I was at tonight's Royal Bank Cup after Vernon defeated Camrose 4-2 at the Edgeworth Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Camrose: Dalyn Flette
The game was delayed due to opening night ceremonies with introductions of all five teams competing at the RBC Cup as well as the 2001 RBC Cup Champion Camrose Kodiaks were introduced as it was ten years ago the Kodiaks won the RBC Cup.
1st Period: The Vipers got off to a strong start and carried the better of the play early and often. Trevor Fitzgerald just three minutes into the opening period had a great chance in front, getting by one Kodiak before getting stripped of the puck in front by Cole Wilson. Vernon continued the strong forecheck down low and a minute later David Robinson went back to the point setting up Brett Corkey's hard shot that beat Dalyn Flette top shelf high over the glove at 4:12 giving Vernon a 1-0 lead. Robinson and Bryce Kakoske collected the assists. Under a minute later the Vipers would get the games first powerplay of the night. Moving the puck well Darren Nowick from down low along the goal line through the puck towards the goal as the puck went in off a Camrose players skate and past Flette at 6:13 giving Vernon a early 2-0 lead. Mike Zalewski and Adam Thompson picked up the helpers. The Vipers were outshooting the Kodiaks 6-1 at this point. The Vipers looked very strong down low and on the forecheck as Vernon controlled most of the play in the first half of the 1st period. It took Camrose almost twelve minutes to record their second shot on goal. The Kodiaks would then get their first man advantage of the night just a few minutes later. Camrose really moved the puck around well but the Vipers defence and strong penalty kill did a great job at keeping the Kodiaks to the outside, not giving up any real good scoring chances. Just before the penalty was over Kirby Halcrow tried clearing the zone but his long clearing attempt was picked up at the blueline before Ben Gallacher's point shot was tipped in front by Mario Boilard who beat Halcrow at 16:30 getting the Kodiaks on the score sheet. Gallacher and Rylan Wiest picked up the assists. Vernon would get a late powerplay but unable to capitalize before the buzzer. The Vipers were the better of the two teams carrying the better of the play. Camrose with a late goal got back into the game but didnt generate any real offensive chances. The Vipers with a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Camrose 9-6.
2nd Period: The Vipers started the middle frame on the man advantage wich was carried over from the 1st. Vernon struggled to get anything going on the powerplay to start the 2nd before Adam Thompson's blast just under a minute into the period went off the back glass before coming out front hitting Dalyn Flette who was forced to make a tough save. The Kodiaks would kill off the minor. Not a whole lot of scoring chances in the middle frame before the Kodiaks had a great chance with traffic in front but Kirby Halcrow made a big save with two Kodiaks on top of him. Shortly after the Vipers with a great chance, Marcus Basara's shot from the circle was tipped in front by Dylan Walchuk who was stopped by Flette. Camrose would then get the first of three straight powerplay's. Vipers captain, David Robinson with two huge shot blocks battled hard all night. Darren Nowick with alot of hustle and two extra efforts to clear the zone all helped as the Vipers killed off the penalty. Two minutes the Kodiaks would get their second powerplay and get a real good chance with traffic in front but once again Halcrow come up with a big save as Vernon killed off the minor. The Vipers who would take another penalty just under a minute later Camrose was unable to capitalize after three huge penalty kills by the Vipers who looked very good on the penalty kill. Camrose had a few shifts where they really laid the body on Vernon. The puck was bouncing alot in the second period as both teams had the puck hop or bounce over their sticks. Just before the buzzer David Robinson with a breakaway couldnt beat Dalyn Flette who stayed with the Viper captain, making a big save keeping it a one goal game. The Vipers with a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Camrose 9-7.
3rd Period: The Vipers would get an early powerplay but it was the Kodiaks who would get a great chance shorthanded with Rylan Wiest and Tanner Dion on the two on one, but Adam Thompson stayed with Wiest breaking up the odd man rush. The Vipers were unable to capitalize after a big penalty kill by Camrose. Just a minute after the powerplay Darren Nowick fed Mike Zalewski who went in on a parcial breakaway and then ripped a wicked shot top shelf just under the crossbar beating Dalyn Flette at 5:14 giving Vernon a 3-1 lead. Nowick and John Knisley with the helpers. Camrose come back with a strong shift off the faceoff getting some good presure deep in the Vipers zone. Camrose would then get a powerplay and get two real quailty chances. Kenny Bradley had Kirby Halcrow beat at the side of the net but somehow missed the open cage. Nolan Kaiser's point shot went through taffic in front, beating Kirby Halcrow but rang off the crossbar. Before the penalty expired Sam Jardine's shot went up and over Halcrow at the side of the net at 9:29 making this a one goal game. Tyler Jewitt & John Lidgett collected the assists. Just two minutes later Jesse Altheim was given two minutes for checking from behind and given a ten minute misconduct. With the Vipers on the powerplay Darren Nowick beat Flette from the slot but hit the post as the puck went through the crease along the goal line before John Knisley scooped up the rebound and then beat Flette at 12:19 giving Vernon a 4-2 lead. Darren Nowick and Steve Weinstein picked up the assists. Off the draw the Vipers would get the play back in deep allowing Bryce Kakoske with a great chance from the circle but Dalyn Flette stood tall and made a big save. Just under a minute later the Vipers would get another shot on the man advantage but it wouldnt last long as the Vipers would take a penalty allowing both teams some four on four action. Camrose come very close to making this a one goal game after Nolan Kaiser's point shot beat Halcrow but graized the top of the crossbar. The Kodiaks would get the play in deep and try to get some chances late in the period but the Vipers defence did a great job at pinning the Kodiaks along the wall, eating several minutes off the clock. Kenny Bradley with a geat chance from the slot with a minute and a half left was stopped by Kirby Halcrow who made a big save in close. Boris Rybalka would call a late timeout in the final minute before getting Flette to the bench for the extra attacker. With some pressure down low the Kodiaks couldnt generate much towards the goal as the Vipers kept Camrose to the outside before clearing the zone in the final seconds as the buzzer sounded. Vernon opens the RBC Cup at 1-0 while Camrose falls to 0-1. A very close period as both teams had good chances. Vernon outshot Camrose 13-11.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Brett Corkey played a very solid game on the Vipers backend tonight.
Adam Thompson (1 assist) Also played very well for Vernon. I thought Adam played very well at both ends of the rink. Made a real solid defensive play early in the 3rd to break up a Kodiaks two on one.
Ryan Renz was another Vipers d-man that I thought played well.
David Robinson (1 assist) The Vipers captain battled and played hard most of the night. Robinson come up with two big blocked shots on the penalty kill as well as battling hard in front of the Kodiaks net with Ben Gallacher. Both players exchanged words and shots back and forth through out tonights game.
Mike Zalewski (1 goal and 1 assist) Was very strong up front for the Vipers. Zalewski scored a real night goal early in the 3rd to give Vernon a two goal lead.
Darren Nowick (1 goal and 1 assist) Darren Nowick was the Vipers best player tonight. Nowick showed alot of hustle and second efforts battling hard all night. Was very strong down low and very hard to knock off the puck. Nowick was very strong on the penalty kill.
Kirby Halcrow (21 saves) I thought Halcrow played well even though he didnt face a whole lot of action tonight. Halcrow made a few key saves at times through out the game.
Top Players: (Camrose)
Nolan Kaiser played a solid game on the Kodiaks blueline. Hit the crossbar twice, was very steady on the backend.
Kenny Bradley stood out for me having a few chances. Was always involved in the play and in and around the net.
Rylan Wiest (1 assist) Played fairly well up front for the Kodiaks.
Cole Wilson a speedy player looked very good for Camrose.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Well the Vipers open up the Royal Bank Cup with a 4-2 victory and start the tournament at 1-0. I thought Vernon looked very strong early to start the game and were the better team. The Vipers looked very good and gave Camrose all kinds of trouble on the forecheck. Getting off to a quick 2-0 lead and taking the crowd out of the game was key. Making Camrose have to fight and battle back was just what the Vipers wanted. I also liked Vernon's penalty kill, yes they gave up two powerplay goals but come up with some huge blocked shots as well as didnt give up a whole lot of scoring opportunities on the penalty kill. The Vipers defence also played very well, kept the Kodiaks to the outside most of the night. Vipers get off to a good start and play very well on opening night. Vernon with a solid road win did a great job at shutting down the Kodiaks offence. Not a very physical team. Nice to see about thirty or so Viper fans in attendance. A very nice rink, with not really a bad seat in the house. Got to see Mayson Raymonds retired #9 jersey that was retired back in September. The Kodiaks have two jersey's retired as well as a wall of fame wall, with a pretty good list of former players that have been drafted or play in the NHL.
Game Thoughts: (Camrose)
For a team that hasnt played in a few weeks I thought got off to a slow start but seemed to get better as the game went on. The Kodiaks fall to 0-1 on opening night on wich I was very surprised to see the arena not soldout. Camrose had all kinds of trouble with the Vipers speed and forecheck but looked fairly good on the penalty kill. The Kodiaks didnt generate alot of scoring chances in the first two periods but come up with their best efforts in the 3rd and final period. For hosting the RBC Cup, pretty dissapointing not to see a sellout. I was expecting it to be pretty loud, but it wasnt very loud at all. Going into these RBC Cups you dont really know a whole lot about the other teams. After watching tonight's game, I thought the Vipers were the better team. A bounce or break in the 3rd and it could have been a different game. Camrose with two crossbars and a few good chances in a one goal game, could have made things interesting.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat
Zach McPhee
Patrick McGillis
Camrose:
Luke Challier
Connor Milligan
Players Of The Game:
Vernon: Darren Nowick (1 goal & 1 assist)
Camrose: Clayton Jardine
For more on tonight's game check out the boxscore,
http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/75138/la_id/1/game_id/157711/season_id/157706/ss_id/73728/
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