I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 6-4 in front of 2,153 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Danny Todosychuk
Salmon Arm: Kurt Williams
1st Period: The Silverbacks got off to a quick start opening the scoring just 1:35 into the 1st period. Morgan Zulinick setup Myles McCauley who walked in over the circle and ripped a high shot just under the crossbar on the Backs first shot of the night, beating Vernon product, Danny Todosychuk who was deep in his crease. Zulinick and Garrett Hendrickson collected the assists. Salmon Arm come right back, Jeff Kennedy with a chance in close was stopped by Todosychuk. Ben Gamache would get Vernon's first scoring opportunity after getting off a backhand from in the slot but Kurt Williams was out to challenge making a nice chest save. Salmon Arm looked good in the opening period moving the puck well skating hard and generating some good chances. The Backs who carried the better of the play were the better of the two teams in the 1st period. The Vipers managed a few opportunities but had very little puck luck. Brendan Persley with a chance in the slot but couldnt connect on the pass after the puck bounced over his stick. Persley with two chances in the period couldnt find the back of the net. Just before the midway mark Salmon Arm would get the games first powerplay and capitalize. Devin Muller setup Myles McCauley for his second of the night giving the Silverbacks a 2-0 lead at 10:32 Muller and Breaden Pears picked up the helpers. Off the next shift Jeff Kennedy with another scoring chance in close just about put Salmon Arm up 3-0. On the next shift the Backs with some hard work to keep the play alive at the blueline moved the puck around setting up Vernon product, Alex Gillies who roofed his shot high and past Todosychuk giving the Backs a 3-0 lead at 11:55, Shane Hana and James Friedel picked up the assists. This was the end of the night for Danny Todosychuk who gave up three goals on just nine Salmon Arm shots. On all three goals Todosychuk was deep in his crease. Kirby Halcrow would replace Todosychuk. The Vipers who didnt look very good needed almost seven minutes to record a shot on goal as it was all Silverbacks in the opening period. Late in the period Adam Tambellini setup Brendan Persley who beat Kurt Williams at 17:59 getting Vernon on the board. Tambellini and Colton Sparrow with the assists. Not alot of scoring chances as Salmon Arm outplayed Vernon and were up 3-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Silverbacks outshot the Vipers 14-10.
2nd Period: A few good chances at both ends early to start the second period. Aaron Hadley in front had the puck just bounce over his stick in close and then Devin Muller with a nice move tried getting around Brett Corkey but was stopped by Kirby Halcrow. Jedd Soleway then with a chance in front couldnt connect on a pass in tight. Around the three minute mark Darren Nowick took a undetected high stick to the face with no call on the play, the play continued before Vipers head coach, Jason Williamson had to call over referee Ward Pateman. Pateman and the linesmen gathered giving the Backs a four minute high sticking penalty giving Vernon their first powerplay of the night. Nowick would get some repairs before returning to the bench later in the period. The Vipers couldnt get much going with the first two minutes before Brett Corkey's shot from the point hit post or crossbar beating Kurt Williams at 5:50 as Vernon was within a goal. Mike Zalewski and Colton Sparrow with the helpers. Zalewski and Sparrow moved the puck around down low before setting up Corkey's goal. This high sticking call-penalty was the turning point in the hockey game. Salmon Arm has a two goal lead, Nowick gets high sticked but no call on the play. It wasnt until the next whistle where Jason Williamson has to call over the official to get a four minute powerplay. The Silverbacks have to be very upset with this call. If the linesmen who Im assuming made the call, why didnt one of the two linesmen go over to the official in the first place on the first stopage in play if they saw the high stick? If it wasnt for Williamson getting the official over to the Vipers bench the Backs still have a two goal lead and Vernon dosnt score the powerplay goal. With no call this could be a different outcome. This goal really seemed to give the Vipers life as Vernon really come on and took over the play for most of the 2nd period. Off the next faceoff Mike Zalewski was stopped in the slot after Williams come up with a big glove save. On the next shift the line of Colton Sparrow, Adam Tambellini and Brendan Persley worked hard down low, Presley fed Tambellini in front who beat Williams to tie the game at 6:56 Persley and Sparrow with the assists. At the other end Kirby Halcrow still had to be sharp making a huge glove save keeping the game tied. Then Sean Flanagan's point shot was stopped by Halcrow but a quick whistle saved the Vipers as the puck somehow snuck past and through Halcrow before hitting the bottom of the post. Kurt Williams then made a nice save off Dylan Walchuk to keep the game tied. Just past the midway mark Salmon Arm would back to back powerplays, but a hard working Vipers penalty kill would kill off both minors. Brendan Persley, Ryan Renz and Colton Sparrow all with huge shot blocks. The Vipers then come back just after the penalty kills and had two or three flurries in close but couldnt get the puck to find its way into the back of the goal. Late in the 2nd former Vernon Vipers defenceman, Taylor Love went knee on knee with Ben Gamache as Gamache went down and was very slow to get up, needing up to get off the ice. Gamache who wasnt putting any pressure on his leg-knee left the game and didnt return. Love would get a penalty out of the hit as Vernon with its second powerplay of the contest. The Vipers moved the puck around well Brett Corkey's point shot was tipped in by Darren Nowick who gave Vernon a 4-3 lead and their first of the night at 17:42 Corkey and Dylan Walchuk with the assists. Vernon looked like a different team in the middle frame as the Vipers carried the better of the play and outscored Salmon Arm 3-0. In the final minute the Vipers with another goal crease scramble as a flurry of chances in and around the Backs goal but the Vipers couldnt jump ahead by two after a much improved period. Tempers heated up a little at the buzzer after both teams exchanged words while heading to the dressing rooms. Vernon was up 4-3 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 14-10.
3rd Period: Off the opening faceoff Dylan Walchuk would get a parcial breakaway but Williams come out to challenge and stayed with Walchuk making a nice pad save in close. Brendan Persley would then get a great chance at the side of the goal but couldnt beat Williams. The Backs would get an early powerplay after a small scrum former inbehind the Salmon Arm goal with some pushing and shoving, tempers heated up once again. With the Silverbacks on the man advantage it was Darren Nowick who used his speed to out hustle the Silverbacks d-man going in for the breakaway and the beating Kurt Williams shorthanded giving Vernon a two goal lead at 4:08 Nowick's goal was unassisted. Shortly after Peter McMullen with a odd man rush tried throwing the puck out front but Sean Flanagan come up with a huge defensive play to breakup McMullen's pass. The Vipers who for the second straight period looked and played very well. I thought Vernon's defensive game was much better tonight especially in the 3rd really limiting Salmon Arm's scoring chances. Kirby Halcrow also played and looked much better between the pipes. Halcrow made a few nice saves in the final frame. Just before the halfway mark some nice tic tac toe passing between Morgan Zulinick, Sean Flanagan and Myles McCauley got the Backs to within a goal. Flanagan with a nice move breaking into the Vipers blueline fed McCauley who then found Zulinick in front who beat Halcrow at 8:57 The Backs would then get caught with too many men just past the midway mark sending Vernon to the PP. The Vipers really moved the puck around, very patiently made some smart plays before Sean Robertson setup Adam Tambellini who beat Williams at 13:18 giving Vernon a 6-4 lead. Robertson and Ryan Renz with the helpers. In the second half Vernon's defence played very well not giving up alot of scoring opportunities. Once again the line of Colton Sparrow, Adam Tambellini and Brendan Persley created some open ice allowing Tambellini to walk in from the circle getting off a quick shot that was stopped by Kurt Williams. Salmon Arm just couldnt muster much offence late in the game as Vernon really shutdown the Backs. In the final two minutes Mike Zalewski and Aaron Hadley both killed a good solid minute off the clock by eating the puck up along the boards and end wall as Salmon Arm couldnt steal the puck away from Hadley or Zalewski. The Vipers with a ton of pressure kept the Backs pinned in their own end with a solid forecheck to kill off most of the remainder of the final minute as the Vipers would pick up a huge 6-4 victory in the second and final game of a home and home series. After the buzzer Brendan Persley went to grab the game puck before Kurt Williams come racing out of his crease to steal away the puck before Persley could grab it. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 18-12.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Brett Corkey (1 goal & 1 assist) Really played well on the Vipers blueline.
Sean Robertson played his second straight good game for the Vipers. Robertson who also looked very good in last nights 7-4 loss was very solid defensively tonight.
For the second straight night the line of Adam Tambellini (2 goals & 1 assist), Colton Sparrow (3 assists) and Brendan Persley (1 goal and 1 assist) was the Vipers best unit tonight. This line really worked hard, created and opened up the ice, getting alot of good scoring chances. This line was very hard to play against last night and again tonight.
Darren Nowick (2 goals) Played and worked very hard tonight, was very good at both ends of the rink, and very good on specialty teams. Nowick who took the high stick that resulted in the Vipers four minute powerplay in the 2nd period got repaired and stayed in the hockey game. Nowick's shorthanded goal early in the 3rd was huge.
Ryan Renz (1 assist) For the second straight night played very well at both ends of the rink. Renz looked very confident tonight with and without the puck.
Kirby Halcrow (26 saves) Halcrow who didnt look very good in last nights 7-4 loss was given the night off tonight before having to replace Danny Todosychuk who gave up three goals on just nine shots. Halcrow allowed just one goal on 27 Salmon Arm shots made some key saves when needed and looked to have some confidence tonight. Halcrow who hasnt been the same goaltender from the past two seasons seemed to have much better control with his rebounds tonight.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Tonight was almost a must win. After a very dissapointing 7-4 loss last night the Vipers found themselfs sitting two points out of a playoff spot and just five points up on 6th place Salmon Arm. Vernon who now has just five wins in their last sixteen games needs to start winning hockey games and in a hurry if they want to try and make the final playoff spot. The Vipers need to start piling up some wins and getting on a bit of a winning streak to stay in the race for the final playoff spot. After going down 3-0 in a shaky first period the Vipers really turned things around in the second and continued to play a pretty solid game for the 2nd and 3rd periods. The Vipers who were coming off a pretty dissapointing 7-4 loss last night in Salmon Arm didnt get off to the start they wanted before falling behind 3-0. A timely powerplay goal early to start the 2nd got the Vipers rolling and played very well for the remainder of the game. The Vipers looked like a completely different hockey club in the 2nd and 3rd, this is where I have to wonder why cant the Vipers play like this on a nightly basis. Vernon who has been very uncosistant all season is a very good hockey team at times, but also not a very good hockey team at times. I thought the Vipers defence really stepped up their play after a poor outing in last nights loss. Vernon who is without Max Mowat, Patrick McGillis, Luke Juha and John Knisley may lose Ben Gamache after taking a knee on knee tonight. Let's hope Ben is ok and makes a quick and healthy return to the Vipers lineup.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
The line of Myles McCauley (2 goals & 1 assist), Morgan Zulinick (1 goal & 1 assist) & Garrett Hendrickson (1 assist) was the Backs top line tonight. For the second straight game this line looked and played good and was really clicking together. McCauley who come over from Penticon earlier in the season in a trade with the Vees scored two real nice goals. This kid has a wicked shot. Zulinick who has some good speed is always dangerous with and without the puck and he showed that again this evening. Hendrickson also involved in that Salmon Arm-Penticton trade was good up front for the Silverbacks. Wasnt afraid to muck it up after the whistles on a few occasions.
Sean Flanagan (1 assist) Played very stead for the Silverbacks on the blueline. Made atleast two real nice defensive plays.
Devin Muller (1 assist) Played very well, was also a threat with and without the puck. Come up with a few good chances.
Kurt Williams (36 saves) Made some key saves through out tonights game. I dont think you could blame him on any of the goals.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
The Backs now fall seven points back of the 5th place Vipers with the loss. Tonight was alot like last nights game but both teams reversed sides. Tonight it was the Backs who got off to a quick start jumping out to a 3-0 lead before allowing Vernon back in the game as the Vipers scored five straight goals. Last night it was the Vipers who got off to the quick start jumping out to the 3-1 lead before Salmon Arm rallied scoring six straight goals going onto the 7-4 win. The Silverbacks played and looked very good in the opening period before blowing the three goal lead. As I mentioned ealrier the turning point was the the four minute high sticking call early to start the 2nd period. The Backs have all rights to be very upset with this call. No call on the high stick until the Vipers pleaded with the referee. It wasnt until the referee and both linesmen got together to make the high sticking call wich was the right call. But why didnt either linesmen make the call on the next stopage of play? If it wasnt for the Vipers arguing over the high stick Salmon Arm still with a two goal lead dosnt give up the powerplay goal to get the Vipers back in the game. Maybe Salmon Arm scores the next goal to jump ahead by three, who really knows what would have happened. Specialty teams was a huge difference in the game as Vernon goes three for four with the man advantage as well as scoring shorthanded while Salmon Arm goes one for four giving up a shorthanded goal. The Backs with some chances just couldnt muster alot of offensive chances in the 3rd having troubles against a Vipers defence that played very well. Overall a very entertaining and exciting game.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat (Injured)
Patrick McGillis (Injured)
Luke Juha (Injured)
John Knisley (Injured)
Salmon Arm:
Mak Barden
Joel Kipp
Brad Robinson
Vipers energy player of the game: Colton Sparrow (3 assists)
3 Stars:
1st Star: Darren Nowick (2 goals)
2nd Star: Myles McCauley (2 goals & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Brendan Persley (1 goal & 1 assist)
For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977671&link=bchl
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