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-Warriors game as West Kelowna defeated Vernon 3-2 in front of 1,738 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Andrew Shortridge
West Kelowna: Stephen Heslop
1st Period: The Vipers would get off to a quick start jumping out to a 2-0 lead just over two minutes into the contest. Viper captain Colton McCarthy fanned on his first shot attempt before setting up Jimmy Lambert in front who beat Stephen Heslop giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 1:45 McCarthy and Bo Pellah with the helpers. Just sixteen seconds later Colton McCarthy would put Vernon up 2-0 at 2:01 Riley Brandt & Jimmy Lambert collected the assists. But less then four minutes later Connor Sodergren setup former Victoria Grizzlie forward Garrett Forster whos shot looked to go in and off a Viper defender in front beat Andrew Shortridge low got the Warriors on the scoreboard at 5:40 Sodergren with the lone assist. On the following shift the Vipers would get the games first powerplay but it would be the Warriors penalty kill that would go to work. Veteran forward Brett Mennear on a strong forecheck would get stopped by Andrew Shortridge before Kylar Hope pounced on the rebound couldnt beat the Viper goaltender on back to back quality chances by West Kelowna shorthanded. The Vipers struggling with the man advantage had all kinds of trouble in their own end on the PP. Darren Rizzolo with a shot from the blueline would get redirected on it's way to the net was stopped by Stephen Heslop before also stopping Liam Finlay on the doorstep as West Kelowna with a strong penalty kill would kill off the minor. WK slowly started to come on and begin to carry the play, were firing everything on goal as Shortridge had to be sharp. Scott Allen looked to take a bump or hit in his own end was slow to get off the ice at one point, but stayed in the game. Vernon product Michael Roberts with a smart heads up play, made a nice pass through the neutral zone setup Brett Stapely who went in for the parcial breakaway couldnt beat Heslop in close. From here on in it was all Warriors who carried the edge in play. West Kelowna didnt generate alot of quality scoring chances did get lots of pucks on goal had the Vipers back on their heals. Vernon having all kinds of trouble breaking out of their own end, couldnt get through the neutral zone, played most of the second half in their own end. The Warriors would get their first look with the man advantage late in the opening frame. With good pressure WK moved the puck around, had some good looks at the net thought they tied the game with 4:20 remaining. Andrew Shortridge come across the crease to make a huge pad save before scrambling to stop the rebound. With a wild scrum in the crease the Warriors were trying to bang home the puck before the goal light went on with a late whistle after the puck looked to have crossed the goal line. With no signal from the referee the two referee's and linesmen gathered near the penalty boxes before waiving off the goal. It was still 2-1 Vernon. The Vipers would kill off the remainder of the minor. It was still 2-1 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers with a great start, jumped on the Warriors early. With two quick back to back goals just sixteen seconds apart it looked like Vernon was going to run away with this game early. But back come the Warriors just four minutes later to cut the lead to within a goal. West Kelowna with a strong forecheck, really used their weight and size containing the Vipers and shutting down the Viper speed and skill up front. The Vipers with a good start, couldnt finish as West Kelowna outplayed most of the opening period. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 21-10.
2nd Period: The Warriors jumped on Vernon off the opening faceoff. Just over two minutes into the 2nd period West Kelowna with a great chance to tie the game on a goal mouth scramble. Vipers starting goaltender Andrew Shortridge made a big save in front before a maze of players went hard to the net, the puck was loose in the crease with bodies in and around the Viper goaltender-crease no Warriors player could reach the loose puck before a Viper defender was able to clear the puck from the crease on a very close call. It was all WK the entire frame as the Warriors were all over the Vipers. For a second straight period Vernon had all kinds of troubles getting through the neutral zone. West Kelowna carried most of the play, played alot of the second period in the offensive zone. Andrew Shortridge was tested often made some big saves keeping the Vipers in the hockey game. The Vipers showing very little emotion, played with very little intensity looked lost. The Warriors again very strong on the forecheck were winning all the battles, races for the puck and dominated the boards. Mitchell Oliver would leave the bench with the team trainer for several minutes would return and stay in the game. The Vipers would finally get their first quality scoring chance just over seven minutes into the middle frame. Colton McCarthy on a nice bang bang play was stopped in close by Warriors starting goaltender Stephen Heslop who saw very limited action on the Vipers lone scoring chance of the period. Just a few minutes later veteran forward Liam Blackburn was able to skate in and wire a high shot past Andrew Shortridge tying the game 2-2 at 10:29 Tanner Campbell with the helper. Shortridge then made a nice save off Garrett Forster at the side of the net before stopping Kyle Mario's point shot with traffic in front. The Warriors would get a late powerplay in the final minute and capitalize. Jonathan Desbiens with a rocket of a shot went high past Shortridge gave West Kelowna their first lead of the night 3-2 at 19:27 Tanner Campbell with the assist. West Kelowna was up 3-2 after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers have struggled in the 2nd period, atleast the 2nd periods in their homes games I have seen. & it happened again tonight, the Warriors jumped on Vernon early and often and dominated the 2nd period. West Kelowna with a strong forecheck, won the battles, races for the puck and were the hungrier team. The Vipers with just one scoring opportunity struggled offensively played with no jump. Andrew Shortridge kept his team in the game for a second straight period. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 16-8.
3rd Period: Vernon down a goal to start the final frame would get an early powerplay but struggled. Moving the puck around and around, waisted most of the PP passing the puck. With just one shot and no threat West Kelowna would easily kill off the penalty. The Vipers showing very little intensity played a second straight period in their own end. Vernon with very little puck posession and zone time once again were being outworked and outplayed by a much bigger, stronger and more experienced hockey team. The Warriors kept the forecheck going, were finishing their checks, played keep away with the puck in the Viper zone at times. The Vipers with just one shot in the first eight minutes had just two shots in the first ten minutes of the third. Andrew Shortridge was forced to bail out his team on several plays as the Warriors were firing on all cylinders. Tanner Campbell, Liam Blackburn, Kylar Hope all with good chances couldnt give West Kelowna a two goal lead. Just past the halfway mark Vernon would get a second opportunity with the man advantage but again it was the Warriors penalty kill who stepped up their play. A turnover behind the Viper allowed Liam Blackburn to walk in before being stopped by Shortridge before Tanner Campbell pounced on the rebound was also stopped on two great shorthanded chances by the Warriors. The powerplay wasnt even a minute old before the Vipers would take a penalty as both teams would play four on four. Four on four you would think WK was on the PP as the Warriors went to work and again carried the edge in play, giving the Viper defenders all kinds of troubles. Andrew Shortridge with a quick glove save off Tanner Campbell from in close. With time winding down the Vipers struggled offensively to even get the puck into the West Kelowna zone. The few chances Vernon did get the play in deep, the Vipers struggled to generate any kind of quality chances as Stephen Heslop was snagging the Viper shots with no problem. West Kelowna's defence was solid, man on man gave the Vipers very limited time and space, collapsing down low forcing the Vipers to the wall with no chance of a shot. The Warriors ate alot of time off the clock, by just playing with the puck along the boards, using their size and puck posessison skills to hold the Vipers off the wall-puck, especially in the second half and late in the game. The final few minutes the Warriors held Vernon in their own end for most of the remainder of the game. Shortridge tried on one opportunity to leave his crease for the extra attacker but WK fired the puck back in as the Vipers couldnt get the goaltender out for the extra attacker finished the game pinned in their own end. At the buzzer some pushing and shoving occurred deep in the Warriors zone. Everyone on the ice was involved minus the two goaltenders as both benches watched. Bo Pellah was trying to get after Warriors captain Kyle Marino while other players had looked to drop their gloves, no actual fights broke out, just lots of pushing and shoving before the minor scrum was broken up. West Kelowna would hang on for the 3-2 victory. Almost a complete mirror image of the 2nd period the Warriors controlled most of the play from the drop of the puck to the end of the period. West Kelowna with two complete dominate periods in period #2 & 3 shutdown Vernon's speed and offence. The Warriors carried the majority of the play, gave Vernon very little time and space. The Vipers with very little for offence and intensity played a very lack luster period. The Vipers with no quality chances didnt work very hard, were outworked the entire 3rd period. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 11-8.
Top Player's: (Vernon)
Brett Stapely has really come on here the last few weeks and has been one of the more improved Vipers the past few home games. This kid has really stepped up his play-game and it's shown. I thought the last three or four home games Stapely has played very well and played very well with limited icetime tonight. I thought was skating hard tonight, going to the net, had a real good chance in the opening frame couldnt sneak one past the Warriors goaltender.
Steven Jandric Was by far the Vipers best forward in the 1st period didnt stand out as much in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Jandric finished his checks most of the night, was one of the lone Vipers who was doing any kind of hitting. I thought played hard, competed and battled hard along the wall.
Andrew Shortridge (45 saves) Has faced over fourty shots in three of his last four games. Shortridge gave his team a chance to win and kept his team in the game all night. Without Shortridge the Vipers wouldnt have been in tonight's game. Shortridge was hung out to dry all game and had to make some big saves through out the game to keep Vernon in the game. Another strong performance by the veteran twenty year old. Where would the Vipers be this year if it wasnt for this kid?
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
The Vipers unveiled their new look-third set jerseys. All black jersey with yellow trim, yellow numbers and name bar with grey stripes and a black and white Vipers logo on the front. They remind me alot like the Victoria Grizzlies road jerseys. Not the same look but just the color sceme. Whats with Black? This is not one of the Vipers main colors? Not a fan. The Vipers with a great start to the game, jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead before folding the tents and calling it a night. I thought the Vipers played pretty bad in a loss to Prince George a few weekends back and then also played pretty bad but were lucky to come away with the win over Trail last week. But tonight has to be the Vipers worst outting of the season. Other then the opening few minutes this was a pretty lack luster-dismal performance by the Vipers in a game where they were outplayed, outhit, outoworked and outshot pretty bad. I know its early in the season but this team is way too small, too young, inexperienced and very inconsistent from game to game. One night this team looks very good and very hard to beat, the following night, they look great in one period but look not so great in the other two periods. Vernon had all kinds of trouble right from the start of the game breaking out of their own end, couldnt get through the neutral zone. The Vipers who weren't shooting enough, looked to have a clear look at the net were passing the puck instead, making that pretty passing play, instead of getting pucks the net, looking for the rebound. The Vipers struggled offensively had very little scoring chances, gave up alot of turnovers, lost alot of puck battles, races to the pucks, played with no jump, intensity or showed any emotion. Vernon who is much smaller then the Warriors were standing around, no hitting, no finishing their checks, no nothing. From a fans perspective this was a very disapointing effort and game. In the 3rd period several fans were more interested in standing up on the concourse watching the Blue Jays game on tv over the Vipers game. I dont know whats wrong with this team but they are very inconsistent and need a wake up call!
Top Player's: (West Kelowna)
The line of Liam Blackburn (1 goal), Tanner Campbell (2 assists) & Paul Lovsin were West Kelowna's best line tonight. These three played hard, competed, won the battles, never gave up, went to the net and generated-created opportunities. This line played with alot of jump in their game, were hard to contain all night.
Brett Mennear had a strong game up front for the Warriors, had some good looks at the net, played hard.
Kylar Hope I thoought played well through out the contest.
Garrett Forster (1 goal) Was another kid that had some chances, played hard.
Scott Allen was the biggest kid on the ice, played very well on the backend. Hard to beat one on one, really used his height advantage over the smaller Viper forwards.
Jonathan Desbiens (1 goal) Scored the game winner on the man advantage, late in the 2nd period was skating hard, going to the net, had a strong game for WK.
Nicholas Rutigliano had a solid game on the blueline.
Kyle Marino played with an edge, was in the face of the Vipers all night, was a thorn in the side of the Vipers, getting several players off their game.
Game Thought's: (West Kelowna)
The Warriors snapped the Vipers three game winning streak, get just their third win in Vernon since the 2011-12 season. West Kelowna played one of if not their best games at Kal Tire Place in several years, showed great character by not panicing, come back down 2-0 early in the 1st period to eventually tie the game in the 2nd before getting the game winner on the powerplay late in the period, before shutting down the Vipers in the 3rd. Just their second win on the road this season, this was a huge win for West Kelowna who had dropped three of their previous five games. I was really impressed with the Warriors this evening. One of the more bigger clubs Ive seen this year, have a veteran team, that dosnt quit. WK plays hard, never quits, always skating, won most of the battles, races for the puck, won the battles down low, got Vernon into making several turnovers inside their own zone, capitalized on several Viper turnovers. This team is very well diciplined compared to previous Warrior teams who seemed to lose their cool in alot of games. West Kelowna dominated and outplayed Vernon most of the night, a very strong performance by the Warriors. I really liked the Warrior defence, big, hard to beat one on one, down low, did a great job at shutting down the Vipers speed, skill and offence. The Warriors did a great job at clogging up the neutral zone, boxing the Vipers out, keeping Vernon to the outside most of the night. Did a great job at limiting their shots and chances in and around the net. Stephen Heslop who shutout the Vipers 2-0 in early February last season in West Kelowna, recorded his first career BCHL victory & first career BCHL shutout in his first career BCHL game that night as an "AP" picked up the win again tonight. No offence to the young goaltender but Heslop didnt see alot of action or rubber most of the night, made a few nice saves in the opening period but breezed through the final two periods in wich he saw most of Vernon's shots. With the win the Warriors jump into 3rd place while Vernon drops to 4th place.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Brendan Barry (Injured)
Jagger Williamson (Injured)
Christian Cakebread (Injured)
West Kelowna:
Lane Gillis
Jared Marino
Energy Player of the Game:
Brett Stapley
Three Stars:
1st Star: Tanner Campbell (2 assists)
2nd Star: Jonathan Desbiens (1 goal)
3rd Star: Andrew Shortridge (45 saves)
BCHL Boxscore,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1477169&link=bchl
Kyle Anderson's West Kelowna Warriors Blog,
http://wkwarriors.blogspot.ca/
Graham Turnbull's Vernon Vipers Blog,
http://vipersvenom1.blogspot.ca/
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