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-Wild game as Wenatchee defeated Vernon 8-1 in front of 2,570 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Andrew Shortridge
Wenatchee: Chase Perry
1st Period: The expansion Wenatchee Wild wasted very little time opened the scoring just over two minutes into the game. Bryan Yoon's shot from the blueline was redirected on it's way to the net by Troy Conzo on the Wild's first shot on goal, giving Wenatchee a early 1-0 lead at 2:16 Bryan Yoon & Dakota Raabe collected the assists. The Wild with a very aggressive forecheck early. Less then two minutes later the Vipers responded with a good push back shift. Liam Finlay showed good hustle to stick with the play, ripped a quick back hand from in the slot forced Detroit Red Wings draft pick Chase Perry to make a quick pad save keeping this a one goal game. Back come the Wild on the following shift, Dakota Raabe cut hard to the net was stopped in close by Andrew Shortridge, before Troy Conzo was denied on the rebound before being hauled down, giving Wenatchee the games first powerplay. The Wild wasted little time, with some slick tic tac toe passing Dakota Raabe setup Joe Drabin in front, giving Wenatchee a 2-0 lead at 4:35 Dakota Raabe and August Von Ungern picked up the helpers. Mark Ferner would call a timeout after the goal. Just two minutes later Chase Perry went behind the goal to play the puck, ended up getting tangled up with one of his own defenceman and Riley Brandt, Brandt would get called for interference sending the Wild back to the powerplay. The Vipers fired the puck down the full length of the ice from their own end, may have caught Chase Perry napping, who looked to be coming out of his net to play the puck, when having to retreat back to the crease to make the save, on a close call for the Wild. Blake Christensen down low gave Wenatchee a 3-0 lead on the powerplay at 7:39 Troy Conzo and August Von Ungern with the assists. Wenatchee all over the Vipers at this point. The Wild outshooting Vernon 8-2 and dominating the opening period. Wenatchee with a very strong-aggressive forecheck, either had Vernon hemmed in their own end or shutdown the Vipers offence, giving them all kinds of trouble breaking through the neutral zone. Shortridge was forced to make a quick glove save keeping this a 3-0 game. The Vipers having all kinds of trouble getting any kind of pressure or zone time, played most of the frame in their own end. The Wild carried and dominated the play in the first half. In the second half Blake Christensen with a good quality chance couldn't beat Shortridge. Shortridge then made two big saves off Troy Conzo and Colin Burston. The Vipers who generated very little chances, would get a three on one rush late in the period, Christian Cakebread didn't look to get a good shot off, was stopped by Perry. In the final few minutes Dakota Raabe would give Wenatchee a 4-0 lead at 18:21 August Von Ungern with the lone helper. Seconds later Vernon would get their first powerplay of the night, but a poor pass by Bo Pellah and Odeen Tufton forced Charlie Combs to walk in off the turnover beat Andrew Shortridge gave Wenatchee a commanding 5-0 lead at 19:25 Combs goal was unassisted. The Vipers unable to get anything going with the man advantage would run out of time before the buzzer sounded. Wenatchee was up 5-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Wild jumped on the Vipers early, getting out to a quick 2-0 lead less then five minutes into the opening period, were all over Vernon for the entire 1st period. Wenatchee with a very strong forecheck, attacked the Vipers forcing Vernon into several turnovers through out the frame. The Wild a smooth skating very skilled team, can move the puck, have a very good transition game, schooled the Vipers for most of the period. The Vipers who had just two shots in the first fourteen minutes weren't skating, were caught standing around at times had all kinds of troubles with the Wenatchee forecheck. Vernon struggled offensively couldn't break out of their own end, had troubles getting any kind of pressure or offence going, had very little zone time. The Vipers managed just two quality chances the entire period. Wenatchee outshot Vernon 21-5.
2nd Period: Former Penticton Vees goaltender Brendan Barry started the middle frame, replacing Andrew Shortridge who allowed five goals on twenty one Wild shots. The Vipers started the 2nd period on the man advantage that was carried over from the end of the 1st period. The Wild would kill off the remainder of the penalty before scoring early. Kyle Stephan in front beat Barry down low giving Wenatchee a 6-0 lead at 3:39 Mike Coyne & Colin Burston with the helpers. Shortly after Kyle Stephan left alone in the slot, ripped a high shot that just sailed over Brendan Barry and the Viper goal. The Wild would get an early powerplay and capitalize. Kyle Stephan with a lazer shot went high on Barry giving Wenatchee a commanding 7-0 lead at 4:56 Bryan Yoon and Charlie Combs collected the assists. The Wild with three powerplays, had three PP goals. Up by seven goals the Wild took their foot off the gas, wich turned this game into a pond hockey game. Not a lot of flow or action at either ends of the rink. Even with Wenatchee taking their foot off the gas, the Vipers still had troubles getting much of anything going. Viper captain Colton McCarthy went hard to the net for a loose puck, before Wild starting goaltender Chase Perry come out of his crease before several players all went hard to the net, crashing Perry who was able to hold on to smother the puck-get a stoppage in play. The Vipers would get another opportunity a lot like this play later on during the period but again Perry was alert and able to freeze the puck for a whistle. In the second half Dakota Raabe's shot went in and off Mac Ferner giving Wenatchee a 8-0 lead at 14:04 Troy Conzo with the lone helper. As they say you have to be good to be lucky and that was a lucky bounce-break for the Wild. On the following play, Wenatchee would get their second man advantage of the evening. A very good penalty kill by the Vipers were able to hold off the Wild attack-powerplay for the first time tonight. Wenatchee moved the puck around, couldn't get setup had a few looks down low but other wise a good Vernon penalty kill. With two and a half minutes remaining Carter Stephenson's point shot beat Chase Perry but not the post as the Vipers looking to break Perry's shutout bid. Wenatchee was up 8-0 after 40 minutes of play. This was a much different period as the Wild scored two quick goals jumped out to a 7-0 lead, took their foot off the gas for most of the remainder of the 2nd period. The Vipers were able to get some zone time this frame but not a lot as the Vipers didn't get many chances. Vernon with a few good looks in and around the net but Chase Perry was their for the save. Not a lot of action or flow to this period, made for the looks of a pond hockey game. Wenatchee outshot Vernon 19-12.
3rd Period: Odeen Tufto with a great chance down low couldn't beat Chase Perry who come up with a big save in the opening minutes. The Wild with a strong forecheck, had a few good shifts early before the Vipers would get an early powerplay. Vernon moving the puck around and around, wasted a lot of time passing and not getting shots on goal. The Vipers with a few good looks-chances down low couldn't capitalize with the PP as the Wild killed off the minor. Just before the halfway mark Colton McCarthy would eventually break Chase Perry's shutout bid, spotted the wide open cage on a goal Perry didn't have a chance cutting the Wild lead to 8-1 at 9:56 Mac Ferner and Joe Sacco collected the helpers. Speaking of Joe Sacco, Sacco made a huge defensive play hustled back to make a goal line save after diving behind Brendan Barry stopping a Wenatchee scoring chance. For a second straight period it looked like the Wild took their foot off the gas as Vernon carried the majority of the play-period. The Vipers had some decent scoring chances, their best ones of the night but Perry was very good in the Wild goal. Not a lot of action or real flow to the final frame as fans started making their way to the exists once the 50-50 was announced. Wenatchee would come away with the 8-1 victory. I thought the Vipers played their best period of the night, but its pretty hard to say that when Wenatchee is up 8-1 and has taken their foot off the gas. The Vipers carried most of the play, had lots of pressure and zone time, generated-created their best opportunities of the night, in the 3rd. The Wild didn't generate much pressure or zone time, only had one maybe two good chances didn't get many shots on Brendan Barry. Vernon was the better of the two teams outshot Wenatchee 11-4.
Following the game the Vipers held their annual year end awards banquet on the ice.
Most Popular Player- Riley Brandt
Leading Scorer- Odeen Tufto
MVP- Andrew Shortridge
Rookie Of The Year- Odeen Tufto
Most Sportsmanlike- Liam Finlay
Unsung Hero- Christian Cakebread
Bill Brown Award for Academic Excellence- Brett Stapley
Most Improved- Jimmy Lambert
Blue Liners Academic Scholarship- Mac Ferner
Renee Holland Community Service Award- Jagger Williamson
Wayne Buck Memorial Award- Jagger Williamson
Top Player's: (Vernon)
I didn't think any Viper really stood out-had a decent game.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
The Vipers come into tonight's game having a ton of confidence facing the Wild after winning in overtime in Wenatchee back in November lost a one goal game to the Wild in Chilliwack back in September at the BCHL Showcase, were blown out tonight by a Wenatchee team that totally dominated tonight's game from top to bottom. This game wasn't even close, the Vipers didn't match up against a much better, stronger, faster, more skilled Wild team that schooled Vernon in the opening 1st period. The Vipers with just two shots in the first fourteen minutes, were no match for the Wild. The Vipers with just two scoring chances in the 1st, had just a handful of opportunities in the 2nd had their best chances in the 3rd. Vernon had troubles with the Wild forecheck all night, couldn't break out of their own end, were shutdown offensively for most of the game. The Vipers were limited to chances, were held to the outside most of the night. Vernon with a win tonight would have clinched the final playoff spot, now need to win their final regular season game in Trail tomorrow night to advance to the playoffs or the season is over. Merrit is now tied with the Vipers for the fourth and final playoff spot after their 5-3 win over Penticton tonight. Trail is a single point back of both Merritt and Vernon. The Centennials host Wenatchee tomorrow night in their final game of the regular season. The Vipers don't have the size, skill or talent to matchup and compete with teams like Wenatchee. It was like the men playing the boys tonight. The Vipers have lacked scoring all season and as of late and it showed again tonight. A great crowd, one of the biggest this season come out for the final regular season home game.
Top Player's: (Wenatchee)
Blake Christensen (1 goal) I thought played well, was going to the net, digging-working hard in front, had a strong game for the Wild.
Tyler Rockwell Played very well on the Wenatchee blueline, not one of the biggest kids but a good skater, reads-sees the ice well, was very good at both ends of the rink. Saw a lot of ice tonight.
August Von Ungern (3 assists) Was in on three of the Wild's first four goals, made some nice plays to get the goals started. A good skater and puck mover, really sees the ice well.
Dakota Raabe (2 goals & 2 assists) Picked up four points was all over the ice this evening, gave the Vipers all kinds of troubles in the offensive zone, had several good chances-looks at the net. A very smooth skating forward that can move the puck, goes to the net.
Troy Conzo (1 goal & 2 assists) Opened the scoring for Wenatchee, was another kid who gave Vernon defenders troubles. Played on a line with Dakota Raabe was very strong in the win.
Kyle Stephan (2 goals) Scored twice, was another kid who had several chances, was hard to contain and dangerous in and around the net.
Bryan Yoon (2 assists) Was solid on the backend collecting two helpers.
Chase Perry (27 saves) Wasn't tested much but when called apon was solid between the pipes. Perry a bigger goaltender, covers a lot of net, plays big, dosnt give you much room, is quick on his feet, likes to come out of the net a lot.
Game Thought's: (Wenatchee)
The Wenatchee Wild are the best team I have seen play this season. Off the opening faceoff the Wild with a very strong-aggressive foreheck, don't give you any time or space. The Wild are a quick skating team, that can move the puck in a hurry, very crisp passing, with a lot of skill that can make you pay. The Wild don't play a very physical game, stay away from the after the whistle activities, are very well coached & disciplined. This game was basically over after the 1st period, as the Wild took their foot off the gas in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Not a lot of action or much flow to the game in the final two periods. This team looked very good tonight and from top to bottom I think will be hard to beat come playoffs. Wenatchee jumped on the Vipers early and often and basically put the game away less then halfway through the 1st period. The Wild dominated the play-game for most of the night, controlled-carried the majority of the play especially in the first two periods. I watched all the Vipers-Vees games this season, but think the Wild have a little more depth-structure compared to Penticton. A very good powerplay, this team competes-works hard and it showed tonight, even in the 2nd period when they looked to take their foot off the gas, they still were the better team at times. Nice to see a few Wild fans make the trip for tonight's game.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Latrell Charleson (Injured)
Charley Michalowski (Injured)
Jagger Williamson (Injured)
Wenatchee:
Brandon Puricelli
Austin Chavez
Energy Player of the Game:
Odeen Tufto
Three Stars:
1st Star: Dakota Raabe (2 goals & 2 assists)
2nd Star: Kyle Stephan (2 goals)
3rd Star: August Von Ungern (3 assists)
BCHL Game Summary,
