Salmon Arm 2 Vernon 1

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-Silverbacks game as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 2-1 in front of 1,156 fans at the Shaw Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Jarrod Schamerhorn
Salmon Arm: Angus Redmond

1st Period: Salmon Arm got off to a quick start, jumped all over the Vipers who looked slow and sluggish off the opening draw.  The Silverbacks come out with alot of jump and energy were all over Vernon early and often.  Salmon Arm had the Vipers back on their heels, were winning all the races, battles along the wall were outskating and outworking the Vipers most of the period.  The Backs would get the games first powerplay before going on a two man advantage.  Liam Coughlin would steal the loose puck come down the left wing would get a quick low shot off from the circle couldnt beat Angus Redmond.  The Vipers looked pretty good on the first penalty kill were able to kill off the first penalty but just as the penalty expired Taro Hirose's shot from the circle beat Jarrod Schamerhorn high put Salmon Arm up 1-0 at 8:53 Shane Danyluk & Carson Bolduc collected the assists.  The Backs all over the Vipers dominated the play were outshooting Vernon 9-2 at the midway mark of the opening period.  Cole McCaskill jumped up into the play lead the charge on a three on two rush couldnt beat Schamerhorn who come up with a huge save keeping this a one goal game.  In the second half Liam Finlay broke through the Silverbacks defence went in for the parcial breakaway but couldnt beat Angus Redmond fivehole.  Vernon would get their first PP of the period but struggle as Salmon Arm would kill off the minor.  The Vipers seemed to show a little life late in the second half but couldnt get much of anything going offensively.  Most of Vernon's ten shots come late in the final minutes.  Backs captain Bryden Marsh would get stoned by Jarrod Schamerhorn who made a huge glove save with 1:12 remaining keeping the Vipers in the game.  Salmon Arm was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play.  The Silverbacks looked hungry and it showed as Salmon Arm dominated the play early and often.  Jarrod Schamerhorn was busy making 14 saves keeping Vernon in the game.  The Backs playing with a ton of jump were really skating hard, won most of the battles, races for the puck and most of the draws this period.  The Vipers with two good chances didnt get anything through the neutral zone didnt generate much offence.  The Vipers struggled offensively played most of the period in their own end.  The Backs outshot the Vipers 15-10.

2nd Period: The Silverbacks would get an early powerplay just fifty two seconds into the 2nd period.  Jarrod Schamerhorn made a huge pad save off Andrew Farny as Vernon was able to kill off the penalty.  Salmon Arm would carry the better of the play but both teams looked very scrambled at times with several poor passes, guys running into each other, missed reads.  Schamerhorn had to be sharp again making several big saves keeping Vernon in the game.  The Vipers goaltender made a huge save off Carson Bolduc at the side of the net also stopped Taylor Maruya in close.  For the second straight period Vernon couldnt get much of anything going as the Vipers struggled offensively.  Salmon Arm's defence was solid all night, clogging up the nenutral zone, limiting the Vipers chances, kept the Vernon shooters to the outside.  Salmon Arm would get their second man advantage of the frame but couldnt capitalize after another good penalty kill by the Vipers.  Trevor Fidler setup Anthony Latina on a two on one rush, Latina had Angus Redmond down but couldnt get the puck up and over the Silverbacks starting goaltender who stayed focused making a huge save keeping this a one goal game with just under five minutes to go.  The Silverbacks were up 1-0 after 40 minutes of play.  For a second straight period the Backs carried the majority of the play, outplayed and outworked the Vipers most of the period.  Salmon Arm was really working hard, playing with lots of speed had some good opportunities but couldnt beat Jarrod Schamerhorn.  The Vipers couldnt get much going offensively, several missed passes, were being outskated to the loose pucks, lost the races-battles along the wall didnt look very good tonight.  Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 13-8.

3rd Period: Vernon would get just their second powerplay of the evening, early to start the final frame.  Johnny Coughlin with a nice onetimer off the side wall couldnt beat Redmond who made a huge save on the penalty kill.  Vernon struggled with the man advantage early had some good pressure late but with two shots couldnt muster the games tying goal.  Not alot of offensive chances in the period as Salmon Arm looked to be sitting back a little as Vernon carried the play at times but couldnt generate any sustained pressure.  Again the Silverbacks defence did a great job at shutting down the Viper attack.  Taro Hirose setup Carson Bolduc who jumped into the rush lead a three on two snapped a quick shot from the slot beat Schamerhorn shortside put SA up 2-0 at 13:59 Hirose and Shane Danyluk with the helpers.  Vernon slowly come on late and looked to show some life down two goals had all kinds of troubles getting into the Backs zone.  Jarrod Schamerhorn would head to the Viper bench with 1:50 to go.  Chase Priskie missed a long shot at the open cage from way inside the neutral zone as the Backs would get called for icing.  The Vipers with some late pressure would form a maze of players in front of the Salmon Arm goal before captain Riley Guenther looked to get the Vipers on the board with thirty something seconds remaining but just as the Vipers were celebrating the two referees and linesmen gathered near the penalty box for a lengthy disscusion before waiving off the goal, saying the puck was kicked in.  The Vernon bench was fired up after the call as Mark Ferner was really giving it to the one referee.  On the following faceoff the Vipers would once again get the play deep into the Silverbacks zone, again with players in and around the net Liam Finaly beat Angus Redmond in close making this a one goal game at 19:47 Riley Guenther and Luke Shiplo picked up the assists.  With time running out the Vipers couldnt get control of the puck for one last attack as the buzzer sounded giving Salmon Arm the 2-1 victory.  At the end of the game the Vernon bench was very upset with the offciating as Mark Ferner and the Vipers bench were really giving it to the referees and linesmen.  The Backs got the all important second goal as Vernon slowly come on as the period went on but didnt generate much offence.  Salmon Arm with a shutdown game on the backend limited the Viper attack.  The Vipers with a late goal made things interesting couldnt force overtime.  Shots were even 7-7.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Riley Guenther (1 assist) I thought had a very strong game on the Vernon defence.  Collecting an assist on the Vipers lone goal was very solid on the backend made some huge defensive plays.

Jarrod Schamerhorn (33 saves) Was the Vipers best player tonight.  Making thirty three saves in the loss kept the Vipers in the game, giving them a chance to win.  The first year Viper goaltender didnt get much help from the rest of the his mates was forced to make several big saves through out the night.

Game Thought's: (Vernon)

This was not a great effort and or performance by the Vipers tonight.  This was by far Vernon's worst game of the season in a game where the Vipers looked flat off the opening puck drop didnt have any jump or energy most of the night.  Vernon was outplayed, outworked, outskated and outscored the entire night.  It started off the opening faceoff, the Vipers were back on their heels had all kinds of troubles containg the Silverbacks speed.  The Vipers lost most of the one on one battles, races to the puck, battles along the boards and couldnt make a pass most of the night.  The Vipers couldnt get much of anything going all night, didnt generate much offence, having all kinds of troubles getting through the neutral zone.  Vernon had little spurts of life but not for very long.  The Vipers looked very disorganized through out the game were lucky to be in the game at the end of the night.  Vernon come close in the final minute to tying the game forcing overtime but fully didnt deserve to win tonight.  Without Jarrod Schamerhorn this could have easily been a 5-1 or 6-1 final.

Top Players: (Salmon Arm)

Angus Redmond (24 saves) Didnt see alot of rubber tonight did make atleast three big saves played well and made the saves when needed too.

Andrew Farny leads the Backs in scoring was solid all night on the blueline.  Was very hard to beat one on one, played his position very well.

Chase Priskie was another D-man I thought played well for Salmon Arm.

Carson Bolduc (1 goal & 1 assist) Was by far the Backs best player tonight.  Bolduc really stood out for me, was all over the ice.  This kid can skate, handle and move the puck in a hurry.  Was dangerous with the puck, really sees the ice well.  Quick on his feet has some nice hands and a quick shot.

Cole McCaskill played very well on the point.  Jumped up into the play on one odd man rush in the opening period had a good scoring chance.

Taro Hirose (1 goal & 1 assist) Was another kid that caught my eye.  Picked up two points was also good with the puck-offensively.

Shane Danyluk (2 assists) Had a good game up front for the Silverbacks.

Bryden Marsh played with alot of energy, was physical, added some jump and energy to the Salmon Arm bench-lineup played with a in your face style of game. 

Game Thought's: (Salmon Arm)

The Silverbacks snapped a four game losing streak with the win have now won three straight over the Vipers at home, going back to last season.  Salmon Arm evens the season series 1-1 will face these same Vipers tomorrow night in Vernon for the second game of a home and home series.  I really liked the Backs game tonight, I thought they come out strong, jumped on Vernon's defence early gave the Vipers all kinds of trouble with their speed and forecheck.  Salmon Arm outplayed Vernon most of the night.  The Silverbacks who have a quick team, really worked hard tonight, looked hungrier for the win.  Salmon Arm looked to want this game more then Vernon and it showed through out the game.  The Backs attacked the Viper defence all night, forced Vernon into turnovers in their own end, had the Vipers bottled up in their own end most of the night.  Give credit to SA's defence who I thought was very strong tonight, clogged upthe neutral zone didnt give Vernon much time or space.  The Vipers had troubles generating much offence couldnt get anything through the Backs defence.  With the win Salmon Arm moves to within a point of 4th place Vernon. 

Scratches:

Vernon:

Danny Todosychuk (Suspended)
Brandon Egli (Suspended)
Mackenzie Bauer
Riley Brandt (Suspended)
Assistant Coach-Kevin Kraus

Salmon Arm:

Nick Hutchison
Nicholas Josephs
Jack Berezan

Energy player of the game:

Logan Mick

Three Stars:

1st Star: Carson Bolduc (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Jarrod Schamerhorn (33 saves)
3rd Star: Angus Redmond (24 saves)

BCHL Boxscore,

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1358218&link=bchl

Ian Douglas's Salmon Arm Silverbacks Blog,

http://backstalk.wordpress.com/