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 West Kelowna defeated Vernon 2-1 in front of 966 fans at Royal Le Page Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Austin Smith
West Kelowna: Steven Myland
1st Period: The Vipers got off to a quick start, just over a minute into the game Mason Blacklock lead Vernon on a three on two, Blacklock kept and shot but was stopped by Warriors backup goaltender Steven Myland who come out to challenge making the save. The Vipers looked good in the opening few minutes before West Kelowna would get a lucky bounce to open the scoring. Shawn Hochhausen's long dump in shot from center ice took a funny hop off the ice bouncing up and over Vipers starting goaltender Austin Smith giving the Warriors a 1-0 lead at 4:37 on West Kelowna's second shot of the game. Hochhausen's goal was unassisted. The Vipers come right back, Andrew Tegeler setup Bryce Eviston who jumped up into the rush on a Vipers two on one but Eviston's shot just whistled wide of the far corner. A few plays later Tegeler who played a strong game up front for Vernon setup Liam Board in front who was stopped in close by Steven Myland as the Vipers with back to back good scoring opportunities. Both teams were fairly even in the first half but it was the Vipers with the better scoring chances. Vernon was outshooting the Warriors 8-4 at the halfway mark. Just past the midway mark Matt Anholt setup a wide open Devon Hascarl who was left alone in the slot beat Austin Smith high glove side giving West Kelowna a 2-0 lead at 11:32 Hascarl who attended the Vipers training camp & Reid Simmonds collected the assists. The Vipers come right back with a flurry of chances in and around the net, with some hard working shifts but Vernon couldnt find the back of the net. Shortly after Marc Hetnik lead the Vipers odd man rush with a two on one with Mitch McAllister, Hetnik shot but was stopped by the quick glove of Steven Myland. Andrew Tegeler who was all over the ice in the opening period had atleast one or two good chances in and around the net but couldnt get the Vipers on the board. Vernon would the games first man advantage. With a late powerplay the Vipers couldnt capitalize. Again both teams were fairly even but it was the Vipers who once again come up with the better of the scoring chances. West Kelowna was up 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 15-10.
2nd Period: The Vipers started the middle frame with the man advantage that was carried over from the 1st period. A good Warriors penalty kill as West Kelowna would kill off the remainder of the minor. A few plays after the penalty expired some pushing and shoving occured in and around the West Kelowna goal, before both teams cooled off. The Warriors would get their first powerplay of the night and come very close to taking a 3-0 lead after Warriors captain Max French with a rocket stepped over the circle beat Austin Smith but hit the post. West Kelowna with some good pressure was unable to grab a three goal lead as Vernon's penalty kill was good killing off the minor. Just as the penalty expired Ambrose Firkus with a nice move down low, was robbed by the quick glove hand of Smith who flashed the leather. Colton Sparrow come back a few shifts later and took a high shot that looked to handcuff Myland as the Warriors goaltender looked to have trouble but made the save off Sparrow. Not alot of scoring chances in the 2nd as West Kelowna carried the better of the play. The Warriors with good pressure didnt generate alot of offensive opportunities but had the Vipers in their own end for alot of period. Just past the midway mark the Vipers would get on the board on a lucky bounce. It looked like Steven Myland made the original save before the puck popped loose and found it's way into the back of the net cutting the Warriors lead to 2-1. Viper defenceman Jason Bird was credited with the goal at 13:14 with Laim Board & Ryan Renz picking up the helpers. In the second half Vernon went atleast three or four minutes without a shot on goal. The Vipers lone grade A scoring chance came with about five minutes remaining after Mitch McAllister went wide before driving hard towards the goal before being stopped by Steven Myland who played his position well keeping the puck out. The Vipers would get a late powerplay but struggle getting just a single shot with the man advantage as the Warriors would kill off the minor. I thought West Kelowna carried the better of the play in a period with very limited scoring chances. The Warriors were up 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 12-9.
3rd Period: Off the opening faceoff Max French carried the play deep into the Vernon zone before cutting hard towards the goal was stopped in close by Austin Smith who made a solid save in tight keeping this a one goal game. The Vipers thought they tied the game just over seven minutes into the final frame after Brett Corkey's point shot was redirected in by a high stick off Liam Board on its way to the net, the goal was waived off immediately. Not alot of offensive chances at both ends of the rink in the first half. On the next The play a scary play occured after former Vernon Vipers forward Marcus Basara was hit by Geoff Crisfield in front of the Warriors bench. Max French jumped in taking Crisfield to the ice as both French and Crisfield were given penalties. Crisfield would get tossed from the hockey game with Basara down on the ice for several minutes. Basara would be ok and stay in the hockey game. The Vipers would get a powerplay after all said and done after the Warriors took a minor penalty with both teams playing four on four. So with the Vipers on the man advantage they moved the puck around well creating some pressure had several flurries in and around the net before Jason Bird's blast from the point was stopped by the quick glove hand of Steven Myland. The Vipers with a very good powerplay had their chances but couldnt capitalize. West Kelowna would get their powerplay right after the Vernon man advantage and come close to taking a two goal lead. Former Salmon Arm Silverbacks d-man Josh Monk ripped a hard shot from the slot that was stopped by Smith before Smith had to get across the crease to make another big pad save down low before the puck rolled through the crease and out the other side on a goal mouth scramble as Vernon would get lucky before killing off the minor. Vernon would get a scare after the puck come up hitting Jason Bird in the face-throat area. Bird would immediately leave the ice and head to the Vipers dressing room where he did not return. Bryce Eviston would get a great chance late after a hard shot from the point was stopped by Myland who made a big pad save through taffic. With time winding down the Warriors really put pressure on the Vipers who couldnt get out of their own zone, as West Kelowna was sending a player in deep. The Vipers couldnt get Smith to the bench for the extra attacker until finally with thirty seconds remaining the Vipers were able to get Smith to the bench. With the goaltender pulled Vernon with some late pressure couldnt find the back of the goal as West Kelowna would clear the zone killing off the final few seconds held on for the 2-1 victory. I thought the Vipers had the better of the scoring opportunities and had a slight edge in play. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 11-10.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Bryce Eviston I thought played his best game this season. Eviston had a few scoring opportunities jumped up into the play on a few occassions looked very good on the Viper backend tonight.
Michael Statchuk played a solid game on the Vipers blueline.
Mitch McAllister who has been one of the Vipers hardest working players all season, played very strong tonight. McAllister once again competed and battled hard all night. Dosnt have the size but plays like he does.
Craig Martin who has come on as of late played very well up front for Vernon. I thought Martin was skating hard, created and generated some offence tonight.
The line of Mason Blacklock, Andrew Tegeler & Liam Board (1 assost) was the Vipers best and most dangerous unit tonight. Andrew Tegeler played a heck of a game for the Vipers. Tegeler was very strong up front, hard to knock off the puck and was dangerous all night. This line has played very well since being put together.
Jason Bird (1 goal) Played a solid game on the Vernon defence. Bird who has been a very nice addition to the Vipers lineup since being aquired at the BCHL trade deadline left the game late in the 3rd after catching a puck in the face-throat area. Lets hope the Viper d-man is ok.
Austin Smith (30 saves) I dont think Smith had to make alot of tough-big saves but gave the Vipers a chance to win played well making 30 saves.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
After blowing a 2-0 lead Saturday night to the Langley Rivermen I thought Vernon responded well tonight with a solid effort in another tough one goal game. Three straight losses and six points back of Salmon Arm & Trail for the fourth and final playoff spot almost eliminates the Vipers from the post season for the second year in a row. The Vipers have lost even straight games at Royal Le Page Place. Vernon's
last win in West Kelowna was a 5-2 win back on Saturday, September 24th
2011. I thought the Vipers played very well tonight, they battled and competed getting some good chances but just couldnt find the back of the net. I was impressed with Vernon's penalty kill and their defensive play. One thing I thought the Vipers needed a little more of was bodies-traffic going to the net. Nothing against Steven Myland but alot of Vernon's shots were from outside with nobody in front of the net. The Vipers need to go to the grey area's and make life tough for the other goaltender. Other then that I thought tonight was a very good game. The Vipers have lacked scoring the last three seasons in a row now and need to go out and either recruit or aquire some offensive minded goal scorers this off season. How many one goal losses-games have we seen this year. The Vipers are the lowest scoring team in the league with 126 goals. Jason Williamson was mixing up his lines through out tonight's game, especially after the loss of Jason Bird and Geoff Crisfield. I didnt see Logan Mick play tonight, he wasnt a scratch but never saw him on the bench all night. Former Vipers Aaron Hadley and Max Mowat were at tonight's game.
Top Players: (West Kelowna)
Ambrose Firkus played very well up front for the Warriors. Was involved in the play and worked hard all night.
Matt Anholt (1 assist) Was another player who looked pretty strong for West Kelowna. Worked and competed all night.
Max French saw a ton of icetime, was double shifting early on in the first period played a strong game for his home town team. French really played well, battled and competed all night. This guy never stops skating-working.
Braxton Bilous played a solid game on the Warriors blueline.
Steven Myland (34 saves) Made his first start against the Vipers this season making 34 saves in the win. Myland didnt have alot of traffic in front of him, saw most of the Viper shots but still was forced to make a few big saves. Didnt give up alot of rebounds and played his position well.
Game Thoughts: (West Kelowna)
With the win West Kelowna takes the season series 4-3 and has now won seven straight against Vernon on home ice going back to 2011. The Warriors now move to within three points of 2nd place Merritt didnt get alot of scoring chances. The Warriors took advantage of a lucky bounce before going up 2-0 held on to the 2-1 victory. We have seen tempers heat up in previous meetings between these two clubs, but tonight was pretty tame compared to games in the past with these two teams. I thought the Vipers had a slight edge in play and had the better scoring chances in a very good hockey game tonight. Penticton Vees Head Coach-GM Fred Harbinson and his coaching staff were in tonight's attendance.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Braeden Russell (Injured)
Dexter Dancs
West Kelowna:
David Pope
Brennan Clark
Dustin Cave
Energy Player Of The Game:
Max French
Three Stars:
1st Star: Steven Myland (34 saves)
2nd Star: Devon Hascarl (1 goal)
3rd Star: Andrew Tegeler
For more on tonight's game visit the BCHL boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1103172&link=bchl
For more on tonight's game and the West Kelowna Warriors visit Jon Zack's West Kelowna Warriors blog.
http://thegeneralsreport.wordpress.com/
For more on the West Kelowna Warriors visit Don Richmond's West Kelowna Warriors blog,
http://chaplainstalk.wordpress.com/
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