very strong down low.

Mike Zalewski played a strong game up front for the Vipers. Zalewski another player who battled hard all night, had a few good chances, was hard to knock off the puck down low.

Bryce Kakoske looked very solid in the 1st period, battled hard in and along the boards, was hard to knock off the puck. Won several races to the puck down low, competed very hard all game.

Adam Thompson was the Vipers best defenceman tonight. Thompson has a bullet of a shot and used it twice tonight, both on the same powerplay. His first rocket from the bluebline just about found the back of the net. Scored a real nice goal on the powerplay on a one-timer. Thompson played a solid defensive game, made some heads up plays all game.

Blake Voth (21 saves) Collected his 2nd shutout of the season and is now 3-0 against Penticton this year. Voth didnt have to make the big save but come up with some timley saves when needed. Seem to play and cover his angles well and saw alot of pucks through traffic. Looked comfortable between the pipes.

Top Players: (Penticton)

Joey Holka was the only Vees player who really stood out for me tonight. Holka didnt really stand out, but I thought played fairly well and was one if not the only consistant Penticton player on the ice tonight.

Billy Faust (7 saves) Come into play late in the game after Penticton was down 4-0. Faust who has played very well for the Vees this season didnt get alot of help in front of him but I thought played fairly well giving the score and circumstances in tonights hockey game.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

This was by far the best game I have seen the Vipers play this season. The Vipers heading into tonights game were just five points back of the first place Vees, tonight was a big game and the Vipers come out ontop. Vernon is now 3-0 against Penticton this year. Vernon who seems to play better on the road, looked very solid tonight in a convincing 5-0 victory. If I was a new fan to the BCHL tonight and didnt know anything about either of the two teams, I would have thought the Vipers had a very deep, veteran lineup tonight. This team looked like a veteran team out their tonight. From the start of the game until the final buzzer the Vipers controlled and dominated the entire game. I was very impressed with the teams passing, very crisp tape to tape passes, as well as their consistant physical play and hard work. Vernon didnt knock guys around all night with the big heavy body checks, but played physical enough to let the other team know they were out their. I was very impressed with how the Vipers battled and competed tonight, they won most of if not all the battles down low, along the boards and races to the puck. Vernons defence played a very strong defensive game, the Vipers did a great job at keeping the Vees shooters to the outside. The Vipers speed was also a major factor in tonights win. All four lines deserve a pat on the back for a solid effort in a 5-0 victory. The Vipers have now won their last three regular season games in Penticton. Nice to see the Vipers play well and get the win in front of friends and family as this weekend is parents weekend. All of the Vipers parents-family made the trip up for tonights game.

Game Thoughts: (Penticton)

The Vees seven game winning streak comes to an end to the hated Vernon Vipers. Penticton with just five loses all year, have dropped three of thos five to the Vipers. The Vees welcomed back forward, Mark MacMillan who played just his second game of the season, after getting injured in the Vees opening game of the season. MacMillan was traded to Penticton from Alberni Valley over the summer. Penticton looked flat and played with no energy, and very little emotion all night. The Vees generated very little offence and couldnt get much going most of the game, the Vees were out hit, out worked, and out played for most of if not the entire game. Fred Harbinson wont be too pleased with his clubs effort and performance tonight. This is one of the first games I have seen Penticton get outplayed this bad in a long time. The Vees who are usally very strong on home ice just didnt look very good tonight. Three out of the Vipers five goals, the Vees were either out worked out beaten to the loose puck wich resulted in a Vernon goal. Nice to finally see a pretty big crowd tonight (2,239). I really liked the Vees jerseys, very sharp looking.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Philip Patenaude
Colton Sparrow
Gus Correale

Penticton:

Chad Bannor
Jacob Charles
Mark Hall

3 Stars:

1st Star: Blake Voth (21 saves)
2nd Star: Aaron Hadley
3rd Star: Marcus Basara (1 goal)