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 Coqichan Valley 3-2 in overtime in front of 1,590 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Danny Todosychuk
Cowichan Valley: Connor LaCouvee
1st Period: Just twenty seconds into the opening frame the Capitals won the draw come down on an odd man rush as Dane Gibson setup Mikael Jung going towards the goal and with a clash of players going hard towards Danny Todosychuk and the Viper goal the Caps looked to have scored on the first play of the game but referee Dexter Rasmussen held up his arms as Cowichan Valley celebrated the goal. The referee and linesmen got together calling it a goal as it looked as if the Caps may have kicked or redirected the puck into the net but also looked like the net had come off on the play. After all was said and done Garrett Skrbich was rewarded with the goal at the twenty second mark. Dane Gibson and Mikael Jung collected the assists. The Vipers come right back off the following faceoff, winning the draw Mason Blacklock and Liam Board went in for the breakaway, Blacklock setup Board who was in alone but put his backhand wide of the net missing a great opportunity to tie the game. Vernon looked flat and didnt have much jump or energy early as the Caps were ready to go from the drop of the puck. Cowichan Valley who was the better of the two teams early carried the better of the play in the opening four to five minutes. The Capitals worked the puck around setting up d-man Jarrett Brown whos shot from the circle was stopped by Vipers starting goaltender Danny Todosychuk who come across the crease to make a nice save in the opening few minutes. Cowichan with some good pressure early could only muster the lone goal before the Vipers slowly got going. Brendan Persley falling to his knees had a wide open cage but wich looked to be a rolling puck couldnt get enough wood on the puck hitting the post before the puck rolled through the crease and out the other side on a very close call. The Vipers who picked up their game played much better as the period went on and outplayed the Caps for the remainder of the period getting some great chances. Andrew Tegeler setup Mason Blacklock who was in close but again missed the net. Vernon would get the games first powerplay and off the draw Craig Martin with a chance in close come up with two wacks at the puck getting two chances in front. The Vipers with a very good powerplay, had good pressure and some good chances but couldnt capitalize. The Vipers would get their second man advantage of the period just past the halfway mark and another good powerplay by Vernon. Colton Sparrow who played very well this evening made a nice move inside the hash marks setup TJ Dumonceaux in the slot who just whistled his shot high and over the top corner before Ryan Renz jumped up into the play ripping a hard shot from inside the blueline forcing Connor LaCouvee to come up with a huge pad save as Vernon with another good powerplay couldnt capitalize. Cowichan Valley who went just over eight minutes without a single shot would get a great chance late to jump ahead by two. Jesse Neher with a quick wrist shot from in close was snagged by the quick glove of Todosychuk with 1:33 remaining. The Vipers who didnt get off to a strong start were outplayed in the opening four or five minutes but got their game going and were the better of the teams for the remainder of the period. Cowichan Valley was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Caps 12-6.
2nd Period: Just thirty eight seconds into the middle frame the Capitals would get their first powerplay of the night, no real good chances Vernon would kill off the minor. Just as the penalty expired the Vipers caught napping allowed Mitch Bell in for the odd man rush, Bell would get behind the Viper defence going in for the parcial breakaway, Bell was stopped by Danny Todosychuk before Jesse Neher jumped on the rebound beating the Vernon product giving Cowichan a 2-0 lead at 3:48 Luke Gordon and Mitch Bell with the assists. The Caps come ready to go and took it too Vernon early and often as the Vipers with all kinds of trouble in their own end couldnt slow down or stop the hard working Capitals. Cowichan Valley moving the puck well, was outplaying and outworking Vernon for most of the second period. Danny Todosychuk had to be solid making several timely saves through out the period. Vernon looking lost in their own end at times gave up atleast three or four odd man rushes. Cowichan Valley would get their second powerplay of the period, the Capitals tried sending Jesse Neher on the breakaway with the long stretch pass but Neher couldnt connect on the pass on a great chance. The Caps couldnt capitalize as both teams couldnt get the powerplay clicking. Just after the penalty expired TJ Dumonceaux with a breakaway got in close before missing the goal on another missed opportunity by the Vipers. Just shortly after on their second three on one Todosychuk come up with a big save off Dane Gibson before stopping Mikael Jung on the rebound making two huge saves off a Capitals three on one rush keeping this game at 2-0. Cowichan Valley would get their third powerplay of the night but again Danny Todosychuk was solid making a few big saves keeping the Caps off the scoreboard. The Vipers with very little offence all period were outplayed and outworked as Cowichan dominated the period. The Caps were up 2-0 after 40 minutes of play. Cowichan Valley outshot Vernon 16-8.
3rd Period: The Caps started the final frame right where they left off the second period as Cowichan come out hard getting some good pressure early carried the early edge in play before the Vipers would come back and get a lucky goal early to climb within a goal. Liam Board's shot on goal went off Mitch McAllister's shoulder as he was skating in front of the net and somehow found its way into the back of the net. McAllister at 3:51 made it 2-1 with Board and Ryan Renz picking up the helpers. This goal seemed to turn the tables and give Vernon life as the Vipers slowly got going and seemed to take the momentum and ride with it for the remainder of the period as it was all Vipers from here on in. Vernon would get an early powerplay but again couldnt take advantage. Just after Craig Martin in alone put one too many moves in close and was stopped by Connor LaCouvee who made a huge save keeping this a one goal game. Just shortly after Luke Gordon and Jesse Neher on a two on one, Gordon would shoot but get stopped by Todosychuk. A few minutes later the same two would come right back with another odd man rush after Michael Statchuk got caught on the pinch but once again Danny Todosychuk come up with another save. Vernon thought they tied the game after TJ Dumonceaux ripped a hard shot from in close off the crossbar, the puck come back out front where Michael Statchuk burried the rebound tying the game at 12:47 with the Vipers celebrating the goal was waived off as the referee said the puck didnt cross the goal line, even though the goal light was on. The referee and linesmen got together but didnt talk to the goal judge or both coaches about the call. From my point of view the puck looked to have went in. Cowichan got a big break here and were still up a goal. The Caps started to look tired and looked to be running out of gas as the period went on as it was all Vipers. Vernon would eventually tie the game after some nice passing between Andrew Tegeler, Dexter Dancs and Mason Blacklock. Tegeler with a nice move and a nice pass setup Blacklock in front who just beat LaCouvee between the arms as the puck just crossed the goal line tied the game 2-2 at 12:15 Tegeler and Dancs with the assists. Connor LaCouvee had to be sharp as Vernon peppered the Caps goaltender with several good chances. LaCouvee was the difference in the game keeping Cowichan in the game especially in the third. The Vipers outplayed the Capitals for most of the period getting some great chances sent both teams to overtime for the second straight night. It was tied 2-2 after 60 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Cowichan Valley 24-8.
Overtime: Four on four the Vipers were the better of the two clubs. No real good chances at all through out the extra period but Vernon did carry the majority of the play before Mason Blacklock would get the game winner in the final minute. Colton Sparrow setup Blacklock who beat Connor LaCouvee at 4:24 giving the Vipers the come from behind 3-2 OT victory. The Vipers outshot the Capitals 1-0.
Top Players: (Vernon)
The Vipers line of Colton Sparrow (1 assist), TJ Dumonceaux & Craig Martin were the Vipers best line tonight. The line was the hardest working line and played with the most energy all night.
Andrew Tegeler (1 assist) & Liam Board (1 assist) Played well together. I know Mason Blacklock (2 goals) also is on that line but I didnt think Blacklock played overly well until getting the last two Viper goals. This line was also split up as Jason Williamson was shuffling his lines through out tonights game.
Danny Todosychuk (28 saves) Has really played very well this season has improved as a rookie last year. Todosychuk made some big saves but none bigger then the two off Dane Gibson and Mikael Jung in the 2nd period. Both shots come off a Caps three on one, one of these two shots goes in and its 3-0 Cowichan, two big saves and its still 2-0 and the Vipers still have a shot and are still in the game.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
The Vipers come out flat and didnt look to have much jump or energy and it cost them falling behind 1-0 just twenty seconds into the game. But give Vernon credit they battled back and played very well for the remainder of the first period before falling off the wagon come the second period. The Vipers looked pretty bad in the middle frame went down 2-0 before coming back with a very solid and hard working effort come the third period. The Vipers with lots of great chances couldnt buy a goal in the first two periods before coming back down two tied the game before winning it in overtime. It wasnt a very pretty win but a wins a win and puts Vernon to within five points of Salmon Arm who hold down the fourth and final playoff spot. Former Vipers head coach-GM Mark Ferner who has been attending the last few Vipers games was again at tonights game.
Top Players: (Cowichan Valley)
The Caps line of Jesse Neher (1 goal), Mitch Ball (1 assist) & Luke Gordon (1 assist) was Cowichan's best unit tonight. This line lead Cowichan's attack most of the night. For a team with very little offence these three young men were dangerous on almost every shift.
Dane Gibson (1 assist) Also played very well for the Capitals tonight. Very hard working kid who also was good with the puck, had some chances.
Connor LaCouvee (46 saves) If it wasnt for LaCouvee this game should have been over at the end of the first period. After the Caps jumped out to a 1-0 lead and carried the play in the first few minutes Vernon battled back getting atleast three or four real solid scoring opporunities but LaCouvee come up with some huge saves. LaCouvee made several big saves in the third as Cowichan was outplayed and barley hanging on. A solid performance by the Caps netminder.
Game Thoughts: (Cowichan Valley)
The Caps made just their second visit to the Wesbild Centre in three years as the leagues bottom feeder scored early and jumped out to a 2-0 lead. With Connor LaCouvee making several big saves it looked like the Caps may come away with just their third road win of the season but a lucky goal early into the third got the Vipers on the board and right back into the hockey game. From here on in it was all Vernon as the Vipers didnt quit, kept battling before tying the game and then winning it in the first overtime period. The Caps with not alot of skill-offence really depended on their top line and goaltender. The Caps started to run out of gas come the final frame looking tired. Cowichan Valley's last win in Vernon was a 4-2 win on Saturday, October 2nd
2010.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Braeden Russell
Cowichan Valley:
Steen Cooper
Energy Player Of The Game:
Colton Sparrow (1 assist)
Three Stars:
1st Star: Mason Blacklock (2 goals)
2nd Star: Andrew Tegeler (1 assist)
3rd Star: Connor LaCouvee (46 saves)
For more on tonight's game visit the BCHL boxscores,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1103150&link=bchl
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