I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 4-3 in overtime in front of 2,274 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Danny Todosychuk
Salmon Arm: Kurt Williams
1st Period: In the first minute of play the Vipers with a great chance to open the scoring, John Knisley fed Darren Nowick at the side of the goal with a wide open cage but Nowick couldnt connect on the pass. Vernon would get the games first powerplay just 1:39 into the 1st period. With some good pressure deep in the Silverbacks zone the Vipers didnt get alot of chances and couldnt record a single shot with the man advantage. The Vipers with one solid chance but Colton Sparrow ripped his shot from the slot high and over the net as Salmon Arm would kill off the penalty. The Vipers kept coming with tons of pressure really taking it to the Backs early and often. Kurt Williams come across the crease to rob John Knisley at the side of the net making his biggest save of the night. Brendan Persley with a chance at the side of the net was stopped by Williams. The Vipers carried the better of the play and were outshooting the Silverbacks 7-1 at this point. Aaron Hadley and Ryan Renz with a two on one, but Williams come out to challenge making the big stop off Renz. Williams kept Salmon Arm in the game for the opening period otherwise the Vipers could have easily had a 4 or 5-0 lead. The Vipers fired everything towards the net missing the goal on atleast six or seven chances. The Silverbacks with no pressure couldnt get the puck out of their own end to generate any offence but would get their first scoring opportunity of the night just before the midway mark after Devin Muller tried banging away a loose puck in the crease. Just past the midway mark the Backs would get their first powerplay of the night. Mike Berry's point shot with traffic in front got through as Danny Todosychuk made a tough save as the Silverbacks only managed the lone scoring chance as Vernon would kill off the minor. Salmon Arm would slowly get some action down in the Vernon zone but didnt get any real good scoring chances. In the final minute of play the Vipers would get the play in deep, with a flurry around the Backs net Brendan Persley beat Kurt Williams but hit the post before Adam Tambellini jumped on the rebound beating Williams at 19:40 giving Vernon the 1-0 lead. Persley and Brett Corkey collected the assists. At the buzzer Colton Sparrow and three Silverbacks exchanged words before the linesmen broke up the little scrum. The Vipers were by far the better of the two teams outplaying the Silverbacks for most of the period getting lots of good scoring chances. Vernon with a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 16-9.
2nd Period: The Vipers come out flying to start the middle frame getting the play in deep and really getting some pressure deep in the Salmon Arm zone but didnt generate any real scoring chances. Just shortly after tempers slowly started to heat up after a stopage in play as some pushing and shoving started before a few punches were thrown. The Silverbacks slowly started to get their game going, Morgan Zulinick's shot from behind the goal line hit Sean Robertson in front of the Vipers net as the puck went off Robertson and bounced towards the crease on a close call. The Backs carried the better of the play in the first half before Vernon would get a powerplay at the midway mark. The Vipers with some good pressure setup Adam Tambellini at the side of the net, with an open cage Tambellini hit the outside side of the netting missing on a great scoring opportunity as Salmon Arm would kill off the penalty. This was the Vipers only real good scoring chance of the entire period. Just shortly after Ryan Renz with a nice move at the Backs blueline carried the puck into the Silverbacks zone, nobody went back to cover Renz and on a turnover allowed the Morgan Zulinick and Sean Flanagan a two on one, Zulinick setup Flanagan who was stopped by Danny Todosychuk. Just a few shifts later Todosychuk was forced to make another save off Jeff Kennedy. Salmon Arm would get a late two man advantage that would carry into the 3rd period. The Vipers got off to a good start but Salmon Arm carried most of the play in the middle frame in a period where there wasnt alot of scoring chances. The Vipers were up 1-0 after 40 minutes of play. Shots were even 11-11.
3rd Period: The Silverbacks started the period with a very short two man advantage, with just a few seconds remaining in the first penalty the Vipers couldnt hold off the Backs as Salmon Arm got the play in deep off the opening draw, Morgan Zulinick setup Myles McCauley who beat Todosychuk at 1:08 tying the game 1-1. Zulinick and Devin Muller with the helpers. Just three minutes later the Silverbacks would get another powerplay and once again capitalize after Travis Stephens beat Todosychuk at 6:28 giving Salmon Arm their first lead of the night. Shane Hanna and Sean Flanagan with the assists. The Silverbacks kept coming with some good pressure as the Vipers couldnt get much going with just one shot in the first nine minutes of play. Salmon Arm carried the play early but didnt really generate any good scoring chances. Vernon would finally get through the neutral zone and come up with a great chance. Ben Gamache come down the right wing setting up Geoff Crisfield who walked in from the slot and wired a hard high shot that missed the goal. The Vipers kept coming and with some hard work Aaron Hadley setup Marc Hetnik who walked in and ripped his shot just under the crossbar beating wich looked to be a screened Kurt Williams at 9:42 tying the game 2-2 on just the Vipers second shot of the period. Hadley and Adam Tambellini with the assists. The play then really slowed down with not alot of action at either ends of the rink. With five minutes remaining tempers heated up again as Geoff Crisfield and James Friedel got tangled up before both players got into a pushing and shoving match, as both players were given ten minute misconducts and had an early shower. Not alot of action or scoring opportunities at both ends of the rink as both teams looked sluggish at times in a game where both teams wont be in this years playoffs. Aaron Hadley then with a great chance to win the contest went hard towards the goal but couldnt jam the puck past Williams. With under two minutes remaining John Knisley setup Mike Zalewski in front who undressed Kurt Williams giving Vernon a 3-2 lead at 18:27, Knisley and Darren Nowick picked up the assists. Salmon Arm would call a timeout and in the final minute of play get a late powerplay. With Williams on the bench for the extra attacker the Vipers couldnt clear the zone, Morgan Zulinick setup Myles McCauley who walked into the slot and blasted home the game tying goal at 19:39 sending the game to overtime. Zulinick with the lone assist. The Backs looked good early and carried the better of the play for most of the first half but neither team looked all that good in the second half. It was tied 3-3 after 60 minutes of play. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 7-5.
Overtime: Mike Zalewski carried the puck in over the blueline off the opening faceoff and with a wrist shot from the top of the circle Zalewski's harmless looking shot took a funny bounce and got by Kurt Williams just missing the far corner by inches. No real scoring opportunities as both teams couldnt get much going before Ben Gamache setup Colton Cyr for the game winner at 3:35 as the Vipers poured onto the ice in their final home game of the season winning 4-3 in overtime. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 2-1.
Top Players: (Vernon)
The line of Aaron Hadley (1 assist), Brendan Persley (1 assist) & Adam Tambellini (1 goal & 1 assist) was the Vipers best line tonight. This line played with alot of energy, hustled and battled hard all game. Persley played very physical all night, Hadley was really flying, creating and generating offensive chances as well Tambellini who was in and around the net often.
Marc Hetnik (1 goal & 1 assist) Played very well on the Vernon backend. Hetnik played well at both ends of the rink.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The Vipers who played their final home game of 2011-12 won their 10th straight at home. The Vipers looked very good in the opening period, really took it to the Silverbacks and outplayed Salmon Arm for most of the entire period. If it wasnt for Kurt Williams the Vipers could have easily had a 4 or 5-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Vernon come out flying to start the 2nd period but after a few minutes didnt really have that same jump or intensity. The Vipers wernt the same club after the 1st period not nearly getting as many chances and shots as compared to the opening period. The Vipers had troubles defensively and on the penalty kill most of the night. Not one of the most exciting games but it was nice to see the boys pull out a win for the fans in the final home game of the season. In all my years watching Junior hockey in Vernon (22 years with season tickets) this is the first time ever I have gone to a Vipers game where the game has ment nothing.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Mike Berry I thought played very well on the Silverbacks blueline.
Morgan Zulinick (2 assists) Was the Backs best player tonight. Was very good with and without the puck. A very smooth skating forward who was dangerous anytime with the puck. Really created and generated alot of chances for Salmon Arm.
Travis Stephens (1 goal) A bigger kid used his size and body in and around the net. Played fairly well most of the night.
Myles McCauley (2 goals) Was also strong up front for the Silverbacks. McCauley scored twice as also dangerous with the puck. Seems to play the Vipers well all season.
Kurt Williams (30 saves) Kurt Williams gave Salmon Arm a chance to win after the 1st period making several big saves keeping his team in the game. Williams played very well but didnt see alot of action after the opening period.
Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)
The Silverbacks who have now lost seven straight didnt look good in the opening period but seemed to play a little better as the game went along. The Backs went 3-5 with the man advantage and played well on specialty teams. The Silverbacks didnt get alot of scoring chances but were the better of the two teams in the 2nd and 3rd periods. This season series has been played tight between both teams all season as Vernon now leads the season series 4-3 with a re-match tomorrow night in Salmon Arm.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Max Mowat (Injured)
Luke Juha (Injured)
Turner Lawson (Injured)
Riley Hunt (Injured)
Salmon Arm:
3 Stars:
1st Star: Colton Cyr (Overtime Winner)
2nd Star: Myles McCauley (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=977685&link=bchl
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