I was at tonight's BCHL game as Merritt defeated Vernon 3-1 in front of 1,412 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Merritt: Lino Chimienti
1st Period: The Vipers just like last night started with alot of jump and showed alot of hustle getting off to a good start vs Merritt. Vernon who carried the play early and often played physical but was unable to generate or create any real good chances. About two and a half minutes into the opening period Dylan Walchuk with a good chance in close at the side of the net couldnt beat Lino Chimienti who stayed tight against the post keeping the puck out. Vernon looked good and was the better of the two teams in the first half outshooting the Centennials 7-2 just before the midway mark. Merritt then finally got the play into the Vipers zone, with some hard work down low the Cents battled and slowly started to plug away with a few good shifts deep in the Vernon zone before their hard work paid off, Brandon Bruce setup Dylan Chanter in front who beat Kirby Halcrow giving Merritt a 1-0 lead at 12:00 Bruce and Reece Wilcox collected the helpers. This goal seemed to give the Centennials some life as Merritt slowly plugged away and now it was the Cents who carried the better of the play. Shots were now 11-11. Just like the Vipers the Centennials couldnt generate much offence in a pretty tight checking game. Merritt now started to lay the body as Brendan Persley took a good two or three big checks. Adam Tambellini took a puck or a stick to the mouth and needed to head to the dressing room for some repairs missing the remainder of the 1st period but did return for the 2nd. Not alot of scoring chances as Vernon carried the better of the play in the first half before Merritt turned their game around and had the better of the play in the second half. The Cents with a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. The Centennials outshot the Vipers 14-13.
2nd Period: Some fairly even play to start the second period before the Cents would get a few chances about six minutes into the period. Brendan Lamonts hard shot was stopped by Kirby Halcrow before Payton Schaefer collected the rebound but couldnt beat Kirby Halcrow who made a nice save off the Cents second opportunity. Shortly after the Vipers come very close to tying the game after a scramble in front of Lino Chimienti, Adam Tambellini was all alone at the side of the goal beat Chimienti but the Cents goaltender managed to sprawl back and get the puck before it crossed the goal line. The Vipers would then get a flurry of chances but Chimienti who played well come up with some good stops keeping this a one goal game. Brendan Persley took a big check deep in the Centannials zone and left the ice in some discomfort before heading to the dressing room. Persley would return to the Vipers bench shortly after and seemed ok. Darren Nowick with a great chance in front was robbed after Chimienti through up his arm-glove making a huge save off the arm. But the Cents didnt quit and come right back with some hard work along the boards in front of the Merritt bench, Regan Soquila and Brendan Lamont battled hard along the boards coming out of the scrum with the puck, as a Viper d-man jumped up into the play this gave the Centennials a two on one, with a nice give and go Lamont beat Halcrow at 10:18 giving Merritt a 2-0 lead. Soquila and Reece Wilcox with the assists. Patrick McGillis who returned to the Vipers lineup after being out since mid October come down the right wing and ripped a hard shot that beat Lino Chimienti but hit the post. The Viper captain would get a second opportunity late in the period with about a minute and a half remaining but Lino Chimienti come up with a nice save. The Vipers would get a late powerplay and capitalize after McGillis with a nice pass setup Vernon product Colton Sparrow at the side of the goal who beat Chimienti at 17:23 cutting the Merritt lead to within a goal. McGillis and Dylan Walchuk with the helpers. Vernon would take a penalty giving the Cents a late powerplay wich was carried over into the 3rd period. A fairly even played period as Merritt had a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Merritt 12-11.
3rd Period: The Cents started the third with a short man advantage but a strong penalty kill by the Vipers killed off the minor. Not alot of scoring chances in tonight's game and it showed tonight as the Cents really played a tight checking game not giving Vernon alot of time and space. The Vipers would come very close to tying the game early after Ryan Renz's point shot beat Lino Chimienti but rang off the post. Just before the midway mark Vernon would get their second powerplay of the night but it was the Centennials strong penalty kill wich didnt allow a shot as Merritt killed off the minor. The Vipers who couldnt do much of anything in the 3rd went close to eight minutes without a shot on goal. The Cents just about went up by two after Ryan Renz was beat along the end wall, Jakob Reichert with some good hustle won the battle picked up the puck and caught Kirby Halcrow napping as Reichert went in all along in front and tried sliding the puck through a sleeping Halcrow who was just standing their but somehow the puck didnt get through as Halcrow and Renz both cleared the front of the crease on a bizzare play. The Vipers who couldnt generate any offence were playing more one on one and not as a team as the Vipers with several poor passes or missed passes made for some sloppy hockey. Late in the game the Vipers and Cents would both take minors giving Merritt a short powerplay before Vernon would get a short powerplay wity neither team capitalizing. In the final few minutes the Vipers tried getting Kirby Halcrow to the bench for the extra attacker but a strong forecheck and defensive play by the Cents clogged up any real room as Vernon once again struggled to find any kind of offence. The Vipers would finally get Halcrow to the bench with about 1:20 remaining before a blocked shot allowed Regan Soquila to hit the empty cage giving Merritt a 3-1 lead at 19:29 Billy Marshall with the lone assist on the play. With Halcrow still on the bench Brandon Bruce with a chance to hit the empty net was tied-hel up at the last second and couldnt get off a shot as the Centennials who played a very greasy road game come away with a big 3-1 victory. Vernon outshot Merritt 11-9.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Sean Robertson played a pretty good defensive game on the Vipers blueline.
Riley Hunt who didnt see alot of icetime down the stretch played with and showed alot of hustle and energy to start the game.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The Vipers who now have lost three straight have just five wins in their last nineteen games see their season slipping away. Just like last night the Vipers come out with alot of jump-energy played physical and looked good early but wernt the same team as the game went on. For a team that is out of a playoff spot and fighting for a playoff spot I just dont see that desperation, this team is very uncosistant and has troubles playing a full sixty minutes. I just didnt see no urgency for a team that is out of a playoff spot. Tonight they had all kinds of trouble generating offence, and at times looked disorganized. Peter McMullen who was scratched tonight is no longer listed on the teams roster, was he released or traded? I dont know. With the BCHL trade deadline Tuesday it will be interesting to see if the Vipers make any moves. Great to see Patrick McGillis return to the lineup, McGillis who has missed most of the season looked good in the second period but will need some time to get his game going.
Top Players: (Merritt)
Billy Marshall (1 assist) I thought played very well on the Centennials blueline. Marshall wasnt afraid to carry the puck and jump up into the play. A bigger kid that played very well defensively.
Dylan Chanter (1 goal) Also played very well on the Cents backend.
Regan Soquila (1 goal & 1 assist) Played a strong game for the Centennials. A strong skater looked good with the puck.
Brandon Bruce (1 assist) I thought played fairly well.
Brendan Lamont (1 goal) Also played fairly well for Merritt, had a few chances tonight.
Brandon Pfeil was another Merritt d-man that played very well tonight. Very steady on the Cents backend.
Lino Chimienti (35 saves) Played well between the pipes for the Cents. Didnt see alot of action in periods one and three but made some key saves in the 2nd period where the Vipers come up with most of their opportunities. This kid dosnt give up alot of rebounds and plays his position well.
Game Thoughts: (Merritt)
Luke Pierce has this team playing its best hockey in a very long time. This Centennials team cant be taken lightly, this is a very hard working club that dosnt give you alot of time and space, plays a tight checking game and battles and competes hard every shift. Merritt won most of the races and battles for the pucks tonight, were very relentless on the forecheck and one on one battles. Merritt come up with a greasy road win over a Vipers team that is struggling. Not alot of scoring chances through out tonight's game. Merritt didnt really generate alot of scoring chances either but worked hard all night, battled and won the battles as well as capitalized on their chances. Overall not a very exciting game.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Peter McMullen
Luke Juha (Injured)
John Knisley (Injured)
Ben Gamache (Injured)
Merritt:
Sean Maktaak
3 Stars:
1st Star: Lino Chimienti (35 saves)
2nd Star: Regan Soquila (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Kirby Halcrow (32 saves)
For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977553&link=bchl
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