Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Vernon 9 Surrey 0

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-Eagles game as Vernon defeated Surrey 9-0 in front of 1,446 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Jarrod Schamerhorn
Surrey: Christian Short

1st Period: Off the opening draw Surrey come out hitting, laying out some heavy checks on the Vipers.  The Eagles had their eyes on several different Vernon players early, going after a few Vipers.  The Vipers would get a great opportunity just less then two minutes into the game after Liam Finlay on a two on one tried feathering a pass out front, Finlay's pass ended up going off a Surrey defenceman before goaltender Christian Short had to be alert made the save off his own team mate on Vernon's first shot of the night.  The Eagles carried the early edge in play before the Vipers would get the games first powerplay.  Spencer Meyer would get tossed from the game after checking Riley Brandt from behind.  Brandt was a little slow to get up but was ok and stayed in the game.  Just four minutes into the opening period Vernon setup on the man advantage, Liam Finlay setup TJ Dumonceaux in front who shot low to the ice beat Short at 4:15 put Vernon up 1-0.  Finlay & Luke Shiplo collected the helpers.  Just fifteen seconds later Johnny Coughlin looked to have an open cage fired a quick shot towards the goal was stopped by Short before Liam Finlay pounced on the rebound gave the Vipers a early 2-0 lead at 4:30 Coughlin and Jagger Williamson with the assists.  Less then three minutes later Thomas Aldworth looked to bank his shot off Christian Short and in giving Vernon a 3-0 lead at 7:19 Brandon Egli with the helper.  This was the end of the night for Short who was pulled after giving up three goals on eleven Vernon shots, was replaced by backup goaltender Daniel Davidson.  Just over two minutes later Thomas Aldworth would pick up his second of the night giving the Vipers a 4-0 lead and in full control at 10:33 after a nice give and go with Liam Coughlin.  Coughlin and Luke Shiplo picked up the assists.  The Vipers were outshooting the Eagles 11-2 at this point and were in full control.  Surrey managed to come back with a bit of a push got some of their first real pressure in the Vernon zone didnt really generate any offence.  Brandon Egli with a quick shot from the point was redircted on its way to the net forced Davidson to make a tough save.  TJ Dumonceaux with his second of the period gave the Vipers a 5-0 lead at 17:52 Liam Coughlin with the helper.  Less then two minutes later Riley Brandt gave Vernon a 6-0 lead at 19:26 Colton McCarthy & Mitch Meek picked up the assists.  Vernon was up 6-0 after 20 minutes of play.  The Eagles come out hitting, played physical but also played with a bit of an edge were in the faces of the Vipers most of the period.  Surrey with a ton of stick work were working over the Vipers during the play as well as between stopages stiring up the pot on several occasions.  The Eagles with very little offence were outplayed and dominated most of the opening period other then a few minutes of pressure as it was all Vipers.  Vernon opened the scoring early and never looked back were all over the last place Eagles.  The Vipers outshot the Eagles 18-5.

2nd Period: Christian Short started the frame in goal for Surrey replacing Daniel Davidson who replaced Short during the 1st period.  Davidson gave up four goals on seven Viper shots.  Twenty seconds into the middle frame Thomas Aldworth with his third of the evening put the Vipers up 7-0 at 0:20 after a wicked wrist shot from the circle.  TJ Dumonceaux and Liam Coughlin with the assists.  Vernon looked to take their foot off the gas as Surrey slowly gave the Vipers a strong push as the Eagles with a ton of pressure had the Viper defence skating in circles.  For several minutes Vernon couldnt clear the zone as the Eagles were pressing.  Jarrod Schamerhorn just about got caught out of position come back to make a huge save off Cole Plotnikoff.  Schamerhorn had to be good made several saves with Surrey on the attack.  Just a few minutes later Latrell Charleson's point shot either hit someone or was deflected on its way to the net went up and over landing on top of the Vernon net before bouncing off and behind the goal on a weird shot-play.  The Vipers would eventually respond come back with a strong shift.  Jagger Williamson at the side of the net put the Vipers up 8-0 at 8:33 Riley Guenther & Liam Finlay picked up the assists.  Just less then three minutes later Mitch Meek with a nice rush beat Eagles starting goaltender Christian Short on a wrap around gave Vernon a 9-0 lead at 11:30 Johnny Coughlin with the assist.  Surrey had a bit of an edge outplayed Vernon for several minutes in the first half.  Tempers heated up in a hurry just past the midway mark as a mini line brawl took place with almost everyone on the ice, minus the goaltenders were going at one another.  Atleast two minor scrums-fights took place as the Eagles were really getting under the skin of the Vernon players.  Three Surrey players were all over Thomas Aldworth wich started this mess.  The Vipers would come away with the man advantage.  Vernon would struggle as the Eagles gained more control of the puck shorthanded then the Vipers on the PP.  Surrey was able to kill odd the minor as both teams went back to five on five.  The Eagles once again come back with a bit of a push had a few good looks on goal but no real scoring threat.  The Vipers with a strong surge to finish the period had a couple of opportunities.  Luke Voltin looked to beat Christian Short with four and a half minutes remaining but hit the post.  With two minutes to go Colton McCarthy setup Blaine Caton on a two on one but Caton couldnt beat Short in close.  The Vipers with a few good shifts ended the second period on a good note, were up 9-0 after 40 minutes of play.  The Vipers took their foot off the gas, played their third and fourth lines lots, sat back on a 6-0 lead before scoring three times in the first twelve minutes.  The Eagles had a few hard working shifts, had their best scoring chances of the night generated some offence and pressure but were unable to beat Jarrod Schamerhorn.  For the second straight period the Eagles played physical and with an edge were very chippy through out the game.  Several minutes went by with not alot of anything going on as both teams really slowed down the pace, making it look like a pond hockey game at times.  I thought Surrey had the better of the play gave up three goals were down by nine heading into the final frame.  Surrey outshot Vernon 16-14.

3rd Period: The Vipers would get an early powerplay but for the second straight man advantage couldnt get much of anything going as the Eagles penalty kill didnt look to bad.  The Vipers showing off their speed had several good looks-opportunities come very close on several occasions to reaching double digits but couldnt beat Christian Short.  Nicholas Rasovic with a parcial breakaway couldnt beat the Eagles goaltender.  Riley Brandt and Jagger Williamson with good looks couldnt put Vernon up by ten.  Surrey managed to get a few opportunities but no real quality chances couldnt get the puck past Jarrod Schamerhorn.  For the second straight period Vernon took their foot off the gas at times, played lines 3 & 4 lots.  Again not alot of action at both ends of the rink seemed to really slow down the pace making for some pretty boring hockey.  The Vipers would get a late powerplay but for the third time couldnt capitalize.  Vernon would come away with the convincing 9-0 victory.  Not much fight from either team in a 9-0 game.  The Vipers showed spurts getting some good looks at the net, created a few good opportunities come close but couldnt get goal #10.  The Eagles also had a few good looks at the Viper goal but Jarrod Schamerhorn made the routine saves to collect the shutout.  Shots were even 12-12.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Mitch Meek (1 goal & 1 assist) I thought played a strong game on the Viper blueline. 

The line of Liam Coughlin (3 assists), TJ Dumonceaux (2 goals & 1 assist) & Thomas Aldworth (3 goals) was the Vipers top line going tonight.  The Eagles had troubles all evening containing these three who collected nine points between the three.  This line was really clicking, made some nice passing plays-created some nice scoring plays.

Jagger Williamson (1 goal & 1 assist) Was a little spark plug tonight, was really using his wheels and team speed to generate and create chances.  Scored once, added an assist was really buzzing.  This kid has come a long ways from the start of the pre-season-regular season to where he is today.  Has really improved, got better and been playing very well as of late.

Liam Finlay (1 goal and 2 assists) Collected three points was another speedster up front for the Vernon Vipers.  Finlay was skating hard, generated and created some good opportunities tonight.

Riley Brandt (1 goal) Played and worked very hard all night, again was flying, played with alot of jump and energy was going hard up and down the wing added that speed to the Viper lineup, also wasnt afraid to get mixed up in the physical play from time to time.

Jarrod Schamerhorn (33 saves-Shutout) Picked up his third shutout of the season.  Didnt see alot of rubber but made the saves when called apon.  I thought was tested a few times in the 2nd period when the Eagles were all over Vernon for a few minutes, Schamerhorn was forced to make atleast two big saves played well all night.

Game Thought's: (Vernon)

After a 8-2 loss in Nanaimo Sunday afternoon the Vipers responded well with a 9-0 victory over the Surrey Eagles.  These games can be very tough on teams like the Vipers knowing the Eagles are in last place, have just four wins on the season, have yet to win on the road and have just one win in their last twenty games.  Give the Vipers credit they jumped on Surrey early and often and were out to a 6-0 lead after the opening period.  The Vipers let up on the offensive attack during the 2nd and 3rd periods, taking their foot off the gas had little spurts of scoring chances but basically sat back on a six goal lead.  At times Vernon sat back too comfortably and were lucky they didnt allow a goal but responded well with a strong push back.  For most of the game Vernon dominated the game in all aspects from top to bottom.  From a fans point of view this wasnt much of a hockey game, other then the Vipers padding some of their own personal stats.  Once Vernon sat back, and took their foot off the gas this was more like a beer league or pond hockey game at times.  The Vipers will now finish off 2014 with two tough games vs Merritt and Powell River this weekend before the Christmas break. 

Top Players: (Surrey)

Latrell Charleson saw a ton of icetime tonight, logged alot of minutes was almost out there every second shift played well on the Eagles defence.  This kid towered over several Viper players played with a bit of an edge, had a bit of a mean streak in his game.

Ben Vikich didnt really do much offensively did play with alot of speed, seemed to always be involved in the play-rush but just didnt generate any real chances for the Eagles.  I thought he skated well, played hard and competed.

Joseph Drapluk I thought was Surrey's most dangerous player.  Another kid who was involved in the play when the Eagles had posession of the play-puck.  Seemed to have a nose for the net.  The Eagles didnt have alot of offensive chances, but Drapluk was always in and around the net.

Game Thought's: (Surrey)

The Eagles have a big hockey club, played physical but also played with an edge.  This Eagles team was very chippy most of the night, taking several deliberate hits-stick work to several different Vernon players through out the game.  Surrey started or tried starting several altercations after the whistle during the 1st and 2nd periods.  The Eagles with lots of stick work tried going after the Vipers most of the night.  The Eagles who were outplayed and dominated after the 1st period had alot more puck posession and more zone time with the Vipers sitting back.  The Eagles played much better in the 2nd period outshot the Vipers but couldnt find the back of the net.  Surrey's better scoring opportunities were in the middle frame didnt generate a whole lot of offensive attack in all three periods.  The Eagles had troubles most of the night slowing down and containing the Vipers top line as well as Vernon's speed.  This was a long night for Surrey who is in for a very long season.  This team isnt very good and was outplayed most of the night.  Both goaltenders were hung out to dry on alot of Vernons goals.   

Scratches:

Vernon:

Mitchell Oliver
Trevor Fidler (Concussion)
Mackenzie Bauer (Injured)

Surrey:

Trevor McLean
Ty Westgard
John Wesley
Brian Drapluk

Energy player of the game:

Liam Finlay (1 goal & 2 assists)

Three Stars:

1st Star: Thomas Aldworth (3 goals)
2nd Star: TJ Dumonceaux (2 goals & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Jarrod Schamerhorn (33 saves-Shutout)

BCHL Boxscore,

http://www.vipers.bc.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1358339&link=bchl
      

No comments: