Friday, October 11, 2013

Vernon 4 Chilliwack 1

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 Chilliwack 4-1 in front of 1,715 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon:  Danny Todosychuk
Chilliwack:  Lyndon Stanwood

Before the game former Vipers captain Lennie Rampone presented Vipers forward Mason Blacklock with the Vipers player of the month award for September.

1st Period:  Both teams started off slow with not alot of jump before the Vipers opened the scoring on their first shot on net.  Colton Sparrow setup Demico Hannoun at the side of the net who went to the front before beating former Trail Smoke Eaters goaltender Lyndon Stanwood fivehole at 2:45 Sparrow and Mason Blacklock picked up the helpers.  The Vipers slowly started to get a little pressure on the Chiefs as Josh Betinol with a chance in front was stopped by Stanwood before Demico Hannoun jumped on a rebound and just missed the far corner on a quick low shot from the slot.  Just over seven minutes into the contest Matty Saharchuk and Carter Cochrane dropped the gloves.  Not alot of intensity coming from either team with very little scoring chances.  Just before the midway mark Kyle Westeringh beat the Vernon d-man going in for the parcial breakaway but was stopped by Todosychuk.  Vernon would carry the better of the play in the first half and come close to taking a 2-0 lead at 11:15 after Dexter Dancs, Logan Mick and Michael McNicholas with some nice three way passing tried setting up a wide open McNicholas in front but the puck went off McNicholas's skate and into the open cage but the referee immediately waived off the goal saying McNicholas kicked the puck into the net.  On the next shift the Chiefs would tie the game after Ben Butcher setup Jacob Hand who beat Danny Todosychuk at 11:05 Butcher with the lone assist.  This goal seemed to give Chilliwack a little momentum as the Chiefs who started off slow and fell down early slowly started to claw their way back into the hockey game.  Chilliwack would then get the games first powerplay, with no real pressure or scoring opportunities the Vipers would kill off the man advantage.  Shortly after Mathieu Tibbet with a chance in close couldnt beat Todosychuk in tight.  The Chiefs carried a bit of the play but just like Vernon didnt muster alot of offensive chances.  With two minutes remaining Jason Bird's shot from the point was tipped in front by Colton Sparrow who was stopped by Lyndon Stanwood.  The Vipers with a good final few minutes to finish the opening period worked hard to re-take the lead late after some nice passing, Michael McNicholas setup Mason Blacklack at the side of the net who beat Stanwood at 19:17 giving Vernon a 2-1 lead.  McNicholas and Riley Guenther collected the assists.  I thought the Vipers were the better team in the opening ten minutes before the Chiefs come back and were the better of the two teams for almost the second half but it was Vernon who was leading 2-1 after 20 minutes of play.  Shots were even 9-9.

2nd Period:  Chilliwack come out hard to start the second period and carried the play early but again no real scoring chances.  The Chiefs carried the early edge in play as the Vipers needed six minutes to record their first shot of the period.  On the next play Riley Guenther's shot from the top of the circle was redirected in front by Dexter Dancs who couldnt beat Chiefs starting goaltender Lyndon Stanwood down low who made a nice save with Dancs at the top of the crease.  A few shifts later Vernon would get their first shot with the man advantage but couldnt gain any real threat as the Chiefs would kill off the minor.  Just past the midway mark Jaret Babych lead the charge with Zack Diamantoni on a two on one, Babych kept and shot but fired high and wide of the net on a missed opportunity bu Chilliwack.  The Vipers seemed to slowly get their legs going and took over from here on in as Vernon carried the better of the play for the remainder of the period.  The Vipers with several chances from in close couldnt beat Stanwood who was very sharp tonight making some good pad saves in the period.  Vernon would get a second chance with the powerplay late and capitalize after Riley Guenther setup Mason Blacklock at the side of the net who went post and in with a lazer of a shot giving Vernon a 3-1 lead at 16:45 Guenther and Jason Bird picked up the helpers.  Just after the powerplay goal Stanwood made a big pad save off Kenny Citron's point shot.  The Chiefs went atleast eight minutes of not longer without a shot on goal.  In the final minute of Demico Hannoun with some soft hands split two Chiefs players in close before losing the handle before crashing into the goal.  Stanwood was very good as the Vipers were the better of the two teams up 3-1 after 40 minutes of play.  Vernon outshot Chilliwack 15-6.

3rd Period:  The Vipers would get an early powerplay with some pressure the Vipers moved the puck around well.  Vernon unable to capitalize come close in the dying seconds of the man advantage after Dexter Dancs was stoned at the side of the net.  Just two minutes later the hard work from Vernon product Colton Sparrow setup Mason Blacklock in front who snuck his shot through the pads of Lyndon Stanwood giving Vernon a 4-1 lead at 8:02 Sparrow and Jason Bird with the assists.  This line was out there for back to back hard shifts wich paid off.  On the next shift the Vipers come very close to going ahead by four after a shot from the corner went off a Chilliwack defenceman in front and just about beat Stanwood before the Chiefs goaltender just closed his pads at the last second falling backwards keeping the puck out.  On the next play the Vipers with a few flurries from in close had Stanwood make several saves down low from in close.  Vernon with full control of the play and the game were all over the last place Chiefs at this point.  Stanwood had to be sharp and was busy in the final frame making atleast three nice glove saves in the third.  Mason Blacklock then tried setting up Colton Sparrow who missed a wide open cage on a Vipers two on one.  Chilliwack would get back to back powerplays but couldnt muster much offence.  The few chances the Chiefs did manage Vipers starting goaltender Danny Todosychuk made two or three good saves from in close.  Todosychuk with a quick pad save off Austin Plevy from in close just as one powerplay expired as Vernon's penalty kill was very good.  Michael McNicholas used his wheels to go in for a shorthanded breakaway but couldnt beat Stanwood who come up with a huge save as Vernon would kill off both minors.  With very little physical play through out tonight's game tempers did heat up on a few shifts after the whistle as players got involved in atleast two scrums after a stopage in play.  Liam Coughlin put the puck into the open cage at the buzzer before Shay Laurent went right after Coughlin before the referee's and linesmen were there to breakup the two.  Coughlin was given a penalty on the play for misconduct as Laurent went wild after the game throwing his gloves and stick down the tunnel heading into the Chiefs dressing room.  The Vipers domianted the play for most of the period other then being shorthanded.  The Vipers would pick up their second win in a row with the 4-1 victory.  The Vipers outshot the Chiefs 16-8.

Top Players:  (Vernon)

The line of Dexter Dancs (1 goal), Logan Mick and Michael McNicholas (1 assist) was Vernon's best line tonight.  I thought this line had lots of jump, played very well together, had lots of chemistry and were generating tons of opportunities all night.  Ive really been impressed with Dexter Dancs this season after a so so season last year I thought Dancs has improved alot and really come to play this year.  Logan Mick who plays the game hard, physical and in your face adds some grit to this line while the hard work, speed and skill from McNicholas goes well with Dancs skill and soft hands.  These three played very well together tonight.

The line of Mason Blacklock (2 goals & 1 assist), Demico Hannoun (1 goal) and Colton Sparrow (2 assists) also was very good tonight.  This line produced three out of Vernon's four goals.  This line worked hard tonight, battled and competed all game.  I thought Blacklock was very good down low, made himself open and avaliable for the puck.  Hannoun who has some soft hands made several nice plays going in and out of Chiefs players while Sparrow worked hard and found both players for two of the three goals.

Riley Guenther (2 assists)  Played a very solid game on the Vipers backend.  Ive really liked the addition of Guenther, he adds alot to Vernon's defence.  Plays hard but keeps the game simple and dosnt make alot of mistakes.  Played very well at both ends of the rink.

Jason Bird (2 assists)  Also played very well on the blueline, getting involved offensively tonight with two helpers.

Josh Betinol isnt the biggest kid but works extremely hard and played strong and hard tonight.  made several smart moves tonight.  Very good skater, quick on his feet, never quits skating-moving.  Adds alot of energy to the Vipers lineup.

Game Thoughts:  (Vernon)

For just the second time this season Vernon has won back to back games in a game where they fully deserved.  Even though they opened the scoring I didnt think the Vipers got off to the start they wanted.  Both teams didnt seem to have their legs going or playing with a ton of jump-energy.  The Vipers with several missed passes seemed to gain their stride about the midway mark of the 2nd before they took over the edge in play and never looked back.  I thought Vernon looked and played alot better in the second half of tonight's game.  The Vipers seemed to have a little more jump in their game and playing with alot more confidence.  I also thought they generated alot more opportunities in the second half after just two or three chances in the first half of tonight's game.  A very non physical game from both sides made for a very dull-non exciting game in the first half before the Vipers generating some chances seemed to get the fans into the game in the second half.  These two games this weekend are must wins if the Vipers want to climb up in the standings.  This is Vernon's chance to maybe get on a bit of a roll and put together a good winning streak.

Top Players:  (Chilliwack)

Austin Plevy was by far the Chiefs hardest working player.  Plevy played with alot of energy, was working and skating hard all night. 

Kyle Westeringh I thought also played and worked hard all night.  had a good scoring chance in the opening frame battled and competed.

Lyndon Stanwood (21 saves)  Played very well between the pipes for Chilliwack.  Not the biggest goaltender but very active, quick on his feet and very good glove hand.  made atleast three glove saves tonight.  Stanwood was very good in the 2nd and 3rd periods when the Vipers were really putting on the pressure.  If it wasnt for Stanwood tonight's score could have been much higher. 

Game Thoughts:  (Chilliwack)

For a big hockey team the Chiefs sure didnt use their size in a non physical game on both sides of the rink.  I thought the Chiefs were in tonight's game early as both teams didt have alot of energy-intensity but once the Vipers got their legs going Chilliwack couldnt compete with the Vipers.  The league's lowest scoring team is that for a reason, I think the Chiefs maybe had three or four scoring opportunities all night.  Very little offence tonight as Chilliwack had troubles getting pucks to the net, generating offence and capitalizing with the powerplay.  I thought the game was still close and the Chiefs were still in the game when it was 2-1 but Vernon's late second period goal seemed to take the sail out of the team.  The Chiefs seemed to slow the Vipers down early and play more of a muck and grind style of game but that didnt last too long as the Vipers skill and speed was too much.  Both teams we face each other tomorrow in a re-match in Chilliwack for the final meeting of the season. 

Scratches:

Vernon:

Mark Hamilton (Suspended)
TJ Dumonceaux (Suspended)
Brendan Persley (Injured)
Ryan Renz (Injured)
Austin Smith (Injured)

Chilliwack:

Tanner Cochrane
Cole Sartorio

Energy player of the game:

Josh Betinol

Three Stars:

1st Star:  Mason Blacklock (2 goals & 1 assist)
2nd Star:  Riley Guenther (2 assists)
3rd Star:  Jason Bird (2 assists)

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

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1231220&link=bchl

For more on tonight's game and the Chilliwack Chiefs visit Marc Fitzgerald's Chiefs Central blog.

http://chiefscentral.wordpress.com/

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