I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Coquitlam 6-2 in front of 2,116 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Danny Todosychuk
Coquitlam: Cole Huggins
1st Period: Coquitlam got the puck in deep off the opening faceoff before the Vipers come right back getting the play in deep, Adam Tambellini setup Mike Zalewski at 1:01 who gave the Vipers an early 1-0 lead. The puck didnt look to have gone in right away after Zalewski's shot as it took a few seconds for the goal light to come on. Tambellini and Colton Sparrow with the assists. Just fourty one seconds later Vernon would get the games first powerplay and capitalize. Mike Zalewski setup Adam Tambellini who beat Cole Huggins at 2:42 giving Vernon a 2-0 lead. Zalewski and Brett Corkey picked up the assists. Off the next shift former Nanaimo Clipper, Colton Cyr's shot handcuffed Cole Huggins before the Vipers stayed with the puck, captain Patrick McGillis then setup Cyr who beat Huggins at 3:09 giving Vernon a 3-0 lead. McGillis with the lone assist. The Express were down three goals just over three minutes into the contest and were outshot 9-2 at this point. Coquitlam come right back with hard working shift, creating some traffic in front Malcolm McKinney was stopped in close by Danny Todosychuk. On the same shift Riley Hunt was hit from behind along the penalty boxes, with no call on the play Jedd Soleway levelled a Expree player behind the Coquitlam goal. Soleway would get tossed from the game for checking from behind giving the Express a five minute major. No real good pressure by Coquitlam, former Salmon Arm Silverback Cody Michelle with a great chance in front but Todosychuk slide across getting his right pad down making a huge pad save keeping the Express off the scoreboard. A strong Vernon penalty kill would kill off the major. Just as the Vipers killed the major Coquitlam went right back on another powerplay, but not for long as both teams would play some four on four action before the Vipers would get a late short powerplay of their own. Adam Tambellini with a great chance in the slot was stopped by Huggins. Just past the midway mark John Siemer would go in for the breakaway but was robbed by Danny Todosychuk who made a nice glove save keeping the Express off the board. Just shortly after Brendan Persley ripped a rocket of a shot from the high slot that would put Vernon up by four at 15:31 this was the end of the night for Cole Huggins who was pulled in favor of Khaleed Devji. Huggins gave up four goals on twelve shots. Persley's goal was unassisted. Off the next play Turner Lawson and Mitch Nardi would drop the gloves in the games only scrap. At the buzzer some pushing and shoving went on before both teams were split up. The Vipers who were very good on the penalty kill carried most of the play and were up 4-0 after 20 minutes of play. Coquitlam outshot Vernon 14-13.
2nd Period: Just over three minutes into the middle frame Aaron Hadley with a great chance fanned on his warp around attempt on a good Viper scoring opportunity. On the next play Coquitlam would get an early powerplay but again unable to capitalize as Vernon would kill off the minor. Just after the penalty expired the Vipers would jump on the powerplay but just like the Express unable to capitalize as Coquitlam killed off the minor. The Express slowly started to come along Danny Todosychuk made a real nice pad save in close with Coquitlam getting a flurry of chances in close. Todosychuk made two or three good saves in close with the Express putting on some good pressure. Other then a flurry or two by Coquitlam not alot of action in a bit of a scrambled period at both ends. Coquitlam really come on in the second half and made the game very interesting with two quick goals. John Siemer beat Todosychuk at 13:14 getting the Express on the board, Alex Kerfoot collected the lone assist. Off the next draw and seconds later Siemer would get his second of the game after a rocket of a shot that beat Todosychuk from the slot at 13:37 as Coquitlam was within two goals. Kerfoot and Brady Shaw picked up the helpers. Coquitlam who was now back in the contest really took it to the Vipers for most of the period. Danny Todosychuk had to be sharp making several key saves keeping Vernon in the game. Justin Georgeson got inbehind the Viper defence for a parcial breakaway but Geoff Crisfield come back making a real nice defensive play to breakup Georgeson's breakaway. The Vipers who couldnt generate any offence had just a single shot in about eight or nine minutes before finally getting two late shots in the final minute on a scramble in front of Khaleed Devji. The Express with a strong second period scored twice as they outplayed Vernon for most of the period. The Vipers with a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes of play. The Express outshot the Vipers 17-4.
3rd Period: Coquitlam got off to a good start getting the play in deep trying to create some chances. The Express who carried the better of the play early couldnt generate alot of chances but carried the better of the play. Colton Sparrow had a great chance on a parcial breakaway but fired wide of the goal. Brendan Persley would get inbehind the Express defence and beat Devji with a nice move for his second of the night giving Vernon a 5-2 lead at 4:36 Persleys goal was unassisted. Coquitlam who was really going for the long stretch pass all night tried several times in the third sending the Express in on several odd man rushes but the Vipers defence did a great job defensively breaking up any offensive chances. Alex Kerfoot and Brady Shaw were very dangerous in the 3rd getting some good chances after some nice back and forth passing but both players couldnt find or hit the net. Just past the midway mark Riley Hunt with a burst of speed tried going wide and around the Coquitlam d-man getting a shot off in close thus being rewarded as the Express were given a minor on the play. The Vipers with a few chances were unable to capitalize as Coquitlam would kill off the minor. Mike Zalewski with two good chances in the second half couldnt find the back of the net. Todosychuk and the Vipers got lucky after a long dump in shot fooled the Viper goaltender as the puck hoped over his stick before having to fall on it. The Vipers defence then played a solid second half and shut down Coquitlam's offence giving up very little chances. Vernon would put the game out of reach late after Brendan Persley with his third of the night gave Vernon a 6-2 lead at 18:23 Turner Lawson with a nice setup pass and Patrick McGillis both collected the helpers. In the the Vipers would snap the Express eight game winning streak with a 6-2 victory. Coquitlam outshot Vernon 14-7.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Brett Corkey (1 assist) Played a solid game on the Vipers backend.
Sean Robertson was another d-man who played very well defensively for the Vipers.
Adam Tambellini (1 goal & 1 assist) played very well on Vernon's top line. This kid has a very quick release and can really hit the net-score from in close.
Colton Cyr (Scored first goal as a Viper) looked very good up front in his Vipers home debut. Really looked good with and without the puck.
Mike Zalewski (1 goal & 1 assist) Also played well up front for the Vipers. Zalewski had two real nice chances in the third.
Colton Sparrow (1 assist) Played with alot of energy, battled hard and was very strong at both ends.
Brendan Persley (3 goals) Was the Vipers best player tonight. Persley who was a great pickup has really played well with the Vipers since coming over from the Victoria Royals. Persley battled and competed hard earning all three goals.
Geoff Crisfield played well on the Vipers blueline, made a few nice heads up plays.
Ryan Renz also didnt play too bad for the Vipers tonight. Thought he made a few nice defensive plays in the 2nd period and didnt make as many mistakes tonight.
Danny Todosychuk (43 saves) Played very well between the pipes for Vernon. Todosychuk who didnt look all that great in his last start (vs Salmon Arm) looked very confident, and come up with the big saves when needed. Really kept the Vipers in the game in the 2nd period when the Express were putting on some good pressure.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Snaping a four game losing streak Vernon picks up its first victory in 2012 with a big 6-2 win over a tough Coquitlam Express team that come into tonight's game riding a eight game winning streak. The Vipers played a great opening period scoring four goals before getting outplay pretty bad in the second period. Just like last weekend vs Victoria the Vipers played a great first before looking like a different team come the middle frame. Just four shots in the 2nd tonight Vernon couldnt generate any offence playing in their own end for most of the period. I thought the Vipers played better in the 3rd (more of a defensive shutdown) and scored two big goals to put the game out of reach. This was a huge win after a 3-0 loss in Merritt last night. This team needs as many wins as possible with the season on the line. Vernon will be in tough tomorrow afternoon when they host PG.
Top Players: (Coquitlam)
John Siemer (2 goals) Was the Express best player tonight. Siemer really stood out most of the night, come up with several scoring chances. Was dangerous when with the puck, has a rocket for a shot and some quick wheels.
Malcolm McKinney played well tonight, had atleast two chances tonight.
Alex Kerfoot (2 assists) Also looked good up front for the Express, was really jumping up into the play in the third when Coquitlam was going for the long stretch passes. This kid has some wheels and was dangerous with the puck.
Brady Shaw (1 assist) Who plays with Kerfoot on the same line was also dangerous with the puck, liked to jump up into the play as well.
Game Thoughts: (Coquitlam)
Giving up three goals in the first three minutes wasnt the start Coquitlam wanted to get off too. I dont think the Express got the goaltening early as Cole Huggins looked a little shaky at times and just didnt make the saves when needed. I thought the Express could have used a timeout or changed goaltenders after Vernon's third goal to try and settle down the troops. Two back to back powerplays in the 1st (one was the five minute major) and the Express struggled going 0-2 with very little pressure. This could have changed the game and maybe given some life back into the club early. Give Coquitlam credit down 4-0 they didnt pack it in and two quick back to back goals in the second along with a very good middle frame the Express outplayed the Vipers and were right back in the game. Coquitlam just couldnt muster alot of opportunities in the third gave up two third period goals to put the game away.
Scratches:
Vernon:
John Knisley (Injured)
Darren Nowick (Injured)
Ben Gamache (Injured)
Luke Juha (Injured)
Coquitlam:
Joona Kunnas
Alex Petan
Vipers energy player of the game Mike Zalewski
3 Stars:
1st Star: Brendan Persley (3 goals)
2nd Star: John Siemer (2 goals)
3rd Star: Adam Tambellini (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=977462&link=bchl
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