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 West Kelowna 5-3 in front of 1,961 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Danny Todosychuk
West Kelowna: Andy Desautels
Before tonight's game Vipers owner Duncan Wray presented Vipers forward Michael McNicholas with the Vipers player of the month award for the month of October.
1st Period: The Vipers would get the games first shot on goal off the opening faceoff but it would be the Warriors that would get off to a quick start firing anything and everything early towards Danny Todosychuk. The Vipers goaltender had to be sharp and ready early as West Kelowna with four early shots in the opening few minute or two. Todosychuk was forced to make two quick pad saves before making a big blocker save off Taylor Graham's shot from the point. The Warriors with all kinds of pressure early and often were forcing the Vipers defence into several turnovers deep in the Vernon zone. West Kelowna was quick to the puck, getting lots of pucks to the net and winning the battles early outshooting the Vipers 8-3 at one point. The Warriors carried the play and were the better team in the first ten minutes but couldnt capitalize. With seven and a half minutes remaining the Vipers would get their first scoring opportunity of the game. Vernon with a quick shot from the point on an odd man rush forced Andy Desautels to make the first save before Brendan Persley couldnt connect on the rebound in front as the puck bounced over his stick. Both teams went atleast five or six minutes without getting a shot on goal as Vernon slowly started to get their legs going and create some offensive chances. Both teams were fairly evenly matched in the second half with very little scoring chances before the Vipers would get the games first powerplay in the final four minutes. Vernon moving the puck well around the perimiter setup Dexter Dancs at the side of the net who was robbed by Andy Desautels who come across making a huge left pad save as Dancs couldnt get the puck up and over the pad of Desautels. Still with the man advantage Michael McNicholas found Vipers captain Ryan Renz who's point shot beat Andy Desautels giving Vernon a 1-0 lead on the powerplay at 17:40 McNicholas and Liam Coughlin with the helpers. The Vipers would ice the puck with 19.1 seconds left in the period gave West Kelowna a late faceoff wich allowed the Warriors to generate a flurry in and around the Viper goal before the buzzer sounded. Vernon was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Warriors with a great start were firing everything towards Danny Todosychuk getting lots of pucks on net, had a few good chances early clearly were the better team especially in the first half couldnt open the scoring before giving up a late powerplay goal were down 1-0. The Vipers with a much better second half had lots of problems in their own end. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 12-11.
2nd Period: Just thirty seconds into the middle frame Brendan Persley alone in front couldnt beat Warriors starting goaltender Andy Desautels who come up with a big save in close. On the next shift Persley again this time on a two on one with d-man Josh Bryan, Persley decided to keep and shoot but for a second time was denied by Desautels who made two big saves in the opening minute keeping this a one goal game. On the next shift Ambrose Firkus with a great chance got off a quick shot from the slot couldnt beat Todosychuk who made a nice save. A few plays later Colton Sparrow flying down the right wing cut towards the goal but was stopped by Andy Desautels who made a big right pad save kicking the puck into the corner. The Vipers slowly started to turn up the heat and take over the edge in play. Three and a half minutes into the period Tyler Povolofskie with a breakaway was stopped by Desautels as Povolofskie and a Warriors defenceman went crashing into the net on the play. On the next shift the Vipers would get their second powerplay of the night. Moving the puck around Vernon was unable to generate any real good opportunities as West Kelowna would kill off the minor. A few minutes later Ambrose Firkus on a Warriors three on two was stopped by Danny Todosychuk. West Kelowna would even the score after a flurry of chances. Danny Todosychuk made the first save before a huge scramble in front of the Vernon goal. The Warriors with a flurry of chances in close couldnt get the puck through a maze of players in front of Todosychuk. One shot did manage to get through but a Viper defenceman was able to clear the puck before it crossed the goal line. The Vipers couldnt clear the zone as Todosychuk was forced to make another save before Jordan Masters went high and over Danny Todosychuk who was down and out with bodies all over the crease as the Warriors tied the game 1-1 at 7:10 Seb Lloyd and Jaden Schmeisser collected the assists. Just over a minute later the Vipers would re-take the lead after Liam Coughlin won the draw deep in the Warriors zone setup Michael McNicholas who setup Josh Bryan whos rocket of a shot from the point beat Andy Desautels giving Vernon a 2-1 lead at 8:44 McNicholas and Coughlin with the assists. Less then a minute later Brendan Persley with a breakaway tried giving Vernon a two goal lead would be robbed by Andy Desautels who come up with a huge glove save (one of the biggest saves Ive seen at a Vipers game in a long time). Desautels somehow reached around with his glove robbing Persley. Persley with three solid chances this period couldnt find the back of the net. Just a few shifts later West Kelowna would get their first chance with the man advantage but a very strong penalty kill by the Vipers would kill off the minor. The Vipers who carried the better of the play were outplaying and outchancing the Warriors for most of the period. Jason Bird's long shot from the point bounced off the end boards just about hit Andy Desautels in the back of the pads-legs as the Warriors goaltender just got out of the way as the puck shot back out from behind the West Kelowna goal through the crease and out on a close call. With just over six minutes remaining Carl Hesler and Jason Cotton with a two on one, Hesler setup Cotton who fired high and over the goal Dexter Dancs carried the puck up ice setting up Michael McNicholas who waited pulling Desautels over to the right side before going shortside giving Vernon a 3-1 lead at 15:50 Dancs with the lone helper on the goal. A great chance for the Warriors to tie the game on a two on one couldnt capitalize as Vernon come back on the same shift scoring at the other end making this a two goal game. But less then a minute later Michael Winnitoy's point shot was redirected in front by Seb Lloyd who beat Todosychuk going to the net cutting the Viper lead to within a goal at 16:44 Winnitoy with the lone assist on the goal. Tempers heated up in the final minute as some pushing and shoving occured giving the Vipers a late powerplay. Vernon unable to capitalize was up 3-2 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers got off to a quick start getting several good chances early outplayed West Kelowna for most of the period. Vernon with several good quality scoring chances only managed two goals this period. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 16-10.
3rd Period: The Vipers would start the final frame with the man advantage that was carried over from the 2nd period. Just fourty four seconds into the 3rd Liam Coughlin's quick shot from the circle beat Andy Desautels going topshelf giving the Vipers a 4-2 lead at 0:44 Jared Wilson and Josh Bryan with the assists. But just thirty nine seconds later the Warriors would take advantage of a bad pinch by Jason Bird giving West kelowna a three on one. With some nice three way passing Carl Hesler beat Danny Todosychuk at 1:23 cutting the Viper lead to within a goal. Ambrose Firkus and Jaden Schmeisser collected the helpers. The Vipers come right back getting several good opportunities. Dexter Dancs alone in front tried going topshelf couldnt beat Andy Desautels who made a big save. Logan Mick who had a very physical shift laid out a few big hits tried beating Desautels on the wrap around but the Warriors goaltender was keeping his club in the game at this point as Vernon with all kinds off good chances. Desautels then just got a peice of Brendan Persley's shot from the circle. West Kelowna would get just their second powerplay didnt record a shot as Vernon would kill off the penalty. Just after the penalty kill the Vipers would get a four minute powerplay and take advantage of a Warriors team that was falling apart taking some undisaplined penalties in the third. Dexter Dancs setup Michael McNicholas for his second goal of the night gave Vernon a 5-3 lead at 11:57 Dancs and Josh Bryan with the assists. The Vipers scoring on the first (four minute) powerplay would get a full two minute powerplay still remaining some sloppy passing allowed the Warriors to take control of the puck and get atleast two or three shorthanded shots on goal before killing off the remainder of the penalty. Just after killing off the penalty the Warriors with another undisaplined penalty would go right back to the box giving the Vipers a late powerplay. On the play Jordan Masters would get a ten minute misconduct meaning his night was done as he given the boot. Early on the powerplay the Vipers setup Michael McNicholas for a parcial breakaway, McNicholas going for his third goal of the game fired wide as West Kelowna would kill off the penalty. Just as the penalty kill ended the Warriors would take another penalty spending most of the second half of the period playing shorthanded. The Vipers would get a few flurries down low forcing Andy Desautels to make a few big saves. West Kelowna's aggresive penalty kill forced the Vipers defence into turning over the puck on atleast two plays but the Vipers would excape and wind down the final minute before the buzzer would sound as Vernon would knock off West Kelowna 5-3. For the second straight period the Vipers were the better team, again getting a ton of good chances outplayed the Warriors for most of the period. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 15-8.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Josh Bryan (1 goal & 2 assists) Played a very strong game on the Vernon backend. Bryan played very well at both ends of the rink, chipping in with three points.
Tyler Povolofskie played one of his better games of the season. Played with alot of jump, battled and worked hard all game. Had a great chance to give Vernon a 2-0 lead early in the 2nd but was stopped on the breakaway. Saw lots of icetime late in the game, ddnt quit battling, had a few chances in the final few minutes.
Michael McNicholas (2 goals & 2 assists) Is really playing his best hockey of the season as of late. It seems like I name him one of my top players after every game. This kid dosnt quit, plays hard and competes hard each and everygame. Plays very well at both ends of the rink, very good on specialty teams.
Colton Sparrow played a strong game up front for the Vipers. Sparrow played hard and battled hard all night. Had a few opportunities, was going to the net hard.
Brendan Persley with atleast three or four real good opportunities coudlnt buy a goal tonight. Persley who always seems to come ready to play and battles hard each and every game had a ton of good chances especially in the 2nd period.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
Well after a 4-3 double overtime loss to Victoria Sunday afternoon in a game where the Vipers didnt put forth a full sixty minutes they played close to sixty minutes tonight. Vernon didnt get off to the start they wanted too but I think once they got their legs going they seemed to play a bit better as the game went on. I thought they were outplayed early and often (especially in the first ten minutes) but managed to play better in the second half of the opening period. The Vipers had troubles in their own end in the first period coughing up the puck or turning over the puck on several plays. With parents weekend this weekend I thought maybe the boys were a little nervous with mom and dad in the stands. In the 2nd and 3rd periods it was all Vernon who I thought carried the better of the play, had a ton of scoring chances and capitalized with the man advantage tonight (three powerplay goals) on a powerplay that has been struggling this season. Give the Vipers credit they limited the Warriors scoring chances and stayed out of the penalty box. Vernon also played hard and played with more consistancy tonight compared to the loss to Victoria Sunday. The Vipers still need to work on there turnovers in their own end and defensive play but did get a little better after struggling in their own end in the opening period. This was a hard fought exciting and very entertaining game if your a Vipers fan. Defenceman Kenny Citron played I think two shifts all night. I noticed Citron played one shift last Friday night in the win over Salmon Arm. If he isnt playing then why is he dressed and on the bench? Its nice to see the Vipers rebound after Sunday's dissapointing overtime loss come back with a hard fought game tonight wich put the Vipers into a first place tie with Merritt in the Interior Division.
Top Players: (West Kelowna)
Jaden Schmeisser (2 assists) I thought was one of the Warriors better defencemen tonight. Played well at both ends of the rink, jumped up offensively collecting two assists in the loss.
Jason Cotton looked very good up front for the Warriors. A very good skater, very good with and without the puck, always involved in the play.
Ambrose Firkus (1 assist) Has played well against Vernon in past games, looked good tonight. Picking up one assist had a few good chances was in and around the net. Not the biggest kid but battles and competes hard. Good hands, seems to always read the play and create offensive chances.
Jordan Masters (1 goal) Also played very well up front, another player that was involved in the play. A good skater is good with the puck. Has good hands.
Taylor Graham I thought was the Warriors best d-man tonight. West Kelowna didnt play very well defensively but Graham I thought looked good. Jumped up into the play, was involved in the play, played well at both ends of the rink.
Andy Desautels (35 saves) Kept the Warriors in tonight's contest. If it wasnt for some huge saves through out tonight's game the Vipers could have had atleast seven or eight goals by the end of the night. Desautels played a heck of a game bailing his team out on several occasions. Kept his team in the game during the 2nd period giving his club a chance to win. A bigger kid covers alot of the net dosnt give up alot of rebounds is very well positioned.
Game Thoughts: (West Kelowna)
The Warriors got off to a quick start, getting lots of pucks on net, firing everything from anywhere outshooting Vernon 8-3 early but couldnt capitalize. West Kelowna looked very strong especially in the first ten minutes but allowed the Vipers to get back in the game before giving up a late opening period powerplay goal. The Warriors were then outplayed and outchanced in the 2nd and 3rd periods were only in this hockey game because of their goaltender. West Kelowna wasnt very good defensively giving up 42 shots and a ton of Vernon scoring chances. The Warriors with very little puck possesion in the 2nd and 3rd were very limited to their chances, getting very little scoring opportunities. Down 4-3 in the third the wheels fell off as the Warriors took several back to back to back undisaplined penalties playing most of the second half of the third shorthanded. Specialty teams was the difference as Vernon scored three times with the man advantage and was good on the penalty kill as well as stayed out of the penalty box tonight. Give West Kelowna credit they didnt back down and kept trying to battle back but just couldnt stop or contain Vernon's offensive attack tonight. The Warriors were also playing with several key veteran players out of the lineup and playing with alot of injuries. I didnt notice Mac Ferner much if at all in the 2nd and 3rd period, Ferner did take a shot off the skate-ankle in the opening period and seemed to be a little slow skating off. The Warriors have just one win in their last eleven games in Vernon.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Mason Blacklock (Injured)
Demico Hannoun (Playing at the WJAC)
Michael Stiliadis
West Kelowna:
Ben Tegtmeyer
Ryan Ivey
Adam Plant
David Pope
Brennan Clark
Liam Blackburn
Head Coach-GM Rylan Ferster
Energy player of the game:
Brendan Persley
Three Stars:
1st Star: Michael McNicholas (2 goals & 2 assists)
2nd Star: Josh Bryan (1 goal & 2 assists)
3rd Star: Seb Lloyd (1 goal & 1 assist)
For more on tonight's game visit the boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1231297&link=bchl
For more on tonight's game and the West Kelowna Warriors visit Jon Zacks West Kelowna Warriors blog,
http://thegeneralsreport.wordpress.com/
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