Saturday, October 25, 2014

Penticton 1 Vernon 0

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 Vipers-Vees game as Penticton defeated Vernon 1-0 in front of 2,614 fnas at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Jarrod Schamerhorn
Penticton: Hunter Miska

1st Period: The Vipers got off to a good start, got the puck in deep had good pressure in the opening few minutes.  Just two minutes into the game Johnny Coughlin's point shot got through traffic before Hunter Miska just got a peice of the puck with his glove making a big save in the opening minutes.  Two minutes later Anthony Latina lead a three on two Vernon attack but couldnt get the pass through after a solid defensive play Jarod Hilderman.  Two minutes later Josh Laframboise on a Penticton Vees two on one couldnt beat Jarrod Schamerhorn who come across the blue paint to make a big glove save off Laframboise.  Vernon looked very good in the first half carried the better of the play were outshooting the Vees 5-2 at one point.  Penticton would slowly get their legs going and come back with a strong forecheck, as the Vees seemed to get back into the contest.  Penticton with their best shift of the night had the Vipers hemmed in their own end for a few minutes.  As the game went on both teams looked very evenly matched with not alot of quality scoring chances.  Both teams played hard, went back and fourth kept even with one another most of the second half.  It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play.  The Vipers with a good start on the road in a tough building played very well, carried the better of the play for atleast the first eight minutes or so before the Vees slowly got going, played a much better second half.  Not alot of scoring chances for either team.  Penticton outshot Vernon 13-12.

2nd Period: The Vees would get the games first powerplay of the evening, just fifty eight seconds into the middle frame.  Moving the puck at the blueline Penticton needed just seven seconds to capitalize to open the scoring.  Dante Fabbro with a screened shot from the point beat Schamerhorn glove side giving Penticton an early 1-0 lead at 1:05 Tyson Jost & Demico Hannoun with the assists.  This goal gave the Vees life and momentum as Penticton used this to their advantage.  The Vees kept coming and attacked the Viper defence with speed.  Penticton carried the play and lots of it for most of the 2nd period as the Vipers looked to be back on their heels couldnt recover after giving up the games first goal.  Just minutes after taking the lead, Penticton with a strong attack deep in the Vernon zone had the Viper defence standing still as the Vees looked to have the puck on a string at times.  Vernon had troubles getting through the neutral zone had just one shot in the first nine minutes.  Four and a half minutes into the frame Mitch Meek alone at the circle was robbed by Hunter Miska who stacked the pads making a huge save off the Vernon defenceman who couldnt get the puck up and over the Vees goaltender.  Just before the halfway mark Cam Ammantea on a wrap around couldnt beat Jarrod Schamerhorn as the Vees were pressuring.  Former Vipers forward Demico Hannoun lead a two on one rush kept and shot but couldnt beat Schamerhorn who made a big save.  Within a minute Cam Amantea went in all alone for the breakaway looked to beat the Viper goaltender but hit the crossbar on a great opportunity to put Pentictin up by two.  Vernon struggling was being outplayed couldnt contain the Vees attack.  Penticton would get their second powerplay of the night but with just one shot couldnt generate much as a strong Viper penalty kill would kill off the penalty.  Just over a minute later Vernon would get their first powerplay but struggle as the Vees would kill off the minor.  Penticton was up 1-0 after 40 minutes of play.  The Vees with a quick goal to open the period on the man advantage totally outplayed the Vipers this period.  Vernon back on their heels most of the frame couldnt get much of anything going had troubles containing the Penticton attack.  The Vees speed and skill really showed this period only managed one goal.  Shots were even at 9-9.

3rd Period: Vernon would start the final frame on the man advantage after the Vees took a penalty at the end of the 2nd period.  But shorthanded Mike Lee picked up the puck off a Trevor Fidler turnover at the blueline.  Lee and Demico Hannoun went in on a two on one, Lee tried getting the pass over to Hannoun who couldnt handle the puck on a close call for the Vipers.  Vernon would slow things down get some control on the PP but couldnt get pucks through as the Vees killed off the minor.  A long dump in caught Jarrod Schamerhorn by surprise as the puck handcuffed the Vernon goaltender going just wide of the net on a close play.  The Vipers would head right back to their second powerplay of the period.  With some good pressure Vernon still couldnt get pucks through as the Vees with a great job blocking shots, getting in the shooting lanes would kill off another penalty.  Luke Shiplo would take a slash to the hand/wrist and leave to the bench immediately, rushing to the tunnel Shiplo and the trainer were gone for atleast five minutes before the Viper d-man would return to the game.  The Vipers with a strong start to the period carried the play early and often as Penticton had just two shots in the first half of the period.  Vernon with all kinds of pressure couldnt get pucks through to the net.  Give Penticton credit, there defence was outstanding keeping the Vipers to the outside, blocked several shots really limited Vernon's scoring chances.  With about six and a half minutes to go Johnny Coughlin with a nice move inside the blueline got a quick backhand off from the circle couldnt beat Hunter Miska who made a nice save with bodies in front.  The Vipers with a strong forecheck were having all kinds of trouble creating opportunities.  Thomas Aldworth with the best opportunity of the night got inbehind the Penticton defence put a nice move in close couldnt beat Miska down low who come across the crease to make a huge pad save keeping this a one goal game with three and a half minutes remaining.  The Vees then shutdown the Viper attack in the final two minutes with a strong forecheck had Vernon hemmed deep in their own end, winding down the clock.  The Vees with a hard forecheck along the wall didnt allow Jarrod Schamerhorn a chance to get to the bench.  The Vipers would call a late timeout and finally get Schamerhorn to the bench with thirty seven seconds to go, the Vipers with one last rush got the puck in deep but were pinned along the side wall couldnt get the puck through and to the front of the net before the buzzer sounded as Penticton would hang on for a 1-0 victory.  Vernon opened the period with back to back powerplays but couldnt capitalize.  It was all Vipers as Vernon with a hard strong forecheck had the Vees in their own end for most of the period couldnt get pucks through to the front of the net.  Penticton who had just four shots all period were very solid on defence shutdown the Viper offence, limiting their chances.  The Vipers outshot the Vees 7-4.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Jagger Williamson I thought played very hard most of the night, really battled and competed all game.  Not one of the biggest kids but played big tonight.  Played with alot of energy tried generating some chances.

Trevor Fidler was another forward that I thought played very well in the loss.  Fidler worked and played hard, was battling all night along the wall and in front of the net.

Luke Voltin I thought was the Vipers most dangerous player, though not getting alot of scoring chances was most dangerous with the puck tonight.  Another kid who battled hard and competed.  Worked hard down low and in front of the net, tried creating and generating chances.

Johnny Coughlin for the second straight night played very well on the backend.  The Viper d-man was creative with the puck, made a few heads up plays tonight, was involved in the play at times looked good.

Jarrod Schamerhorn (26 saves) Only allowed the one goal, played well gave the Vipers a chance to win.  Made atleast two game savers tonight.

Game Thought's: (Vernon)

Other then the 2nd period I really liked the Vipers game tonight.  I thought they had a great start, come out hard with a hard forecheck carried the play in the first half contained the Vees offensively at times and were very evenly matched in the second hlaf.  In the 2nd period the Vipers couldnt seem to recover after giving up the early powerplay goal.  Vernon was back on their heels and played in their own end for most of the period.  The Vipers had troubles containing the Vees speed and attack were lucky to only be down a goal after fourty minutes.  Vernon with a great 3rd period started with back to back powerplays couldnt capitalize.  I think this was the turning point.  Vernon needed a goal on one of these powerplays, to A tie the game and B get back into the game, get some momentum back on their side.  Give the Vipers credit, they didnt quit, they played and battled hard all third but couldnt create or generate any real good scoring chances.  The Vipers were forced to the outside, had troubles getting pucks to the net had maybe three good chances all period.  The Vipers with atleast three great opportunities, need to find more ways to score-create opportunities.  The Vipers need more scoring and finish around the net.  Other then the 2nd period I thought Vernon held their own vs the the Vees and were in tonight's game.  Give Vernon credit, they were without four regulars and played the best team in the league lost by a goal in a very hard fought game.  This could have easily been anyone's game as both teams are very evnely matched.

Top Players: (Penticton)

Mike Lee had a strong game on the Vees blueline, played well defensively and jumped up into the play shorthanded in the third couldnt setup Demico Hannoun on a two on one.

Matt Serratore I thought played very hard all night for the Vees, this kid seemed to be everywhere, battled and competed all night, was always involved in the play.

Jarod Hilderman also played well on the point for Penticton.

Cam Amantea with a breakaway and atleast two scoring chances was dangerous down low and in and around the net.  Very shifty with and without the puck was very good for the Vees.

Josh Laframboise I thought was the Vees best player tonight, really stood out for me.  Was very strong with the puck, hard to contain, knock off the puck and always ingaged in the play.  Seemed to be all over the ice tonight.

Hunter Miska (29 saves-Shutout) I dont think both goaltenders were overly worked having to make alot of big saves but Miska did make atleast three game savers tonight to hold the Vipers off the board, picking up the win and the shutout.

Game Thought's: (Penticton)

With the win the Penticton Vees have now won nine straight improve to 12-1 as Head Coach-GM Fred Harbinson picks up career win #300.  This could have easily been anyone's hockey game, both teams played hard wich made for a very entertaining game.  I thought the Vees got off to a bit of a slow start, didnt seem to have their legs going early were behind in the play at times couldnt get their offence going.  With very little puck possesion the Vees were outplayed in the first half but come back with a strong effort in the second half.  Both teams with not alot of scoring opportunities in the 1st were very evenly matched after the first eight-nine minutes.  It was all Penticton in the middle frame, that early PP goal by Dante Fabbro really injected the team with some life and momentum and the Vees really never looked back.  Penticton's speed and skill really showed in this period as the Vees had Vernon back on their heels for most of the period.  In the third the Vees had to start the frame killing off back to back penalties but give the Vees penalty kill credit for getting a two on one shorthanded rush and doing a great job at keeping Vernon's powerplay to the outside, limiting their shots and scoring chances.  The Vees defence was very solid, Hunter Miska saw most of Vernon's 29 shots as Penticton's Dee kept Vernon to the outside, blocked several shots, didnt give up alot of chances.  Penticton can be beat, it's not like they are blowing teams out they seem to find ways to win games like tonight 1-0.  Penticton is very good winning one goal games and shutting down the other teams offence-attack. 

Scratches:

Vernon:

Brandon Egli (Suspended)
Ryley Booth (Suspended)
TJ Dumonceaux (Injured)
Mackenzie Bauer (Injured)
Riley Brandt (Suspended)
Danny Todosychuk (Suspended)

Penticton:

Patrick Sexton
Liam Finlay

Energy player of the game:

Miles Gendron

Three Stars:

1st Star: Hunter Miska (29 saves-Shutout)
2nd Star: Dante Fabbro (1 goal)
3rd Star: Trevor Fidler

BCHL Boxscore,

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1358184&link=bchl

Fraser Rodger's Penticton Vees Blog,

http://pentictonvees.wordpress.com/

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