I was at tonight's Royal Bank Cup as Vernon defeated Pembroke 5-3 at the Edgeworth Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Pembroke: Francis Dupuis
1st Period: Just fifty two seconds into the contest Marcus Basara went hard towards the net getting stopped by Francis Dupuis but couldnt stop Patrick McGillis on the rebound who jumped into the slot to score his third of the RBC Cup giving Vernon an early 1-0 lead. Basara and Dylan Walchuk picked up the assists. The Vipers got off to a strong start and really carried the better of the play early often. Vernon dominated the boards down low moving the puck around well but didnt really get any real good quality scoring chances. The Lumber Kings couldnt contain the Vipers speed and skill as Vernon looked like they had the puck on a string at times. The Vipers outplayed the Lumber Kings in the first half of the period before Pembroke would get the games first powerplay. Vernon's penalty kill was good killing off the minor, not giving Pembroke any scoring chances. Just a few minutes later Vernon would get it's first powerplay of the night but the Lumber Kings penalty kill was very good killing off the penalty. Just after the powerplay Steve Weinstein's point shot was tipped in front by Zach McPhee who was making his RBC Cup debut but Francis Dupuis stayed with the puck making a big save. Pembroke who didnt get alot of presure deep in the Vipers zone generated very little offence as Vernon carried most of the play. With two minutes remaining, Keenan Murray beat Steve Weinstein for the loose puck along the boards before making a smart pass out front to a diving Lucas Gonu who was stopped by Kirby Halcrow on the Lumber Kings first scoring chance. In the final minute of play, Colton Sparrow with a nice individual play scored a highlight reel goal at 19:19 putting Vernon up 2-0. Zach McPhee and Trevor Fitzgerald collected the assists. It was 2-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. The Lumber Kings outshot the Vipers 10-7.
2nd Period: Pembroke would win the early draw deep in the Vipers zone allowing Jonathan Milley to beat Kirby Halcrow at twenty eight seconds cutting the Vernon lead to just a goal. Matthew Peca and Ben Reinhardt picked up the helpers. Off the next faceoff the Lumber Kings would win the draw, Stefan Salituro walked in through the Vernon defence before getting stopped by Halcrow who couldnt stop Brandon Gagne who scored on the rebound at fourty six seconds tying the game 2-2. Salituro with the lone assist. Just a few shifts later David Robinson and Jonathan Milley exchanged words as tempers heated up between the two forwards. Robinson was hot giving it to the Lumber Kings bench as he headed off the ice. The Lumber Kings didnt stop there, as Pembroke come out strong really taking it to the Vipers. Pembroke who carried the play early had their most presure in the Vipers zone in the opening few minutes then they had all 1st period. Pembroke would take their first lead of the night at 3:04 after Matthew Peca won the draw before the puck come back to Will Seeber whos shot from the point hit Halcrow up high and bounced inbehind the Viper goaltender giving the Lumber Kings a 3-2 lead. Peca and Jonathan Milley with the assists. Mark Ferner had seen enough, calling a timeout to try and settle his troops down. Off the faceoff back come Pembroke, Stefan Salituro with a nice move in close just about gave the Lumber Kings a 4-2 lead but Kirby Halcrow come up big making the save in tight. The Vipers would finally get out of their own end, coming back the other way with a two on one. Marcus Basara setup Dylan Walchuk who was robbed by Francis Dupuis. On the next shift Dupuis had troubles covering the puck before the puck slipped out front to a wide open John Knisley who hit the open cage at 4:46 tying the game 3-3. Mike Zalewski and Brett Corkey with the assists. Shortly after the game tying goal Phillip Patenaude's point shot was tipped in front by Marcus Basara who was stopped by Francis Dupuis who made a tough save with traffic in front. Some wide open hockey at both ends as both teams went back and forth with not any real good scoring chances. The Vipers slowly started to get their legs going and looked better in the second half of the 2nd. Vipers captain, David Robinson with a wicked shot from the circle that beat Francis Dupuis blocker side at 14:03 gave Vernon a 4-3 lead. Bryce Kakoske with the lone assist. Off the following faceoff Robinson come back down the same wing and ripped another hard shot from just about the exact same spot just shot high and over the net. The Vipers played much better in the second half and were the better team in the second half of the period. The Vipers with a 4-3 lead after 40 minutes of play. Pembroke outshot Vernon 14-13.
3rd Period: Pembroke would get an early powerplay just thirty nine seconds into the final frame. The Lumber Kings would win the draw before setting up a wide open Matthew Peca in the slot who was robbed by Kirby Halcrow who somehow got across to make a highlight reel glove save. This was Pembroke's only real good scoring chance as Vernon would kill off the minor. The Lumber Kings carried the early edge in play but couldnt generate any real good scoring chances. Seven minutes into the 3rd Ben Reinhardt with a point shot was tipped in front but somehow Halcrow made a tough save with traffic in front keeping this a one goal game. Vernon would finally get the play going the other way with a few solid shifts. Late in the game with Dylan Walchuk going to the net, Marcus Basara's shot was tipped in front by Walchuk at 15:54 giving the Vipers a 5-3 lead and basically put this game out of reach. Basara and Malcolm Lyles with the assists. Pembroke was unable to generate much offence in the final few minutes as Vernon would improve to 4-0 and knock off Pembroke 5-3 who fell to 1-3. The Vipers outshot the Lumber Kings 8-5.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Dylan Walchuk (1 goal and 1 assist) Walchuk played very well up front for the Vipers. Walchuk's speed and skill was too much for the Lumber Kings to contain. I didnt think Walchuk scored Vernon's fifth goal. It looked like Basara's shot clearly beat Francis Dupuis fivehole.
The line of Zach McPhee (1 assist), Colton Sparrow (1 goal) & Trevor Fitzgerald (1 assist) played very well for the Vipers. This line played with alot of energy, added some spark and jump to the lineup and had several good shifts deep in the Lumber Kings zone.
The line of John Knisley (1 goal), Darren Nowick & Mike Zalewski (1 assist) played well tonight. John Knisley and Darren Nowick both played well. Knisley and Nowicks speed and skill was just too much for Pembroke who had troubles most of the night with the Vipers speed and skill.
Marcus Basara (2 assist) Basara battled and competed hard, was skating hard and created some good chances.
Top Players: (Pembroke)
Ben Reinhardt (1 assist) I thought was one of the Lumber Kings best d-men tonight. Was involved in the play and played very well defensively.
Matthew Peca (2 assists) I have heard this is the son of former NHLer Michael Peca. Peca has impressed me all tournament and has been one of the Lumber Kings best players at the RBC Cup. Good on the draw, quick, has some wheels and a nose for the net.
Stefan Salituro (1 assist) Salituro generated some good scoring chances, was involved in the play, always in and around the goal.
Kyle Just looked good up front for Pembroke. Just is a good skater and another player that created some room and chances.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
With the win the Vipers finish the RBC Cup at 4-0 and will play in the semi-finals vs the Wellington Dukes. (This is what I heard at the rink tonight) The Vipers and Dukes will play 2pm Saturday, with the winner playing in the Final. Vernon got off to a quick start scoring just fifty two seconds into the opening period and looked very strong outplaying the Lumber Kings in the 1st period. The Lumber Kings were the team that got off to a quick start in the middle frame scoring back to back quick goals in the first minute of the 2nd period before taking their first lead of the night. The Vipers seemed to settle down and finish out the game with a win. The Vipers didnt play their best game but got the job done in a mean nothing game. Again Vernon's speed and skill was just too much for the Lumber Kings. Alot more Viper fans rolled into town and made for a pretty big crowd of Vernon fans at tonights game, wich made some noise through out the game.
Game Thoughts: (Pembroke)
With the loss the Pembroke Lumber Kings finished the RBC Cup at 1-3 and will face off against Camrose in Saturdays semi-final. (This is what I heard at both games today) Pembroke got off to a slow start and didnt look very good in the opening period before coming out hard with a strong start scoring three quick goals to take a 3-2 lead early into the 2nd period. The Lumber Kings played well in the first half of the 2nd but couldnt hold off the Vipers in the second half of the period. Pembroke with a bit of presure early in the 3rd but the Lumber Kings had troubles creating chances as well as finishing chances. Give credit to Pembroke who gave Vernon a bit of a scare, but in the end I think the Vipers were just too much to handle.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat
Dane Muench
Kyle Murphy
Pembroke:
Sam Gleason
Zach Loesch
Patrice Wron
Ted Pletsch
Chris Bodo
Matthew Boudens
Players of the game:
Vernon:
Dylan Walchuk (1 goal & 1 assist)
Pembroke:
Matthew Peca (2 assists)
For more on tonight's game check out the boxscore,
http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/75138/la_id/1/game_id/157741/season_id/157706/ss_id/73728/
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