Saturday, May 10, 2014

Royal Bank Cup: Carleton Place 3 Vernon 2

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 RBC Cup game as Carleton Place defeated Vernon 3-2 at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Austin Smith
Carleton Place: Guillaume Therien

1st Period: Just fifteen seconds into the period Evan Peterson alone in front just tipped the puck wide of the goal on a great opportunity in the opening seconds to put the Canadians on the board early.  Carleton Place got off to a good start, seemed to carry the early edge in play and take it to the Vipers in the opening few minutes.  Three and a half minutes into the game Andy Sturtz was stopped by Austin Smith who made a big save keeping this game scoreless.  Back come the Vipers off the next play, Liam Coughlin on a wrap around tried sneaking one through Guillaume Therien and the post but the Canadians goaltender stood his ground making the tough save.  Off the next draw the Vipers won the faceoff, before Dylan Chanter walked in from the blueline snapped a quick shot that looked to be redirected in front but was stopped by Therien.  The Canadians would get the games first powerplay but seconds later Carleton Place took a penalty wich put both teams four on four before the Vipers would get a very late powerplay.  The Canadians seemed to have the better jump early but Vernon was slowly able to re-group and come back with some hard working shifts of their own.  The Vipers played very physical laying out some big checks in the opening period.  Very little scoring chances at both ends of the rink as both teams were fairly evenly matched.  Colton Sparrow come very close to giving Vernon the lead hit the crossbar with five minutes to go.  On the next shift Craig Pefley come back the other way had a great opportunity but was robbed by Smith who come up with a huge glove save.  It was scoreless after twenty minutes of play.  Carleton Place had a good start and looked to be the better of the two teams early but the Vipers come back as the period went along and stood well against the Canadians.  Not alot of scoring chances as both teams matched up fairly well against one another.  Vernon outshot Carleton Place 9-5.

2nd Period: Vernon would get into penalty trouble early and lose Brendan Persley in the opening minute.  Persley was given a penalty for charging just fourty eight seconds into the middle frame but come up limping after the check.  Persley was slow to get off the ice needing some help limped off to the Vipers dressing room and didnt return.  The Canadians with an early powerplay couldnt get much going as Vernon would kill off the minor.  The Canadians would head right back to the man advantage and get a great look in front off a mad scramble.  Anthony McVeigh was able to get a shot off was robbed by Vipers starting goaltender Austin Smith who somehow was able to get his pad up to make the huge save keeping this game scoreless.  The powerplay didnt last long after Carleton Place would take a penalty, as both teams played a little four on four.  Just as both teams went back to five on five the Canadians would jump back on the powerplay, as neither team could get much five on five play going with all the early penalties in the 2nd period.  Shorthanded Colton Sparrow would pick off an errand pass, coming down the left wing rip a hard shot that beat Canadians starting goaltender Guillaume Therien giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 6:51 Sparrow's goal was shorthanded.  Just before the powerplay was over Carleton Place would once again take a penalty while on the man advantage sending both teams back to four on four.  Vernon would eventually end up with a shortented powerplay.  With just seconds remaining on the man advantage Brett Mulcahy on a three on two rush was stopped by Therien who come up with a big save keeping this a one goal game as the Canadians would kill off the minor.  Again both teams with very little scoring chances as Vernon with just two shots on goal at the midway mark.  Not alot of action in the period as tempers seemed to heat up as several players were getting involved in and after the stopages in play.  Dylan Gareau with a three on two rush was stopped by the blocker of Smith.  With two minutes remaining Dexter Dancs was able to fight his way through traffic couldnt jam the puck home on a great opportunity late in the period.  In the final minute Owen Stewart with a quick shot from the point forced Austin Smith to make a big save.  The Vipers with a 1-0 lead after 40 minutes of play.  Neither team could get much of anything going in the first half as both teams were exchanging penalties before the Vipers would open the scoring schorthanded with the lone goal of the period.  Carleton Place outshot Vernon 11-6.

3rd Period: Just fourty seven seconds into the final frame Dylan Gareau spun and fired from the circle beat Austin Smith to tie the game 1-1 at :47 Brett D'Andrea collected the lone assist.  But back come the Vipers off the next draw, Liam Coughlin went hard to the net on a parcial breakaway looked to be poke checked by Guillaume Therien in front couldnt, coral the rebound on a very close call in front as the Vipers come close to tying the game.  Just over three minutes into the third Josh Bryan with a huge check in the neutral zone lined up Anthony Latina who went down and down hard, didnt move for a few seconds before the play was stopped.  Latina was very slow to move and very slow to get up, needing help off the ice.  Latina headed to the Canadians dressing room and didnt return.  No penalty or call was made on the play but while Lloyd was getting off the ice, both referee's and one linesmen gathered together before giving Josh Bryan a five minute major for interference and a game misconduct.  The Canadians struggled with the five minute major as the Vipers were able to kill off almost two and a half minutes without giving up a shot on the penalty kill.  Carleton Place with still time left on the powerplay was able to get their first lead of the night after Adam Lloyd got a backhand off in close beat Smith high gave the Canadians their first lead of the night, 2-1 at 5:57 Luke Edwards picked up the lone assist.  A few players later Carleton Place thought they grabbed a 3-1 lead as the Canadians were celebrating as if they looked to score on the powerplay on a scramble in front of Austin Smith.  Smith was down and out looked to have the puck covered under neath him.  No goal light come on and no signal from the referee's but the Canadians were still celebrating like they scored.  Both referee's and linesmen gathered to say no goal, the puck didnt cross the goal line.  The play would resume and still shorthanded the Vipers were able to steal the puck just inside their own line, TJ Dumonceaux went in two on one setup Demico Hannoun who beat Guillaume Therien shorthanded tying the game 2-2 at 8:11 Dumonceaux with the assist.  Vernon with a fairly strong penalty kill was able to kill off the remainder of the five minute major.  You think this goal would give the Vipers life and a huge momentum lift but from here on in it was basically all Carleton Place who didnt generate alot of opportunities but carried most of the play.  The Vipers who couldnt get the puck through the neutral zone had difficulties most of the period getting pucks into the Canadians zone.  The Canadians with lots of pressure killed alot of time off the clock before taking their second lead of the game late.  Vinny Post left all alone at the side of the net had lots of time to get Austin Smith to make his move before cutting to the front of the net untouched put the puck into the back of the open cage giving Carleton Place a 3-2 lead at 15:32 Owen Stewart & Luke Edwards picked up the helpers.  Shortly after Vernon with a scramble in front of the Canadians net couldnt find the back of the net with a ton of bodies in and around the crease.  The Vipers who had troubles generating offence and pressure all period were finally able to get the play deep in the Canadians zone, moving the puck around the Vipers left Austin Smith in the net with just over a minute remaining.  The Vipers with a few chances in front couldnt beat Therien before calling a late timeout and getting Smith to the bench for the extra attacker.  With the net empty Vernon couldnt generate much offence or get the puck to the net before Carleton Place was able to get the puck out of the zone and deep into the Vipers zone where the clock would wind down before the buzzer sounded as the Canadians come away with the 3-2 victory in their first game of the Tournament.  Carleton Place had a very strong 3rd, carried alot of the play, was hard to knock off the puck.  The Canadians didnt get alot of good scoring chances were able to kill alot of time off the clock with having the better of the play before scoring the game winner late.  Carleton Place outshot Vernon 13-12.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Dylan Chanter had a good game on the Vipers blueline, looked a little shaky early but seemed to calm down as the game went on.  Jumped up into the play, was able to get some shots off from the point while playing physical.

TJ Dumonceaux (1 assist) Was flying all night, not the biggest kid out there but wasnt afraid to hit the body and dish out a few checks through out the night.  Dumonceaux was really skating hard, played with alot of jump and energy was strong on the attack and forecheck played well at both ends of the rink.

Colton Sparrow (1 goal) Another player who plays with alot of jump and energy, was also good at both ends of the rink.  Blocked shots, battled hard along the boards, played a strong game for Vernon.

Austin Smith (26 saves) Played well between the pipes.  For being off for a month didnt show any signs of rust, was very solid in goal for the Vipers come up with some big saves through out the game.

Game Thought's: (Vernon)

The 2014 Host Vernon Vipers played their first game since losing in Game 4 of the Fred Page Cup Finals in Coquitlam where they were swept in the League Finals vs the Express.  Sure Vernon showed signs of rust but played fairly well for fourty minutes.  I thought the Vipers were very evenly matched vs the Canadians for the first two periods until the 3rd where Vernon was outplayed and outscored.  The Vipers with a 1-0 lead heading into the final period couldnt hold onto the lead wich cost them the series vs Coquitlam.  The Vipers played physical didnt get alot of scoring chances, also didnt generate much offence or get enough pucks-traffic to the net.  The Vipers with two blown defensive coverages in the 3rd allowed the Canadians back in the game.  Vernon took too many penalties tonight and got too cute on several chances in front.  The Vipers held the puck to long or made a pass when instead should have got a shot off.  The Vipers didnt get much shots or chances on Guillaume Therien.  Vernon needs to get more bodies and pucks to the net, make the game a little more difficult for Therien to see pucks and have to make the big save.  The Vipers need to be better and play a full sixty minutes.  For the Vipers first game of the RBC Cup, I was very dissapointed in not seeing a sellout tonight.  Lots of empty seats.  Where are all the hockey fans in Vernon?  Whats your excuse for not coming out to the National Championships? 

Top Players: (Carleton Place)

Larry Smith one of the bigger Canadians defencemen saw alot of ice, is very steady on the backend, hard to beat one on one and physical along the boards.  Played well tonight.

Devin Campbell also saw alot of ice and one of the bigger Carleton Place D-men.  Was good but also looks to have a short fuse and seemed to get rattled at times through out the game, the Vipers seemed to get under this kids skin.

Luke Edwards (2 assists) Had a strong game picking up two assists.  Always in and around the net, seems to see the ice well.

Craig Pefley I thought looked pretty good.  A good quick skater.

Dylan Gareau (1 goal) Tied the game early in the 3rd I thought was one of Carleton Place's better players.  Seemed to carry the puck alot, get involved in the play and read the ice well.

Game Thought's: (Carleton Place)

One of the bigger teams I have seen play this year, but play an overly aggresive phsyical style of game.  The Canadians got off to a good start seemed to have the better jump on Vernon to start the game managed to keep pace with the Vipers as both teams looked fairly even until the Canadians took over the edge in play and were the better team come the final period.  Carleton Place like the Vipers didnt generate alot of scoring opportunities, capitalized on their chances come from behind with three goals in the third.  The Canadians have a strong forecheck, come at you hard.  This team is no sloutch and will compete at the RBC Cup.  Both teams worked hard but it was the Canadians that had a slight edge in the third.  Overall a much more intense and physical game then this afternoon's non-hitter between Dauphin & Toronto Lakeshore. 

Scratches:

Vernon:

Kenny Citron
Mark Hamilton
Tyler Povolofskie

Carleton Place:

Connor Merkley
Tyson Stewart
Brett Everson
Andrew Dodson

Player of the game:

Carleton Place: Luke Edwards (2 assists)

Vernon: Colton Sparrow (1 goal)

For more on tonight's game visit the Hockey Canada website-game summary,

http://stats.hockeycanada.ca/game/show/6544944?subseason=142110&referrer=1060585&referrer=1060585
   

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