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 Trail 6-3 in front of 1,297 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Danny Todosychuk
Trail: Dustin Nickel
1st Period: The Vipers got off to a quick start taking it too the Smoke Eaters early and often. Just two minutes into the game Dexter Dancs with a drop pass allowed Michael Statchuk to rip a low shot from in close on a three on two rush but Statchuck was stopped by former Salmon Arm Silverbacks goaltender Dustin Nikkel. Seconds later the Vipers would get the games first powerplay, Dexter Dancs with a nice crease pass setup Liam Coughlin in front who just missed the far corner. Vernon with some good pressure had atleast two or three good quality chances but only recorded one shot as Trail would kill off the penalty. Just over two minutes later the Vipers would open the scoring, Mason Blacklock setup Demico Hannoun in front who beat Nikkel down low on a sorta half spin o rama giving Vernon the 1-0 lead at 7:07 Blacklock and Jason Bird with the helpers. The Vipers using their speed and skill were pouring it on the Smokies getting a ton of good opportunities but couldnt capitalize on their chances. Vernon was all over Trail in the first half outshooting the Smoke Eaters 11-2 at this point but only managed one goal. Trail would get their first shot with the man advantage and capitalize after Jake Kauppila was stopped by Danny Todosychuk on his first shot but tied the game up on the rebound on just the Smoke Eaters fourth shot of the night. Kauppila at 12:01 on the powerplay, Brendan Lamont collected the lone assist. This goal seemed to take the wind out of the Viper sails. Both teams then got a little sloppy as the play become very scrambled at times with no real flow to the game. Colton Sparrow left the game holding his mouth on the way to the Viper dressing room before returning for the second period wearing a cage. (I think he either took a stick or a puck to the face-mouth, but didnt see what happened) The Smokies went atleast five minutes without a shot as both teams couldnt seem to get much of anything going in the second half. Trail seemed to slowly get their legs going and finally get on the offensive side of things coming on late with some good pressure. After being outshot 11-2 in the first half Trail outshot Vernon 5-2 in the second half. It was 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Vipers were very good and dominated the play in the first half before both teams struggled for most of the second half with the Smoke Eaters coming on late in the final two-three minutes. Vernon outshot Trail 13-7.
2nd Period: The Smokies come out strong to start the second period with some good jump. Trail with a few hard working shifts off the opening faceoff had the Vipers pinned in their own end for a good few minutes. Just over three minutes into the period former Prince George Spruce Kings forward Tyson Witala got a shot off from the slot with bodies going hard to the net but Vipers starting goaltender Danny Todosychuk come out to challenge making the big save with traffic in and around the crease. Tempers heated up a little after the whistle as both teams starting pushing and shoving getting the gloves and sticks up before the linesmen were called in to cool things down. Shortly after Demico Hannoun with a nice individual effort went around one Trail d-man before just about beating Smoke Eaters starting goaltender Dustin Nikkel in close. Trail with a few hard working shifts in the opening few minutes was about all the excitement before the game slowed down to a crawl with several icing and offside calls. Both teams looked very scrambled and disorganized at times making for a very slow period with lots of whistles. Vernon who looked a little sluggish early finally seemed to get their legs going just before the midway mark and come up with a flurry of chances in and around the Smokies net. With the Vipers buzzing created and generated several good opportunities before Trail come right back with a flurry of chances of their own for a few shifts. In the final minute with both teams playing four on four Jason Bird got caught alone in the neutral zone. Travis Stephens and Tyson Witala tried going for the two on one before Bird broke up the play but then coughed up the puck to Witala who was stopped by Todosychuk who made a huge left pad save but couldnt handle the rebound as Witala snuck the puck into the net on the second chance giving Trail a late 2-1 lead at 19:17 Travis Stephens with the lone helper. Off the next faceoff TJ Dumonceaux and Josh Bryan went in for the two on one, Dumonceaux setup Bryan who beat Nikkel but hit the post on a great chance to tie the game. The Smokies with a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. This wasnt much of a period at both ends of the rink, both teams struggled in a very slow period with several stopages in play. Trail come out hard to start the period getting a few hard shifts in before the Vipers and Smokies would both get a flurry of chances. Other then that not alot of scoring opportunities. The Vipers outshot the Smoke Eaters 11-8.
3rd Period: Vernon would start the final frame with the man advantage that was carried over from the end of the second period. With only twenty six seconds left on the powerplay and a strong penalty kill by the Smoke Eaters Trail would kill off the minor. The Vipers would then open the flood gates scoring five goals in six minutes. Riley Guenther would tie the game after Logan Micks harmless looking shot from the circle was stopped by Dustin Nikkel, TJ Dumonceaux jumped on the rebound getting off a quick shot from the side of the net that went behind Nikkel before rolling through the blue paint out to Guenther who hit the open cage tying the game 2-2 at 2:19 Mick and Dumonceaux collected the assists. A few shifts later the Smokies come very close to taking the lead after Brendan Lamont from the slot beat Danny Todosychuk but hit the post. Shortly after Demico Hannoun and Colton Sparrow with some nice give and go passing setup Sparrow who found the back of the net giving Vernon a 3-2 lead at 5:01 Hannoun and Mason Blacklock picked up the assists. Twenty seconds later Mason Blacklock with a nice goal in front beat Nikkel at 5:21 giving the Vipers a 4-2 lead. Demico Hannoun with the helper. A minute later Liam Coughlin with a nice crease pass setup Michael McNicholas who went rood on Dustin Nikkel at 6:21 giving Vernon a 5-2 lead. Coughlin and Logan Mick with the assists. The Vipers would then get the first three straight powerplays. On the first man advantage Dexter Dancs setup Liam Coughlin in front who couldnt connect on the pass before Colton Sparrow found Mason Blacklock who gave Vernon a 6-2 lead at 8:19 Sparrow and Demico Hannoun collected the assists. As the wheels fell off in the third Trail showed alot of frustration playing very chippy in the final period trying to get under the skin of the Vipers. Trail with several undisaplined penalties. Just over a minute later Smoke Eaters Head Coach-GM Bill Birks would get tossed from the game after arguing a call. The Vipers would go back on the powerplay with some chances Vernon couldnt capitalize as Trail would kill off the minor. Just after the penalty kill Braden Pears point shot was tipped along the way by Bryce Knapp but Todosychuk come up with a big right pad save. Michael McNicholas would then get inbehind the Trail defence was alone in front of the net but couldnt beat Nikkel in tight. With just over two minutes remaining Riley Guenther and Valik Chichkin dropped the gloves in front of the Vipers bench as both players were tossed from the game and Vernon would come out of the scrap with a late man advantage. The Vipers sending out the third and fourth lines for the last few powerplay units seemed to take their foot off the gas in the second half of the period. Just as the penalty expired the Smoke Eaters defence caught the Vipers napping in the dying seconds after Joel Webb sprung Jake Lucchini out of the penalty box in for the breakaway, Lucchini wired home a bullet of a slap shot from in close beating Danny Todosychuk with just 2.4 seconds left in the game. Webb with the only helper on the goal. Vernon would win their fourth straight with a 6-3 victory over Trail. The Vipers come out strong and scored five goals in six minutes as the wheels fell off for Trail in the final period. The Vipers dominated most of the period before taking their foot off the gas in the second half. The Vipers outshot the Smokies 14-13.
Top Players: (Vernon)
The Vipers top line of Demico Hannoun (1 goal & 3 assists), Colton Sparrow (1 goal & 1 assist) and Mason Blacklock (2 goals & 2 assists) was really clicking and firing on all cylinders tonight. All three seemed to feed off one another and played with alot of chemistry tonight. Sparrow either took a puck or stick to the face losing some teeth along the way come back in the 2nd and played very well. Blacklock and Hannoun can really skate and seem to know where one another is. Two very skilled hockey players.
Michael McNicholas also played very well, played well at both ends of the rink. Ive been very impressed with his play this season. Very good on the penalty kill, sees and reads the ice well, creates and generates alot of open ice-scoring chances.
TJ Dumonceaux (1 assist) Played hard and with a ton of energy tonight. Not the biggest kid but dosnt back away from the rough stuff. Demonceaux was involved in several after the whistle activities getting in the face of several Smokies.
Logan Mick (2 assists) Also played hard and with alot of energy. Both Mick and Dumonceaux add alot of grit and spark to this Vipers lineup. Mick was really skating hard, battled and competed and getting pucks to the net.
Jason Bird (1 assist) Other then coughing up the puck on Trails 2nd goal played very well defensively on the Vipers blueline. Bird who played very well at both ends of the rink, jumped up into the play was an impact on the backend.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Down 2-1 heading into the 3rd I wasnt sure if the Vipers were going to be able to pull this one off, especially after a tough second period. Vernon got off to a quick strong start really taking it to the Smokies dominating the first half of play but could only muster just the one goal before allowing Trail to come back to tie the game on the powerplay on just four shots. I thought Vernon quit skating and didnt stick to the basics after the first half and they let this game almost get away from them. They gave the Smoke Eaters a little momentum heading into the second period. With alot of whistles made for a long period with very little action. Both teams with a few flurries but no real solid scoring opportuities kept this game tied before the Smokies get a late goal on a Viper turnover giving them the lead heading into the third. Give the Vipers credit they come ready to play and scored five goals in six minutes to put this game away and in a hurry. The Vipers speed and skill was too much for Trail who fell apart in the final period. The Vipers with some highlight reel goals showed some very slick passing plays made for a very exciting period. Vernon rebounded with a very well played 3rd. This was a must win, the Vipers who have been uncosistant all season need to get on a streak and show the rest of the league they want to compete and make the playoffs this season with a strong record. If the Vipers want to make the playoffs and climb up the standings they need to beat teams like Trail that are below them in the standings. The Vipers riding some confidence now have a four game winning streak (longest of the season) head out on a four game road trip starting Friday in Powell River vs the first place Kings. This will be a strong test for the Vipers to see how they do and play three games in three nights.
Top Players: (Trail)
Brendan Lamont (1 assist) Played a strong game up front for the Smokies. The former Merritt Centennials forward played with alot of jump, quick skater, moves the puck well and creates open ice.
Braden Pears played well on the Smoke Eaters backend. I thought played well for a team that gave up six goals tonight.
Game Thoughts: (Trail)
Im not sure if it was the bus legs or what but Trail didnt get off to the start they wanted too. The Smoke Eaters were outplayed in the first half of the opening period but were only down a goal as it could have been more. The Smokies seemed to play better and slowly get things going in the second half tying the game before getting Vernon off their game. The Smoke Eaters with very limited quality scoring chances most of the night looked to maybe come close to a win tonight with a 2-1 lead heading into the 3rd period. What happened to Trail in the third? The Smokies gave up five goals in six minutes losing their cool at times taking some undisaplined penalties. Bill Birks was tossed from the game after arguing a penalty that was no question a penalty. Trail got chippy and tried getting under the skin of the Vipers in the third but it was too little too late. The Smoke Eaters had trouble with Vernon's speed and skill most of the night. In a game where they looked to maybe coming away with a win turned ugly on them in a hurry.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Mark Hamilton
Josh Betinol (Injured)
Ryan Renz (Injured)
Austin Smith (Injured)
Trail:
Nathan Browne
Dylan Mascarin
Adam Todd
Energy player of the game:
TJ Dumonceaux (1 assist)
Three Stars:
1st Star: Mason Blacklock (2 goals & 2 assists)
2nd Star: Demico Hannoun (1 goal & 3 assists)
3rd Star: Colton Sparrow (1 goal & 1 assist)
For more on tonight's game visit the BCHL boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1231231&link=bchl
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