Friday, December 5, 2014

Penticton 4 Vernon 3

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 4-3 in front of 1,923 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Jarrod Schamerhorn
Penticton: Hunter Miska

Before the game the Vipers had a special tribute & video on former Vernon Vipers scout Larry Black who lost his life earlier this week to cancer.

1st Period: The Vees got off to a strong start, jumping on Vernon early and often as Penticton was really buzzing off the opening draw.  Jarrod Schamerhorn was forced to make a big save in the opening few minutes off Connor Chartier from the slot.  Steen Cooper couldnt land the pass on a two on one missed opportunity as Penticton was outshooting the Vipers 5-0 in the first five minutes.  The Vipers looked flat footed with not much energy were basically chasing the Vees in their own end.  The Vees with a strong attack were hard to slow down and contain all night.  Vernon needed almost five and a half minutes to record their first shot of the night before a turnover at the blueline allowed Liam Coughlin to steal the puck setup TJ Dumonceaux on a Viper odd man rush, Dumonceaux beat Hunter Miska high but hit the crossbar before Thomas Aldworth burried the rebound giving Vernon the 1-0 lead at 6:23 as the stuffed toy animals hit the ice on the Vipers annual teddy bear toss.  Coughlin & Dumonceaux collected the assists.  On the following play Vernon would get the games first powerplay, getting some good puck movement the Vipers worked the puck around didnt generate any real quality chances as Penticton would kill off the minor.  The Vees come right back with a strong attack, Johnny Coughlin made a huge defensive play breaking up Dante Fabbro who joined the rush on a Vees attack.  Penticton would then get their first look with the man advantage but a strong Viper penalty kill didnt give up a single shot as the Vees couldnt tie the game with the man advantage.  Both teams didnt generate alot of great opportunities but the Vees looked to have the puck on a string, carried and dominated the opening period.  Late in the period Mitchell Oliver with a terrible turnover inside his own blueline coughed the puck up in front of his own net went in and off Jarrod Schamerhorn tied the game 1-1 at 18:16 Patrick Newell was credited with the unassisted goal.  This was a huge goal to finish the period for Penticton.  It was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes of play.  The Vipers didnt get off to a great start, Veernon looked flat, didnt show or play with any energy or jump for most of the period.  The Vees on the other hand got off to a quick start, jumped on the Vipers early and often were all over Vernon for most of this period.  The Vipers may have opened the scoring but a huge goal late on a turnover tied the game.  Penticton was really flying, come at the Viper defence with a strong forecheck, were winning the battles, coming out of the corner with the puck and putting all kinds of pressure inside the Viper blueline.  Vernon had all kinds of trouble with the Vees forecheck and attack, couldnt get through the neutral zone had only a few minutes of zone time in the Vees zone were lucky to be tied after twenty minutes of play.  Penticton outshot Vernon 13-9.

2nd Period: Just thirty two seconds into the second period the Vees would get an early powerplay.  Another strong penalty kill by the Vipers didnt give Penticton much time or space kept the Vees to the outside were able to kill off the minor.  Vernon responded and would get a great opportunity early after Liam Coughlin and TJ Dumonceaux went in on the two on one, Coughlin waited too long before not getting a shot off on a strong defensive play by the Vees defence.  The Vipers with a much better start were finally able to generate some zone time in the Penticton side of the blueline.  Both teams were going back and fourth with some good pace to the game.  Tyson Jost with a quick shot from the circle looked to handcuff Vipers starting goaltender Jarrod Schamerhorn who looked to have a little difficultiy making the save.  Vernon did a much better job at containing the Vees offence held Penticton to just two shots early were skating and playing with a little more energy in their game.  Both teams were fairly even for most of the first half before the Vees would break the deadlock.  Mitch Newsome put the Vees up 2-1 at 10:44 Lewis Zerter-Gossage and Patrick Sexton picked up the helpers.  Just twenty five seconds later Cody DePourcq playing in his 200th career game gave the Vees a 3-1 lead at 12:09 Dante Fabbro & Jack Ramsay with the assists.  Just over a minute later the Vees would get their second PP of the period after an undisaplined penalty by Vernon.  But once again another solid penalty kill and the Vipers would kill off the minor.  Two quick back to back goals by Penticton seemed to give the Vees a little jolt as back they come with a strong push back.  The Vees once again buzzing in the Vipers zone looked to have the puck on a string.  The Vipers defence having all kinds of trouble containing the Penticton forwards.  The Vees getting lots of pucks to the net really took over the shot clock department fired everything towards Jarrod Schamerhorn.  For the second straight period neither team with alot of great opportunities.  After both teams were fairly even in the first half Penticton was running away with the edge in play in the second half as it was all Vees.  The game started to get a little chippy in the second frame as both teams were laying the lumber to one another as tempers heated up through out the period.  Vernon would slowly get going late in the period, started to come on strong would get rewarded with their hard work would get a late powerplay.  The Vipers would make the Vees pay after Thomas Aldworth's quick release from the circle beat Vees starting goaltender Hunter Miska fivehole getting to within a goal at 19:00 TJ Dumonceaux and Liam Coughlin picked up the assists.  Fred Harbinson looked to have some choice words with Connor Chartier once he returned to the bench from serving the last penalty.  Harbinson did not look too happy.  Penticton held a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes of play.  Vernon got off to a much better start this period and played very well in the first half.  I thought the Vipers did a much better job at containing the Vees attack, limited their shots and chances.  The Vipers also got into the Vees zone, had some pressure of their own at times just couldnt generate any real good chances.  The second half was a bit of a different story as the Vees took over the play and once again carried the play, dominating Vernon in their own end.  The Vees for a second straight period were strong on the forecheck, won most of the battles, had lots of time and space to create room didnt generate alot of great looks but capitalized on their chances scoring twice twenty five seconds apart.  Penticton outshot Vernon 15-12.

3rd Period: The Vipers with another good start were able to stay even with the Vees would get a great opportunity early.  Luke Voltin going hard to the net four minutes into the final frame couldnt beat Miska down low made a big pad save kicked out a big rebound but no Viper was in front looking for the rebound.  Vernon carried a bit of the play early did a great job at containing the Penticton offence but couldnt generate much of an attack.  The Vipers stepped up the physical play early were the more physical of the two teams tonight.  Luke Shiplo took a big elbow to the head would get unnoticed from both officials would later lead to a Penticton goal within minutes.  Lewis Zerter-Gossage was able to walk into the slot let go a quick release from the high slot caught Jarrod Schamerhorn deep in his crease gave the Vees a 4-2 lead at 8:30 Miles Gendron with the lone helper.  I dont think Schamerhorn was ready for the shot on a goal he may want back.  This drew Mark Ferner to go nuts over the missed call on Shiplo as the Vipers bench was steaming, as the Vipers coaching staff was really giving the officials an earfull.  Just less then two minutes later Vernon would get their first look with the man advantage of the period.  The Vipers struggled coughing up the puck, several turnovers couldnt get anything going as Penticton with a fairly easy penalty kill.  Just minutes later tempers heated up once again as former Vipers forward Demico Hannoun and Riley Brandt exchanged in some pushing and shoving in front of the Viper bench.  Brandt would head off the penalty box giving Penticton a late powerplay.  The Vernon penalty kill wich looked so good tonight would once again kill off another minor.  Just as the penalty expired the Vipers would get another crack with the PP.  Having troubles getting pucks to the net the Vipers had a chance to get Schamerhorn to the bench for the extra attacker but didnt, as the Vees would once again kill off another penalty.  The Vipers would get Schamerhorn to the bench late with fourty seven seconds to go before calling a late timeout Vernon would get to within one after Thomas Aldworth's point shot beat wich looked to be a screened Hunter Miska at 19:30 Luke Shiplo & TJ Dumonceaux collected the helpers.  Vernon with one last gasp got the play in deep had a few looks at the net but couldnt get any real quality chances as the Vees would hang on for the 4-3 victory.  Again another good start to the period by the Vipers but all night incosistancy showed as Vernon played in spurts and not a full sixty minutes.  The Vipers didnt generate alot of chances had troubles getting pucks and bodies to the net.  Penticton with a solid defensive game all around did a great job on sitting on a one and two goal lead limited the Viper opportunities.  Vernon outshot Penticton 9-8.

Top Player's: (Vernon)

Nicholas Rasovic made his Vipers debut after joining the Vipers on Monday.  Rasovic played the past two seasons with the Coquitlam Express also played two games with the Penticton Vees added some grit and a bit of spark to the Vernon lineup.  Finished his checks was physical at times didnt see alot of ice but when out there I thought made an impact.  Wasnt afraid to mix it up and get involved in the play.

Thomas Aldworth (3 goals) I didnt think stood out much tonight but when you score three goals you must have done something right.  Aldworth didnt look to be his regular self tonight, wasnt skating hard, competing hard for loose pucks-one on one battles managed to record the hat trick in a losing cause.

Johnny Coughlin I thought was one of Vernon's lone bright spots on the Viper backend.  Coughlin made a big defensive play to break up a Vees odd man rush in the opening period played well on the blueline.

Game Thought's: (Vernon)

I wasnt too impressed with the Vipers effort and performance this evening.  I didnt think Vernon played one of their better games of the season in another loss to Penticton.  Like the game a few weeks back in West Kelowna (6-5 double overtime loss) the Vipers looked flat, didnt show or play with alot of energy.  Didnt have much jump were outskated, outworked and outplayed for most of tonight's game.  The Vipers defence was having all kinds of trouble containing the Vees attack.  Vernon gave the Vees way too much time and space to create and generate chances.  The Vipers looked sloppy at times, coughed up the puck, made way to many turnovers inside their own end, didnt generate much zone time had troubles getting pucks to the net and creating opportunities.  If the Vipers want to beat Penticton and Hunter Miska they are going to need alot more traffic to the net, getting more pucks to the net and go looking for the rebounds.  Miska had a pretty easy night in goal tonight.  Vernon with several rebounds off Hunter Miska had nobody going to the net looking for those rebounds, missed on some good opportunities.  I thought the Vipers played good shifts in spurts were no where near as good as they have to be to be able to compete with the Vees.  Vernon has to be better.  I didnt see that compete level tonight, Mark Ferner has been talking about since returning as Head Coach this season.  I really liked the Viper physical play at times and the Viper penalty kill, I thought Vernon did a good job at keeping the Vees to the outside, didnt give them much time or space.  Overall the Vipers and their coaching staff wont be too happy with tonight's effort and result.

Top Players: (Penticton)

Dante Fabbro (1 assist) Was very solid on the Vees backend.  Joined the rush, was hard to beat one on one played very well tonight.

Patrick Newell (1 goal) I thought played with alot of jump in his game, really competed and worked hard all night.

Steen Cooper was another kid who I thought competed and worked hard for most of the night, had two good opportunities played well.

The line of Cody DePourcq (1 goal), Dakota Conroy and Connor Chartier was Penticton's top unit.  These three were very hard to contain, dangerous all night with and without the puck.  DePourcq playing in career game #200 has been a thron in the Viper side each year, was really skating, always moving his feet won several battles along the wall, was hard to stop.

Lewis Zerter-Gossage (1 goal & 1 assist)  A bigger body is another player hard to contain, has a quick release-shot collected two points tonight was good up front for the Vees.

Riley Alferd I liked his game tonight, seems to play well against Vernon.  A good skater, can move the puck, has some skill is also dangerous.

Patrick Sexton (1 assist) Was another Penticton d-man that played very well on the backend.

Game Thought's: (Penticton)

The Penticton Vees made their third and final visit of the season to Kal Tire Place improve to 4-0 against Vernon this season.  Out of the four games I have watched between these two teams tonight's game is the lone game where the Vees really dominated and showed how good of a team they really are.  No disrespect to the Vees but in the three previous meetings with Vernon I thought the games were alot closer and more evenly matched compared to tonight.  Penticton with a great start jumped on the Vipers who looked flat footed and not ready for tonight's games.  The Vees on the other hand come ready to play and looked hungry for the win.  Penticton is by far the best team I have seen play this season but also can be beat but the opposition has to play a nearby perfect game and a full sixty minutes.  The Vees have a very aggresive and strong forecheck that wins alot of puck battles, battles along the wall and come out of top with the puck.  The Vees are very quick, can move the puck in a hurry and hard to contain when on the fly.  Both teams didnt generate alot of chances but the Vees capitalized on their chances.  Penticton with several odd man rushes carried the play, won the battles, outskated and outworked Vernon most of the night.  The Vees are very slick moving the puck, have some very smooth passers look like they have the puck on a string at times.  Penticton with a very good effort, performance come away with a 4-3 win.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Danny Todosychuk
Riley Guenther (Injured)
Mackenzie Bauer (Injured)
Blaine Caton

Penticton:

Connor Russell
Matt Serratore

Energy player of the game:

Announced at the game-TJ Dumonceaux  (League website says Demico Hannoun)

Three Stars:

1st Star: Thomas Aldworth (3 goals)
2nd Star: Lewis Zerter-Gossage (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Cody DePourcq (1 goal)

BCHL Boxscore,

http://www.vipers.bc.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1358303&link=bchl

Fraser Rodgers Penticton Vees blog,

http://pentictonvees.wordpress.com/

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