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 Interior Division Semi-Final Game 6 as Vernon defeated West Kelowna 5-0 winning the series 4-2 in front of 1,107 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Austin Smith
West Kelowna: Cody Porter
1st Period: With the Warriors season on the line West Kelowna come ready to play and come out hard. Just twenty one seconds into the contest Ben Tegtmeyer with a quick low shot from the point forced Austin Smith to make a quick right pad save. The Warriors were really pressing hard in the opening minutes. Detroit Red Wings draft pick David Pope with a high shot that was snagged by the quick glove of Smith. West Kelowna with a flurry of chances early were outshooting the Vipers 4-1 just four minutes into the period. Austin Smith had to be sharp early as once again made a big save off Liam Blackburn who was alone in the slot. Vernon looked very tenative and nervous to start the game, wernt playing their game. The Vipers got away from using their physical play, speed and puck possesion as it was all Warriors early and often. The Vipers slowly started getting going just before the midway mark, were able to get a few shots on goal but didnt get alot of pressure or zone time. Austin Smith got caught out of his crease couldnt handle the puck as the puck come oput front before a scrum of players raced to the front of the net as the Vipers got lucky. A few shifts later a long dump in shot took a bounce off the end boards just about hit Smith on a close play. Just past the halfway mark the Vipers would catch a break-get a lucky bounce after Colton Sparrow's shot was stopped by Cody Porter who couldnt handle the rebound that went in and off Brett Mulcahy who was going to the net hard giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 11:27 Sparrow and Brendan Persley picked up the assists. This goal seemed to give the Vipers some life and a little momentum. The Vipers with a few flurries in and around the net couldnt capitalize in some big rebounds Cody Porter was giving up. The Vipers got better as the period went on and now carried a bit of the play. Liam Coughlin with some speed was able to beat his man got a quick low shot off that forced Porter to make a quick reaction save keeping this a one goal game with just under two minutes to go. Vernon was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. West Kelowna got off to the start they needed and had some good opportunities but couldnt burry their chances. The Warriors were all over Vernon early before the Vipers would get a bit of a break and a lucky bounce to open the scoring, gained some life and momentum and were the better of the teams in the second half. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 13-7.
2nd Period: West Kelowna got off to a good start and once again controlled the early edge in play as Vernon was back on their heels at times looked a little catious. The Vipers looked scared to hit someone and wernt skating as West Kelowna was buzzing in and around the Vipers zone. The Vipers would get a great scoring chance early after Brendan Persley with some speed setup Brett Mulcahy on a two on one, Mulcahy was able to get off a quick shot but couldnt beat West Kelowna starting goaltender Cody Porter who made a nice save. Back come the Warriors and once again carried the play buzzing in and around the Vipers zone. Seb Lloyd who returned to the lineup tonight was left all alone in front of the goal went high and over the net missing a great opportunity. Not that long after Brett Mennear was left alone at the side of the goal shot wide as West Kelowna was still down a goal. With the Vipers on an odd man rush, Michael McNicholas setup Mason Blacklock who was stopped by Cody Porter who made a big save. The Warriors would get the games first powerplay, wernt able to get alot of pressure had one good chance after David Pope was stopped by Vipers starting goaltender Austin Smith. Just as the penalty was coming to an end the Warriors would get caught on a line change allowing Michael McNicholas and Brendan Persley in for the two on one, McNicholas got in deep before setting up Persley for a wide open cage giving the Vipers a 2-0 lead at 11:11 McNicholas picked up the only assist. Just four minutes later West Kelowna would turnover the puck sending Demico Hannoun in for the breakaway with Mac Ferner chasing him down, Hannoun was stopped by Porter before TJ Dumonceaux jumped on the rebound putting it home giving Vernon a 3-0 lead at 15:01 Hannoun and Logan Mick with the helpers. Just seconds later West Kelowna would get their second man advantage of the period, but again the Warriors couldnt capitalize as Vernon was able to kill off the minor. Just like the opening period the Vipers got better as the period went on and had some good opportunities. Late in the period Liam Coughlin on an odd man rush went deep into the Warriors zone before setting up Mason Blacklock who just missed the goal. The Vipers started buzzing late getting a few flurries. Vernon was up 3-0 after 40 minutes of play. Just like the 1st period West Kelowna jumped on the Vipers early, were really attacking early had some good looks and chances but couldnt capitalize. The Warriors missed the net on several good chances were having troubles hitting the net at times. The Vipers were outplayed for most of the first half of the period but would capitalize on two West Kelowna mistakes scoring on both of them jumping out to a three goal lead. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 12-8.
3rd Period: With the Vipers up by three goals Vernon kept the game simple, getting in across the line before getting the puck in deep. The Vipers hard work down low really paid off early as Vernon's strong forecheck was able to keep the Warriors in their own end at times bottling West Kelowna up. The Vipers just dumping and chasing for the first five to six minutes slowed the game down. It took four minutes for the Warriors to get the games first shot of the period and what a shot it was, after David Pope with a great chance in the high slot couldnt beat Austin Smith. The Warriors finally started to get something going and carried the play for a few minutes getting a few flurries but couldnt beat Smith down low who was very good. West Kelowna with not alot of great chances were really driving to the net hard, looking for rebounds, loose pucks etc before a small scrum happened after Austin Smith took a slash to his glove hand. Everyone got involved as both teams were pushing and shoving, exchanging words before the melay was broken up. The Vipers got lucky on atleast two maybe three occasions after making two or three mistakes in their own end coughing up the puck, were lucky no West Kelowna players were in close enough. Just past the midway mark West Kelowna would get their third powerplay of the night, but a good Viper penalty kill would kill off the penalty. Just over two minutes later the Vipers would put the game away after Jared Wilson with a nice pass setup Liam Coughlin whos quick snap shot beat Cody Porter on a nice shot by Coughlin who gave the Vipers a 4-0 lead at 13:39 Wilson and Mason Blacklock collected the assists. A few shifts later the Vipers with a flurry of chances in and around the Warriors net, Colton Sparrow tried setting up Brendan Persley who couldnt jam the puck home. On the next shift Sparrow with a breakaway missed the goal as the Vipers were now taking over the play. Just a few minutes later the Vipers would get their first powerplay of the night and capitalize. Colton Sparrow setup Brendan Persley at 17:29 giving Vernon a 5-0 lead. Sparrow & Ryan Renz with the helpers. West Kelowna didnt give up as on the next shift Carl Hesler with a great opportunity couldnt beat Austin Smith down low with two and a half minutes remaining. Smith with a huge save late to keep the shutout going. The Vipers would eventually run down the clock would advance to the Interior Division Finals vs the Penticton Vees sending the West Kelowna Warriors home as there season come to an end after a 5-0 Vernon victory as the Vipers won the series 4-2. The Vipers really bared down in the final period, played a dump and chase game early, before sitting back got some solid goaltending from Austin Smith were able to pump in two more goals for the game and the series win as West Kelowna didnt have much gas left in the tank, the Warriors with some pressure couldnt keep a high tempo game going for the entire 3rd had some good chances couldnt capitalize didnt have much left in the tank as the period went along. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 14-5.
Top Players: (Vernon)
The line of Liam Coughlin (1 goal), Michael McNicholas (1 assist) & Mason Blacklock (1 assist) was very good tonight. Coughlin played a heck of a game, was really flying all night, played physical, was very hard to contain and hard to knock off the puck. McNicholas made alot of smart plays, that lead to some goals while Blacklock missed atleast two or three really good scoring chances.
The line of Brett Mulcahy (1 goal), Brendan Persley (1 goal & 1 assist) and Colton Sparrow (2 assists) was the Vipers best line. This line was by far the best unti this series. What can you say about these three young men, all three had a heck of a series, played their best and battled right to the end. Mulcahy with atleast two big blocked shots, really battled and competed, was a workhorse down low, hard to knock off the puck and good along the boards winning the battles. Persley had another strong game tonight, has really stepped up his play these playoffs. Persley was really flying, going hard to the net, battled and competed all night. Sparrow another kid who played with a ton of energy, blocked some shots, was in along the boards winning the battles, played hard and physical tonight.
The line of Tyler Povolofskie, Michael Statchuk and Matty Saharchuk didnt see alot of icetime but just like last night come ready to play and played hard. This line did a great job at adding some energy and high intensity to the Vipers lineup, were right in the faces of the Warriors, battled and competed hard all night.
TJ Dumonceaux (1 goal) Here's another kid that never stops skating. One of the fastest skaters in the league played with a ton of jump and energy. Was really flying, winning the races and battles competed hard all night, earned his goal but joining the play, going to the net and using his wheels.
Austin Smith (29 saves-shutout) Picked up his first career playoff shutout was very sharp all night. Smith had to be alert and ready off the opening faceoff, after making several good saves as the Warriors with several good opportunities in the opening few minutes. Smith looks very confident in these playoffs and has really battled back after each loss in this series.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
After having a opportunity last night to put away the series and end the West Kelowna Warriors season, the Vipers lost 4-1 had a second chance tonight and finished off the Warriors with a 5-0 victory moving onto the Interior Division Finals vs the Penticton Vees. The Vipers looked very nervous, tenative and uptight to start the game as it was all West Kelowna early. The Vipers back on their heels, wernt skating, stayed away from the physical play before getting a bit of a break-lucky bounce to open the scoring, seemed to gain some momentum and get some life after taking the lead. I thought Vernon was outplayed in the first ten minutes in both the first and second periods but battled back and were the better team in the last half of both periods. The Vipers were able to take advantage of some Warriors turnovers-mistakes and capitalize taking a 3-0 lead into the third. The Vipers with a much better effort in the 3rd to try and close out the win, compared to Game 3 over the weekend played hard and battled hard most of the night. I thought the Vipers got better as the game went on and started skating, making plays, come up with a few hits played more of there style of game as the game went on. Give this team alot of credit for rebounding late in the season after a terrible December and January strung together some big wins vs some of the leagues better teams to get into the playoffs for the first time in three years. Back in January I will be the first to tell you I didnt think this team was going to do it and make the playoffs the way they were playing at the time. After dropping Game 1 5-1 in West Kelowna it didnt look good but give these kids and coaching staff a ton of credit for winning the following three games before taking the series in six games. I would have never saw that coming! Congratulations to the entire Vernon Vipers coaching staff and all the best in the Interior Division Final vs Penticton. A very dissapointing small crowd tonight as just over 1100 fans showed up. Shame Shame Viper fans!
Top Players: (West Kelowna)
Ben Tegtmeyer I thought had a very good series and was very good this evening. Was involved in the play, played well at both ends of the rink.
David Pope was very dangerous all season and all series was the Warriors best player in Game 6. Pope with several great chances couldnt beat Austin Smith. This kid is very good and very fun to watch. Really sees and reads the ice well, always seems to find an opening and knows where to go. Has a wicked shot.
Kylar Hope I thought had a few good games this series, was one of the better West Kelowna Warriors tonight. Hope really skated hard, was involved in the play, in and around the net gave the Vipers defence some troubles at times.
Reid Simmonds battled and competed hard all series and again tonight.
Liam Blackburn was very good for the Warriors, was really flying was all over the ice at times was very noticable. Played very well in the series is always going hard to the net, always in and around the net. Good down low and hard to knock off the puck.
Game Thought's: (West Kelowna)
After a huge 4-1 win last night the Warriors forced a Game 6 tonight but just couldnt pull off another victory in another hard fought game. West Kelowna come ready to play and played hard most of the night. The Warriors carried the edge in play and were the better team in the first half of both the first two periods allowed Vernon back in the game in the last half of periods one & two. West Kelowna with some good opportunities early to start the game and then in the 2nd period couldnt find the back of the net missed good chances couldnt capitalize. West Kelowna with atleast three good chances all alone missed the net. Down by a goal two mistakes cost West Kelowna in the 2nd period fell behind by three goals and couldnt climb the mountain ahead of them. As the third period went on and the clock was against the Warriors, West Kelowna didnt have much left in the tank. If the Warriors score on some of there chances early, this may be a different game. West Kelowna had the Vipers back on their heels early and could have easily jumped out to an early lead. Give this team full credit for battling and competing hard all six games. Even with six regulars out of the lineup at one point this team never quit and never said die! The Warriors gave the Vipers a good run in most of the games this season during the regular season and playoffs making for some very exciting hockey games this season. West Kelowna's struggles in Vernon continue as the Warriors didnt win a single game at Kal Tire Place this season (regular season & playoffs) as the Warriors have winless in their last seven visits to Vernon have just one win in their last sixteen games here. I would like to take this time to thank the West Kelowna Warriors organization and there fans all the best next season and thank all of them for a great season and playoffs! Best of luck to all of the Warriors graduating and non-returning players. Will see you all next season.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Mark Hamilton (Injured)
Dexter Dancs (Suspended)
West Kelowna:
Taki Pantziris
Adam Plant (Injured)
Jordan Masters (Injured)
Andy Desautels (Injured)
Energy player of the game:
Colton Sparrow (2 assists)
Three Stars:
1st Star: Brendan Persley (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Austin Smith (29 saves-shutout)
3rd Star: Liam Coughlin (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=1312980&link=bchl
For more on the West Kelowna Warriors and tonight's game visit Jon Zacks Warriors blog,
http://thegeneralsreport.wordpress.com/
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