Friday, March 8, 2013

Vernon 3 Penticton 2

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 3-2 in front of 2,011 fans at the Wesbild Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon:  Austin Smith
Penticton:  Chad Katunar

Before the game former Vernon Vipers captain Lennie Rampone presented Vipers defenceman Marc Hetnik with a gift for the Vipers player of the month for February.

1st Period:  The Vipers got off to a quick start, come out with lots of jump & energy looked good early.  But it was the Vees who come close to opening the scoring about four minutes into the contest after Austin Smith made the first save Mike Rebry couldnt hit the empty cage on the rebound missing the open net on a great chance.  On the same play the Vipers come back the other way, Michael Roberts, Mitch McAllister and Brendan Persley with some nice tic tac toe passing setup McAllister who beat Chad Katunar at 4:48 giving Vernon the 1-0 lead.  Persley & Roberts collected the assists.  Just over two minutes later the Vipers with some hard work down low, Craig Martin found Mitch McAllister open in the slot who scored his second of the game giving the Vipers a early 2-0 lead over the defending champs.  McAllister at 7:33 was assisted by Craig Martin.  Vernon with the edge in play was outshooting the Vees 6-3 just before the midway mark.  Penticton slowly got their game going and turned the tables in the second half as the Vees with a strong forecheck carried the better of the play and were buzzing.  Brock Balson with two chances in tight couldnt beat Austin Smith who was solid all night made two huge back to back saves off Balson keeping this a two goal game.  Vernon who without a shot for atleast six or seven minutes were outshooting the Vees 6-3 at one point were now being outshot 14-6 as Penticton was all over the Vipers.  Austin Smith was strong making several key saves in the opening period.  The Vees would finally get on the scoreboard late, after a faceoff win deep in the Vernon zone Troy Stecher setup Brad McClure who roofed his shot high and over Smith at 18:10 cutting the Viper lead to within a goal.  Stecher with the lone helper on the goal.  The Vipers were the better of the two teams in the first half while the Vees were the better of the two teams in the second half.  Penticton outshot Vernon 16-8.  The Vipers with a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of play.

2nd Period:  The Vees started the second period right where they left off the 1st period.  Penticton with all kinds of pressure early come out strong attacking the Vipers.  The Vees come very close to tying the game early, just three and a half minutes into the middle frame the Austin Smith stopped the Vees on a wrap around attempt before robbing Louie Nanne in close.  Smith somehow reached across with his blocker to stop the puck in mid air before smothering the puck.  Just a few minutes later Former Coquitlam Express John Siemer and Brad McClure went in on the two on one, Siemer setup McClure who was stopped by Smith.  Vernon who couldnt get across or through the neutral zone was having all kinds of trouble getting the puck into the Penticton zone.  Smith then made another huge save off a reaction save.  A quick shot from the point got through traffic before Smith somehow stuck out his left pad making a toe save keeping this a one goal game.  Penticton dominated the play early and often.  The Vipers did manage to slowy come back late in the period, as Vernon played much better in the final five or six minutes.  With four minutes remaining Ryan Renz's point shot was stopped by Chad Katunar who come out making a huge pad save but gave up the big rebound, with a huge crowd going to the net somehow Katunar was able to recover smothering the puck in the crease stopping the play.  Just two minutes later Laim Board with a great chance in close was stopped by Katunar who looked good in the final minutes making some big saves.  The Vipers with a few flurries in and around the Penticton net come up with some good chances and managed to catchup and then pass the Vees in shots.  Vipers captain Brett Corkey with a great end to end rush in the dying seconds got in close but couldnt hit the net after putting a nice move in tight with nine seconds remaining. On the same play a quick heads up play setup Brad McClure going back the other way for a breakaway in the dying seconds but McClure missed the net after also putting a nice move on Austin Smith just before the buzzer.  Two great scoring chances at both ends of the rink in the final seconds.  The Vees dominated the play for most of the period before Vernon come back late with a good push.  The Vipers outshot the Vees 13-9.  Vernon with a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. 

3rd Period:  Just a few minutes into the final frame Smith come up with a quick glove save keeping this a one goal game.  Both teams were fairly even to start with very little scoring oportunities.  Just before the halfway mark Colton Sparrow with a few nice moves cut in and out before getting off a shot from the slot that was stopped by Katunar.  Just over three minutes later a scramble in and around the Vipers crease, Austin Smith who was down couldnt seem to cover the puck before the Vees kept banging away at the loose puck before John Siemer at the end of a long shift slid the puck in shortside tying the game 2-2 at 11:13 former Salmon Arm Silverbacks defenceman Sean Flanagan with the lone assist.  This goal seemed to give Penticton some life as the Vees slowly come on and carried the edge in play for the next few minutes.  A minute later the Vees would get the games first and only powerplay, with some good pressure Penticton was unable to really generate any real offensive chances before in the final twenty seconds of the man advantage, Hames De Haas leaned into a hard shot that got through traffic beat Austin Smith but went off the crossbar as Penticton come very close to taking their first lead of the night.  Vernon would kill off the penalty.  Just a few minutes later TJ Dumonceaux would get a good opportunity after a turnover, Dumonceaux who just like Sparrow went in and out before getting off a shot from the slot but missed the net going high and over the goal.  Not alot of scoring opportunities in the third in a very tight game.  In the final minute of play Mitch McAllister setup Brendan Persley who made a nice move in the neutral zone setup Colton Sparrow in front on the odd man rush beat Chad Katunar at 19:33 giving Vernon the 3-2 lead as the Wesbild Centre exploded.  Persley and McAllister picked up the helpers.  The Vipers with a good job kept the play inside the neutral zone before the Vees were able to get Katunar to the bench for the extra attacker in the dying seconds.  Penticton would get across and into the Vipers zone but couldnt get off a shot before the buzzer would sound as Vernon would pick up just its second victory over the Vees this season.  Penticton carried a slight edge in play and was the better of the two teams but give the Vipers credit they didnt quit and kept battling coming away with the winner in a mean nothing game.  Penticton outshot Vernon 11-7.

Top Players:  (Vernon)

The line of Mitch McAllister (2 goals & 1 assist), Brendan Persley (2 assists) & Michael Roberts (1 assist) was the Vipers best line tonight.  McAllister who has scored in three straight games for Vernon scored two quick back to back goals early in the game to give the Vipers an early 2-0 lead.  McAllister with a strong game played very well this evening.  Brendan Persley & Michael Roberts also played very well, all three added a ton of jump and energy to the Vipers lineup.

Colton Sparrow (1 goal)  Played very well tonight, played with lots of jump and hustle.  Was skating hard and played hard all night.  One of the Vipers hardest working players tonight.

Liam Board played a strong game up front, was skating and creating chances. 

Ryan Renz I thought played very well on the Vipers blueline.  Renz made a few smart heads up plays was steady for the Vipers on the backend.

Austin Smith (34 saves) Had a very strong game.  Smith who has played extremely well for the Vipers this season, keeping them in alot of games over the year was very solid between the pipes tonight.

Game Thoughts:  (Vernon)

For just the second time all season the Vipers have won three straight games.  Vernon won three straight back in late October-early November has had troubles putting together a long winning streak all season.  I thought Penticton was the better of the two teams tonight but give Vernon credit, they battled and competed until the end and didnt quit pulling out a exciting 3-2 victory in a game where it meant nothing to the Vipers other then pride and showing the coaching staff who wants to play here next season.  Ive said it a few times, this team has been a different team since the BCHL trade deadline and been playing much better hockey the last two months.  Ive seen some improvement and alot more excitement and energy in the boys.  Its tough this time of year knowing going to the games this weekend will be the Vipers final two games of the season, in games where they dont really mean anything.  So for the Vipers to pull out a big win like tonight was nice to see.  The Vipers will wrap up the regular season with their final game of the year tomorrow night at home vs Merritt.

Top Players:  (Penticton)

Thomas Nitsche played a solid game on the Vees blueline.  Was steady all night.

The line of John Siemer (1 goal), Mike Rebry & Brad McClure (1 goal) was Penticton's best unti tonight.  This line worked and competed hard all night, showed alot of offensive side and all three moved the puck well, and have some quick wheels.  This line generated alot of the Vees offensive chances tonight.

Ryan Gropp played well up front for Penticton.  Played hard and didnt back down from the rough going.  Was impressed with his game tonight.

Brock Balson I thought also played very well, was involved in and around the net and also played well at both ends of the rink.

Chad Katunar (25 saves)  Played well for the Vees, didnt have to make alot of huge saves but kept the Vees in the game at times.

Game Thoughts:  (Penticton)

Just like the Vipers tonight was a mean nothing game for the Vees.  Already winning the Interior Division Pennent the Vees are just waiting to find out who they will play in the opening round of the BCHL playoffs.  Penticton will finish the regular season in Trail tomorrow night.  I thought the Vees got off to a slow start but give them credit, they battled back to tie the game and come very close to almost sending it to overtime.  Penticton with some good forecheck on the Vipers worked hard, competed and outhustled the Vipers for most of the night.  The Vees also come up with alot of blocked shots through out the game, the Vipers at times had troubles getting pucks through after the Vees with several blocked shots.  I thought Penticton played well defensively limiting Vernon's opportunities and chances and didnt allow the Vipers to get alot of bodies in and around Chad Katunar.  Can the Vees repeat as BCHL Champs? Or try and win back to back RBC Cups?

Scratches:

Vernon:

Braeden Russell (Injured)
Logan Mick
Dexter Dancs

Penticton:

Brayden Park
Cody DePourcq
Jordan McCallum

Energy Player Of The Game:

Brendan Persley (2 assists)

Three Stars:

1st Star:  Mitch McAllister (2 goals & 1 assist)
2nd Star:  Colton Sparrow (1 goal)
3rd Star:  John Siemer (1 goal)

For more on tonight's game visit the BCHL boxscore,

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1103196&link=bchl

For more on tonight's game and the Penticton Vees, visit Fraser Rodgers Penticton Vees blog,

http://pentictonvees.wordpress.com/

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