Vernon 6 Westside 4

I was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Westside 6-4 in front of 1,766 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Blake Voth
Westside: Kevin Boyle

1st Period: Vernon would get the games first powerplay 46 seconds into the opening period after Peter MacIntosh hit Dylan Walchuk from behind in the Warriors zone. MacIntosh was tossed from the game for checking from behind. The Vipers would move the puck around before setting up Steve Weinsteins point shot that beat Kevin Boyle but hit the crossbar, the play stayed alive before Adam Thompsons blast from the point beat wich looked to beat a screened Kevin Boyle at 1:58 giving Vernon the early 1-0 lead. Steve Weinstein and Dylan Walchuk collected the assists. Off the draw Westside come back with a hard shift getting the puck in deep in the Vernon zone, moving the puck well the Warriors setup captain Alex Grieve in front who was stopped by Blake Voth. Westside battled hard, putting some presure in the Vipers zone for the next few shifts. Back come the Vipers, as Mike Zalewski with a chance at the side of the net but couldnt beat Boyle from in close. Back come the Warriors with again another solid shift in the Vipers zone, Westside who was hitting and looking good with the puck created some open ice setting up Travis Blanleil in front who was stopped by Voth. The Warriors were the better of the two teams, carrying the better of the play in the first half. Mike Zalewski had his second chance of the game, but again couldnt beat Boyle. The Vipers managed a few chances but couldnt get any real sustained presure inside the Warriors zone. Late in the period Brayden Sherbinin with a nice move, setup a give and go with Tyler Krause before putting the puck past Blake Voth at 17:44 tying the game 1-1. Kraus with the lone assist. This was a highlight real goal. Just under a minute later Elliott Richardson with a big hit along the side boards, created some open ice, Bryce Kakoske carried the play up ice before wristing a long shot from just outside the Westside blueline that must have caught Warriors backup goaltender Kevin Boyle off gaurd. Kakoskes long shot somehow went high and just under the crossbar beating a stunned Boyle at 18:43 giving Vernon a 2-0 lead. Richardson with the lone helper. This is a goal Boyle would like to have back. Vernon was up 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers who were outplayed outshot the Warriors 13-10.

2nd Period: Just 1:16 into the period Bryce Kakoskes hard shot beat Kevin Boyle giving the Vipers an early 3-1 lead. Patrick McGillis and Adam Thompson with the assists. Just under two minutes later the Vipers defence coughed up the puck inside their own end, as three Vipers players lost the puck to Brayden Sherbinin who on his second shot beat Voth at 3:04 cutting the lead to 3-2. This was a bad breakdown inside the Vipers zone that should have never happened. Westside would then get their first powerplay of the night, Tyler Brickler with a chance from in the slot was stopped by Blake Voth. This was the only real good scoring play as Vernon would kill off the minor. Shortly after Elliott Richardson would get caught on the pinch sending in Kyle Singleton and Shaun Hochhauson on a two on one, Singeton would keep and shoot but couldnt beat Voth who shut the door. Again the Warriors were the better team carrying the better of the play for most of the 2nd period. The Vipers did come back with a great chance, Dylan Walchuk setup Darren Nowick in front who just ripped his shot high and over the far corner on a great chance. Nowick with two good chances in the middle frame. The Vipers just couldnt seem to muster any offensive attack tonight, as Westside looked much better after last nights 4-1 loss to Vernon. Give the Warriors credit they battled hard, won most of the races and really outworked the Vipers in all three periods. Westside would get a late powerplay, but it would be Vernon who would capitalise. Dylan Walchuk with some hard work along the boards carried the puck out of his own end setting up Patrick McGillis on a two on one, as McGillis scored his first goal of the season shorthanded at 19:27 giving the Vipers a 4-2 lead. Walchuk and Adam Thompson with the helpers. This was a timely goal, that was a back breaker for the Warriors. No team likes giving up a late goal in any period, especially on the road and shorthanded. At the buzzer captain David Robinson and Matt Cronin exchanged words and a few punches as a few players gathered at centre ice. Vernon was up 4-2 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 10-7.

3rd Period: Just 35 seconds into the final period Westside got the play in deep, moved the puck around setting up Tyler Bricklers point shot wich was stopped by the glove hand of Blake Voth who made a nice glove save. Vernon would get an early powerplay but was unable to go ahead by three goals after the Warriors killed off the minor. Again the Warriors got off to a good start, controled the play early and really kept the Vipers hemmed in their own end for several minutes. Westside with all kinds of presure carried most of the play but give Vernon credit they kept the Warriors to the outside for most of the 3rd, not giving Westside many scoring chances. Blake Voth had to be sharp coming up with a very tough save. Voth just got his toe on a Matthew Mahers point shot that somehow got through traffic in front. Westside would jump on the powerplay and get within a goal. Grayson Downing setup captain Alex Grieve who tapped the puck into the open cage past Blake Voth at 7:33 Downing and Matthew Maher with the assists. The Vipers who were now back on their heels a bit had to try and shutdown the Warriors attack. Vernon would finally get their first shot on goal just after the midway mark as the Vipers couldnt seem to get the puck past the neutral zone. The play then slowed down, and became real scrambly for a few minutes. But back come the Warriors, with some hard work created alot of open ice. Kyle Singleton with a good heads up play in the slot had a good chance but couldnt beat Voth. The Warriors who never quit tonight would eventually tie the game at 12:13 after Singeton setup Quinn Gould. Singleton and Alex Grieve collected the helpers. The Warriors now battled back down two goals had the Vipers on the ropes. But back come the Vipers with a strong hard shift off the next rush, Patrick McGillis and Dylan Walchuk on a nice give and go found the back of the net at 12:48 regaining Vernons lead 5-4 as the Vipers bench erupted. Westside with all kinds of presure late in the hockey game was unable to really get any real good chances, the Warriors were forced or held to the outside, so most if not all their shots were coming from far out. Vernon was basically holding on two the lead before the Vipers would get a break. Mike Zalewski would collect a nice pass from Kyle Murphy sending Zalewski on a parcial breakaway before the Warriors d-man caught up, Zalewski coming down the side boards ripped a wicked shot high and over the shoulder of Kevin Boyle at 17:57 giving Vernon another two goal lead. Murphy with the only assist. Warriors head coach and gm, Darren Yopyk was not a happy camper, giving Boyle the stare from behind the bench. Off the draw the Warriors would get the puck in deep before Boyle would head to the bench for the extra attacker. Boyle didnt last long before having to re-enter the goal before heading back to the bench for the extra man in the final minute of play. The Warriors would get the puck in deep but were unable to come up with any chances as the Vipers would excape a wild 3rd picking up a 6-4 victory and taking both games of this home and home series. Shots were even 7-7.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Dylan Walchuk (3 assists) & Patrick McGillis (2 goals & 1 assist) were very good together. Walchuk and McGillis both made some real nice give and goes, scoring two nice goals. McGillis with his first goals of the season.

Mike Zalewski (1 goal) I thought Mike had a strong game for the second straight night. Zalewski played well at both ends of the rink, had two good chances in the first, and scored a big late goal in the 3rd on just a nice shot.

Darren Nowick played well tonight, showed some hustle, come up with a few good chances.

Bryce Kakoske (2 goals) Kakoske has really played well so far this season, and has looked his best by far this year. Bryce showed alot of hustle and hard work down low and in and along the boards, battling hard all night.

Top Players: (Westside)

Brayden Sherbinin (2 goals) Sherbinin looked very good for the second straight night. Scored two real nice goals. His first goal of the night was a highlight real goal, showed good patience and determination on the 2nd goal after stealing the puck from three Vipers inside the Vipers zone.

Tyler Brickler had a good game up front for the Warriors. Brickler played well in both games over the weekend.

Kyle Singleton saw a ton of icetime, but didnt do much in the opening period but I thought was on of the Warriors better players come the 3rd. Singleton was very good with the puck inside the Vernon zone, hard to knock off the puck, used his size and skill to create and setup several Warriors chances.

Alex Grieve who was no where to be seen in the first two periods come to play in the 3rd. Another player who saw alot of icetime tonight. The Westside captain scored a nice give and go goal on the powerplay in the 3rd period.

Matt Cronin played a physical, solid game on the Westside blueline. Cronin wasnt afraid of getting involved in the play. Was one of the Warriors better d-men.

Tyler Krause (1 assist) Saw alot of icetime, looked good with and without the puck.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

I have said this before, the Vipers have been uncosistant all year and it showed again tonight. After a strong hard fought 4-1 victory last night in Westside, we saw a different Vernon team tonight. I didnt think the Vipers looked all that good this evening and were lucky to excape with the win. Vernon was unable to get any sustained presure tonight, getting just a handful of scoring chances, but give them credit they scored on their chances and scored some big timely goals. Scoring late shorthanded in the 2nd to grab a two goal lead was huge, as well as to come back with a hard shift and score just seconds after the Warriors tied the game 4-4 was big as well. The Vipers spent most of the game in their own end, Vernon was outworked and outplayed for most of the night. The Vipers did a good job at keeping the Warriors to the outside, not giving them as many opportunities as they could have had and limited the Warriors scoring chances. Vernon who missed lots of opportunities to hit guys, stayed away from the physical play tonight. A wins a win but they need to be a little more consistant and play a full 60 minutes.

Game Thoughts: (Westside)

after a dissapointing 4-1 loss at home last night to the Vipers, you knew the Warriors would be ready to play tonight. Well we saw a different Westside team tonight, they played a much better game and fully deserved the win tonight. The Warriors carried the better of the play for most of the night and were by far the better of the two teams. Westside outhit, and outworked the Vipers most of the night. For atleast the first two periods the Warriors went with just the first two lines, except for the odd shift. The Warriors who didnt show much last night, competed and worked very hard tonight, but were unable to get more then just a handful of chances and shots in one period. This was the team I was expecting to see last night. I dont think the Warriors will be happy with Kevin Boyle, I think he wants back atleast two of the Vipers five goals.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Philip Patenaude
Marcus Basara
Gus Correale

Westside:

Tom Kroshus
Brett McKinnon
Izaak Berglund (Injured)

3 Stars:

1st Star: Patrick McGillis (2 goals & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Bryce Kakoske (2 goals)
3rd Star: Brayden Sherbinin (2 goals)