Saturday, October 5, 2013

Vernon 3 Salmon Arm 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 Salmon Arm 3-2 in front of 923 fans at the Shaw Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon:  Austin Smith
Salmon Arm:  Adam Clark

1st Period:  Just two minutes into the contest Logan Mick with a breakaway tried going fivehole on Silverbacks starting goaltender Adam Clark but Clark shut the door keeping this game scoreless early.  A minute later Vernon would get the first powerplay of the night but with just two shots a good penalty kill by the Silverbacks, Salmon Arm would kill off the minor.  Just after the penalty expired Austin Smith made wich looked to be a routine blocker save shooting the puck up into the netting behind the goal but would leave the ice with some kind of lower body injury.  Smith would only face two shots before Danny Todosychuk who played last night in Prince George was forced to come into tonight's game.  Smith would not return to the ice or the Vipers bench.  The Vipers looked good early and carried the better of the play but didnt generate much offence.  Salmon Arm would then get its first man advantage but with just two shots and a good penalty kill by the Vipers, Vernon would kill off the minor.  A little more even play in the second half as both teams were fairly evenly matched in a period where there wasnt alot of scoring opportunities at both ends of the rink.  Vernon would get its second powerplay of the night but it was a aggresive penalty kill by the Backs who would eventually capiatalize.  Jack Berezan setup Taylor Maruya who beat Todosychuk fivehole on a soft goal that just barley crossed the goal line giving Salmon Arm a 1-0 lead at 17:27 Berezan with the lone assist on the shorthanded goal.  The Vipers with just one shot on the powerplay couldnt capitalize as the Backs would kill off the penalty.  But Vernon would get its third powerplay of the game late, Michael McNicholas with a open cage took an extra second before getting a shot off was robbed by Adam Clark who come across the crease to get his big body in front to make a huge save in the final minute.  The Vipers unable to capitalize would go to the 2nd period with the powerplay.  A fairly even matched period with Salmon Arm up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play.  Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 9-6.

2nd Period:  The Vipers started the middle frame with the man advantage that was carried over from the first period.  Salmon Arm would kill off the remainder of the penalty before taking another penalty just seconds after as Vernon with back to back powerplays but unable to capitalize as the Backs penalty kill was good killing off both minors.  Vernon with the early edge in play carried the better of the play for the first half as Salmon Arm needed seven and a half minutes to record their first shot of the period.  The Silverbacks did get the best scoring chance after Landon Smith tried feeding newcomer Mark Whiteley on a two on one but Whiteley couldnt handle the pass.  Just after the Backs would get a powerplay but another good penalty kill by Vernon who would once again kill off the minor.  During the second period timeout Troy Mick really gave it to his hockey club wich seemed to give the Backs some life as Salmon Arm really turned the tables in the second half.  The Silverbacks come out hitting, playing physical and were all over the Vipers for several minutes.  Colton Thibault with some speed ripped a quick shot from the circle that was stopped by Danny Todosychuk who made a nice glove hand save.  Salmon Arm would get a powerplay and capitalize.  Evan Anderson's shot missed the net before Vernon product Alex Gillies jumped on the rebound off the back boards beating Danny Todosychuk at the side of the net putting the Backs up 2-0 at 12:13 Anderson and Landon Smith picked up the ehlpers.  Just a few shifts later TJ Dumonceaux would get tossed from the game and given a five minute major after checking Landon Smith from behind.  Demico Hannoun would take a penaltyand get a ten minute misconduct shorthanded giving Salmon Arm a full two man advantage.  With tons of pressure the Vipers did a great job at boxing the Backs out limiting their time and space as Salmon Arm couldnt get pucks to the net.  In the final minute of the five minute powerplay Todosychuk made his biggest save of the night coming across the crease to rob Colton Thibault who had the open net as Vernon with a very solid penalty kill would kill off the five minute major and a two man advantage giving up just two shots.  The Vipers would get a very late powerplay in the final minute of play.  I thought the Vipers had a slight edge in play in the first half but the Silverbacks with a two man advantage had a slight edge in play in the second half.  The Backs were up 2-0 after 40 minutes of play.  Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 8-7.

3rd Period:  The Vipers started the final frame with the man advantage that was carried over from the end of the 2nd period.  Vernon unable to capitalize with the powerplay was still down by two.  But just three minutes later Adam Clark would get bumped by his own man and couldnt recover intime for Josh Bryan's hard shot from the point that went upstairs getting Vernon on the board at 5:15 Bryan's goal was unassisted.  The Vipers would win the draw and get the play right back in deep as Michael McNicholas, Dexter Dancs and Logan Mick with some nice three way passing setup Mick in front who beat Clark at 5:28 tying the game 2-2 Dancs and McNicholas with the assists.  The Vipers wernt done just yet as back come Vernon, newcomer Jared Wilson's point shot missed the net before Dexter Dancs tried setting up Michal McNicholas in front who was stopped before McNicholas beat Clark on the rebound giving the Vipers their first lead of the night at 6:11 McNicholas's goal was unassisted.  But hold on Salmon Arm didnt fold the tent as the Silverbacks come back with a strong push and pushed hard with lots of pressure for the remainder of the period.  The Vipers kinda back on their heels with the Silverbacks with a strong forecheck.  Salmon Arm with lots of pressure but couldnt generate alot of offensive chances.  The Backs did come very close on a few shots that just missed the net.  Thomas Plese with a great chance to tie the game with about seven minutes remaining but Danny Todosychuk come across the crease to make a huge save keeping this a one goal game.  The Vipers under pressure iced the puck a few times as Salmon Arm with most of the play at this point.  Vernon with just five shots since their last goal.  In the final two minutes the Vipers would get a late powerplay but once Salmon Arm got Adam Clark to the bench for the extra attacker the Silverbacks with atleast two or three quick shots from in close just missed the net as Salmon Arm couldnt hit the net.  In the final minute the Vipers were running around but again the Silverbacks couldnt get pucks to the net as the buzzer would sound as Vernon would hang on for a wild finish for just their fourth win of the season.  I thought the Vipers were the better of the two teams in the first half but Salmon Arm was by far the better team in the second half outplaying the Vipers but unable to get the tying goal.  The Backs outshot the Vipers 14-9.

Top Players:  (Vernon)

Josh Bryan (1 goal)  Made his return to the Vipers lineup last night played a big game on the Vernon blueline tonight.  Bryan looked calm and cool most of the night got the Vipers on the scoreboard early in the third wich started the first of three goals in fourty six seconds.

Jared Wilson playing in just his second game as a Viper I thought also was very solid on the backend.  A big kid likes to jump up into the play and get involved offensively but also very steady on the backend.  It seemed like Wilson was a target of several Silverbacks players as severaly Salmon Arm players were going after him or giving him a mouthfull through out the game.

Michael McNicholas (1 goal & 1 assist) Played very well at both ends of the rink and on specialty teams.  I really like McNicholas who is very quick, alert and aggresive on the penalty kill.  Really sees and reads the ice well.

Logan Mick (1 goal) Played a very strong in your face type of game tonight.  Had a breakaway just two minutes into the game and was very hard on the puck all night.

Josh Betinol playing in just his second game with the Vipers looked very impressive tonight.  Not the biggest kid but a very good skater, very quick and gets involved in the play, showed alot of hustle, a real buzsaw out there tonight.

Danny Todosychuk (24 saves) Come in about five minutes into the game after Austin Smith left the game with a injury and played very well.  Im sure Danny would like to have back the Backs first goal but other then that was very solid between the pipes making some big saves.

Game Thoughts:  (Vernon)

After a very dissapointing 3-0 loss in Prince George last night the Vipers responded with a hard fought 3-2 victory tonight for just their fourth win of the season.  This was a huge win for a Vipers team that has been uncosistant all season.  The Vipers also snapped a eight game losing streak against Salmon Arm and also beat Silverbacks goaltender Adam Clark for the first time who had previously never lost to Vernon.  In the beggining it looked like Clark and the Silverbacks may come away with another win.  Especially when the Vipers didnt get alot of traffic or bodies in front of him for most of the night.  I thought the Vipers played very well and were in tonight's game all night but it wasnt the most exciting game of the season.  Until the 3rd period there wasnt alot of action, scoring plays or back and forth plays wich made for a bit of a yawner at times.  It wasnt unil Vernon's three goals in fourty six seconds made for a wild and exciting finish.  Both teams didnt generate alot of opportunities and had troubles getting things going at times.  Im very impressed with Vernon's penalty kill tonight and all season, as its been one of the Vipers bright spots this season.  Again the Vipers struggle with the powerplay going 0-6.  I thought for the most part both teams were fairly evenly matched tonight.  In the final few minutes it got a little scary-nerve racking as Salmon Arm pulled Clark to even up the play five on five the Backs with a ton of pressure come very close to tying the game on a few nice passing plays but couldnt hit the net. 

Top Players:  (Salmon Arm)

Mark Whiteley who was recently aquired from the Langley Rivermen played well on the Backs blueline. 

Thomas Plese played and worked hard and had a good game up front for the Silverbacks.  Has played well in the games against Vernon so far this season.

Landon Smith (1 assist) I thought was the Backs best player tonight, very quick, showed alot of hustle, played hard and worked hard all night at both ends of the rink.    

Jack Berezan also played well for the Silverbacks.

Taylor Maruya (1 goal) Played very well tonight, a quick skater, likes to get involved at both ends of the rink, good on the penalty kill and gets involved in the play.  This kid dosnt quit and works and plays hard every shift.

Game Thoughts:  (Salmon Arm)

The Silverbacks lose to Vernon for the first time in eight regular season games.  I thought the Silverbacks played well but there top guns who have played and done so well against the Vipers this season wernt very noticable tonight.  Getting a late shorthanded goal to open the scoring and then go ahead 2-0 on the man advantage in the second period I thought the Vipers were in trouble and may get shutout for the second night in a row.  I thought the turning point was not capitalzing with the full two man advantage late in the second period.  A goal or two here and its game over but a big penalty kill by Vernon and its only 2-0 heading into the 3rd.  Salmon Arm capitalized on their chances early but couldnt take advantage of a huge two man powerplay late in the second period.  The puck was sure bouncing alot tonight, especially during the second period.  Both teams couldnt handle a pass or pick up the puck as it seemed to be on edge or flopping around most of the night.  You have to wonder what happened when Vernon scored three goals in just fourty six seconds?  A big breakdown and letdown for the Backs Im sure.  Salmon Arm come on strong in the 3rd but just like Vernon didnt generate alot of offensive chances.  Salmon Arm with a big win over Penticton last night fall to the last place Vipers tonight, go figure.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Mark Hamilton
Dallas Calvin
Brendan Persley (Injured)
Ryan Renz (Injured)

Salmon Arm:

Stewart Coyle
Cole McCaskill
Brett Fagerheim
Bryden Marsh

Energy player of the game:

Josh Bryan (1 goal)

Three Stars:

1st Star:  Danny Todosychuk (24 saves)
2nd Star:  Taylor Maruya (1 goal)
3rd Star:  Logan Mick (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=1231208&link=bchl

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