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 Penticton 2-1 in front of 1,789 fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Austin Smith
Penticton: Chad Katunar
1st Period: The Vipers come ready to play the defending champs tonight and come out strong in the opening period. Vernon was moving the puck well early and generated the games first opportunity after the newly formed line of Brendan Persley, Michael Roberts and newcomer Liam Board making his Vipers debut tonight with some nice work inside the Penticton zone setup Michael Roberts in the slot who didnt get alot of wood on his shot but got off enough to make Vees starting goaltender Chad Katunar make a tough save from inside the hash marks. The Vipers carrying the better of the play especially in the first half of the period cycled the puck well down looking to create some chances in the first five minutes. The Vees would get the games first powerplay but it was the Vipers penalty kill who was sharp coming up with two not so great chances but still recorded two shots on goal and did a great job at shutting down Penticton's powerplay as the Vees struggled with the man advantage not recording a single shot as Vernon would kill off the penalty. The Vees would get their first shot on goal just seconds before the midway mark as Vernon was outshooting Penticton 7-1 at this point and in control of the game. Just past the halfway mark Penticton would get it's second powerplay of the night a little better with the man advantage but again a pretty good penalty kill by Vernon as the Vees were 0-2 with the man advantage. Penticton finally started to get their legs going and get their game going coming back with a few chances of their own but no real great scoring opportunities. In the final minute of play the Vipers with some pressure deep in the Vees zone, Geoff Crisfield couldnt handle a pass before Brad McClure beat Crisfield for the race to the puck before going in all alone on the breakaway, McClure looked to have Austin Smith beat but went high and missed the net on a great scoring chance. Not alot of scoring chances in the 1st period as Vernon carried the better of the play in the first half and Penticton came back with a better effort in the second half. I thought the Vipers had the slight edge in play overall. It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. Shots were even 10-10.
2nd Period: Just a minute into the middle frame Cam Amantea went one on one with a Viper defenceman before former West Kelowna Warriors forward Travis Blanleil joined the rush making this a two on one. Amantea was stopped by Vipers starting goalender Austin Smith before Blanleil was also stopped on the rebound. Vernon looked very sluggish and a little disorganized off the start of the 2nd period. The Vipers would get their first powerplay just before the two minute mark. Vernon would struggle with the man advantage getting hemmned in their own end while having atleast three players on the ice for the entire powerplay. The Vipers would get just a single shot in the dying seconds of the powerplay as Penticton would kill off the minor. The Vees come ready to play in the second skating hard and really moving the puck well took over the edge in play early and often. Austin Smith had to be sharp as the Vees come up with atleast five or six real good scoring chances. A turnover behind the Vipers goal setup former Salmon Arm Silver Brock Balson alone in the slot who shot and missed the entire net on a great opportunity. Just a few minutes later Bryce Eviston turned over the puck inside the blueline giving Sam Mellor a chance at the side of the goal. A quick shot from the point was redirected in front by Mellor who was stopped by Smith. Dexter Dancs was also stopped at the side of the net as the Vees with all kinds of pressure. Vernon would open the scoring after Chad Katunar come way out of his crease to try and beat Aaron Hadley to the loose puck, Katunar was not even close to the puck before being caught way out of position as Aaron Hadley hit the empty cage from the side wall giving the Vipers the 1-0 lead at 7:59 Colton Sparrow who returned to the lineup & Brett Corkey picked up the helpers. Just a few minutes later the Vipers would get their second powerplay of the period but again struggle as Penticton would kill off the penalty. Just a few minutes later the Vees would get a late powerplay but the Vipers would kill off the minor. The Vees thought they tied the game with 1:14 remaining after two Vees went crashing towards the goal stuffing the puck under Smith with no whistle on the play and no goal light the Vees started to celebrate like they scored. Right away the Vipers argued and the goal was waived off immediatley. It looked like the puck was under Austin Smith and maybe I just didnt hear a whistle. In the dying seconds Louie Nanne beat Marc Hetnik one on one before beating Smith high blocker tying the game with just 6.5 seconds left in the middle frame. Wade Murphy and Vees captain Troy Stetcher collected the assists. Penticton was by far the better of the two teams and carried most of the play getting several good scoring opportunities. The Vipers didnt generate one good scoring chance. Vernon outshot Penticton 11-8.
3rd Period: The Vees with a great chance early after Brad McClure and Sam Mellor with a parcial two on one, Mellor tried feeding McClure who couldnt connect on the pass. Just a few minutes later the hard work of the Vipers fourth line created the game winner after Brendan Persley did all the work in the corner before sending it back to the point to a wide open Ryan Renz who ripped a hard high shot that beat Katunar at 4:07 giving Vernon a 2-1 lead. Liam Board and Michael Roberts collected the assists. The Vipers who looked and played much better after a not so great second period kept coming and just four minutes later Brendan Persley was stopped in the slot after Chad Katunar come up with a big save. Then Mitch McAllister and Mitch Van Teeling on a two on one, McAllister setup Van Teeling whos backhander was stoned by Katunar who come up with a big save in close. Vernon with some good pressure had some good chances. The Vipers who played one of their best third periods of the season played very well defensively shutting down the Vees offence limiting Penticton's scoring chances to very few. One of the Vees one or two scoring chances of the period come close to tying the game after a weird bounce landed on the stick of Sam Mellor who just put the puck wide of the net. Adam Tambellini had a great chance to put Vernon up by two was robbed by Katunar who made a huge pad-leg save off Tambellini on a parcial breakaway. Once the Vipers got into the second half of the period it was dump and chase from here on in as the Vipers kept it simple and played very well defensively winding the clock down. Penticton would call a timeout with 1:11 remaining and brought Chad Katunar to the bench for the extra attacker, winning the draw the Vees had two good chances in close but missed the net before sending Vernon to the powerplay with just over a minute left. The Vipers would move the puck around killing off as much time as possible before the Vees would get Katunar to the bench for a second time but Penticton would run out of time as the Vipers would pick up a huge 2-1 victory on the road against the defending champions. Vernon with some good chances was the better of the two teams in the final frame coming away with a gutsy road win. Penticton outshot Vernon 9-5.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Michael Statchuk played a pretty solid game on the Vipers blueline.
The Vipers fourth line of Michael Roberts (1 assist), Brendan Persley & Liam Board (1 assist) was Vernon's best line tonight. Off their opening shift I liked what I saw and noticed them every shift they were out their. This line played and worked hard all night, went hard to the net all game and created and generated chances. I like the looks of newcomer Liam Board, this kid has some decent size and a nose for the net. Seems to read and see the ice very well.
Pearce Eviston didnt put up any numbers but I thought he worked hard, battled and went up and down the ice doing his job. Won some key battles and races for the puck and was very noticable in the third wearing down the clock eating some time off the clock battling along the boards.
Jedd Soleway was another kid who didnt have any real scoring opportunities or good chances but played and battled hard. Won some of them key battles along the end wall and come out with the puck after a scrum along the wall.
Ryan Renz (1 goal) Played very well for the Vipers at both ends of the rink. Renz looked very good on the Vipers backend.
Austin Smith (26 saves) Again Smith has kept the Vipers in alot of hockey games this season and tonight was another example. With the Vipers up 1-0 in the 2nd period Penticton had atleast five or six real good chances but it was Smith who kept Vernon in the game, giving his team a chance to win.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
With the win tonight the Vipers snapped a six game losing streak against Penticton. The Vipers last win over the Vees was a 7-1 victory at home back on November, 2nd 2011 and the Vipers also picked up their first win in Penticton in two years. The last win in Penticton was a 5-0 win back on October, 22nd 2010 What a way to finish the four game road trip with a huge 2-1 win over the defending RBC Cup Champions. The Vipers now return home after going 2-2 on their road trip face the Vees tomorrow night in the second game of the home & home series. Other then the 2nd period I thought tonight was a great hockey game. Give Vernon credit for coming up with a gutsy road win in Penticton. I thought the Vipers struggled with the powerplay but looked very good on the penalty kill. The Vipers who havnt done very well with one goal leads or trying to close out a hockey game with a one or two goal lead havnt had much success. Tonight was a different story I thought the Vipers played very well in the 3rd and did a great job defensively and limiting the Vees scoring opportunities. Having won two straight lets hope this team can finally get some momentum and try and get on a long winning streak with some consistancy.
Top Players: (Penticton)
Ryan Gropp played and looked very good up front for the Vees.
Cody DePourcq showed lots of speed and hustle
Louie Nanne (1 goal) Had a few opportunities and looked good at times
Cam Amantea Impressed me alot tonight. This kid was up in the play getting involved in a few opportunities.
Travis Blanleil who always seems to play well against Vernon played very well tonight. Battled and competed hard all game.
Brad McClure another Vee who battled and competed hard all night, had a few chances looked good for Penticton.
Chad Katunar (24 saves) Would like to have back the Vipers first goal after making a bad decission allowing for Aaron Hadley to hit the open cage giving Vernon the 1-0 lead. Other then that play Katunar come up with some big saves especially in the third keeping the Vees in the game until the final buzzer.
Game Thoughts: (Penticton)
The Vees who ran away with the league last season are beatable and it showed tonight and especially over the last nine games where Penticton has just three wins. Dont get me wrong the Vees are 1st in the Interior Division and have a good team but they are beatable. I dont think the Vipers saw the best out of the Vees tonight. Penticton played well and looked good at times but I dont think this was one of their better games this season. You can bet Fred Harbinson will have the Vees ready for the re-match in Vernon tomorrow night. Just like the Vipers I didnt think the Vees powerplay looked very good and at times the Vees just wernt skating. This team is once again quick and very good skaters but they dont have that lethal offensive punch they had last season where it seemed like almost every shift they scored. Overall a great game to watch, looking forward to the game tomorrow night in Vernon.
Scratches:
Vernon:
TJ Dumonceaux (Injured)
Craig Martin (Injured)
Landon Robin
Penticton:
Mike Rebry
Robert Mann
Vees Energy Player Of The Game:
Cody DePourcq
Three Stars:
1st Star: Austin Smith (26 saves)
2nd Star: Ryan Renz (Game Winner)
3rd Star: Chad Katunar (24 saves)
For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1102946&link=bchl
For more on tonight's game & the Penticton Vees visit Fraser Rodgers Penticton Vees blog,
http://pentictonvees.wordpress.com/
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