Friday, August 23, 2013

Exhibition: Salmon Arm 5 Vernon 1

I was at tonight's exhibition game as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 5-1 at the Shaw Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon:  Gunnar Neilson
Salmon Arm:  Angus Redmond

1st Period:  The Backs come out hard, laying out several big hits early laying the tempo for the game within the opening few shifts before opening the scoring just thirty seven seconds into the contest.  Joey Colatarci's soft shot towards the goal hit the inside pad of Vipers starting goaltender Gunnar Neilson and into the back of the net giving Salmon Arm an early 1-0 lead.  Jeff Kennedy and Zach Urban collected the helpers.  This is a goal Neilson would like to have back.  The Silverbacks come hard at Vernon's defence early and often as the Vipers couldnt get the puck into the neutral zone or deep in the Salmon Arm end.  The Vipers would respond shortly after the Silverbacks goal after Craig Martin's shot from the circle beat Backs starting goaltender Angus Redmond at 1:22 Dallas Calvin with the lone assist on the play.  It was tied 1-1 with both teams having two shots on goal.  Salmon Arm looked very good in the opening twenty minutes of play, really taking it to Vernon.  Not alot of shots on goal but the Silverbacks defitnetly had the better of the play.  The Backs playing very physical and winning most of the battles controlled the play deep in Vernon's end for most of the period.  Salmon Arm would get the games first powerplay and come very close to taking the lead after 20 yr old forward Landon Smith with a hard high shot that beat Neilson but went off the crossbar and over the end glass.  Late in the man advantage Colton Thibault setup a wide open Thomas Plese who went high and upstairs over Neilson at 9:54 giving the Backs a 2-1 lead.  Thibault with the only assist.  The Vipers with very little offence in the opening period couldnt get the play in deep.  Vernon's only real good opportunity was a quick low shot by Dean Allison that was quickly snagged by the glove of Angus Redmond.  Vernon would get a chance with their first powerplay of the night, with just one shot the Vipers struggled with the man advantage as Salmon Arm would kill off the penalty.  The Backs come very close to grabbing a two goal lead, once again Landon Smith with another shot that beat Gunnar Neilson but hit the crossbar.  With six and a half minutes left Joey Colatarci's point shot got through traffic in front but somehow Neilson was able to get the paddle down and keep the puck out with a ton of bodies in and around the top of the crease.  Very little scoring chances and not alot of flow to the game but the Silverbacks were up 2-1 after 20 minutes of play.  The Backs were by far the better of the two teams carrying the better of the play.  Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 8-6.

2nd Period:  The Vipers come out hard, hitting and were skating well early and often.  A much different Vernon team compared to the opening period as the Vipers had some jump and carried the play in the middle frame.  The Vipers moving the puck well early come out playing physical but couldnt generate much offence.  Both teams were fairly even in the first few minutes before Vernon carried the better of the play.  The Vipers would get a shot on the powerplay but with no shots on goal Salmon Arm would kill off both minors.  Dean Allison with a great chance from the slot beat Redmond but hit the crossbar.  Dallas Calvin carried the puck in across the Backs blueline setting up Logan Mick on the two on one but Mick went high and over missing the back of the net on a great opportunity.  On the same play the Backs quickly turned the puck up ice coming back on an odd man rush, Colton Thibault with a nice move in close went in and around Gunnar Neilson sliding the puck through the crease but couldnt tap the puck into the open cage on a great play.  Both teams would then switch goaltenders midway through the period.  Kyle Michalovsky replaced Angus Redmond who gave up one goal on 11 Vernon shots, while Harrison Whitlock replaced Gunnar Neilson who gave up two goals in 13 Salmon Arm shots.  Just a few minutes later Evan Anderson with a harmless looking shot beat Whitlock on a soft goal giving the Backs a 3-1 lead at 13:12 Landon Smith collected the helper.  Anderson's shot from the circle graized the glove of Whitlock before going into the back of the cage on a shot Whitlock would like to have back.  A few minutes later Vernon would get another good chance after Dean Allison setup Dexter Dancs in close on a parcial two on one but again the Vipers missed the net.  The Vipers with a much better effort had the better of the play but were down 3-1 after 40 minutes of play.  Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 12-6.

3rd Period:  Just a few minutes in Craig Martin with a nice individual effort in close couldnt slide the puck into the open cage on a great scoring chance.  The Vipers with some good pressure early come up with several good opportunites but like last season couldnt bury their chances.  Martin with his second chance of the period couldnt beat Kyle Michalovsky in close.  Dallas Calvin with a nice chance in close missed the net as Vernon with some missed opportunities couldnt climb back into the game.  After a whistle in front of the Silverbacks net a scrum broke loose in the corner with everyone getting involved, some pushing and shoving occured with no real harm done.  The Vipers with a good third period were carrying the play but couldnt capialize on their chances before the Silverbacks put the game away.  A Vernon turnover in their own end put the puck on the stick of Evan Anderson who went high glove on Whitlock giving Salmon Arm a 4-1 lead at 9:15 Bryden Marsh and Carter Lukenda with the assists.  Six minutes later veteran forward Jeff Kennedy put the Backs up 5-1 at 15:50 with Josh Bowes and Conor Andrie picking up the helpers.  The Vipers carried the most of the play all period, Salmon Arm with basically two chances scored on both, thats just how the game went for Vernon tonight.  Vernon would get a late powerplay but again no shots with the man advantage as Salmon Arm would kill off the minor.  Late Mike Iovanna setup Matt Hill in front but Hill couldnt get the puck up and over Michalovsky.  The Vipers looking rattled couldnt get anything going in the final few minutes as the Backs would win their first pre-season game of the year coming away with the 5-1 victory.  Vernon with a ton of chances early couldnt find the back of the net in a period where they outplayed Salmon Arm.  The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 9-6.      

Top Players:  (Vernon)

Craig Martin (1 goal)  Played a strong game up front for Vernon.  Martin with several chances tonight took a big hit in tonight's contest played very well.

Matty Saharchuk was very impressive for me tonight, a bigger kid that dosnt back down and plays hard.  Had a strong game for the Vipers.

Dean Allison got off to a slow start but picked up his game as the game went along.  Got involved in the play and had some chances of his own.

Dallas Calvin played a strong game tonight, a big kid that can really see and read the ice.  Made several nice passes to setup scoring opportunities.  Not the quickest skater but plays hard and has a nose for the net.  If he can use his body and work on his skating, Calvin will be a good fit for the Vipers.

Mark Hamilton played well on the Vernon defence.  A big kid moves the puck well and keeps it out of harms way.

Kenny Citron really impressed me tonight, looks calm and cool out there.  Dosnt hesitate with the puck.  A very smooth solid d-man.

Game Thoughts:  (Vernon)

After watching the opening period it reminded me alot of last year's Vipers team.  The Vipers were caught standing around, making mistakes in their own end, coughing up the puck, not taking the body, playing scared to take the body and couldnt get the puck out of their own end.  You could tell this was there first game playing together and were working out the kinks.  I have to give the boys credit they turned things around in the 2nd and 3rd periods and were the better of the two clubs.  I thought Vernon had the better of the chances and the better of the play but like last season couldnt capitalize with their chances.  Several good scoring opportunities in both the 2nd and 3rd periods.  Vernon finally started to play physical in the 2nd and 3rd.  Two soft goals both goaltenders would like to have back.  Vernon struggled with the man advantage and in their own end.  I thought the Vipers deserved a better fait, the outcome wasnt the result of the final score.  A bounce here or there and this may have been a different game.  Several new comers in tonight's lineup, will see who will be playing tomorrow.

Top Players:  (Salmon Arm)

Evan Anderson (2 goals)  Played with alot of jump for the Backs, was skating hard and going to the net.

Landon Smith (1 assist)  Really impressed me tonight, two almost back to back shots off the crossbar.  Played well but I didnt really notice him on the ice much if at all in the 3rd period. 

Jeff Kennedy (1 goal & 1 assist) I thought played a strong game up front for Salmon Arm.

Colton Thibault (1 assist)  Played hard, hustled and competed most of the night.  Has some quickness and had atleast two chances tonight.

Joey Colatarci played well on the Salmon Arm backend. 

Angus Redmond and Kyle Michalovsky both played well.  Didnt have alot of real tough saves to make but did make the saves when called apon.

Game Thoughts:  (Salmon Arm)

I was pretty impressed with the Silverbacks in the opening period, very quick, on top of the Vipers and making the Vipers pay for their mistakes.  The Backs played physical, had Vernon hemmned in their own end for most of the 1st but couldnt generate alot of scoring opportunities.  I didnt think the Silverbacks played as well in the final two periods but did manage to score on their chances and did well on the penalty kill.  The Silverbacks have some speed and skill and have some size as well.  It will be interesting to see who plays for them tomorrow night in Vernon in the re-match.

Here is a look at both teams lineups from tonight

Vernon:

Dexter Dancs (95)
TJ Dumonceaux (94)
Cole Golka (94)
Craig Martin (95)
Adam Nanji (93)
Matty Saharchuk (95)
Logan Mick (96)
Dean Allison (94)
Dallas Calvin (94)
Kai Cathers (95)
Matt Hill (95)
Mike Iovanna (94)
Josh Bryan (93)
Mark Hamilton (94)
Kenny Citron (95)
Steven Fehr (97)
Bryce Eviston (94)
Matt Halvorson (96)

Gunnar Neilson (97)
Harrison Whitlock (96)

Salmon Arm:

Taro Hilrose (96)
Evan Anderson (94)
Landon Smith (93)
Jeff Kennedy (94)
Josh Bowes (94)
Conor Andrie (93)
Harlon Orr (95)
Carter Lukenda (93)
Bryden Marsh (94)
Thomas Plese (94)
Taylor Maruya (95)
Colton Thibault (95)
Joey Colatarci (95)
Zach Dixon (94)
Andrew Farny (95)
Zach Urban (93)
Blake Box (93)
Sam Wolfe (93)

Angus Redmond (95)
Kyle Michalovsky (96)

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