For anyone who could not attend or watch tonight’s Vipers game here are my
thoughts and views from tonight’s game. You may agree or disagree but we all
have our own view and opinion on any game we watch. This is my opinion and my
thoughts on how I saw tonight’s game. I try to be unbiased and give a fare recap
on both sides. Thanks for stopping by & visiting my blog.
I was at tonight's BCHL game as Vernon defeated West Kelowna 2-1 in overtime in front of 1,526 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Austin Smith
West Kelowna: Tyler Briggs
1st Period: The Warriors won the opening draw, got the play in deep and off a Vipers turnover inside their own zone veteran Brett McKinnon beat Austin Smith but hit the post about thirty seconds into the contest. The Vipers with several turnovers in their own end in the opening few minutes as the Warriors with good push carried the edge in play early. Just minutes into the game the Vipers would get their first opportunity of the night after a three on two, Adam Tambellini carried the puck in over the West Kelowna blueline before dishing off to Mitch Van Teeling who setup a wide open Brett Corkey who jumped up into the play, Corkey with a hard wrist shot couldnt beat Tyler Briggs who come out to challange making the save. Back come West Kelowna, Brent Lashuk with a hard low shot from the slot but couldnt beat Smith who made a huge left toe save through traffic. The Vipers who made several mistakes all night coughed up or turned over the puck atleast six or seven times in just the opening five minutes as the Warriors come right back with some good pressure. Former Vernon Viper forward Marcus Basara with lots of jump early had two good chances in front, missing the net on his first shot and couldnt beat Smith on his second opportunity. A very physical first period with Vernon laying out the first three checks of the night before West Kelowna come right back with a few big hits of their own as both teams come out hitting in the first period. Reid Simmonds took a big check in the corner and looked a little slow coming off the ice but was ok and stayed in the game. The Warriors who had lots of jump are very quick and really took it to the Vipers early and often. Matt Anholt with a great chance on the wrap around couldnt beat Austin Smith. Vernon with very little offensive attack couldnt get out of their own end as West Kelowna was outplaying the Vipers in the first half. On a scramble in front of Austin Smith at the 10:30 mark the Warriors thought they had opened the scoring, but referee Brandon Liefke waived off the goal imedetley before Liefke and the linesmen gathered before talking to the goal judge. West Kelowna was celebrating after the goal before the goal was called off saying the puck did not cross the goal line. Just three minutes later Adam Tambellini carried the puck over the Warriors blueline before ripping a hard wrist shot top shelf beating Tyler Briggs at 13:02 giving Vernon the 1-0 lead, Tambellini's goal was unassisted. This goal seemed to give the Vipers some life as Vernon slowly started to get their game going and played much better the final seven minutes. The Vipers with back to back chances late slowly started to get the offence going. TJ Dumonceaux was setup in front at the side of the crease couldnt connect on the pass on a close call in front. The Warriors who come out strong outplayed the Vipers in the first half but it was the Vipers who opened the scoring and were the better the team in the second half. Vernon was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 12-10.
2nd Period: West Kelowna got off to a quick start moving the puck well, as the Warriors were once again all over the Vipers. West Kelowna was quicker, had alot more jump and won most of the battles all night. The Vipers just couldnt get much offence going all night. David Pope took a check along the boards and was very slow going to the bench before heading to the dressing room but did return. The Vipers would lose Mitch Van Teeling after he was slow to get off and didnt return. Marcus Basara with a chance at the side of the goal tried stuffing one shortside past Austin Smith but Smith who played very well stood his ground and kept the puck out. The Warriors really carried the better of the play early but didnt get alot of offensive chances. West Kelowna was outshooting Vernon 7-3 at the half mark. Just before the midway mark Braxton Bilous dropped the gloves with Brendan Persley. Bilous would also pick up a ten minute misconduct after the scrap. Just past the midway mark West Kelowna would get the games first powerplay, Shawn Hochhausen was left all alone in front but couldnt beat Smith who made a huge save. David Pope on a odd man rush couldnt capitalize after missing the open cage on a great chance as West Kelowna couldnt capitalize after Vernon killed off the minor. Shortly after Adam Tambellini with a wrap around couldnt beat Tyler Briggs who stayed with Tambellini come across the crease to make a nice pad save. This was Vernon's only real good scoring chance of the period. The Warriors then with some push, couldnt hit the net after getting atleast five or six good opportunities but missed the net. The play seemed to slow down a little as both teams couldnt generate much offence. Both teams went several minutes without a shot on goal. The Vipers finally got some pressure in the final minute before the period came to an end. The Warriors outplayed the Vipers the entire period but didnt come up with alot of real good chances. Vernon was up 1-0 after 40 minutes of play. The Warriors outshot the Vipers 12-6.
3rd Period: 1:27 into the final frame David Pope fed Seb Lloyd who turned on the jets beat the two Vernon defenders going in for the breakaway before beating Austin Smith fivehole on a nice goal tying the game 1-1. Pope and Brett Zarazun collected the helpers. The Vipers come right back with a great chance early after Pearce Eviston setup Colton Sparrow in front who couldnt couldnt handle the pass as the puck just hopped over his stick on a Viper two on one. The Vipers would then get an early powerplay and struggle. Vernon couldnt generate anything with the man advantage as the Warriors held the Vipers off the shot clock killing off the minor. The Vipers who again were outplayed in the first half had just two shots on goal in the first half. West Kelowna who again carried the better of the play couldnt generate alot of offence. I didnt notice Marcus Basara for atleast the first eight-ten minutes before he was out for a regular shift for the remainder of the game. I also didnt notice Warriors captain Max French on the bench or the ice for the entire third period and overtime. The Warriors with a flurry of chances in close couldnt beat Smith who somehow kept the puck out with a pile of bodies in front. The Vipers would get their second powerplay of the night and period just past the midway mark but again struggle as West Kelowna was able to kill off the minor. The play then would slow down with either team not getting many shots or generating chances as the play really slowed down for several minutes. Both teams didnt record a shot on goal for atleast three minutes or so. West Kelowna come close to taking the lead on some nice passing before Matt Anholt couldnt beat Smith on the rebound. Smith gave the Vipers a chance to win and kept his club in tonight's game. The play really opened up in the final minute after Adam Tambellini who saw alot of icetime in the final few minutes ripped a hard shot from the circle that was stopped by Briggs who just got a peice of the puck but the puck somehow got through his glove-shoulder come out the other side rolling back towards the crease before the Warriors were able to clear the puck on a close call. Vernon seemed to step up their play in the final minute of play and really cranked up the offence getting three real good chances. In the dying seconds Brett Corkey carried the play in across the West Kelowna blueline before setting up a wide open TJ Dumonceaux who was robbed by Tyler Briggs who made a huge pad save on a game saver. Briggs had to be sharp in the final minute after the Vipers had some of their best chances of the period. West Kelowna was again the better of the two teams but give the Vipers credit they hung in their and were rewarded with atleast an extra point heading into overtime. It was 1-1 after 60 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 9-7.
Overtime: Marcus Basara alone in front in the opening minute with a great chance to beat his former club couldnt handle the puck in close on a great chance in close. The play then really opened up as both teams went back and forth with no real good scoring opportunities before in the final minute of overtime Pearce Eviston setup Vernon product Colton Sparrow who beat Briggs at 4:11 for the OT winner as the Vipers bench erupted onto the ice. The Warriors bench was screaming towards referee Brandon Liefke, as several players were banging their sticks against the boards in anger. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 1-0.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Brett Corkey who has played very well almost every game this season once again played a strong game on the Vipers backend. Corkey who coughed up the puck once tonight played well at both ends of the rink, making some smart plays.
Marc Hetnik I thought played very well defensively. Hetnik looked very calm and confident tonight.
Adam Tambellini (1 goal) I dont know where the Vipers would be offensively tonight without Tambellini. The Vipers who didnt generate alot of offensive chances tonight, did on most occasions by #9 who created most of the Vipers chances tonight.
Austin Smith (33 saves) Smith was the difference tonight as the Vipers relied on their veteran goaltender most of the night to bail them out of trouble. Smith who played very well gave his team a chance to win and kept the Vipers in the game all night. Was very good positionally and in close. Didnt give up alot of rebounds.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
After a tough 4-2 loss last night in Penticton I didnt think Vernon played or looked very good tonight for most of the game. I thought the Vipers played and looked much better last night in Penticton. The Vipers with atleast six or seven turnovers in their own end in the first five minutes of the game, turned over the puck lots, made several mistakes, some very poor passes and were caught out of position alot tonight giving the Warriors several odd man rushes. The Vipers powerplay was pretty bad and has struggled for the last three or four games now. Vernon looked tired or sluggish most of the night, everyone just seemed to be on a different page tonight, very disorganised for most of the night. I thought Vernon was very lucky to have the lead most of the night and very lucky to come away with the win. This game should have never gone to overtime if it wasnt for Austin Smith. Give the Vipers credit they didnt quit, they did come on late in all three periods and had some good chances but couldnt put together a full twenty minute period. Overall I thought they were outplayed, outhit and lost most of the one on one battles. This was a big Division game and moves the Vipers to within three points of the Warriors, it also snaps the Vipers three game losing streak. I love the new Vipers third set jerseys (Florida Panthers home jerseys) Very sharp looking.
Top Players: (West Kelowna)
Seb Lloyd (1 goal) Played very well tonight, was very good with and without the puck. Battled and competed hard all night.
Marcus Basara played with alot of jump in his game tonight. The former Viper was very dangerous in the opening period in and around the Vipers net. Basara with several good chances tonight.
Matt Anholt was another kid who played with alot of jump, this kid battled all night, really worked hard and come up with a few chances.
Matthew Berry played very well defensively for the Warriors.
Game Thoughts: (West Kelowna)
I was very impressed with the Warriors tonight. This club is very quick, & moves the puck well. West Kelowna come to play tonight and really took it to the Vipers most of the entire game. The Warriors outplayed, outhit and won the battles. West Kelowna had the Vipers back on their heels and just barley hanging on late in the third couldnt put the game away. The Warriors who didnt generate alot of good chances carried the play for several minutes at a time not givivng up, and working very hard to stay with the puck and win the battle for the rebounds. I saw several plays tonight where Vernon had the puck and the Warriors come out with the puck or even outraced a Viper for a rebound and come out with the puck on the second opportunity. The Warriors played hard and never quit, if they could have capitalized on some of their chances this game would have never gone to overtime.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Mitch McAllister (Injured)
Braeden Russell (Injured)
Jedd Soleway
West Kelowna:
Jake Uglem
Garrett Rockafellow
Vipers energy player of the game:
Logan Mick
Three Stars:
1st Star: Colton Sparrow (Overtime winner)
2nd Star: Seb Lloyd (1 goal)
3rd Star: Austin Smith (33 saves)
For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1102833&link=bchl
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