I was at tonight's Exhibition game as Penticton defeated Vernon 4-2 in front of a small crowd at the South Okanagan Events Centre. (They didn't announce tonight's attendance).
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Gavin Hubbard
Penticton: Mat Robson
1st Period: Just sixteen seconds into the opening frame Jimmy Lambert come down the left wing before going hard to the net tried squeezing a shot through Mat Robson who made the save shortside before the puck snuck loose after the whistle had blown. The Vees would get the games first powerplay just over a minutes into the contest after Viper veteran Riley Brandt took a high hit on Sam Rossini making his Vees debut tonight. Rossini went down immediately after being hit high and was slow to get up, needing help from the trainer and two Vees
players. Rossini went straight to the Vees dressing room and didn't return. Brandt was given the penalty. On the man advantage Taylor Ward stepped into one from the high slot forcing Gavin Hubbard to come up with a quick pad save. The Vees with good pressure didn't get a lot of chances before the Vipers would take another minor just seconds before killing off Brandt's penalty. Penticton jumped on a very short two man advantage, the Vipers were able to kill off the remaining seconds of the first minor but couldn't hold off on the second penalty. Still on the PP Grant Cruikshank setup Owen Sillinger at the side of the net who gave Penticton a 1-0 lead at 3:26 Cruikshank & #24 (wasn't listed on the lineup-roster) collected the assists. The Vees were outshooting the Vipers 5-1 early after two early powerplays to start the night. The Vees carried the better of the play early in the first half before the Vipers would get their first look with the man advantage just before the halfway mark. Michael Ufberg with a wicked shot from the point was kicked out by Mat Robson on the lone opportunity as Penticton would kill off the minor. Vernon seemed to gain some momentum and slowly got their game going, over the next few minutes it was the Vipers who were starting to come on and carry the play. On the following few shifts Vernon would head back to the powerplay and capitalize. Once again Michael Ufberg getting pucks to the net, was stopped twice by Robson before letting go a bomb from the blueline tied the game 1-1 at 10:03 Jimmy Lambert and Jagger Williamson picked up the helpers. On the following faceoff the Vees quickly got the play down ice before setting up Taylor Ward alone in front was robbed by the quick glove of Vipers starting goaltender Gavin Hubbard who kept this a tie game. After the radio timeout-next shift Tre Dupilka-Sales setup Ethan Scardina in front who buried his shot past Vees starting goaltender Mat Robson giving Vernon a 2-1 lead and first lead of the game at 11:12 Dupilka-Sales and Cameron Kuhl with the assists. The Vipers with two quick back to back goals just over a minute apart. But just over a minute later on an odd man rush, Grant Cruikshank wired a rocket of a shot past Hubbard tying the game 2-2 at 12:31 Owen Sillinger with the lone assist. Less then two minutes later the Vees struck again. Griffin Mendel ripped a shot from the point that beat Gavin Hubbard giving Penticton a 3-2 lead at 14:15 Ty Amonte & Chris Klack with the helpers. Off the following faceoff Hubbard had troubles with a long shot from centre, wich looked to handcuff the Vernon goaltender but was able to hold on for a stoppage in play. It was 3-2 Penticton after 20 minutes of play. The Vees opened on the scoring on the powerplay, got off to a good start. Back to back powerplays early, had Penticton out front in shots 5-1 early. The Vees looked good in the first half before Vernon responded with a powerplay goal of their own. The Vipers with two quick back to back goals less then two minutes apart got things going around the midway mark but couldn't hold the lead giving up two quick goals. The Vees were the better team, had the better of the chances outshot Vernon 11-5.
players. Rossini went straight to the Vees dressing room and didn't return. Brandt was given the penalty. On the man advantage Taylor Ward stepped into one from the high slot forcing Gavin Hubbard to come up with a quick pad save. The Vees with good pressure didn't get a lot of chances before the Vipers would take another minor just seconds before killing off Brandt's penalty. Penticton jumped on a very short two man advantage, the Vipers were able to kill off the remaining seconds of the first minor but couldn't hold off on the second penalty. Still on the PP Grant Cruikshank setup Owen Sillinger at the side of the net who gave Penticton a 1-0 lead at 3:26 Cruikshank & #24 (wasn't listed on the lineup-roster) collected the assists. The Vees were outshooting the Vipers 5-1 early after two early powerplays to start the night. The Vees carried the better of the play early in the first half before the Vipers would get their first look with the man advantage just before the halfway mark. Michael Ufberg with a wicked shot from the point was kicked out by Mat Robson on the lone opportunity as Penticton would kill off the minor. Vernon seemed to gain some momentum and slowly got their game going, over the next few minutes it was the Vipers who were starting to come on and carry the play. On the following few shifts Vernon would head back to the powerplay and capitalize. Once again Michael Ufberg getting pucks to the net, was stopped twice by Robson before letting go a bomb from the blueline tied the game 1-1 at 10:03 Jimmy Lambert and Jagger Williamson picked up the helpers. On the following faceoff the Vees quickly got the play down ice before setting up Taylor Ward alone in front was robbed by the quick glove of Vipers starting goaltender Gavin Hubbard who kept this a tie game. After the radio timeout-next shift Tre Dupilka-Sales setup Ethan Scardina in front who buried his shot past Vees starting goaltender Mat Robson giving Vernon a 2-1 lead and first lead of the game at 11:12 Dupilka-Sales and Cameron Kuhl with the assists. The Vipers with two quick back to back goals just over a minute apart. But just over a minute later on an odd man rush, Grant Cruikshank wired a rocket of a shot past Hubbard tying the game 2-2 at 12:31 Owen Sillinger with the lone assist. Less then two minutes later the Vees struck again. Griffin Mendel ripped a shot from the point that beat Gavin Hubbard giving Penticton a 3-2 lead at 14:15 Ty Amonte & Chris Klack with the helpers. Off the following faceoff Hubbard had troubles with a long shot from centre, wich looked to handcuff the Vernon goaltender but was able to hold on for a stoppage in play. It was 3-2 Penticton after 20 minutes of play. The Vees opened on the scoring on the powerplay, got off to a good start. Back to back powerplays early, had Penticton out front in shots 5-1 early. The Vees looked good in the first half before Vernon responded with a powerplay goal of their own. The Vipers with two quick back to back goals less then two minutes apart got things going around the midway mark but couldn't hold the lead giving up two quick goals. The Vees were the better team, had the better of the chances outshot Vernon 11-5.
2nd Period: Penticton with a quick start jumped on the Vipers early and often. Griffin Mendel's blast from the blueline beat Gavin Hubbard but graized the crossbar just twenty one seconds into the middle frame. About a minute later Owen Sillinger was left all alone in front had all the time in the world was robbed by Hubbard who stretched back to make a huge diving glove save before the puck come out of his glove, rolling back towards the goal hit the post before rolling back into his glove on a missed opportunity by Sillinger. The Vipers looked flat footed-were caught standing around watching the Vees press. Penticton would get an early powerplay and come very close to grabbing a two goal lead. Vees captain Nicholas Jones somehow couldn't put the puck into the open cage after it come off the end boards missing an open net on another missed opportunity. This was the lone Vees chance on the man advantage as Vernon would kill off the minor. Seven minutes into the 2nd Levi Johnson come down the left wing, snapped a quick shot from the top of the circle forced Mat Robson into making a quick pad save. The Vipers with just three shots in the first half of the middle frame. The Vees would get their second powerplay of the period and once again generate some offensive chances. Ty Amonte the son of former NHLer Tony Amonte looked to beat Gavin Hubbard but rang his shot off the bottom of the post. Amonte collected the rebound couldn't capitalize on the wrap around on two great chances. The Vees buzzing in and around the Vernon net forced Hubbard into making several stops. The Vipers would excape and kill off the minor. Within minutes Penticton would get their third PP of the frame and again create-generate some opportunities. Grant Cruikshank used his wheels ripped a quick hard shot that just missed the far corner. Once again the Vees with several good looks in and around the net couldn't beat Hubbard who made some big saves while on the penalty kill. Once again Vernon was able to excape and kill off another penalty. It was all Penticton as the Vees were buzzing. With just over eight minutes remaining the Vipers switched goaltenders. Gavin Hubbard who allowed three goals on nineteen shots was replaced by backup tender Riley Mathieson. The Vipers who played most of the period in their own end, finally got their game going late. In the final few minutes Vernon with a bit of late pressure had a good forecheck going but couldn't get any real great looks at the net-generate much for offence. The Vipers would get a late powerplay, their first of the frame. On the man advantage Vernon would take a minor sending the play to four on four to end the period. It was 3-2 Penticton after 40 minutes of play. The Vees got off to a strong start, jumped on the Vipers early and often getting a ton of pressure/opportunities through out the 2nd period. It was all Penticton as the Vees were by far the better of the two hockey clubs, carried the majority of the play. The Vees with a strong forecheck, created-generated quality chances couldn't buy a break-find the back of the net. The Vees with some great opportunities on the powerplay, couldn't buy a goal on several good chances. The Vipers got some big breaks and big saves on the penalty kill from Gavin Hubbard, were very lucky to get out of the 2nd period only down a goal. The Vipers looked flat early and often, were caught standing around. Vernon struggled offensively to get anything going. Played most of the period in their own end, as the Vipers had to kill off three minors, as Penticton outshot Vernon 10-6.
3rd Period: In the opening minute Jimmy Lambert broke down the left wing before ripping a hard shot off the mask of Mat Robson who shook it off and stayed in the game. The Vipers would lose Riley Brandt early for over half of the final frame. Brandt was given two minutes for checking to the head and an automatic ten minute misconduct. Brandt was hearing from the crowd as he made his way to the box giving the Vees an early powerplay. Penticton with a few looks couldn't capitalize with the man advantage. Once the penalty was over, both teams looked fairly even with the play going back and fourth. Just before the midway mark the Vipers sprung Coleton Bilodeau in for the parcial breakaway but couldn't beat Mat Robson in close who come up with his biggest save in a while. Penticton would then jump back on another PP and once again get some good looks down low, Riley Mathieson was forced into making a few tough saves with the Vees pressing as the Vipers were able to kill off yet another penalty. The Vees with a few flurries in and around the net, come close but just couldn't get that fourth goal. Just past the halfway mark Vernon would get their first powerplay of the 3rd after Penticton was caught with too many men on the ice. The Vipers with good pressure, had troubles creating-generating any real good quality chances as the Vees would kill off the minor. The Vees carried the better of the play but didn't get a lot of quality chances. The Vipers would call a late timeout with 1:38 remaining before getting Riley Mathieson to the bench at 1:27 for the extra attacker. With pressure down low, moving the puck around Vernon again struggled to get any real good looks before Taylor Ward intercepted a Viper pass hit centre ice before hitting the open cage giving Penticton a 4-2 lead at 18:56 Ward's goal was unassisted. This would basically put the game away as Penticton would come away with a 4-2 victory. The Vees were again the better of the two teams, carried the better of the play, outshot Vernon and limited the Vipers chances. The Vipers struggled offensively had a few looks, but couldn't generate much, had troubles getting pucks to the net. Penticton outshot Vernon 15-6.
Top Player's: (Vernon)
Riley Mathieson (17 saves) Replaced starting goaltender Gavin Hubbard with just over eight minutes remaining in the 2nd period stopped all seventeen shots he faced, played very well between the pipes. Was good down low and on the penalty kill. Played his position well.
Michael Ufberg (1 goal) I thought had a very strong game on the Vernon blueline. Scored on the powerplay in the opening frame to get the Vipers on the board, was getting pucks to the net. Was very strong at both ends of the rink, was the quarterback on the powerplay.
Cameron Kuhl (1 assist) Was another Viper defenceman that stood out for me. Several Viper fans were talking about this kid at Training Camp. Was one of the better d-men tonight.
Levi Johnson Played well for most of the game. Other then taking two penalties worked-played hard most of the night, used his size to go into the corners and bang and crash down.
Jimmy Lambert (1 assist) Was very active through out the contest. One of the better Viper forwards. The second year forward was skating hard, created-generated some quality chances, had a strong night.
Steven Jandric also played hard for most of the game. I thought Jandric has looked good through out the pre-season games Ive watched so far. Worked-played hard in the loss this evening.
Gavin Hubbard (16 saves) Started in goal tonight, gave up three goals on nineteen shots. I thought made some huge game savers in the period and a half he played. Couldn't fault him on any of the three goals, made several big saves on the penalty kill, giving the Vipers a chance to win. Without Hubbard this game could have easily been over in the 1st or 2nd period.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
With the loss the Vipers fall to 0-4 in pre-season have been outscored 15-6 in the four games. Vernon has two exhibition games remaining before the start of the regular season. The Vipers played well at times but for most of the night were outplayed. The final score was close but if not for a couple of big time saves-the Vees unable to capitalize on the man advantage, this game could have been over well before the start of the 3rd period. Vernon got into penalty trouble through out the night and at some of the worst parts of the game. Either to start the game, the start of a period or while on the powerplay. The Vipers held their own at times in the 1st and 3rd periods but for short times only. Vernon was outshot in all three periods, struggled offensively most of the night. The Vipers had troubles getting pucks to the net-creating-generating chances. The Vipers have been outshot in all four pre-season games are having troubles getting shots on goal-scoring goals. Vernon scored three goals in a 4-3 loss in Merritt Saturday scored once against Penticton in a 4-1 loss at home Thursday, were shutout by Merritt and scored only twice tonight. Vernon needs to get their offence going. I thought the Viper defence played well as did the goaltending. I thought the penalty kill was good at times, but it was the goaltending on the PK that kept Vernon in it while shorthanded. I haven't heard how many players the Vipers are down to, but saw eight players-scratches sitting in the stands tonight. Going back to the 2014-15 regular season the Vipers have lost nine straight to the Vees including the two exhibition games this year. The Vipers have struggled in Penticton the last four seasons, have only three wins in their last eighteen regular season games at the SOEC going 3-12-3-0. Vernon will travel to Salmon Arm Friday for a home and home series with the Silverbacks this weekend.
Top Player's: (Penticton)
The Vees top line of Chris Klack (1 assist), Nicholas Jones & Ty Amonte (1 assist) Looked very solid in the win tonight. I thought all three played very well and were also very good-dangerous on the powerplay. Klack made his Vees debut tonight, picked up one assist was very solid up front, played-worked hard all night, has some size, wasn't afraid to play physical and get in the corners and grind it out. Jones who played very well against Vernon last year had a good opportunity on the powerplay, couldn't find the back of the net. Amonte with a few good looks-chances on the man advantage, really sees-reads the ice well. A smooth skater.
Grant Cruikshank (1 goal & 1 assist) Looked very good Thursday in Vernon, was strong again tonight. Picked up two points can really turn the game around in a hurry, good quick skater, is dangerous with the puck.
Owen Sillinger (1 goal & 1 assist) Played very well tonight, opened the scoring was really skating, creating-generated some good chances, was robbed in the 2nd period after being left all alone in front couldn't beat the quick glove hand of Gavin Hubbard.
David Eccles also played very well on the point. Was good at both ends of the rink.
Taylor Ward (1 goal) I thought played very well, was going to the net-creating opportunities all night. Gave Vernon trouble almost every shift he was on the ice, had a few good looks at the net.
Griffin Mendel (1 goal) Had a stellar game on the Vees backend. This kid is a good, was very solid through out the game. Has a rocket for a shot, gets that quick-hard shot off everytime. Really sees-reads the ice well, quick on his feet and quick with his hands, dosnt hold onto the puck for too long. Gets pucks to the net often.
Game Thought's: (Penticton)
The Penticton Vees improve to 3-0 in pre-season swept the two exhibition games vs the Vipers outscoring them 8-3 in both games. These two teams will meet six times come the regular season. The Vees with three pre-season games remaining travel to West Kelowna tomorrow before finishing with a home and home series vs Trail. Penticton was the better of the two teams tonight, carried a lot of the play, held the balance of attack and also had the better opportunities. The Vees with a good forecheck, are strong on the puck, move the puck well, create-generate chances in a hurry. The Vees couldn't buy a goal-didn't get a lot of puck luck tonight, come very close on several opportunities failed to capitalize on their chances. Vernon was lucky at times got the bounces when needed. The Vees with several good quality chances on the powerplay, couldn't connect missing on a few chances in close. I said it before, the Vees could have put this game away in the 1st or 2nd period needed an empty netter to seal the win. I also liked the Vees blueline, limited Vernon's chances, blocked shots, clogged up the middle of the ice, didn't give the Vipers a lot of open ice to generate chances-free wheel. Mat Robson played well in goal, wasn't overly tested but made the saves when needed. Won both pre-season games vs the Vipers. Penticton looks ready for the regular season as every player except one (#24) had their name on the back of their jersey. I talked to one Vees season ticket holder tonight, he told me the Vees were down to making two final cuts for their final roster. He also told me the Vees picked up Chris Klack and Sam Rossini today, who both made their Vees debut tonight. Vees fans sure don't like Viper forward Riley Brandt. Brandt was given several choice words everytime he stepped on the ice and made his way to the penalty box.
Scratches:
Vernon:
No scratches were announced. There was eight scratches-players sitting in the stands.
Penticton:
No scratches were announced.
Three Stars:
No three stars were announced.
Here is a look at both teams lineup's-rosters:
Vernon:
Riley Mathieson (97) G
Gavin Hubbard (97) G
Michael Ufberg (97) D
Cameron Kuhl (97) D
Mitchell Oliver (97) D
Nolan Galagher (97) D
Kaden Black (98) F
Niko Karamanis (98) F
Jagger Williamson (98) F
Riley Brandt (96) F
Christian Cakebread (97) F
Julian Benner (98) F
Tre Dupilka-Sales (98) F
Ethan Scardina (00) F
Coleton Bilodeau (00) F
Levi Johnson (97) F
Jimmy Lambert (97) F
Jack Judson (00) D
Darren Rizzolo (98) D
Steven Jandric (97) F
Penticton:
Mat Robson (96) G
Nolan Hildebrand (98) G
Joseph Leahy (97) D
Luke Bast (00) D
Sam Rossini (98) D
Nicholas Jones (96) F
Ty Amonte (98) F
Jared Nash (98) F
Chris Klack (97) F
Noah Jordan (97) F
Grant Cruikshank (98) F
Owen Sillinger (97) F
Jacob Kamps (97) F
Ty Barnstable (98) F
Cory Babichuk (98) D
Turner Ripplinger (98) F
Ben Brar (98) F
David Eccles (96) D
Taylor Ward (98) F
Griffin Mendel (99) D
#24 (Not listed on the lineup-roster)
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