I was at tonight's Interior Conference Semi-Finals as Vernon defeated Westside 2-1 in Game 6 winning the series 4-2 in front of 1,167 fans at Royal Le-Page Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Westside: Cole Holowenko
1st Period: Both teams come out hard and ready to play. The Warriors with the first scoring chance of the night came early after Brett McKinnon's shot from the side wall went through a screen but just missed the net. Vernon would get the games first powerplay early to start the 1st. The Vipers moved the puck around well allowing Adam Thompson to wind up with a big shot from the point that just missed the net. Dylan Walchuk would feed Marcus Basara down low who beat Cole Holowenko at 5:05 giving Vernon the 1-0 lead. Walchuk and Mike Zalewski with the helpers. Vernon is 3-0 when scoring first in these playoffs, while Westside is 0-6 when giving up the games first goal in these playoffs. The Warriors come right back with a good solid shift after giving up the powerplay marker. Westside with some good pressure had the Vipers hemmed in their own end but couldnt get any good scoring opportunities. Westside would then get their first powerplay of the night, but it was the Vipers penalty kill that was strong killing off the minor. Back come the Warriors who were the better of the two teams in the opening period really forcing the play. Westside with a few flurries deep in the Vernon zone, but give credit to the Vipers defence for doing a good job at keeping the Warriors to the outside and not giving up alot of scoring chances. Give credit to the Warriors who were also doing a great job at shutting down the Vipers speed and forecheck most of the night giving Vernon all kinds of trouble breaking out of their own zone. Kyle Singleton would get a great chance late but missed the far corner from the high slot. Back come the Vipers with some nice three way passing, Dylan Walchuk, Patrick McGillis and Steve Weinstein went in on the three on two before McGillis setup Weinstein going hard towards the net but just missed the far corner on a great scoring chance. Just minutes later Bryce Kakoske would rip a hard shot from the slot that beat Cole Holowenko but went off the post. Vernon would get a late powerplay that would continue into the 2nd period. The Warriors held the edge in play but the Vipers had the better scoring chances. Vernon was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. Westside outshot Vernon 7-6.
2nd Period: The Vipers would start the middle frame on the man advantage that was carried over from the end of the 1st period. The Warriors penalty kill was sharp killing off the minor. Just after the penalty kill Westside would gain control and get some pressure deep in the Vipers zone. Moving the puck around well the Warriors with a ton of traffic in front of Kirby Halcrow got the puck back to the point setting up Matthew Maher's point shot that somehow stayed out. On the play Westside would get a powerplay. The Warriors who looked very good setup Alex Grieve whos shot was stopped by Halcrow, on the rebound Matthew Maher was robbed by Halcrow who got his left pad out at the last second making a huge pad save keeping the Warriors off the board. Vernon was able to kill off the minor. The Warriors got off to a quick start carrying the play early. David Robinson would then go in for a breakaway but Michael King would get back wich forced Robinson to not get off a quality shot as Cole Holowenko made the save. Back come the Warriors the other way as Dru Morrison with a shot from the high slot was stopped by Kirby Halcrow. Just shortly after Jon Knisley went for the check along the boards allowing Westside a three on one as Max French wired a low shot along the ice that beat Halcrow at 6:16 tying the game 1-1. French's goal was unassisted. On the next play Patrick McGillis went for the hip check in front of both benches as some pushing and shoving started giving the Warriors their third powerplay of the night. Vernon's penalty kill was very good killing off the minor. The penalty kill seemed to give the Vipers a little momentum as Vernon come back with a few good shifts. The Vipers would then get a shot on the man advantage but unable to capitalize after a strong penalty kill by the Warriors. The Vipers couldnt get much offence through the neutral zone as Westside's defence was playing a very solid game. David Robinson's breakaway was the only real good scoring opportunity for the Vipers this period. After Max French's game tying goal the Warriors with just three shots as Vernon's defence was also doing a good job at shutting down the Warriors offence. In the final minute of play Grayson Downing picked up speed cutting down the left wing before ripping a hard shot from the circle that was stopped by Kirby Halcrow as the veteran goaltender just got a peice of the puck with his glove as the puck laid in the crease before the Vipers cleared the zone. Westside would get some pressure late in the final seconds. The Warriors come out hard and were the better team in the first half of the period but a pretty even played period by both teams in the second half. It was tied 1-1 after 40 minutes of play. Westside outshot Vernon 9-7.
3rd Period: Both teams got off to a bit of a slow start, as it looked like Westside and Vernon were both playing catious waiting for the other team to make the first mistake. The Vipers just about got a gift just five minutes into the 3rd after Cole Holowenko come out to play the puck before Mike Zalewski was right there, picking up the rebound and just missing on his backhand hitting the outside of the net on a close call. Just after Tom Kroshus's point shot just missed the net. Both teams playing a very tight defensive game not giving one another a whole lot of room to move out there. Not alot of chances in the first half before the Warriors would get a powerplay just past the midway mark. On the man advantage Westside's defence allowed John Knisley to get inbehind the defence, Knisley turned on the jets, cut hard towards the net and beat Holowenko fivehole with a nice move in close giving Vernon a 2-1 lead at 12:41, Knisley's goal was unassisted. Vernon was able to kill off the remainder of the penalty. The Vipers would get a great chance later to jump ahead by two goals after David Robinson and Kyle Murphy on a two on one, Robsinson fed Murphy who just missed the far side. The Warriors would then get a late powerplay but again Vernon's penalty kill was sharp killing off the minor. Cole Holwenko would head to the bench with 1:22 remaining for the extra attacker but on the play Kyle Singleton would be called for high sticking giving Vernon a late powerplay. This penalty seemed to take away any momentum away from the Warriors. Westside with some good pressure would force the Vipers getting Cole Holowenko another shot at going to the bench for the extra man, but the Warriors couldnt get any offence through the neutral zone as the Vipers with a strong forecheck had Westside chasing the puck from their own end and re-grouping. Brett Corkey missed a long shot at the empty net wich allowed Kyle Murphy to race in after the puck and then feeding Vipers captain, David Robinson who somehow missed the open cage with a body wraped around him. But in the end the Warriors just couldnt get the puck or play deep into the Vipers zone to setup, as Vernon would hold onto the 2-1 victory winning the series 4-2 ending the Warriors playoff run. Westside outshot Vernon 9-4.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Adam Thompson played a very strong game on the Vernon backend. Thompson along with all the Vipers defence played a very strong game shutting down the Warriors offence.
David Robinson played a hard fought game up front for the Vipers.
Patrick McGillis I thought played very well for the Vipers. Battled and competed hard all night.
Kirby Halcrow (24 saves) Kirby Halcrow has really stepped up for the Vipers the past three games and given the team some solid goaltending and a chance to win. Halcrow again made some big saves when needed giving his team a chance to win.
Top Players: (Westside)
Matthew Maher played a solid game on the Warriors blueline. Ive liked this kid all season.
Tom Kroshus also played very well for the Warriors on the backend. Jumped up into the play on a few occasions tonight.
Brayden Sherbinin was another Westside d-man who played and looked good in Game 6. Just like Vernon I thought Westside's defence played a very strong game and one of their best defensive games in this series.
Kyle Singleton didnt have alot of scoring chances but is always dangerous in and around the net. Hard to knock off the puck, Singleton played very well.
Alex Grieve who is the heart and soul of the Westside Warriors played a strong game up front. Had a few chances, was buzzing in and around the net, but just couldnt capitalize on his chances. Grieve is a very strong, good skating forward who is also hard to knock off the puck.
Max French (1 goal) French who has played very well in this series had another strong game this evening for the Warriors.
Grayson Downing was one of the better Westside forwards tonight, really looked strong with and without the puck.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Id first like to take this time to congratulate the Vernon Vipers on knocking off the Westside Warriors in six games and moving onto the Interior Conference Finals for the third year in a row. I didnt think the Vipers looked very sharp tonight, the Vipers had troubles breaking out of their zone and creating chances. This could be that Westside really did a great job at shutting down the Vipers speed and offence, not giving them a chance to get the puck in deep and use that forecheck to create chances. Give Vernon credit they scored once on the powerplay and once shorthanded and hung on for the victory. I thought Vernon's defence played very well on the backend, didnt give up a whole lot of chances and kept the Warriors to the outside. Kirby Halcrow did the rest of the work coming up with some key saves. In the end I think Vernon got better as the series went on and getting the first round bye helped. Vernon will now face 3rd place Salmon Arm in the Interior Conference Finals. Several Penticton Vees on hand at tonights game.
Game Thoughts: (Westside)
Id like to first off take this time to congratulate the Westside Warriors on a great season and wish all the veteran players that wont be returning next season all the best in your hockey careers or where ever life may take you. You guys put up one heck of a fight and gave the Vipers a hard fought series that could have easily gone either way. On a night where the Warriors were looking to force a Game 7, Westside emptied the tanks and gave Vernon all they could in a very hard fought, tight checking game. Westside really come to play tonight and gave it there all, the Warriors did a great job at shutting down Vernon's speed and forecheck giving them limited scoring chances. The Warriors moved the puck well, didnt turn over the puck and battled hard. I thought Westside was the better team at times but in the end the Warriors couldnt convert on their chances. In the end I think Westside ran out of steam, they just didnt have any gas left in the tank. Over the past few weeks the Warriors played in two tough, hard fought series and it finally caught up with them. A bounce here or a goal here or there in any of the six games and the Warriors may be the team moving onto the Conference Finals. Great to see Westside come out and support the Warriors in these playoffs, with the biggest crowds I have ever seen at a Vipers-Warriors game. Royal Le-Page was a rocking in Game 3 and 4, the loudest I have ever heard, wich made for a great atmosphere. Thanks for a great hard fought series.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Phillip Patenaude
Zach McPhee
Dane Muench (Injured)
Westside:
Brett Mulcahy
TJ Fairall (AP)
Tyler Krause (Injured)
Izaak Berglund (Injured)
Kevin Boyle (Injured)
For more on tonight's game check out the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=932356&link=bchlv
Congrats Vipers! Bring on the Silverbacks!
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