I was at this afternoon's Royal Bank Cup semi-final as Vernon defeated Wellington 4-1 at the Edgeworth Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Wellington: Jordan Ruby
1st Period: The Vipers got off to a quick start getting two good chances within the first two minutes. Brett Corkey's point shot was tipped in front by Dylan Walchuk but was stopped by Jordan Ruby who made a tough save. Mike Zalewski on the next shift deflected a shot from the circle that was stopped by Ruby who made another tough save. On the next shift Kirby Halcrow had to be alert at the other end of the rink after robbing Dracy Greenaway making a big glove save in close. Vernon then took over and dominated the opening period carrying the better of the play deep in the Dukes zone. The Vipers liked they have showed the fans at the RBC Cup most of the tournament looked like they had the puck on a string creating some good chances. Wellington had all kinds of trouble containing the Vipers speed and skill down low as Vernon was skating circles around the Dukes early and often. Jordan Ruby kept the Dukes in the game as Wellington was outshot 8-1 at one point. Just past the midway mark Wellington would get the games first powerplay but the Vipers penalty kill was very good killing off the penalty. Mike Zalewski looked very strong on the penalty kill ragging several seconds off the clock. Just as Vernon killed off the penalty, Viper captain David Robinson with a nice stretch pass fed a wide open Bryce Kakoske who went in all alone, but Jordan Ruby stayed with Kakoske making a huge glove save keeping the Vipers off the score board. Just after Kakoske's breakaway, Joe Zorbo with a long shot from outside the Vipers blueline gave Kirby Halcrow a little trouble. Halcrow made the save but the puck snuck through the goaltender's pads and come out the other end but went wide of the goal on a very close call. Wellington with very little presure only with two scoring chances. Darren Nowick with a great chance late in the period was stopped by Jordan Ruby after coming across the crease making a huge pad save. The Vipers would get a late powerplay and with time running out Bryce Kakoske's hard shot from the point went high and over Ruby's glove going top shelf giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 19:51, Adam Thompson and David Robinson with the assists. The Vipers outplayed the Dukes the entire period and were up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. If it wasnt for Jordan Ruby it could have easily been four or five zero. The Vipers outshot the Dukes 17-6.
2nd Period: On the first shift of the period Darcy Greenaway went hard into the end boards behind the Vernon goal, Greenaway stayed down in pain before he was helped off the ice but did return later in the period. Malcolm Lyles with a nice end to end rush carried the puck from his own end before going through two Dukes players before setting up Patrick McGillis in front who was stoned by Ruby after making a big save in close. Shortly after Malcolm Lyles setup Bryce Kakoske at the side of the net who went high and over Ruby's glove hand giving Vernon a 2-0 lead at 3:25, Lyles with the only helper on Kakoske's goal. Shortly after David Robinson with an slick move in the slot went through two Wellington defenders before getting a quick shot from the high slot that was stopped by Jordan Ruby. Robinson had more room then he figured and could have gone in closer but didnt on a good scoring chance. The Vipers would get an early powerplay but it wouldnt last long before Darren Nowick would take a penalty sending both teams four on four before Wellington would get a powerplay. Steve Evans on the man advantage would get in behind the Vernon defence but ripped his shot high and over the goal on a great scoring opportunity. On the same shift, Cam Yuill with a great chance in front was stoned by Kirby Halcrow who made his second glove save of the game keeping the Dukes off the score board as the Vipers killed off the minor. Wellington slowly started to get their offence going and gave the Vipers a little trouble as the Dukes were the better of the two teams in the second half. Wellington who had their most presure of the afternoon in the 2nd period couldnt get alot of quality scoring chances as the Vernon defence did a pretty good job at keeping the Dukes to the outside. Kirby Halcrow had to be sharp at times making some key saves. Sean Rudy with a wrap around late in the period tried stuffing the puck past Halcrow who stood tall keeping the puck out before a pile of traffic jammed the crease as some pushing and shoving occured. The Vipers carried the play in the first half with a few good chances scored once, while the Dukes carried the play in the second half but couldnt find the back of the net. Vernon with a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes of play. Shots were even 9-9.
3rd Period: Both teams went back and forth but no real good chances early. The Dukes would get an early powerplay, Kyle Murphy come up with a huge shot block taking the puck off his knee. Murphy was a little slow going to the Vipers bench but stayed in the game. Murphy's knee-leg looked to be bothering him but the first year Viper still finished the game. Patrick McGillis and Dylan Walchuk shorthanded went in two on one, Walchuk fed McGillis was stoned by Ruby who made a nice save coming across the crease to stop McGillis. Former Vernon Vipers defenceman, Elliott Richardson with a dump in play from centre ice beat Halcrow at 7:44 getting the Dukes on the score board. Richardson's long shot took a few bounces before beating Halcrow who had no chance on the fluke goal. Richardson's goal was unassisted. Just after Richardson's goal the Vipers come back with some real good quality chances. John Knisley and Dylan Walchuk with two good chances was stopped by Jordan Ruby who was giving his team a chance to win. On the next shift, Patrick McGillis would beat Ruby at 10:08 giving Vernon a 3-1 lead and their second two goal lead of the afternoon. Ryan Renz with the lone helper. The Vipers kept coming as Mike Zalewski with a chance in front was stopped by Ruby who played very well between the pipes. Vernon slowly started to take over the play as Wellington with just three shots in the first half of the 3rd. Again Vernon's speed and skill was just too much for the Dukes. Wellington unable to generate much offence was running out of time down by two goals. The Dukes would get Jordan Ruby to the bench with 1:50 remaining for the extra attacker, the Dukes who had troubles getting the play in deep gave John Knisley with a shot at the open cage but the first year Viper missed the open net. Wellington would finally get the play in deep but couldnt get a shot towards the goal before Vipers captain, David Robinson with a breakaway would hit the open cage at 19:42 giving the Vipers a 4-1 lead. Kyle Murphy with the lone assist. Marty Abrams would call a late timeout but in the end Vernon would send the Dukes home with a 4-1 loss sending the Vipers to the RBC Cup Final. Vernon outshot Wellington 15-9.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Kirby Halcrow (23 saves) Kirby Halcrow who didnt see alot of rubber gave up a bif of a fluke goal off a lucky bounce or two played well between the pipes for the Vipers. Halcrow made two big glove saves in this afternoons game.
Malcolm Lyles (1 assist) Played his best game at the RBC Cup. Lyles who hasnt been himself and played his best at the RBC Cup looked much better at both ends of the rink this afternoon. Lyles played much better defensively and jumped up into the play creating some chances.
Brett Corkey who has looked and played extremely well at the RBC Cup played another solid defensive game on the Vernon blueline.
Adam Thompson (1 assist) Also played very well on the Vipers backend.
Ryan Renz (1 assist) Renz played his best game at the RBC Cup today looking much more confident on the backend.
The line of Marcus Basara, Patrick McGillis (1 goal) & John Knisley played very well for the Vipers. All three players were skating well, using their speed and skill up front to really hemm the Dukes in their own end for most of the game.
Dylan Walchuk who has looked very strong this RBC Cup played very well for the Vipers today.
David Robinson (1 goal & 1 assist) The Vernon captain played very well at both ends of the rink. Robinson was skating and battling hard all afternoon. Emotions were running high as Robinson exchanged a few words with several different Dukes players in between stopages of play.
Bryce Kakoske (2 goals) Played his best game at the RBC Cup today. Scored two real nice goals, was hard to knock off the puck at times, was in and around the net. Has a hard shot and really uses his long reach to keep the puck away from his defenders.
Top Players: (Wellington)
Jordan Ruby (37 saves) Kept his team in todays game and gave them a good chance to win. Ruby played very well between the pipes for the Dukes making several big saves in the opening period keeping the Vipers off the score board. Named player of the game didnt get much help from his forwards.
Sean Rudy didnt play as well as in his previous game vs Vernon but battled hard this afternoon. Had one real good scoring chance on a wrap around late in the 2nd period.
Zach Jones was good on the draw, a bigger body who used his size and played well up front for the Dukes.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The Vipers went 2-0 against Wellington at the RBC Cup and outscored the Dukes 9-3 in two games as Vernon moves onto the RBC Cup Final tomorrow night. Just like the previous meeting between these two teams, the Vipers controlled most of the game and were the better team. The Vipers speed and skill was just too much for Wellington. I thought the Vipers defence played well and did a good job at shutting down the Dukes offence. Vernon with more scoring chances outplayed the Dukes. Let's hope Kyle Murphy is ok and ready to go for tomorrow night. Each of the last three games more and more Viper fans have been showing up to cheer on there team, a huge crowd of Vernon fans at todays game.
Game Thoughts: (Wellington)
The Dukes who Don Cherry predicted to win the RBC Cup ended the RBC Cup with a 1-4 record and didnt show alot for me in the five games I saw them play. Wellington who is alot slower dosnt move the puck as quick as the Vipers and just dosnt have the speed and skill to compete with the Vipers. If it wasnt for Jordan Ruby this could have easily been a six or seven to one win for Vernon. The Dukes who had troubles getting their offence going only had a handful of quailty scoring chances vs the Vipers.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat
Zach McPhee
Dane Muench
Wellington:
Real Cormier
Michael Montford
Darryl Snelling
Cole Bolton
Zach Blake
Players of the game:
Vernon:
Bryce Kakoske (2 goals)
Wellington:
Jordan Ruby (37 saves)
For more on today's game check out the boxscore,
http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/75138/la_id/1/game_id/157745/season_id/157706/ss_id/73728/
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