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 4-2 in front of 2,203 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Jarrod Schamerhorn
Penticton: Hunter Miska
1st Period: Off the opening faceoff Mike Lee turned the puck over at the Penticton Vees blueline allowing Luke Voltin to walk in for the breakaway beat Hunter Miska high glove giving the Vipers an early 1-0 lead at 0:16 Mitch Meek & Luke Shiplo picked up the helpers. On the following shift Thomas Aldworth with a quick low shot from the circle forced Miska to make a quick right pad save before the Vees would get the games first powerplay just over two minutes into the game. Penticton struggled with the man advantage getting just two shots as the Vernon penalty kill was very sharp killing off the minor. The Vees come right back with a hard working shift had the Vipers hemmed in their own end for a few minutes but couldnt generate any chances. Good pressure by the Vees forecheck had Vernon's defence on their heels. Both teams were really skating, as the play went end to end at both ends of the rink making for a pretty quick period. Just before the halfway mark Viper captain Riley Guenther with a quick shot from the point couldnt beat the quick glove of Hunter Miska who made a nice glove save with bodies going to the net. Vernon looked to be throwing pucks at the net, from anywhere were outshooting Penticton 6-2 just before the midway mark. Both teams looked evenly matched in the first ten minutes with the Vipers getting the better of the scoring chances. Penticton picked up their game in the second half with a strong push back. Patrick Newell looked to tie the game, had a good look at an open cage got off a shot from the side of the net hit Brandon Egli before the puck bounced into the corner as the Vipers got lucky. The Vees with several hard working shifts had a strong forecheck going for a second time had the Vipers hemmed in their own end at times. Steen Cooper with a great opportunity couldnt beat Jarrod Schamerhorn in close. Late in the period Matt Serratore with a great chance from the slot was stopped by Schamerhorn who closed the fivehole made a big save keeping this a one goal game. Kenny Citron made a big defensive play late in the period, broke up a Vees odd man rush. Penticton would get their second man advantage of the period late just before the buzzer. Vernon was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers with a quick start jumped on a Vees turnover at the blueline grabbed the all important first goal of the game, just sixteen seconds into the contest. The Vipers with a few good chances in the first half played very well. Penticton with a strong forecheck had the Vipers back on their heels on a few occasions come back with a strong second half come up with atleast two or three good quality chances of their own. Overall a fairly evenly matched period, with lots of flow made for a very entertaining period. I think the Vees may have had a slight edge in the second half outshot the Vipers 14-11. Vernon was outshooting Penticton 14-7 at one point.
2nd Period: The Vees started the second period with the powerplay that was carried over from end of the opening frame. Both teams would play a little four on four early as Penticton would take a penalty just fifty seven seconds into the frame. The Vipers would get a shortened powerplay. Liam Coughlin setup TJ Dumonceaux in the final seconds couldnt beat Hunter Miska who closed the fivehole made a big save as the Vees killed off the minor. Luke Voltin come close to getting his second of the night after being denied by Vees starting goaltender Hunter Miska who made another big glove save early to start the period. Shortly after the Vees would get their third PP of the night, for the second time tonight Penticton would turnover the puck at the blueline wich allowed Anthony Latina to walk in for the breakaway made a move in close got Miska to go down before sliding the puck under the Vees netminder giving Vernon a 2-0 lead at 6:40 Latina's goal was unassisted. Vernon would kill off the remainder of the penalty. Just two minutes later the Vipers would get their first powerplay of the night, Vernon struggled with the PP early before Luke Shiplo ripped a hard shot from the blueline couldnt beat the quick glove of Miska who made a nice glove save with traffic in front. Penticton with a good penalty kill would kill off the remainder of the Vernon powerplay. Like the opening period the Vees come on strong late to finish the period. Penticton with another strong forecheck put all kinds of pressure on the Vipers. Jarrod Schamerhorn made a huge save off Cody DePourcq from the top of the crease. The Vees were buzzing generated lots of chances in the second half missed on several good quality chances in close. Vees leading scorer Lewis Zerter-Gossage was stopped by Schamerhorn on quick shot from the slot. The Vees come close to getting on the board missed atleast two or three cracks at an open cage either couldnt get off the shot or the puck bounced over the stick at the last second. Vernon got lucky on a few occasions. Schamerhorn was just as good as Miska made a big save off Riley Alferd before the Vees would get a late powerplay. Vernon allowed Riley Alferd to walk in from the high slot before ripping a hard shot topshelf got the Penticton Vees on the scoreboard at 17:05 Matt Serratore and Gabe Bast collected the assists. The Vipers come right back with a hard working shift before former Penticton Vees forward Liam Finlay lead the Vernon attack with a three on two rush, Finlay dropped back to Jagger Williamson who setup a wide open Luke Voltin in front was robbed by Hunter Miska who come up with a huge save with about two minutes to go. The Vipers with a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. Another exciting period with chances at both ends of the rink. Vernon struggled with the man advantage had some good chances were able to jump out to a two goal lead on a shorthanded goal by Anthony Latina before Penticton battled back with a strong second half, scored with the extra man to cut the Vernon lead to a single goal. Jarrod Schamerhorn had to be sharp made several big saves in the period with the Vees generating lots of good chances. Penticton outshot Vernon 17-14.
3rd Period: The Vees come out strong and took it to the Vipers early and often. Just a minute into the third, Patrick Newell with a burst of speed down the right wing got off a quick shot couldnt beat Jarrod Schamerhorn on a good quality chance off the opening faceoff. Penticton with a strong attack off the opening draw started the final frame with a strong attack. The Vees buzzing in and around the Vernon net had a ton of pressure early and often had the Vipers running around in circles. The Viper defence had all kinds of troubles clearing the zone as a strong aggresive forecheck by Penticton were giving the Vipers troubles in their own end. The Vees were all over Vernon early were winning the battles, the races for the loose pucks and coming out on top on every play along the wall. The Vipers couldnt clear the zone or get through the neutral zone as it was all Vees. Luckily for Vernon the Vees may have carried the play but couldnt create any real scoring threat as Vernon did manage to keep Penticton's attack to the outside limiting their chances. Former Vipers forward Demico Hannoun would get the Vees first good chance of the frame couldnt beat Jarrod Schamerhorn on a wrap around on a close chance at the side of the net. Vernon with just two shots in the first eight minutes of play couldnt get anything going, having all kinds of trouble getting into the offensive zone. The Vipers looked flat from the drop of the puck, looked lost at times, were getting tangled up with team mates, werent skating. You could sence the Vees were going to tie the game, it was just a matter of time as Penticton dominated the play but didnt get many good scoring chances. Just past the midway mark the Vees would get a four minute powerplay after Trevor Fidler's highsticking penalty and the Vees would capitalize. It didnt take the Penticton powerplay to get to work after Patrick Newell setup Demico Hannoun going to the net tied the game at 2-2 at 14:31 Newell and Tyson Jost picked up the helpers. Just a minute later the Vees PP would strike again, Jack Ramsey beat Schamerhorn at 15:31 giving Penticton a 3-2 lead. Gabe Bast & Riley Alferd with the assists. Just less then two minutes later the Vipers frustration showed after the Vees would go back to the man advantage. But just eighteen seconds later Mike Lee gave Vipers starting goaltender Jarrod Schamerhorn a big elbow to the head drove hard to the net would send both teams to four on four as tempers heated up in a hurry. Everyone on the ice gathered in a scrum at the side of the Vernon goal with lots of pushing and shoving, a few punches were thrown as Schamerhorn was a little slow to get up, needed to get looked at by the team trainer. Schamerhorn would stay in the game as lots of rough stuff continued through out the remainder of the game. Four on four Vernon carried the edge in play, looked like they were on the powerplay moved the puck around before getting off atleast two or three good shots with traffic in front couldnt beat Hunter Miska who played very well this evening. Vernon would call a timeout before getting Schamerhorn to the bench for the extra attacker with 1:30 to go, the Vipers couldnt hold onto the puck-or keep the play in the Penticton zone before Thomas Aldworth lost the one on one battle with Matt Serratore who put the puck into the empty cage on a hard working shift gave the Vees a 4-2 lead at 19:23 This would end any chance of a Viper comeback as the Vees would come away with the 4-2 victory. Up 2-1 heading into the 3rd this wasnt the period the Vipers were looking for. Penticton with a quick start, jumped all over the Vipers and dominated the play early and often. Vernon looked flat off the draw, quit skating, almost looked tired couldnt keep up with the speed and strong forecheck of the Vees. Penticton outworked, outskated and outplayed the Vipers the entire period. Two quick back to back powerplay goals changed the game and outcome. The Vees outshot Vernon 15-7.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Kenny Citron I thought played one of his better games in a while. Citron was very good defensively made a few big plays tonight.
I thought the line of TJ Dumonceaux, Liam Coughlin and Thomas Aldworth played pretty good. I really liked the looks of Dumonceaux who was flying in the first two periods, generated some good chances. Coughlin also looked very good in the first two periods, created and generated some offence.
Anthony Latina (1 goal) Played very well in the loss, played with alot of jump and energy. Latina looked to get under the skin of several Penticton Vees as the Viper forward was targeted through out the first two periods.
Linden Hora really impressed me tonight, really played well against Penticton. Not the biggest or most skilled kid but held his own, got knocked down a few times but also wasnt afraid to through his weight around. Played hard, battled and competed all night.
Luke Shiplo (1 assist) Has really come into his own as of late and been one of the better Viper defencemen this season. Shiplo played very well again tonight, looks very confident with and without the puck, a smooth skater, can really move the puck in a hurry.
Luke Voltin (1 goal) Played very well in the first two periods. Voltin played hard, was really skating hard, was robbed twice by Hunter Miska.
Jarrod Schamerhorn (43 saves) Has seen alot of action over the last month with the suspension-injury to Danny Todosychuk has played very well for the Vipers. Schamerhorn made 43 saves in the loss but kept his team in the game at times, making several key saves through out the contest.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
It seems like almost every night the Vipers get off to a strong start, either getting a good scoring chance in the first few minutes or really working hard, have the opponents hemmed in their own end early. Well tonight Luke Voltin capitalized on a Vees turnover at the blueline gives Vernon an early lead just sixteen seconds into the opening period played very well in the first two periods. I thought the Vipers held their own for most of the first two periods vs Penticton, had some good quality chances also got trapped in their own end at times having difficulties with the Vees forecheck. This was a very exciting-entertaining hockey game through the first fourty minutes before the wheels fell off. After the 2nd period lots of fans were saying this was by far the most exciting game of the season. Im not sure what happened but the Vipers fell apart in the 3rd and couldnt recover. Vernon looked flat-sluggish off the opening draw and were badly outplayed, outskated and outworked the entire 3rd period. The Vipers had all kinds of trouble getting out of their own end and getting any kind of offensive attack going. Up 2-1 heading into the 3rd this is usally where a Mark Ferner team plays their best, well it sure didnt show tonight. Leading after the 2nd period the Vipers were 7-0-0-1 heading into tonight's game. Vernon looked very sluggish-tired, lost almost every battle along the wall, races to the puck, puck possesion, one on one battles and come up short on every play. The Vipers looked confused at times, were caught out of position, getting tangled up with their own team mates. Were the Vipers tired? Tonight was Vernon's sixth game in the last ten days. Dont forget the Vipers also played at home Saturday before having a 3pm game in Trail Sunday and then played in Prince George Wednesday. It sure looked to me like the Vipers ran out of gas in the 3rd. When was the last time you saw Vernon give up 46 shots in a game? Your not going to win many games-periods especially when losing getting just seven shots on goal and only three were in the first ten minutes of the 3rd. This was not a very good period and wont sit well with the Vipers coaching staff. This was a game where the Vipers could have picked up their first win vs the Vees this season. A tough but very dissapointing loss.
Top Players: (Penticton)
Gabe Bast (2 assists) I thought got off to a bit of a slow start, but as the game went along played a solid game on Penticton's blueline. Was good moving the puck up ice, played well in his own end also jumped up into the play on occasion.
Patrick Newell (1 assist) Impressed me this evening, a good skater, can really move, sees the ice well, created and generated a few chances tonight.
Matt Serratore (1 goal & 1 assist) Battled and competed alot tonight, never took a shift off, had a few good opportunities but played hard all night. Fully deserved the empty net goal at the end of the game, after winning the one on one battle with Thomas Aldworth deep in the Viper zone.
Cody DePourcq didnt really stand out much in the first two periods but I thought was very strong in the 3rd. Was very hard to contain and slow down along the wall. This kid never stops working-skating, always has his feet moving and is hard to stop one on one.
Lewis Zerter-Gossage I thought was consistant tonight, had atleast two scoring chances played well through out the contest.
Riley Alferd (1 goal & 1 assist) Was by far Penticton's best player tonight. Alferd collected two points was all over the ice, a smooth skater was very good with and without the puck. Always involved in the play, was always in and around the net.
Hunter Miska (30 saves) Was very strong between the pipes tonight, kept the Vees in the game made several highligh reel saves. This kid has a quick glove, made atleast three nice glove saves. Miska's biggest save was off Luke Voltin late in the 2nd period keeping this a one goal game.
Game Thought's: (Penticton)
The Penticton Vees improve to 3-0 vs the Vipers this season, have now won seven of their last eleven games in Vernon. Penticton come into tonight on a two game losing skid had just one win in their last four games picked up a big come from behind victory tonight ending a four game road trip. Obviously the Vees didnt get off to the start they wanted but after being outshot 6-2 in the first half come back with a strong second half in the opening period looked much better, had the Vipers hemmed in their own end at times. Both teams were fairly even through out the first two periods wich made for some fantastic hockey, with great chances at both ends of the rink. Penticton gets the all important powerplay goal late in the 2nd period, to get on the board, get within a goal and get back into the hockey game. Just a minute later Hunter Miska makes the biggest save of the night robbing Luke Voltin on a Viper odd man rush keeping this a one goal game heading into the 3rd. Voltin scores on this opportunity and its now 3-1 Vernon heading into the final frame. This save chances everything and I would say the turning point. The Vees with a very strong performance jumped on the Vipers early and often. Didnt get alot of real good scoring chances early, managed to stay with the puck, forechecked Vernon's defence with a strong cycle down low had the Vipers back on their heels. Penticton with a ton of pressure would eventually score back to back powerplay goals to grab their first lead of the night, wouldnt look back added an empty netter for the insurance marker in a great hard fought effort in the 3rd. The Vees didnt quit, kept battling and working hard totally eraned the victory tonight to end the four game road trip. Great to see a group of Vees fans make the trip up.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Danny Todosychuk (Injured)
Mitchell Oliver
Mackenzie Bauer (Injured)
Penticton:
Dante Fabbro
Josh Laframboise (Traded to Salmon Arm today)
Energy player of the game:
Riley Brandt
Three Stars:
1st Star: Riley Alferd (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Jarrod Schamerhorn (43 saves)
3rd Star: Hunter Miska (30 saves)
BCHL Boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1358241&link=bchl
Fraser Rodger's Penticton Vees Blog,
http://pentictonvees.wordpress.com/
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