I was at this mornings BCHL pre-season game as Vernon defeated Westside 5-4 in overtime in front of a large crowd of school kids at Royal Le Page Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Alex Wakaluk
Westside: Dustin Nikkel
1st Period: The Vipers got off to a good start, laying the body early and played with lots of energy in the opening minute or so. A very even opening period with both teams going back and forth with some good scoring chances. Alex Hagen setup Mike Zalewski at the side of the net, who missed a great opportunity missing the empty cage. Dru Morrison then with a great chance for the Warriors had a good chance in front but was stopped by Alex Wakaluk. Vernon would open the scoring early as Patrick McGillis setup Alex Hagen at 5:24 giving the Vipers a 1-0 lead. McGillis and Connor Hartley collected the assists. Both teams had lots of jump, skating good and creating chances. Phil Bamber with a shot from the circle couldnt beat Dustin Nikkel who stood his ground making a nice save. Westside come very close to tying the game with a loose puck in front but one of the Warriors couldnt get his stick on the puck with Wakaluk down and out of postion. Westside would get the games first powerplay, but the Warriors couldnt muster much offence as the Vipers killed off the minor. The Warriors would eventually tie the game at 13:35 after Tyson Witala beat Wakaluk in close. Ben Betker and Brody Lynott picked up the helpers. Just over three minutes later Corson Johnstones shot from the point beat Nikkel at 16:50 giving the Vernon Vipers a 2-1 lead. Johnstones goal was unassisted. Vernon would get a late two man advantage that would carry over into the 2nd period. A very entertaining period as both teams were faitly even but it was the Vipers with a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Westside 12-11.
2nd Period: The Vipers struggled with the man advantage as the Warriors penalty kill was very sharp killing off the double minor. Just four minutes into the middle frame Alex Hagen setup Jedd Soleway on a two on one, but Soleway couldnt pick up the pass on a great scoring opportunity. Alex Wakaluk then was forced to make his first big save of the night after getting down and robbing Tyson Witala with a big toe save down low. Both teams were again fairly even with some good back and forth action at both ends of the rink. Around the midway mark both clubs changed goaltenders, as Brandon Lane replaced Dustin Nikkel who gave up two goals on 19 Vernon shots. Mike Gudmanson replaced Alex Wakaluk who allowed one goal on 17 Westside shots. On the next shift Max Mowat coughed up the puck in his own end, Travis Blanleil with a weak looking shot beat Mike Gudmanson blocker side at 11:24, on a goal that Gudmanson would like to have back. Dru Morrisson with the lone assist. Gudmanson looked very shaky early having all kinds of troubles controlling & handling the puck. This goal seemed to change the momentum as the Warriors really picked up their play and the Vipers seemed to go down hill from here on in till the end of the period. Westside started attacking and really forcing the Vipers in their own end, Vernons defence was having all kinds of troubles defensively. Vernon just couldnt get the play of out of their own end as the Warriors were now taking over the edge in play. Tempers then slowly started to get heated up after a scrum formed deep in the Vipers zone with some pushing and shoving before Max French and John Knisley wrestled one another to the ice, before French tried throwing a few punches at Knisley. Both French and Knisley were tossed from the hockey game and Westside was given a man advantage. The Vipers would take another penalty giving the Warriors a two man advantage, after killing off the first minor former Salmon Arm Silverback, Jarryd Ten Vaanholt with a shorthanded breakaway fanned on his shot on a great scoring opportunity. Shortly after veteran d-man, Izaak Berglund with a seeing eye shot beat Gudmanson blocker side at 15:40 giving the Warriors their first lead of the contest. Adam Plant with the only assist on the powerplay goal. The Vipers looked like a completely different hockey club as Jason Williamson called a timeout to try and settle the troops. The Warriors looked very good in the second half of the period dominating the Vipers in their own end. Westside was by far the more physical team and played with a bit of an edge. Vernon would give up two goals down 3-2 heading into the 3rd. The Warriors outshot the Vipers 19-9.
3rd Period: Westside started off the 3rd right where they left off the 2nd period as the Warriors forced the Vipers deep in their own end giving Vernons defence all kinds of trouble in their own end. Mike Gudmanson seemed to get a little confidence back as the game went on, making a few good saves but still looked a little uncomfortable between the pipes. Conor Dempsey with a great move inside the Vernon blueline, couldnt beat Gudmanson in close. Reid Simmonds with a chance in close couldnt get the puck to go past Gudmanson. Westside would get a shot on the man advantage but it was Patrick McGillis and Alex Hagen who come in on the two on one rush, Hagen dished the puck off to the Vipers captain at the last second but McGillis couldnt handle the pass on a great scoring chance. Vernon was able to kill off the minor. The Vipers didnt look very good at all in the 3rd, poor passing, made some poor decisions and just didnt look very stable in their own end as Westside was by far the better of the two teams in the final period. The Vipers would then get a powerplay and capitalize. Vernon Product, Tanner Burns beat Brandon Lane at 10:18 tying the game. Jedd Soleway and Jarryd Ten Vaanholt with the assists. Just six minutes later Patrick McGillis gave Vernon a 4-3 lead with a powerplay goal. Just shortly after Mike Gudmanson made his biggest save robbing Brennan Clark on a breakaway. The Warriors didnt quit, with some hard work down low Reid Simmonds weak shot beat Gudmanson to tie the game 4-4. Simmonds goal was unassisted. Another goal Gudmanson would like to have back. The Warriors were by far the better team but the game was heading to overtime. Westside outshot Vernon 12-11.
Overtime: In the opening minute Shawn Hochhausen and Brett McKinnon on a two on one, couldnt beat Gudmanson on a great chance to put the game away. From here on in the Vipers would take over the play and were the better team in overtime. Vernon with some good puck movement deep in the Warriors zone created a few good chances. Mike Zalewski with a great chance in front but was stopped by Lane. In the final minute of play Jarryd Ten Vaanholt was setup in front where he beat Lane fivehole with 57 seconds remaining giving the Vipers a 5-4 OT victory. Vernon outshot Westside 5-1.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Patrick McGillis (1 goal & 1 assist) I thought played a fairly strong game up front for the Vipers. McGillis was skating hard and was involved in the play often. Had a few good scoring chances this morning.
Phil Bamber impressed me today. Not the biggest kid out there, but played well. Didnt stand out the entire game but has some skill and showed it today.
Alex Hagen (1 goal) Was one of the better Vernon players. Hagen can really skate, sees and reads the ice well, I think will be a good play maker in this league.
Mike Zalewski played well, had two or three good scoring chances but couldnt find the back of the net.
Jarryd Ten Vaanholt (1 goal & 1 assist) played his first game as a Viper today, looked a little rusty but also stood out at times in different situations.
Top Players: (Westside)
Tyson Witala (1 goal) Played very well up front for Westside.
Reid Simmonds (1 goal) Played very well for the Warriors. Had lots of jump, seemed to be always involved in the play.
Conor Dempsey was the Warriors best player today. This kid has some quick wheels, was buzzing out there almost every shift. Very creative with and without the puck. A very shifty little player.
Izaak Berglund (1 goal) Played well on the Warriors blueline. Took a check in the opening period and seemed to slowly skate off the ice, but stayed in the game playing very well.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
I thought both teams played and looked fairly good in the 1st and half of the 2nd periods. I was impressed with the Vipers play early, were making some crisp passes, skating well, had lots of jump and just seemed to play well. Not sure what happened but things changed after both teams swicthed goaltenders and the Vipers just didnt see or play like the same team. Vernon didnt look or play very well in the second half of the 2nd and the entire 3rd period. The Vipers defence was having lots of trouble with the Warriors forecheck and agressive style of play, way too many turnovers in their own end. But give Vernon credit they battled back to tie the game in the 3rd and then seemed to really turn things around in overtime and pull out a victory. I didnt see Colton Sparrow after the 1st period, wasnt on the bench, not sure what happened. The Vipers improve to 2-1 in pre-season action and host Trail Friday in their final exibition game of the year.
Game Thoughts: (Westside)
I thought the Warriors played a very strong hockey game this morning but just couldnt pull out the win. The Warriors just like the Vipers had some good chances, both teams were skating hard, and playing with lots of jump and energy. Once Westside got Vernon back on their heels a bit, the Warriors couldnt put the game away and gave the Vipers a chance to come back to tie the game. Westside played with a bit of fire in them today, getting involved in the odd scrum or two after the whistle, played aggressive and really got the Vipers off their game at times. Both teams specialty teams were hot and cold. I think this is my first time ever watching a BCHL-Junior game live at 11am. The rink was packed with elementry school kids who screemed their heads off the entire game. A entertaining game overall. Westside drops to 1-0-0-3 in pre-season play.
Scratches:
They didnt announce either of the two teams scratches
3 Stars:
No three stars were announed at todays game
Vernon Vipers Lineup:
Patrick McGillis (91)
Connor Hartley (93)
Phil Bamber (93)
Colton Sparrow (93)
Alex Hagen (92)
Jedd Soleway (94)
Mike Zalewski (92)
Darren Nowick (91)
John Knisley (92)
Jarryd Ten Vaanholt (91)
Tanner Burns (93)
Marc Hetnik (93)
Turner Lawson (94)
Max Mowat
John Saunders (94)
Corson Johnstone (92)
Tom Swales (92)
Alex Wakaluk (93)
Mike Gudmanson (93)
Westside Warriors Lineup:
Brennan Clark (95)
Tyson Witala (93)
Garrett Skrbich (93)
Brett Mulchay (93)
Max French (92)
Sebb Lloyd (94)
Brett McKinnon (92)
Shawn Hachhausen (92)
Reid Simmonds (93)
Travis Blanleil (94)
Conor Dempsey (92)
Dru Morrisson (92)
Brayden Sherbinin (93)
Mitchell Steinke (94)
Brody Lynott (91)
Adam Plant (95)
Ben Betker (94)
Izaak Berglund (91)
Dustin Nikkel (93)
Brandon Lane (92)
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