Was at tonights BCHL game as Vernon defeated Penticton 2-1 in Overtime in front of 2,007 fans at the Wesbild Centre.
1st Period: The Vipers got off to a quick start, controlling the play for the first four minutes with some good puck movement in the Vees zone. Penticton had the best scoring chance first coming with the first shot on goal, as Garrett Milan tipped a shot in the slot but Andrew Hammond was right there making the save. In the opening minutes Rob Short fed Cory Kane with a nice crease pass before Kane hit the post as Vernon come very close to opening the scoring. A very entertaining 1st period with loads of action and fast pace at both ends of the rink. Ryan Santana with a tip in close come close to scoring, and then Ryan Viselli at the other end with a shot from in close on a good scoring play. Very few whistles made for a quick period. Penticton looked very sharpe, having loads of jump skating strong, getting more shots and the better of the chances. The Vees were doing a great job at not giving Vernon much room, as the Vipers were having troubles getting pucks towards the net. Garrett Milan & Max Grassi were buzzing around the Vipers zone, coming up with some solid chances. Penticton had some good presure moving the puck well at times, Milan received a nice crease pass as the puck hopped over his stick at the last minute on a great chance to put the Vees up 1-0. Max Grassi then had a good chance in front, putting some nice moves on the Vernon defence, then getting off a shot in the slot but couldnt beat Hammond who looked very confident between the pipes. Kellen Jones got lucky after a boarding call after a check on Ryan Viselli, Viselli went down and got up holding his shoulder, heading straight to the Vees dressing room and not returning. Jones could have been tossed and called for checking from behind on the play. The Vees couldnt take advantage of the man advantage as Vernon killed off the minor. Penticton come on strong in the final minutes, buzzing around the Vipers zone, but couldnt find the back of the net, yet coming close on a few chances. Penticton had another great chance as Adam Zamec went in all alone for the breakaway, but Cameron Brodie showed great hustle, getting back into the play, breaking up the breakaway with a great defensive play. It was scoreless after 20 minutes of play. The Vees outshot the Vipers 8-4.
2nd Period: Penticton got some good news as Ryan Viselli returned to the Vees bench to start the period. The Vees won the draw, Travis Oulette got the puck over the line, Ryan Viselli carried the play, getting a quick shot off on Hammond before the puck come back out front where, Ryan Johansen pounced on the rebound and beat Hammond fivehole just 15 seconds into the period, as the Vees jumped out to the quick 1-0 lead. Vernon was caught standing around on the play and it cost them. The Vipers looked flat with no jump to start the 2nd as the Vees dominated the early edge in play. After playing such a strong defensive game Saturday night vs PG the Vipers defence was having all kinds of trouble in there own end for most of tonights game. Penticton moved the puck well, creating chances owning the first half of the period. At the midway mark of the period the Vipers would get there first powerplay of the night, and it didnt take long for it to go to work. Some good puck movement down low by Braden Pimm & Captain Chris Crowell, Crowell fed Mike Collins along the side wall, who then cut towards the middle and then roofed the shot under the crossbar beating Jordan White tying the game at 11:22 on the powerplay. This goal seemed to give Vernon some life, giving them some momentum as the Vipers finally got some of the play back, now getting some chances of there own. Ryan Viselli took a pounding all night, getting hammered in front of the Vipers bench by Cameron Brodie and then getting stood up at the blueline by Kevin Kraus. Still Viselli didnt back down, or turn away from the rough stuff, as one of the Vees hardest workers all game. The Vipers had a great chance on a wrap around, but Jordan White come across the crease to make the save. Vernon was finally getting some pucks towards the goal after getting just four shots on goal in the opening period. As the period carried on, Vernon seemed to improve there game. In the final three minutes Andrew Hammond made a big poke check save on a Penticton player who was in on the parcial breakaway. In the final two minutes the Vees looked a little tired as the Vipers had some chances in the dying seconds. Penticton looked very good in the first half of the 2nd but the Vipers battled back playing well in the second half of the period. It was tied 1-1 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Penticton 11-10.
3rd Period: Vernon looked much better to start the 3rd with some good jump, getting the puck in deep trying to create some chances. Kellen & Connor Jones along with Sahir Gill cycled the puck well down low, buzzing around the Vees net. Vernon would get a great scoring chance in the early goings, after Chris Crowell fired a loose puck towards the net, as Braden Pimm deflected the puck up but couldnt beat White was there to make the chest save. Vernon carried the edge in the play in the first five minutes as the ice in the Vernon zone was still wet. Penticton would jump on a powerplay but couldnt generate any offence, not getting a shot on goal as the Vipers penalty kill was solid killing off the minor. This seemed to turn the tides as now the Vees carried the momentum as once again the Vernon defence was having all kinds of troubles in there own zone, the Vees were really forcing the Vipers, sending three men in on the attack. The play then seemed to slow down as both teams couldnt seem to get much going, as some scrambly play resuted in some not very exciting play for the next several minutes. In the second half the Vipers managed to get a barage of shots on White who looked very good tonight. Brodie Reid had an excellent chance to win the game but was stopped by Andrew Hammond who made a huge toe save with 2:22 remaining on the clock. At the other end of the rink, Braden Pimm was stopped by Jordan White who made a big save with 1:14 left on the clock. In the dying seconds the Vipers worked the puck well down low, getting off a few quick shots from the point, Cameron Brodie wired a shot from the point but somehow White kicked out the shot with a screen in front. It was tied 1-1 after 60 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Penticton 13-5.
Overtime: Kellen Jones had the first best scoring chance, going in two on two with Kyle Bigos, Jones kept the puck and wired a shot from the circle as White was there for the save. Both teams went back & forth before Cory Kane fed Rob Short who went in one on one, Short beat his man, cutting towards the goal, as White come way out to challege, Short went around the net and then wrapped the puck into the empty goal for the OT winner at 2:13 giving the Vipers there fourth straight win and there 11th in there last 12 games. The Vipers outshot the Vees 2-0.
Top Players: (Vernon)
Andrew Hammond (22 saves) Played very well, looked very confident between the pipes for the Vipers. Hammond made some key saves to keep Vernon in the game.
Kevin Kraus played a very well game on the Vernon blueline. Kraus looked good at both ends of the rink, rushing the puck up ice on several occasions. Laid out a few solid checks.
James Kerr played very well, looked very sharpe, had lots of jump in his game, was skating well. Gave the Vipers energy at times when they needed it.
The line of Cory Kane (1 assist) Cole Ikkala and Rob Short (1 goal) was the Vipers best line and players. This line looked very good, showing lots of hustle and had the better of the teams scoring chances. Kane was really flying tonight, played one of his better games of the season. Cory needs to play like this every game, was very dominate with the puck. Cole Ikkala showed good hustle, played physical. Rob Short was another kid who was flying all night. Looked very good on the penalty kill, carried the puck lots tonight. Was really skating hard all night.
Chris Crowell & Braden Pimm played well together. Both kids made some nice moves.
Top Players: (Penticton)
Ryan Viselli (1 assist) After getting hit hard into the boards by Kellen Jones, it didnt look good for Mr Viselli. Leaving the ice holding his shoulder and not returning for the remainder of the 1st period. Viselli returned to the ice come the middle frame and was a warrior tonight, took a beating all night, was laid out by a few punishing checks but got back up and kept battling. Showed alot of hard work and determination. Showed alot of character.
Garrett Milan was buzzing around the Vernon net all night. Very shifty with the puck, a smaller kid who is hard to knock off the puck, weaving in and out. Very good skater with some nice hands.
Max Grassi looked very impressive. Had some good chances in the first period, was very dangerous with the puck. This kid really reads the play well, see's the ice and seems to know where everyone is at all times. Vipers have to keep there eyes on this kid.
Jordan White (28 saves) Played his best game against the Vipers this season. Gave up a few big rebounds in the 3rd but overall had very good rebound control. Didnt have to make many real hard saves, but made the saves he had too playing well all night. Although Im not sure what White was doing on the OT winning goal, come way out to challenge Rob Short, as Short went around the net, White seemed awfully slow getting back across the crease, as Short had lots of time to put the puck into the empty net.
Brodie Reid gets a ton of icetime, almost out there every second shift. A bigger kid who can skate and really move the puck. Another player who is very dangerous with the puck.
Game Thoughts: (Vernon)
A very entertaining 1st period with lots of action and very few whistles. Both teams had some good chances with the Vees getting the better out of the chances. The Vipers couldnt seem to get many pucks towards the net but did keep pace with the Vees. Caught standing around on the opening draw to start the 2nd period cost the Vipers as the Vees scored just 15 seconds into the period. The Vipers looked a little slow and sluggish at times through out the middle frame having to battle back and playing some better hockey in the second half of the period. Vernon looked very good, getting off to a quick start to start the 3rd getting some good chances. Both teams had some solid chances as the Vipers did a good job at only giving up five shots in the final period. This was a big win, as this was Vernons game in hand over Salmon Arm now moving 3 pts up on the Silverbacks and now tied with pts with the Victoria Grizzlies. The flu bug was going through the Vipers dressing room last week and you have to wonder if some of the guys still were feeling the affects tonight.
Game Thoughts: (Penticton)
The Vees looked very good tonight, playing one if not there best game against the Vipers this season. Penticton was really skating hard, moving the puck well. The Vees couldnt capitalise on some of there chances and when up 1-0 had many chances to bury the Vipers and put them down 2 or 3-0. Pentictons defence played very well, coming up with a good 3-4 big blocked shots. Give the Vees credit for battling hard all game, not giving up, really worked hard. The Vees really forced the Vipers defence all night, sending three players in on the forecheck, this play was used by the PG Spruce Kings Saturday night, as PG was sending two or sometimes three guys in on the forecheck. Fred Harbinson didnt looked pleased after the OT winning goal, Harbinson looked like he was yelling at Jordan White as he was skating off the ice. Gary & Ty Davidson were at tonights game.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Kory Roy
Steven Weinstein
Nick Amies
Penticton:
Matt Ridley
Denver Manderson (Injured)
Mitch LaBreche
3 Stars:
1st Star: Rob Short (1 goal)
2nd Star: Andrew Hammond (22 saves)
3rd Star: Jordan White (28 saves)
This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:
