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 the Vipers home opener as West Kelowna defeated Vernon 4-0 in front of 1,767 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Danny Todosychuk
West Kelowna: Andy Desautels
1st Period: Just eleven seconds into the Vipers home opener West Kelowna would get an early powerplay. The Warriors only shot with the man advantage forced Danny Todosychuk to make an awkward save with traffic in front as West Kelowna didnt generate much of any real scoring chances had atleast two tic tac toe passing plays where they couldnt connect as Vernon was able to kill off the minor. The Warriors come out with alot of jump, were skating hard carried the early edge in play didnt give Vernon alot of time or space as the Vipers couldnt get the puck into the Warriors zone. Both teams would switch having shortened powerplays with no goals before the Vipers would get a two man advantage just past the halfway mark. Vernon's powerplay looked good, moving the puck around the Vipers managed a few chances but didnt really get any quality grade A chances on the man advantage. Vernon with atleast three real nice three way passing plays couldnt convert in the end missing on a few good opportunities. Andy Desautel didnt have to make any real big game savers early did his job making the routine saves as the Warriors killed off the double minor. As the penalty expired the puck was wrapped around the boards making a full circle before coming out into the neutral zone where Jordan Masters was just stepping out of the penalty box. Masters didnt have room to cut towards the net went around the Vernon goal through the puck out front where Danny Todosychuk was caught out of position. One Warriors player couldnt bang the loose puck into the open cage as a Viper defenceman was holding off the West Kelowna forward, before Masters was quick enough to get back out front found the loose puck hit the open net giving West Kelowna a 1-0 lead at 16:04 Liam Blackburn & Ryan Ivey picked up the assists. Less then two minutes later the Warriors would get their second shot with the PP took a two goal lead after Liam Blackburn's shot was stopped by Todosychuk, Jordan Masters banged home the rebound at the side of the net beat Todosychuk tight along the post at 18:32 Blackburn and Jason Cotton with the helpers. It was 2-0 West Kelowna after 20 minutes of play. The Warriors looked good in the opening period had their legs going, played with alot of jump carried the better of the play at times. The Vipers didnt get off to the start they wanted got into penalty trouble seconds into the game and missed a great opportunity to grab the first lead of the night failing to capitalize on a double minor. Both teams didnt get any real quality chances, I thought the Warriors just capitalized on their opportunities. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 14-10.
2nd Period: The Vipers down two goals shot themselves in the foot after once again taking an early penalty to start the period. Vernon would get into penalty trouble in the second frame and it cost them. The Vipers with four straight penalties played the first half shorthanded. Just two minutes into the period the Warriors with an early PP couldnt capitalize as Vernon would kill off the minor but just 1:05 later Mac Ferner's point shot was redirected in by Brett Mennear put WK up 3-0 at 5:05 Ferner with the lone assist. Twenty seconds later the Warriors went back on the powerplay would eventually get a late two man advantage. Vernon would kill off one penalty as Trevor Fidler raced out of the penalty box caught the Warriors powerplay napping going in for the breakaway couldnt beat West Kelowna's starting goaltender Andy Desautels who made a big pad save keeping this a three goal game. Just seconds later the Vipers would take another penalty giving West Kelowna a second two man advantage. The Warriors would make the Vipers pay after Josh Bly's shot missed the net went off the end boards out front to a wide open Kylar Hope who put the puck into the open cage giving WK a 4-0 lead at 8:55 Bly & Kristian Blumenschein with the helpers. Still on the powerplay Johnny Coughlin would go in for the breakaway but a huge defensive play swiped the puck out from under Coughlin who was then upended on his way to the net. Vernon was able to kill off the remainder of the penalty. Shortly after Liam Coughlin tried setting up Thomas Aldworth on a parcial odd man rush but Aldworth couldnt connect on the pass in front. The Vipers who were shorthanded most of the period didnt see much action in the opponents zone. Less then five minutes to go Vernon would get their first powerplay of the 2nd period. With very little pressure or shots Linden Hora in the final seconds of the man advantage was robbed after a quick glove save from Desautels. The Warriors with a fairly easy penalty kill were up 4-0 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers got into penalty trouble taking four minors in a row played the first half of the period shorthanded. WK with two goals in the first half jumped out to a comfortable four goal lead were now in the drivers seat. The Vipers played most of the period in their own end didnt look good in the middle frame. Vernon needed to score atleast once if not twice on both shorthanded breakaways to try and get back into the contest couldnt buy a goal tonight. West Kelowna outshot the Vipers 20-7.
3rd Period: Jarrod Schamerhorn replaced Danny Todosychuk to start the 3rd period. In the opening few minutes Hunter Zandee with a parcial breakaway missed the net before Vernon would get an early powerplay. The Vipers down by four goals looked more interested in passing the puck around, rather then getting shots on goal as West Kelowna with a good penalty kill would kill off the minor. With the Warriors in full control both teams looked like they just wanted to wind down the clock as quick as possible and hit the showers without risking an injury. No real flow this period made for a pretty boring final frame. The Warriors got a bit of a scare after Andy Desautels took a wicked slapshot to the mask went down immediately. Backup goaltender Scott Patton put on his mask while coming onto the ice to stretch while team trainers looked at the Warriors netminder. Desauetls working on a shutout seemed to be fine stayed in the hockey game. The Vipers with several opportunities for a clear shot decided to go for the pass looking for the cute play couldnt connect missing some good opportunities. Give credit to West Kelowna's defence who were collapsing down low, blocking shots doing whatever it took to preserve Desautels shutout. WK needed almost twelve minutes to record their first shot of the period played a very well defensively tonight. The Vipers on the other hand didnt get enough shots on net carried the play but didnt get many quality chances. Andy Desautels made his biggest save of the night off Luke Voltin with four minutes remaining before Vernon would get a late powerplay. The Vipers again couldnt buy a goal before getting a late two man advantage in the final minute. With a flurry of chances in close Andy Desautels and the visiting West Kelowna Warriors were able to hold on for the 4-0 victory and shutout. Not much of a period with the Warriors in full control up by four goals. The Vipers just didnt have much left in the tank lost most if not all their juices after the first two periods. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 9-3.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Luke Voltin I thought played a pretty good game considering it was a 4-0 loss. Voltin who plays on the Vipers top line with Liam Coughlin and Thomas Aldworth played with some energy, really showed his speed tonight at times had a few looks at the net was robbed in the final four minutes of the hockey from trying to break Desautels shutout.
The line of Anthony Latina, Mackenzie Bauer & Trevor Fidler I thought was another lone bright spot in the Vernon Vipers lineup tonight. Latina who come over in a trade from the Carleton Place Canadians in August has really impressed me so far. Latina like Voltin showed his speed and played with some jump was really hustling tonight. I also liked Trevor Fidler's game, I thought Fidler and Latina showed good chemistry playing together this evening. Fidler was stoned on a 2nd periodf breakaway shorthanded was skating hard.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
After a very strong performance last night with a 4-1 win in West Kelowna I didnt think the Vipers were the same team from less then 24 hrs ago. I didnt think Vernon had their legs going to start the game and didnt seem to play with that jump and energy they showed last night in West Kelowna. A strong relentless forecheck in last night's 4-1 victory caused the Warriors to turnover the puck on several occasions. Tonight that same forecheck was nowhere to be seen. Vernon didnt generate or create alot of real good quality chances. Most of their shots were from outside with no traffic in front. I didnt think the Vipers played that bad in the 1st period but after not being able to capitalize with the double minor the Warriors gained some momentum and confidence scored just seconds after the big penalty kill to quiet the crowd, grab the early lead before jumping out to a two goal lead on the road. The second period is what killed the Vipers, Vernon got into penalty trouble and it cost them. Playing the first half of the period in the penalty box isnt going to win you hockey games. I also think the Vipers made Andy Desautels night pretty easy with very little traffic in front of the veteran twenty yr old goaltender. The Vipers were down two and four goals and yet instead of firing anything and everything towards the net to try and get a greasy one past Desautels the Vipers decided to stay to the outside, pass the puck around looking for the perfect setup-play. Desautels is one of the leagues best goaltenders and if your going to beat him the Vipers need to get more bodies in front, crash the net, make his night a little difficult. The Vipers looked to lose their mindset and confidence once the parade to the penalty box. The Vipers lose their third straight home opener. Vernon needs to be better tomorrow, regroup and get ready for an afternoon game vs the Langley Rivermen.
Top Players: (West Kelowna)
Rylan Yaremko I thought played very well on the Warriors blueline tonight. Has some size and toughness was steady on the backend all game.
The line of Dante Hahn, Jordan Masters (2 goals) & Liam Blackburn (2 assists) was West Kelowna's go to line. These three showed alot of chemistry, really had things clicking made the Vipers pay for their mistakes.
Kyle Marino also played very well on the Warriors defence.
Andy Desautels (30 saves-shutout) Picked up his third career BCHL shutout and his twenty ninth career victory. Desautels who was very good last night in the loss to Vernon wasnt tested much did make a few big saves but overall had a pretty easy night between the pipes. Saw the first shot, made the save with very little rebounds.
Game Thought's: (West Kelowna)
Give full credit to the West Kelowna Warriors who had their home opener spoiled by the Vipers last night returned the favor tonight. I thought the Warriors looked and played much better after last night's 4-1 loss. Rylan Ferster had his troops ready to go from the drop of the puck and it showed. WK had their legs going early, played with alot more jump and energy and looked much hungrier tonight. I really liked the Warriors defence, thought they played very well. Limited the Vipers opportunities, kept the Vernon shooters to the outside and were collapsing down low, blocking shots and allowing their goaltender to see most of if not all shots. I didnt think either team really had alot of good scoring chances but give credit to West Kelowna who capitalized on their chances, took advantage and made Vernon pay for their mistakes. I thought the Warriors were lucky getting a few bounces but thats how the game goes some nights. West Kelowna's penalty kill was good. With the win the Warriors improve to 3-1.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Riley Guenther (Injured)
TJ Dumonceaux (Injured)
Luke Shiplo (Injured)
West Kelowna:
Michael Roberts
Greydon Robinson
Energy player of the game:
Brandon Wagner
Three Stars:
1st Star: Andy Desautels (30 saves-shutout)
2nd Star: Jordan Masters (2 goals)
3rd Star: Liam Blackburn (2 assists)
BCHL Boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1358109&link=bchl
Kyle Anderson's West Kelowna Warriors blog,
http://wkwarriors.blogspot.ca/
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