I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 10-1 in front of 1,448 fans at the Shaw Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Kirby Halcrow
Salmon Arm: Kurt Williams
1st Period: In the opening minute Brett Corkey with a nice long pass found a streaking Marc Hetnik who went in on the parcial breakaway but missed the net on a great chance for the Vipers to open the scoring. Just a few minutes later Garrett Hendrickson with a great chance at the side of the net just missed the far corner on a great chance for the Silverbacks to open the scoring. Colton Cyr with a shot from the slot beat Kurt Williams but hit the post. Darren Nowick saved a goal early in tonight's game after a screened shot from the point got through traffic and Kirby Halcrow, Nowick was quick to clear the loose puck from the crease out of harms way. Just shortly after Vernon would open the scoring after Darren Nowick setup Mike Zalewski from the circle who went post and in beating Kurt Willaims at 6:38 giving the Vipers the early 1-0 lead. Nowick and John Knisley with the assists. Back come the Silverbacks, off the draw Salmon Arm got the play in deep setting up Sean Flanagan at the side of the net but Kirby Halcrow come up with a big save. Salmon Arm would then get the games first powerplay, moving the puck well the Vipers did a great job at blocking the shooting lanes not giving any room for quality shots as Salmon Arm was unable to really get pucks towards the net. The Silverbacks did get one real good scoring chance after Sean Flanagan's point shot got through traffic in front, Kirby Halcrow come out to challenge making the save but the puck snuck through his pads coming out the other end before Ryan Renz cleared the puck from the crease up into the netting behind the glass as Vernon would kill off the minor. I thought Salmon Arm carried the better of the play in the first half but the Vipers were up 1-0. In the second half Vernon stepped up their play and slowly started to come along. Ryan Renz with a shot from the slot would beat Williams but ring off the post. Aaron Hadley then setup Colton Cyr on a parcial two on one but Cyr couldnt beat Kurt Williams who made a nice pad save at the side of the crease. The Vipers would get their first powerplay of the night but couldnt capitalize. Just after the powerplay John Knisley setup Brendan Persley who beat Williams at 16:53 giving Vernon a 2-0 lead. Knisley and Darren Nowick with the helpers. The Backs would get a late powerplay before Salmon Arm would take a penalty wich made for some four on four hockey before the Vipers would get a late powerplay. Adam Tambellini setup John Knisley in front who put Vernon up 3-0 at 19:53, Tambellini and Colton Sparrow with the assists on the play. At the buzzer Colton Sparrow dropped the gloves with Graham McBain. The Vipers come back with a solid effort in the second half and were the better of the two teams scoring twice. Shots were even 8-8 at the midway mark as Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 10-1 in the second half. The Vipers with a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 18-9.
2nd Period: Just 1:39 into the middle frame Brendan Persley with his second of the night put Vernon up 4-0 with the assists going to, Adam Tambellini and Aaron Hadley. The Silverbacks come right back just a minute and a half later after Devin Muller with a nice move inside the Vipers blueline, walked in and beat Halcrow on a shot that looked to have been deflected on it's way towards the net, but Muller would get the goal at 2:54 getting the Backs on the scoreboard. Sean Flanagan and Morgan Zulinick with the assists. Salmon Arm kept coming and carried the early edge in play but Kirby Halcrow who played one of his better games of the season come up with some big saves looking very confident between the pipes. Salmon Arm would get an early powerplay, Morgan Zulinick would get robbed at the side of the net after Halcrow come across making a huge pad save as the Vipers would kill off the minor. The Silverbacks carried the better of the play in the first half as the Vipers just couldnt get into the Backs zone. Just past the midway mark Vipers captain, Patrick McGillis was hauled down on a breakaway giving the 20 yr old forward a penalty shot in his final Junior hockey game. McGillis with a nice move would beat Williams giving Vernon a 5-1 lead at 14:18. This seemed to get the Vipers going as Vernon who was outplayed at times in the 2nd dominated the final five minutes. Just under a minute later Aaron Hadley setup Adam Tambellini who gave the Vipers a 6-1 lead. Hadley and Brett Corkey with the helpers. Just over a minute later Darren Nowick setup John Knisley who come down the wing and roofed his shot high and over Kurt Williams giving the Vipers a 7-1 lead at 16:20, Nowick with the only assist on the goal. Jeff Kennedy would get a great chance down low but again Kirby Halcrow robbed Kennedy at the side of the net making a big pad save. With the Silverbacks on the man advantage Ben Gamache setup Aaron Hadley who put Vernon up 8-1 19:36 Gamache with the only assist on the goal. At the buzzer tempers heated up as former Vipers d-man, Bennett Hambrook and Colton Sparrow exchanged shots with one another as a little scrum occured. Salmon Arm would get a penalty as both teams would start the 3rd four on four before Vernon would get a late powerplay. The Vipers looked very good in the final five or so minutes and burried their chances. The Vipers with a 8-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 17-12.
3rd Period: Both teams started the final period four on four before the Vipers would get a late powerplay. Salmon Arm would kill off the penalty. It looked as if Salmon Arm just wanted to end the game and wrap up the season as the Vipers carried the play and controlled the entire period. The Vipers would get several good chances through out the 3rd period. Aaron Hadley, Adam Tambellini and John Knisley all with real good scoring opportunities. Salmon Arm with not alot of offensive chances did get several odd man rushes but it was the solid defensive play by Vernon who would get back in time to break up any opportunity before the Backs could setup for a scoring chance. Colton Sparrow one on one with a Silverbacks d-man just got around his man before ripping a hard high shot that beat Kurt Williams who didnt even move on Sparrow's shot giving Vernon a 9-1 lead at 7:26 Brett Corkey and Darren Nowick with the assists. Just past the halfway mark Vernon would get a shot with the man advantage, Geoff Crisfield who was moved up front had a great chance to get his first BCHL goal but was robbed by Kurt Williams who made a huge save down low. Crisfield would get the last laugh after scoring his first career BCHL goal on the next shift giving the Vipers a 10-1 lead as the Vipers bench erupted. Mike Zalewski and John Knisley with the helpers. Just two minutes later tempers heated up once again after a big hit in the corner deep in the Vipers zone, Brett Corkey dropped the gloves with Derek Hendrickson. Corkey and Hendrickson would both get tossed from the game. Aaron Hadley on a wrap around just about made it 11-1 Vernon as the Vipers dominated the 3rd outplaying the Silverbacks in all areas. In the end the Vipers would win their final game of the regular season 10-1 and take the home and home series vs Salmon Arm over the weekend. The Vipers would win the season series 5-3. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 16-6.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Brett Corkey (2 assists) Corkey played a real strong game on the Vipers backend tonight. Played well at both ends of the rink, was jumping up into the play. Made some real smart heds up passes and plays tonight. Made atleast three strong defensive plays too.
Adam Tambellini (1 goal & 2 assists) Played very good up front for Vernon. Tambellini who has really come along the last few months was dangerous with the puck tonight. Looking for alot from him next season.
Colton Cyr I thought played very well in the opening period but didnt really notice him as much in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Had a great chance to open the scoring early in the 1st but hit the post.
John Knisley (2 goals & 3 assists) Probally played or had (points wise) one of his best games as a Viper in his final game as a Vernon Viper. It seemed what ever Knisley shot on net went in. Was really flying all game.
Aaron Hadley (1 goal & 2 assists) Was also very strong for the Vipers tonight. Hadley who dissapointed me early in the season has really come along ways and played his best hockey of the season the last few months. Is very hard to knock off the puck, was in and around the net all night tonight.
Darren Nowick (4 assists) Nowick played a little defence tonight but really read the ice well tonight setting up four goals. Nowick will really be missed next season, one of the hardest working kids to wear a Vipers jersey.
Colton Sparrow (1 goal & 1 assist) Played with alot of energy, and got involved in the after the whistle activity. Sparrow who was a target for the Silverbacks in both games this weekend, seemed to really get under the skin of several Salmon Arm players in the home and home series. Scored a real nice goal in the 3rd.
Brendan Persley (2 goals) Played a hard nosed strong game up front for the Vipers. Persley who was a big addition to the Vipers lineup this season also seems to get under the skin of several players on a nightly basis.
Kirby Halcrow (26 saves) Played his final Junior game tonight and was one of his better-stronger games of the season. Halcrow who hasnt been as strong-solid as he was in past seasons looked to have alot of confidence tonight. Didnt give up alot of rebounds and made some big saves through out tonights game.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Well the 2011-12 Vernon Vipers season comes to an end with a 10-1 victory over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. For the first time in all my years watching Junior hockey in Vernon, watching these last two games that ment nothing was a first for me. I have never watched a game that was a mean nothing game. It was very hard to really get excited about last night's and tonight's games when they didnt mean anything. It was nice to see the Vipers come up with a big 4-3 overtime win last night and pull out a win in the teams final home game of the season and then to come out tonight and win 10-1 in front of a fair amount of Viper fans who made the trip up to Salmon Arm. Tonight was just Vernon's second win on the road since mid November. The Vipers with just two wins in their last twenty road games. I thought in the first two periods the Vipers got off to a bit of a slow start as Salmon Arm carried the better of the play but as both periods went on, Vernon was the better of the two teams in the second half. In the 3rd it was all Vipers as they dominated. I thought the Vipers defence played very well tonight, broke up alot of Silverback odd man rushes. The Vipers also scored on their chances and come up with some nice goals. After missing the BCHL playoffs for the first time since the 2000-2001 season I would have to say this year was very dissapointing. With a pretty big group of players returning from last year I was expecting a much different finish to the regular season. I know the Vipers wont and arnt going to win the RBC Cup every year but I thought they would have done alot better with the team they had and the players returning. Yes this year we saw alot of injuries but I didnt think the team improved as the season went on, the Vipers also struggled on the road and all season the team was very uncosistant. Other then a 7-0 start to the season, the Vipers just couldnt pull together a decent winning streak. That eleven game winless streak back in November-December also didnt help this team when they were basically fighting for a final playoff spot all season. After going to three straight RBC Cups, winning two Viper fans have been very spoiled the past three years as well as overall winning six National Championships. Viper fans expect nothing less then a National Chmapionship year after year, and that puts alot of pressure on Duncan Wray, the coaches, the scouts, and the players. I myself went and followed the Vipers to the last three Royal Bank Cups so with the Vipers season all but over in early March, it's going to take some time to get use too. With no playoffs this season, it's going to be one long summer. Id like to take this time to thank and wish all of the Vipers graduating players who wont be returning next season. Thank you all for being a Vernon Viper and sharing some great memories. I wish you all nothing but the best in your hockey career or life journey. & to the players returning, I hope you can look back at this season and see everything that went wrong, and take that bitter taste from your mouth and come back ready and roaring to start next season and show us Viper fans what your made of.
Here is a look at the possible players that could return for next season,
Adam Tambellini
Aaron Hadley
Brett Corkey
Colton Sparrow
Jedd Soleway
Ryan Renz
Marc Hetnik
Brendan Persley
Geoff Crisfield
Max Mowat
Riley Hunt
Turner Lawson
Danny Todosychuk
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Sean Flanagan (1 assist) I thought the Backs d-man was the only real Salmon Arm player that stood out for me. Flanagan played well on the blueline and come up with a few real good opportunities in the opening period.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
I thought the Backs played well to start the 1st and 2nd periods but like I said previously the Vipers really got going and played better in the second half of both periods. Kurt Williams didnt look like the same goaltender from last night. I have no idea why they would leave him in for ten goals in his final Junior hockey game. I wasnt expecting a final score like this in a game where their was basically no hitting. A pretty good crowd on hand for the final home game of the season. The Silverbacks didnt look like the same team from last night.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat (Injured)
Luke Juha (Injured)
Riley Hunt (Injured)
Turner Lawson (Injured)
Jedd Soleway
Salmon Arm:
Taylor Love
3 Stars:
1st Star: John Knisley (2 goals & 3 assists)
2nd Star: Adam Tambellini (1 goal & 2 assists)
3rd Star: Myles McCauley
For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=977775&link=bchl
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