Vernon 6 Merritt 0

I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Merritt 6-0 in front of 1,769 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Blake Voth
Merritt: Tyler Steel

1st Period: On the Centennials opening rush of the hockey game, Adam Thompson went for the pinch and was caught sending the Cents the other way two on one, but Thompson showed some good hustle getting back helping breaking up the odd man rush as Merritt was unable to capitalise early. Vernon would open the scoring just 1:37 into the game after Malcolm Lyles point shot went through traffic in front beating Vernon product Tyler Steel giving the Vipers the early 1-0 lead. Steve Weinstein and John Knisley collecting the assists. Off the next faceoff Merritt would get the play in deep, Blake Voth just about gave Merritt a gift after giving away the puck inbehind his own net but no Centennials were out front waiting the pass as Merritt missed on a great chance. Max Vallis then with a wrap around couldnt beat Blake Voth who come up with the pad save down low. Even though the Cents were down 1-0, Merritt got off to a good start and carried the early edge in play. Ryan Renz who was traded to Vernon from the Prince George Spruce Kings on the BCHL trade deadline, made his Vipers home debut and laid out atleast two or three big checks in the Vipers zone. David Sabey who was cut by the Vipers at last year's training camp carried the puck in over the Vernon blueline on a two on one, setting up Max Vallis who ripped his shot high and over Blake Voth and the Viper goal. Vernon seemed to weather the storm after Merritt with some good chances in the opening five or so minutes couldnt capitalise, the Vipers then slowly took over the play as the period went on. Just before the midway mark Bryce Kakoske took a feed from behind the Centennials goal and ripped a shot from the slot but was stopped after Tyler Steel made a quick glove save in close. Patrick McGillis then rang his shot off the post from in close as Vernon come back with a few good chances of their own. The Vipers would get the game's first powerplay moving the puck around well Vernon was unable to get any real quality shots as the Cents killed off the minor. Merritt would then get their first powerplay of the night, Jeff Jones who was also cut from the Vipers training camp last season with a great chance, made a nice move inside the dots pulling Voth way out of his crease but Jones with a backhand missed high and wide on a great chance. This was the Cents only real good scoring chance as the Vipers killed off the man advantage. Vernon would then get a late powerplay, again some nice puck movement but no real good qaulity shots as Merritt would kill off the penalty. The Centennials would get a late powerplay, but as the 1st period come to an end the Cents powerplay would continue to start the 2nd period. The Vipers were the more physical team and carried the better of the play as the period along, Merritt with a good start (other then giving up the early goal) couldnt capitalise and couldnt seem to get much going as the period went on. Marcus Basara looked very good in the opening period, had lots of jump and was really using his wheels. Vernon was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Centennials 10-3. I thought Merritt had more then three shots on goal.

2nd Period: The Centennials started the 2nd with the man advantage that was carried over from the opening period. The Vipers cleared the zone almost sending Viper captain David Robinson in for the breakaway but former Vernon Vipers defenceman, Steve Tresierra made a smart heads up defensive play in the neutral zone to break up the play. Merritt couldnt get much going on the man advantage as the Vipers penalty kill killed off the penalty. Just over a minute into the 2nd, Malcolm Lyles laid out a solid check inside the Vipers blueline before taking a hard check along the boards from Cents newcomer and former Grande Prairie Storm forward, Blaine Bokenfohr. Lyles who didnt see Bokenfohr coming skated slowly to the Vipers bench and then headed to the dressing room and didnt return for the remainder of the period. Bokenfohr was given two minutes for interference on the check gave the Vipers another powerplay. On the man advantage David Robinson was given a nice feed from behind the goal but Robinson couldnt beat Tyler Steel from the slot. Still with the man advantage, Steve Weinstein's point shot somehow beat Tyler Steel at 2:12 giving Vernon a 2-0 lead. Steel who was cut from the Vipers training camp this year I dont think saw Weinstein's shot. Dylan Walchuk and Darren Nowick with the helpers. But back come the Merritt Centennials, Cents captain Steve Tresoerra with a chance from in close couldnt get the puck up and over Voth who made a nice save from in tight. Jon-Paul Witkop's point shot was then tipped in front by Jeff Jones but Voth come up with his best save of the night, making a huge toe save keeping the Centennials off the board. Just a few minutes later, Billy Marshall's point shot was deflected in front by Dylan Playfair but once again Voth made another big save in front as the Centennials couldnt buy a goal. Aaron Hadley with a great chance for the Vipers made a nice move inside the Centennials zone but was stopped by Steel. Merritt slowly started to come on and put some presure on the Vipers before Brett Corkey walked in from the point and then ripped his hard shot off the crossbar and in beating Tyler Steel at 11:45 giving Vernon a 3-0 lead. Kyle Murphy and Ryan Renz with the assists. This was Corkey's first goal of the season and first goal as a Viper, Ryan Renz also collected his first assist-point as a Vernon Viper in just his third game with the club. Corkey's goal seemed to change the momentum of the hockey game. Merritt with a few good chances, was coming on just before Corkey's first career BCHL goal put them down by three and then just a few minutes later the Cents gave Vernon another shot with the man advantage. On the powerplay, the Vipers moved the puck well down low, made the Cents chase the puck as well as caught a few Merritt players out of position setting up a wide open Dylan Walchuk in front who put the puck into the empty cage giving the Vipers a 4-0 lead. Darren Nowick and Dane Muench with the helpers. Just under two minutes later Merritt would get a shot with the man advantage but the Vipers strong penalty kill was just too much. Darren Nowick with a heck of a shift kept the Cents to the outside and then broke up the play, clearing the zone after some good hustle. Still shorthanded, Vernon product Trevor Fitzgerlad and John Knisley in two on one, Knisley fed Fitzgerald who couldnt beat Steel in front as the Vipers killed off the minor. The Centennials just couldnt muster any offence. Tempers heated up a little in the second frame with some pushing and shoving after two stopages as both teams seemed to be doing alot of yapping on the ice inbetween whistles. Merritt would get a late powerplay but again struggle as the Vipers excaped the 2nd with just a handfull of seconds left on the man advantage. Vernon was up 4-0 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Cents 12-8.

3rd Period: Malcolm Lyles made his return to the Vipers bench to start the 3rd after leaving early in the 2nd after taking a solid check from Blaine Bokenfohr. Off the opening draw Adam Thompson would leave the ice and head straight to the Vipers dressing room but would return to the bench within a few minutes and finish the hockey game. No real flow to start the 3rd period with some scrambly play at both ends of the rink. The Vipers with three real nice passing plays in the opening five or six minutes couldnt connect on the final play had the only real good chances early. Steve Tresierra went after Marcus Basara after a whistle, Tresierra had Basara down on the ice as a mini scrum piled up in the neutral zone as pushing and shoving occured as tempers seemed to heat up once again between these two two teams. Tresierra and Trevor Fitzgerald were both sent to the penalty box after the altercation. Merritt who was down four goals struggled in the final frame, having all kinds of trouble getting the puck through the neutral zone. John Knisley and Patrick McGillis with a two on one, Knisley setup McGillis who put a nice move on Steel but couldnt beat the rookie goaltender in close after making his biggest save of the night. The Centennials would get the only powerplay of the period and again couldnt capitalise as Vernon would kill off the minor. As the period went along Vernon carried the edge in play and now were winning all the battles along the boards, winning the races and just stealing the puck away from the Merritt players who didnt seem to have much life in them down 4-0. Aaron Hadley with a good chance was stopped by Tyler Steel. Late in the period Ryan Renz beat Steel down low with a ton of traffic at the side of the goal giving Vernon a 5-0 lead at 18:53 David Robinson and Kyle Murphy with the helpers. In the final minute David Robinson on the parcial breakaway went backhand and then upstairs past Steel at 19:21 giving the Vipers a 6-0 lead, Bryce Kakoske and Ryan Renz collected the assists. In the end Vernon would knock off the Merritt Centennials 6-0 winning their fourth straight. The Vipers outshot the Cents 14-8.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Brett Corkey (Scored his first career BCHL goal) Played very well at both ends of the rink for the Vipers. Corkey who thought he had scored his first goal as a Viper earlier in the season, had the goal taken away.

Max Mowat I thought didnt put up any numbers but played a very solid defensive game on the Vipers backend. Mowat was very good in his own end, and got the job done. One of his better games in a while.

Dylan Walchuk (1 goal & 1 assist) Walchuk who hasnt scored many goals latley was all over the ice tonight. Carried the puck alot, seemed to always have the puck at the end of his stick. Was very dangerous with and without the puck. Was also very hard to knock off the puck, once Walchuk was checked hard and lost the puck but most of the night was in and around the net, taking a pounding and still come away with the puck.

John Knisley (1 assist) I thought Knisley played very well up front for the Vipers. Knisley who was missing his partner and crime, Mike Zalewski made some real heads up plays all night. Looked very good and strong on the penalty kill, setup two, two on ones. Merritt really had their troubles keeping up with his speed.

Darren Nowick (1 assist) What can you say about Darren Nowick, since training camp this kid has competed and worked hard each and every game but was never rewarded, well as of late Nowick has finally been finding the back of the net as well as getting some great chances. Nowick was another strong player for the Vipers on the penalty kill and even strength. Seems to be playing with alot more confidence latley.

Ryan Renz (1 goal & 2 assists) The former Alberni Valley Bulldog made his Vipers home debut tonight and made a big impression. Renz plays physical (had two or three big checks early in the opening period) was Vernon's most physical player tonight. Looked very good but did notice had some troubles clearing the zone at times.

Blake Voth (19 saves-Shutout) Picks up his third shutout of the season. Voth made his biggest saves of the night early in the 2nd period with Merritt putting on some good presure, made two almost back to back big saves, both off deflections.

Top Players: (Merritt)

Brent Fletcher was one of if not the Cents most physical player tonight. Fletcher played well up front for Merritt and stood out through out tonight's contest.

Max Vallis played and looked very good in the first two periods, coming up with some of Merritt's best scoring chances. Vallis who skates well just couldnt seem to get the puck past Blake Voth.

Jeff Jones who was cut by Vernon at last year's Vipers training camp also looked very good in the game's first two periods. Jones with a few good chances can also skate very well and has some good hands.

Dylan Playfair was another player who played physical for the Centennials. Seemed to be trying to mix it up at times, doing alot of talking inbetween stopages.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

I was afraid of two things before tonight's game. 1: Before tonight the Centennials had Vernon's number winning two of the three previous meetings between these two teams and 2: I was hoping the Vipers didnt overlook Merritt and were looking ahead to Friday's big showdown with the league leading Powell River Kings coming to town. The Vipers proved me wrong in both. A big win by the Vipers over a team that has given them some problems this season. With the win and the two points, the Vipers pass the Penticton Vees who dont play the Coquitlam Express till Friday move into top spot in the Interior Conference standings. After blowing a 3-0 lead late in the 3rd and then losing in overtime to the Merritt Centennials in their last meeting, you know the Vipers wanted to get some revenge tonight. I thought up until Brett Corkey's goal this was anybody's game. Vernon scored the early goal to open the game but did manage to weather the storm after Merritt got off to a good start and had some good chances early and often. Same with the 2nd period, the Vipers managed to get that early goal and then once again avoid some good presure by the Cents before scoring two quick goals to break the game open and change momentum. In the end the Vipers were the better hockey team and it showed, without Zach McPhee, Phillip Patenaude and Mike Zalewski the Vipers looked and played fairly well to beat a Merritt team that has had the Vipers number this season and have also been playing their best hockey as of late. Three of the Vipers six goals were scored from the point. I was also very impressed with Vernon's penalty kill. The Vipers now have a big weekend vs Powell River. This will be a huge test and see where the Vipers matchup against the strong Coastal leading Kings.

Game Thoughts: (Merritt)

I thought the Centennials got off to a good start (even though they gave up the early 1-0 lead) they didnt quit and come back with some real good scoring chances. A bounce or goal in either of the 1st or 2nd periods and we may have a different outcome and finish to tonight's game. In the end I dont think Merritt can keep up with the Vipers speed, skill and overall game. The Centennials who have given Vernon trouble all season, just didnt have enough to knock off the Vipers tonight, they also didnt score or capitalise on their chances. Merritt was unable to really generate alot of good chances and needs to get more then just 19 shots on goal if they want to beat Blake Voth and the Vipers. The Cents powerplay really struggled and gave up several shorthanded chances. Tyler Steel suffers his first loss against the Vipers this season.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Phillip Patenaude (Concusion)
Mike Zalewski
Zach McPhee

Merritt:

Jacob Reichert
Dustin Lebrun
Richard Sabourin

3 Stars:

1st Star: Ryan Renz (1 goal & 2 assists)
2nd Star: Steve Weinstein (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Blake Voth (19 saves- 3rd Shutout)