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 2-1 in front of 1,813 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Danny Todosychuk
Salmon Arm: Adam Clark
1st Period: About a minute and a half into the game league leading scorer Landon Smith with a parcial breakaway couldnt get off a shot as Dexter Dancs with some good hustle got back into the defensive zone knocking the puck away from Smith. The game got off to a bang just 3:29 into the opening period after Jared Wilson hit a Salmon Arm player (Didnt see who it was) from behind into the boards in front of the Silverbacks bench before everyone got involved in the scrum. The Backs would get the games first powerplay but with just a single shot the Vipers penalty kill who was very strong tonight would kill off the minor. Just a few plays later Salmon Arm would head right back to the powerplay. Once again a good penalty kill by Vernon would kill off the penalty before heading right back on the penalty kill as the Silverbacks with their third powerplay of the night. Salmon Arm struggled with the man advantage as Vernon would kill off yet another penalty. The Silverbacks with a great chance to jump on the Vipers at home couldnt generate any real threat going 0-3 with the early man advantage. Colton Sparrow's shot almost six minutes into the frame was Vernon's first shot on goal. Not much flow in the first period as lots of whistles really slowed the play and game down early. The Backs were outshooting the Vipers 7-3 at the midway mark. Just past the halfway mark Dexter Dancs with a nice feed in front to Liam Coughlin who couldnt beat Adam Clark fivehole on the games first scoring chance. The Vipers started to come on late in the first getting a hard working shift that created and generated some pressure down low. Michael Statchuk and Silverbacks captain Blake Box exchanged words and a few jabs with one another before Box would get called for crosschecking giving Vernon their first man advantage of the night. Both teams playing with a bit of a chip on their shoulders as tempers heated up several times through out tonight's contest. The Vipers with back to back powerplays in the final five minutes also struggled with the man advantage as Salmon Arm with a good penalty kill would kill off the both penalties. It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. Lots of whitsles and stopages in play made for a real slow period with not alot of flow as both teams couldnt seem to get much offence going in a tight checking, hard hitting period. A fairly even played period as shots were even 9-9.
2nd Period: The Vipers with a good start to the middle frame showed some good push early attacking the Backs zone getting pressure in deep and pucks on goal. Hard work, getting pucks on goal and going to the net worked as Vernon would open the scoring early. Mark Hamilton's shot was stopped by Silverbacks starting goaltender Adam Clark before Liam Coughlin beat Clark on the rebound giving the Vipers a 1-0 lead at 1:35 Hamilton and Dexter Dancs collected the helpers. The Vipers didnt quit as Vernon with lots of jump come ready to play early in the 2nd as once again getting pressure down low, throwing pucks on the net and going hard to net. Vernon with the better of the play early were taking it to Salmon Arm. With a mad scramble in front of Adam Clark Michael McNicholas couldnt hit the open cage had his stick tied up in the crease as the loose puck was cleared by a Silverbacks defenceman on a very close call. A few plays later Dexter Dancs setup Liam Coughlin who was stoned by Clark in the slot. On the same play Jason Bird with a quick shot from the inside the circle beat Clark but hit the post as Vernon was close to going up by two. Just shortly after the Vipers would take an undisaplined penalty giving Salmon Arm their fourth powerplay of the night. The Backs couldnt get much going with the man advantage but late in the powerplay Brendan Persley dropped the gloves with Brendan Kennedy. In the dying seconds of the powerplay Salmon Arm failed on a three on one but Max Becker stayed with the play and puck went around the goal tried beating Vipers starting goaltender Danny Todosychuk with the wrap around before putting away the rebound just as the powerplay expired tying the game 1-1 at 9:35 Becker's goal was unassisted. This goal seemed to give Salmon Arm a little jump as the Silverbacks come right back with two good chances but Todosychuk made two big pad saves before the Silverbacks would get their fifth powerplay of the game. Another good penalty kill by Vernon would kill off the minor as the Vipers would get a late powerplay but struggle. Evan Anderson and Landon Smith shorthanded would get a two on one but couldnt get a shot off as Salmon Arm would kill off the penalty. Both team's penalty kills were very good tonight. With a minute remaining Dexter Dancs fed Liam Coughlin who got behind the Salmon Arm defence couldnt get the puck up and over the pad of Adam Clark who come up with a huge pad save in the final minute keeping this game tied. At the buzzer Brendan Persley was exchanging words with Brendan Marsh. It was 1-1 ater 40 minutes of play. I thought the Vipers were the better of the two teams in the second. Vernon with a great start had lots of chances early opened the scoring. Salmon Arm tied the game and had a few good shifts following but couldnt get out of their own zone or generate many offensive chances. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 15-11.
3rd Period: Vernon product Colton Thibault would get a parcial breakaway early but couldnt get a shot off. More fireworks just five minutes into the final period as Vernon product Alex Jewell hit Mark Hamilton from behind in the Vipers zone before TJ Dumonceaux come racing in dropping his gloves as everyone jumped in getting involved in the scrum. Even Hamilton who was hit jumped up getting involved. Kenny Citron and Jeff Kennedy would get fighting majors as Vernon would get an early powerplay after everything was settled. On the man advantage Mark Hamilton's point shot hit someone in front as the puck was bouncing around as the Vipers with several wacks at the loose puck couldnt capitalize with the man advantage. Just over a minute later the Backs would jump on the powerplay but again couldnt generate much offence as Vernon would kill off the penalty. Both teams were pretty evenly matched early with not alot of great scoring chances but the Silverbacks seemed to gain a little momentum after the powerplay and carry a bit of an edge in play. Salmon Arm with some good pressure didnt generate any real scoring opportunities but did carry the better of the play for a few minutes. Just past the halfway mark the Vipers would get the games last powerplay and finally capitalize. Liam Coughlin with a nice crease pass setup Michael McNicholas who roofed his shot going just under the crossbar giving Vernon a 2-1 lead at 14:47 Coughlin and Ryan Renz who made his return to the lineup tonight picked up the assists. In the final five minutes Salmon Arm tried hard for the game tying goal but the Vipers played a very solid defensive game chipping the puck out playing a dump and chase style of game late in the final frame. The Silverbacks just couldnt seem to generate any scoring chances late before calling a timeout with 1:07 remaining. Adam Clark would stay on the bench for the extra attacker as Michael McNicholas with a shot at the open cage just missed before Dexter Dancs with a real smart heads up play held the puck along the end wall eating several seconds off the clock as the Vipers didnt panic eventually would kill off the final few seconds and take tonight's contest 2-1. Both teams were fairly even in the first six or seven minutes before Salmon Arm come on a bit with some good shifts but didnt really generate much offence. Vernon with a strong defensive game played well in their own end capitalized the game winner on the powerplay late. Not alot of scoring opportunities at either ends of the rink in a tight checking game. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 8-4.
Top Players: (Vernon)
The line of Dexter Dancs (1 assist), Liam Coughlin (1 goal & 1 assist) and Michael McNicholas (1 goal) was the Vipers best unit tonight. This line played very well especially at both ends of the rink. Dancs played with alot of jump and hard work, really battled, played well at both ends of the rink as well as created alot of chances. McNicholas who has played very well all season has really impressed me this year. Very good at both ends of the rink, very good on specialty teams. Really reads and sees the ice well. Scored a nice goal for the game winner. Coughlin had his best game as a Viper. I thought looked very good to start the season but hasnt looked very good latley. I was starting to wonder about him actually, but he sure come to play tonight. Had atleast two or three real good opportunities tonight, hustled, was hitting, played and worked very hard all night. Lets hope the kid can gain some confidence and get his game going now.
Riley Guenther played a very steady game on the Vipers backend. Made some very smart defensive plays.
Jason Bird also played very well on the blueline. Went coast to coast before being stopped in close. Was really skating, moving the puck well, jumping up into the play, getting involved in the play as well as playing well defensively.
Colton Sparrow had one of his better games of the season. Sparrow playing with a ton of jump, was really skating hard tonight, creating chances, getting involved in the play. Played very well for the Vipers.
Brendan Persley what can you say about this young man. This kid never quits, never stops battling and always plays hard game in and game out. Persley was in a fiesty mood tonight, dropping the gloves with Brendan Kennedy, played physical, was exchanging words with several Silverback players played a very strong game up front for Vernon.
Danny Todosychuk (29 saves) Didnt have to stand on his head but played well tonight only giving up the lone goal just after a powerplay. I thought Todosychuk was good, was called apon to make the saves when needed. Didnt see alot of action come his way, did have some trouble with his rebounds tonight.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
After a five game winning streak the Vipers lost back to back games with just one win in their last four really come to play tonight and played very well. One of if not the better games of the season. This was a huge win moving into a second place tie with Penticton. The Vipers who have had troubles vs Salmon Arm the last two or three seasons beat the Silverbacks at home for the first time since March of 2012. Tonight was like a playoff game, tight checking, physical, low scoring, and both teams played hard, battled and competed really having to earn the victory tonight. I thought the Vipers come back tonight after a so so game last weekened vs Merritt really stepped up their play tonight, had lots of good scoring chances, got pucks on goal, were going to the net and played very well defensively. The onething I didnt see tonight that Ive seen lots in the last two years is the Vipers panic in tonight's game, especially in the third period. Vernon's defence played very well limiting Salmon Arm's scoring chances and second opportunities.
Top Players: (Salmon Arm)
Mark Whiteley played very well on the Backs blueline. Played very steady all night.
Colton Thibault didnt stand out in the games first two periods but really stepped up his game in the third. The Vernon product played very well in the final frame and was one of the Silverbacks better players. Generated some offence, was involved in the play, was skating hard and competed in the final twenty minutes.
Bryden Marsh I thought had a strong game up front for Salmon Arm. Another kid who was always involved in the play, played physical, skated well and created some chances.
Game Thought's: (Salmon Arm)
The Silverbacks had previously won four straight games in Vernon before tonight going back to the 2011-12 regular season, three out of the four games were in overtime. With the loss snaps Salmon Arm's two game winning streak and puts them into 4th place. This was a hard fought game at both ends of the rink as tempers heated up through out tonight's game. Overall a pretty tight checking game as the Backs couldnt generate much offence. Both teams struggled with the powerplay but both teams were very good on the penalty kill. Salmon Arm was missing some key players just had troubles generating chances through out tonight's game. The Backs with not alot of scoring opportunities didnt go to the net or jump on any of Todosychuk's rebounds. Both teams took some undisaplined penalties. Overall a very entertaining hockey game.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Mason Blacklock (Injured)
Demico Hannoun
Austin Smith (Injured)
Salmon Arm:
Riley Hunt
Alex Gillies
Brett Fagerheim
Energy player of the game:
Ryan Renz
Three Stars:
1st Star: Liam Coughlin (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Michael McNicholas (1 goal)
3rd Star: Max Becker (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=1231280&link=bchl
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