Two solid efforts from the Vernon Vipers over the weekend didn't go exactly as planned, but in the end they were able to take a split. The Vipers fell 3-1 to the Penticton Vees Friday night, then prevailed in a wild affair Saturday over the West Kelowna Warriors.
Friday wasn't the prettiest game, but one thing that has remained the same since Mark Ferner took over is the work ethic. The Vipers generated many chances on Friday night and had it not been for a stellar performance from Hunter Miska, the result may have been a little different. Demico Hannoun proved to be a difference maker for the Vees in his first game against his former team as the Vees would improve their win streak to 6 games.
The first period was pretty even as both teams peppered the goaltenders, but made some defensive misplays. It was uncharacteristically sloppy by both teams inside their own zones. That could have been because of the forecheck from both sides, but it forced the goaltenders to be on their game early. The Vees would get the upper hand on a miscue between Jarrod Schamerhorn and the defense, but the puck would find its way to Demico Hannoun and he deposited it into the empty net and the Vees led 1-0 after 1.
The Vipers found themselves in some penalty trouble in the second period, but their penalty kill nearly equalized the game as Thomas Aldworth would be awarded a penalty shot. The puck rolled on him just as he was ready to release the shot and Miska was able to get a glove on it to keep it 1-0. That proved to be a big turning point as the Vees would get a PP marker a few minutes later and it was Demico Hannoun striking again with a slap shot from the point. It was a good period for the Vees 5 on 5 getting lots of shots on goal and Schamerhorn was impressive stopping 15 of 16.
The Vipers pushed to get the game tied in the third, but the Vees managed the clock really well and slowed the Vipers speed by clogging up the neutral zone. It took 16 minutes before the Vipers got on the board as Thomas Aldworth found a loose puck in the slot and ripped it by Miska to make it 2-1. That prompted the Vipers to pull the goalie to try get it tied, but Matt Serratore would find the empty net to finish the Vipers off with a 3-1 final.
Here's the scoring summary:
Period 1
Penticton Vees - Demico Hannoun (7) - (Cooper) - 19:25
Period 2
Penticton Vees - Demico Hannoun (8) - (PP) - (Fabbro) - 11:06
Period 3
Vernon Vipers - Thomas Aldworth (6) - (L. Coughlin, Dumonceaux) - 16:14
Penticton Vees - Matt Serratore (4) - (EN) - (Alferd, Fabbro) - 19:59
Shots - Penticton 35 Vernon 31
Powerplays - Penticton 1 for 5 Vernon 0 for 1
Saturday night was a completely different story for the Vipers as they would hit the road for just the third time this season. Different may be an understatement as the entire game against West Kelowna was the polar opposite of Friday against the Vees. There was a definite edge to the Saturday game with a ton of goals, a lot of special team chances and a line brawl to boot. When the dust settled it was the Vipers coming out on top of a 7-4 victory.
It was all West Kelowna to start as they seemed to find their way into the Viper zone with ease. They had net front presence to start and that directly led to a Liam Blackburn goal as he banged home a rebound in front to make it 1-0. A few minutes later Mike Buonincontri would be found wide open in the slot and snapped home a well placed shot to make it 2-0. The Viper short man was phenomenal on this night and threatened immediately as Liam Coughlin scored the 4th shorthanded goal of the season for the Vipers to make it 2-1. The momentum had shifted as the Vipers continued to push as Trever Fidler drove to the net and appeared to have tied the game up. The referee called goal, but the nearest linesman immediately went over and the goal was waved off. From my vantage point it appeared the puck went in off the abdomen of Fidler and not his hand, but at the end of the day I thought discussing it was the right thing to do to ensure the right call was made. The score would remain 2-1 after 1 period.
It was all Vernon in the second period. Part of that was thanks to a 5 minute powerplay which helped momentum. For the first time in 6 games the Viper powerplay clicked as Mackenzie Bauer pounced on a loose puck to tie the game up at 2. A few minutes later a nice power rush from Anthony Latina resulted in a backhanded shot that found its way through Desautels to give the Snakes their first lead of the night. That lead was shortlived as a bad turnover behind the Viper net led to Jason Cotton getting a pass in front and rifling it past Todosychuk to even it up at 3. Vernon was shorthanded again when the offense would find their rhythm again as TJ Dumonceaux finished off a well executed 2 on 1 to make it 4-3 for the Vipes on their second shorthanded goal of the season.
The Vipers have been in many 1 goal games this season and it appeared this one was going to be destined to one too. That was until Luke Voltin scored his first of the season to make it 5-3. The Vipers would increase that lead on the PP as Trever Fidler would score his third of the season and it was 6-3. Down by 3 with 4 minutes left, Rylan Ferster opted to pull Andy Desautels in attempt to get back into the game. It was a curious move, but one that worked immediately as Jordan Masters made it 6-4 on the ensuing faceoff. The Warriors almost got another one before Anthony Latina scored into an empty net and the final score would end 7-4. But that goal was far from where the game ended. Just as the horn sounded a big scrum ensued as Kyle Marino and Ryley Booth started to scrap. Booth appeared to be over his head with the much sturdier Marino which had Riley Brandt trying to break the scrap up and then everyone got involved, including Danny Todosychuk who paired off with Kade Kehoe. It was a great fight with Todosychuk scoring the take down. All of this happened with no time left on the clock with game misconducts following. No word yet on the suspensions, but it would be no surprise to see a few players miss time.
Here's the scoring summary:
Period 1
West Kelowna Warriors - Liam Blackburn (8) - (Yaremko, Cotton) - 6:57
West Kelowna Warriors - Mike Buonincontri (5) - (Blumenschein, Blackburn) - 10:29
Vernon Vipers - Liam Coughlin (4) - (SH) - (Latina) - 14:26
Period 2
Vernon Vipers - Mackenzie Bauer (3) - (PP) - (Shiplo, Guenther) - 5:50
Vernon Vipers - Anthony Latina (5) - (Bauer) - 10:46
West Kelowna Warriors - Jason Cotton (5) - (Buonincontri) - 12:31
Vernon Vipers - TJ Dumonceaux (1) - (SH) - (L. Coughlin) - 16:46
Period 3
Vernon Vipers - Luke Voltin (1) - (Fidler, J. Coughlin) - 5:52
Vernon Vipers - Trever Fidler (3) - (PP) - (Latina, Voltin) - 9:43
West Kelowna Warriors - Jordan Masters (4) - (Marino, Buonincontri) - 16:03
Vernon Vipers - Anthony Latina (6) - (EN) - (unassisted) - 17:06
Shots - Vernon 35 West Kelowna 24
Powerplay - Vernon 2 for 5 West Kelowna 0 for 5
There was no lacking excitement this weekend for the Snakes and they'll look continue the momentum into next weekend when they face the Merritt Centennials and Penticton Vees.
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