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 6-2 in front of 1,605 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Andrew Shortridge
Salmon Arm: Angus Redmond
1st Period: The Silverbacks would jump on an early powerplay just ten seconds into the game and capitalize. Carson Bolduc setup Nick Hutchison in front beat Andrew Shortridge giving Salmon Arm an early 1-0 lead at 1:32 Bolduc with the assist. Two minutes later Taro Hirose & Ross Heidt lead the Salmon Arm attack with a two on one, Heidt kept and wired a rocket of a shot from in close went high and over the net on a missed opportunity. The Vipers needed just over three minutes to record their first shot of the night. The Backs would get their second PP of the frame and were not even six minutes into the 1st period. Vernon with a good penalty kill did a good job at keeping the Silverbacks powerplay to the outside. Jagger Williamson on a two on one shorthanded rush was denied by Angus Redmond who made a nice save. The Backs with not alot of pressure on the man advantage would get a great look at the net in the dying seconds but it was Andrew Shortridge who come up with the big save as the Vipers would kill off the minor. A few shifts later Josh Blanchard would get stopped in close as the Silverbacks had the better of the chances in the first half. Bo Pellah took advantage of two Salmon Arm defencemen bumping into one another before hitting the ice, made room for the veteran twenty year old defenceman who dangled his way into the SA zone before setting up Jimmy Lambert who looked to score to tie the game at 9:34 but the goal was waived off after Angus Redmond had slid across the blue paint to stop Lambert, knocked the net off it's mourings. The referee's had a little discussion before calling the goal off. The Backs were outshooting Vernon 7-4 at the halfway mark. Just past the midway mark the Vipers would get their first of back to back powerplays. Peter Tufto, Steven Jandric & Joe Sacco all with great chances couldnt solve Redmond who come up with some big saves on the penalty kill. The Vipers with several good chances couldnt capitalize. Just as the penalty expired former Vipers d-man Ryley Booth would crosscheck Viper captain Colton McCarthy in the face-mouth and get tossed from the game, giving the Vipers a five minute PP. But just seconds into the man advantage Vernon would take a penalty, as both teams played four on four. Four on four Salmon Arm looked hungry, were strong on the forecheck, played with alot of jump as Vernon couldnt get much of anything going. Just as the Vipers went back on the five minute major, Jimmy Lambert who was playing defence coughed up the puck twice in his own end and the second time it cost him, veteran Josh Blanchard pounced on the opportunity stole the puck from Lambert before beating Andrew Shortridge down low giving Salmon Arm a 2-0 lead at 17:43 Blanchard's goal was unassisted. But just thirty four seconds later Riley Brandt spotted Colton McCarthy in front who beat Angus Redmond on the PP cutting the Salmon Arm lead to 2-1 at 18:17 Brandt & Darren Rizzolo collected the helpers. The Vipers would get a few good chances late managed just one powerplay goal on the five minute major. Salmon Arm was up 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Backs capitalized on an early powerplay, got the games first goal were the better of the two teams in the first ten minutes before the Vipers come back, had some real good scoring chances in the second half, only managed one goal, gave up a shorthanded goal. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 16-13.
2nd Period: Just fifty five seconds into the second period the Vipers would get an early powerplay after Salmon Arm would lose Cam Coutre who was tossed from the game after a check from behind on Bo Pellah. Pellah would be ok and stay in the game. The Vipers with an early man advantage struggled with the PP couldnt capitalize. A very slow-scrambled period with not alot of flow. Neither team was getting pucks to the net or getting any real scoring chances. Joe Sacco would get the Vipers best opportunity of the period, just six and a half minutes into the frame Sacco couldnt beat Silverbacks starting goaltender Angus Redmond on a nice feed from the slot. Salmon Arm needed nine minutes to get their first shot of the period on the PP. The Backs with not alot of pressure with the man advantage couldnt capitalize. Chase Zieky would get the Silverbacks best chance of the period ripped a quick shot from the slot was topped by Andrew Shortridge, on the following play Mac Ferner's shot from the point was kicked out by Angus Redmond who made a nice toe save off the Viper d-man. A very slow non exciting first half before SA would capitalize on another Viper turnover. Mac Ferner coughed up the puck beind his own goal, allowed Ross Heidt to give Salmon Arm a 3-1 lead at 13:32 Taro Hirose picked up the assist. Just over a minute later Zach Andrusiak would collide with Angus Redmond before a minor scrum broke loose. Brett Stapley and Josh Blanchard would drop the gloves as both players would get tossed from the game for fighting. Both teams would exchange powerplay's to finish the period. Salmon Arm was up 3-1 after 40 minutes of play. Very little scoring chances at either ends of the rink, with not alot of action coming from both teams. The first ten minutes was pretty scrambled with not alot of flow. Salmon Arm with a very aggresive forecheck were forcing the Vipers into making that play-first pass in a hurry, forcing the Vipers into several turnovers. The Backs with a big goal on a turnover behind the Vernon net, gives SA a two goal lead heading into the 3rd. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 11-9.
3rd Period: Just thirty three seconds into the final frame Vernon would get an early man advantage. The Vipers passed the puck and passed the puck, would get just one shot in the dying seconds struggled with the PP once again, couldnt capitalize. About two minutes later the Silverbacks would get an early powerplay, getting a few looks at the net, didnt get bodies in front wich allowed Vipers starting goaltender Andrew Shortridge to see and make the routine saves. The Vipers would kill off the minor. Riley Brandt took one for the team, blocking a shot while on the penalty kill, looked to be in some discomfort, would stay in the hockey game. SA come out hitting and were hitting everyone in sight as the Backs were laying out some big hits in the final twenty minutes. With the Backs up by two goals, Salmon Arm carried alot of the play, as the Vipers couldnt generate much for offence. Vernon would get a second shot with the man advantage but again struggled. Getting just one shot the Vipers couldnt capitalize. Vernon responded with a few hard working shifts after the PP but didnt generate any real quality chances. Shortly after Marcus Mitchell would beat Shortridge on the wrap around to put Salmon Arm up 4-1 at 15:55 Mitch Newsome and Jared Turcotte picked up the helpers. There would be a very lengthy delay after the goal as the goal light did not come on, but one referee behind the net was calling it a goal. After several minutes the referees got together to say the puck did go in and the goal would stand. Another lengthy delay took place after Mark Ferner wanted to talk with the officials about the goal. But just thirty one seconds later Riley Brandt would get the Vipers to within two goals at 16:21 after Jagger Williamson with a nice feed from in close. Williamson & Mitchell Oliver picked up the assists. On the following play Salmon Arm would get a late powerplay and make the Vipers pay. Colton Thibault at 17:37 gave Salmon Arm a 5-2 lead. Thibault's goal was unassisted. And less then a minute later Chase Zieky added some salt into the Viper wounds put Salmon Arm up 6-2 at 18:23 Nick Hutchison with the assist. With the game out of reach, the Vipers showed signs of frustration took another penalty to finish the game. Riley Brandt would leave the Viper bench and head to the dressing room with the trainer in the final seconds. The Backs on the man advantage, moved the puck around had some great chances couldnt beat Andrew Shortridge before the final buzzer would sound as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 6-2. In a period where the Vipers were down two goals heading into the third, Vernon showed very little jump, energy or emotion for any kind of a comeback as the Vipers struggled offensively to get much of anything going this period. Up by two goals the Silverbacks plastered the Vipers in the physical department, laying out some of the biggest hits all night in the 3rd. The Backs played with the puck most of the first half before getting that all important three goal lead that seemed to seal the victory. The Vipers with a late push, would get back to within two goals but it was by far too little, too late. The Backs with three goals in the final four minutes made a statement. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 15-14.
Top Player's: (Vernon)
Bo Pellah other then two turnovers, I thought was one of very few Vipers that stood out tonight. Pellah showing his talent, was going in and around several Salmon Arm defenders made some real slick moves with the puck offensively.
Riley Brandt (1 goal & 1 assist) I dont think played a full sixty minutes but was the only Viper that showed any kind of compete and hard work tonight. Played a hard fought game.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
Something has happened with the Vipers over the past few weeks and Im not sure what it is, but this is a totally different hockey team after the past few weeks. Vernon had won three straight and playing pretty good hockey has now dropped three straight and playing their worst hockey of the season. I will give the Vipers a little credit and say they played somewhat better tonight compared to losses to West Kelowna & Victoria last weekend but still arent the same team from just a few weeks ago. I thought the Vipers got off to a bit of a slow start, found themselves in the hole early after giving up an early powerplay goal, rallied and played much better in the second half of the opening period. The Vipers best scoring chances come in that 1st period, after that Vernon didnt get a hole lot of quality chances in the 2nd and 3rd periods. The Vipers had troubles getting to the front of the net, Salmon Arm has a fairly big team that boxed out the much smaller Viper forwards. Vernon fired 39 shots at Angus Redmond but didnt get alot of Grade A scoring chances in the 2nd and 3rd periods. The Vipers dont seem to have that intensity, that jump, no real emotion, that drive. There seems to be no life on the bench, everyone seems to be playing for themselves at times. The chemistry on the ice dosnt seem to be there, the powerplay is almost useless. They waist more time off the clock on the man advantage passing the puck around then they do getting pucks and shots on goal. This team is giving up way too many turnovers in their own end, for the first time in about three games didnt give up over 40 shots on goal, atleast could get the puck out of their own end tonight. I dont see much from the veteran players, in regards to stepping up and leading this team. This team needs a shakeup and better turn things around in a hurry.
Top Player's: (Salmon Arm)
Phil Middleton had a solid game on the Silverbacks backend.
Mitch Newsome (1 assist) I thought played with some jump, was hustling, playing hard picked up one assist.
Nick Hutchison (1 goal & 1 assist) Had a good game, was going to the net, looking for opportunities, took a high check or stick to the face in the 3rd was bleeding, stayed in the game.
Carson Bolduc (1 assist) What can you say about this kid, after losing his baby daughter early in the season, this kid shows alot of character and dosnt quit. Had a good game this evening.
Josh Laframboise played a physical game, laid out some huge hits in the 3rd, played with an edge.
Josh Blanchard (1 goal) Was another Salmon Arm forward who played hard, battled, dosnt quit, dropped the gloves in the 2nd period with Brett Stapley.
Taro Hirose (1 assist) Didnt get the puck luck but battled hard, was going to the net all night, was in on atleast one maybe two odd man rushes, played well.
Ross Heidt (1 goal) I thought played a strong game for the Backs, another kid who was moving his feet, going to the net, creating and generating chances.
Angus Redmond (37 saves) Made some big saves in the 1st period, to keep the game close. Dosnt give up alot of rebounds or second opportunities played very well between the pipes. A bigger goaltender, covers alot of the net, plays his position well.
Game Thought's: (Salmon Arm)
The Silverbacks looked very good, this team has a ton of veteran players back from last season, is big, plays physical, lays the body, moves the puck well, good transition game, have a solid defence, solid goaltending and can put the puck in the net. The Silverbacks capitalized on their chances, took advantage of a few Viper turnovers and forced the Vipers into turnovers with a very aggresive forecheck. Specialty teams played a big part in tonight's game. Salmon Arm went 2-8 with a shorthanded goal while Vernon went 1-7 with the man advantage. Give Salmon Arm's penalty kill full credit for only giving up one goal while killing off a five minute major. The Backs defence did a great job at boxing out Vernon's smaller forwards, keeping them to the outsides while Angus Redmond was able to see alot of the Viper shots. The Backs lost two players during tonight's game (Ryley Booth and Cam Coutre) even with a short bench, didnt panic, stuck to the game plan and come away with the win. The Salmon Arm has now won five in a row and lost just once on the road. The Silverbacks are 3-0 vs Vernon this year if you include the two pre-season games back in August. Penticton Vees Head Coach Fred Harbinson and members of his hockey club along with Vees play by play man Fraser Rodgers were in attendance tonight.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Christian Cakebread (Injured)
Callum Volpe
Salmon Arm:
Elijiah Barriga
Sam DeMelo
Energy Player of the Game:
Bo Pellah
Three Star's:
1st Star: Cameron Trott
2nd Star: Riley Brandt (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Carson Bolduc (1 assist)
BCHL Boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1477182&link=bchl
Ian Douglas's Salmon Arm Silverbacks blog
http://backstalk.wordpress.com/
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