Vernon 4 Salmon Arm 1

Vernon 4 Salmon Arm 1

Was at tonights Vipers Home Opener as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 4-1 in front of 2,418 fans at the Wesbild Center.

Tonights Viper player introductions has to be the best intro-players entrance the Vipers have ever done in the 20 plus years I have been watching Junior Hockey in Vernon. The Vernon Vipers were carried out onto the ice in the teams opening ceremonies in the back of the Vernon RCMP pickup trucks with the lights flashing as they introduced each player. Then a swat team member come shooting down a rope from the rafters, the officer then ran to a RCMP van on the ice and opened the back doors as the Vipers Captain & Assistant Captains jumped out from the back of the van. Very cool and well thought out idea. Best Home Opener intro I have ever seen! Good job Vipers!

1st Period: Off the opening faceoff, the Silverbacks got the puck in deep, Jason Beattie fed a nice pass from the corner boards, out front to a wide open Conor Morrison who was left alone in front, Morrison then beat Andrew Hammond fivehole putting the Backs up 1-0 just 11 seconds into the game scoring on there first shot on net. Just seconds later the Vipers would jump on a PP, but didnt get many good scoring chances, but did move the puck well. Salmon Arm would kill off the minor, mins later some pushing & shoving took place just to the left of the Silverbacks bench, a few punches were throwen as both teams lines got involved. Vernon would jump right back on the powerplay and this time take advantage. Adam Thompson wired a shot from the point scoring his first career BCHL Goal wich beat Bryan Gillis over the glove tying the game 1-1. Very little flow to the game in the period with both teams exchanging time in the penalty boxes. It seemed like both teams would go back & forth exchanging powerplays. Vipers John Digness had a great scoring chance, going in on a parcial breakaway shorthanded but was stopped by Gillis. Digness looked very good on the PK, playing a solid 1st period. Vernon by far had the better scoring chances and carried more of the play as midway through the 1st period the Vipers were up in shots 10-1. With the Vipers on a two man advantage Mike Collins had a great scoring chance in close, but was robbed as Gillis made a huge pad save down low. Salmon Arm finally got there 2nd shot of the period late in the 1st with about 6 mins remaining after getting two back to back PPs. The Backs would get a few more shots late, Andrew Hammond looked a little shaky on a few shots but did manage to come up with the save. The Silverbacks were down 2-1 after 20 mins of play. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 13-7.

2nd Period: The Backs come out strong to start the 2nd, getting the puck in deep really cyclying the puck well down low. Andrew Hammond had to be sharpe in the early goings making some nice saves. This was the best pressure Salmon Arm put up all night, the Silverbacks had a great scoring chance in close but Ashford McMaster was robbed by Hammond, after making a big pad save down low. Hammond looked very solid all 2nd period. Salmon Arm had there chances early but couldnt beat Hammond. Vernon seemed to turn things around, & by the 5 min mark got back the edge in play. With Vernon on the PP, Kory Kane put a nice move cutting through the neutral zone, passing it off to Ryan Sanatana, Santana then made a nice pass back over to Kane who roofed his first career BCHL Goal putting his shot over Gilli's glove as the Vipers jumped ahead 2-1 8 mins into the period. Both teams once again had troubles at time staying out of the penalty box. Salmon Arm got a great scoring chance midway through the period, Connor Morrison cut wide down low, then cut towards the net but was stopped by Hammond. Kellen Jones had a great scoring chance, missing on a wide open net at the side of the goal. With under 5 mins remaining and the Vipers on the PP, it was the Silverbacks who got the best scoring chance, as the Viper Defence couldnt handle the puck at the line, this causing a two on zero breakaway, Matt Grassi scooped up the puck, going in on the shorthanded breakaway but once again Hammond was there for the save. On the same powerplay, Steve Tresierra wired a one timer from the point beating Gillis putting the Vipers up 3-1 with just under 4 mins to go in the 2nd. This was Vernons 3rd powerplay goal of the night. Just 28 seconds later Cody Ikkala made a sweet long pass up ice finding a wide open Kellen Jones who went in on the breakaway, putting a nice move on Gillis, then sliding the puck past the Backs veteran goaltender, as Vernon jumped ahead 4-1 and was in full control. Salmon Arm got a late powerplay and had some chances but just missed the net by inches twice. Vernon was up 4-1 after 40 mins of play. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 15-9.

3rd Period: Wasnt much of an entertaining period as Vernon carried the better of the play for most of the period. The Backs looked lifeless not touching the puck much as the Vipers basically played the dump & chase game for most of the 3rd. Vernon really moved the puck well and did get some chances but let up on the attack. Any chance the Backs did get the puck, they didnt put up much of a fight, getting very few scoring chances or for that matter very few shots on net. Both teams had a few PP chances but couldnt find the back of the goal. Both teams did look good on the PK not giving much room for the other team to move or get any quality shots off. Both goaltenders did make a few nice saves throughout the 3rd. Andrew Hammond had to be sharpe on two Silverback scoring chances looking very quick on his feet all game. Late in the game Captain Matt Walters took two minors as the Vipers come close to going up 5-1 but missed on a few good chances down low. With just 20 seconds remaining and the Vipers on another PP, Colin Lidster was running around trying to level a few Vernon players, Lidster tried crosschecking one of the Jones Twins in front of the net and then raced out towards the point trying to go after one of the Viper D-men. The Vipers basically ran out the clock getting there first win of the season defeating Salmon Arm 4-1. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 7-6.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Adam Thompson (1 Goal) Looked very good on the backend. Played like a veteran D-man tonight, has an offensive side to him as well as plays very defensively. Laid out a few hits tonight.

Kory Kane (1 Goal) Looked very good up front, has some sweet moves and nice hands. Reminds me alot like former Viper Captain Mike Ullrich, big upper body who can dangle down low. For only being 17 yrs old, this kid is going to be a treat to watch.

Connor & Kellen Jones (1 Goal) both played well all night, worked extremly hard down low and in the corners, were both very hard to fight off the puck. Both cycled the puck well down low, very quick on there feet, really gave the Backs Defence a hard time inbehind the goal and around the net.

Andrew Hammond played his best game as a Viper. Kept the Vipers in the game in the 2nd when the score was only 2-1. Hammond looked a little shaky-gittery to start the game, but played solid the rest of the way. Was very quick on his feet and controlled his rebounds well. John Digness looked great on the PK, played a very well hard fought game all night.

Steve Tresierra (1 Goal) Played very a solid defensive game all night.

Top Players: (Salmon Arm)

Jason Beattie (1 Assist) played well up front for the Silverbacks. Conor Morrison (1 Goal) looked good, had some good scoring chances but was stopped by Hammond in close.

Ashford McMaster also looked very impressive tonight.

Game Thoughts: (Vernon)

I know its very early but Im very impressed with this years edition of the Vernon Vipers. So far they seem to have the right mix of new-young players as well as veterans. A very skilled looking team who can move the puck very well. The Defence was having troubles clearing the puck out of there own end, as well as getting caught on the pinch, causinf way too many two on ones coming the other way. They also need some work on there passing, & breaking out of there own zone but otherwise looked very solid. I was impressed with the puck movement on the PP, wish they would shoot the puck a little more. Had the better of the play for most of the game and was by far the better team tonight. The two late goals in the 2nd killed anychance of a comeback for the Backs. Great to see a big crowd on hand for the teams home opener. Vipers have quite a few American players this year, more then in past years.

Game Thoughts: (Salmon Arm)

Great start to the game for the Backs, scoring just 11 seconds in. Once the game got going the Silverbacks couldnt keep up with Vernons skill. After scoring on there first shot on goal, the Silverbacks didnt record another shot till about 6 mins remaining in the 1st. Had trouble all night getting shots towards the net, looked good on the backend and in goal, as you couldnt blame Gillis on any of the four goals. Onething I liked about Salmon Arm, is there a very quick, fast skating team. This team sure dosnt have the scoring touch like seen in past years. Not sure on the recruiting done for this years Backs team, but this was by far one of the weaker looking Salmon Arm teams I have ever seen since them joining the league. Sure goes to show you what kind of talent Gary Davidson always recruited? I know he brought alot of talent-goal scorers to town and without him, they may be lacking in the recruiting department. Yes I know its early but the Silverbacks didnt look all that impressive tonight. This was the 3rd straight meeting between these two teams, could we see some fireworks tomorrow night? Looking forward to catching tomorrow nights home opener for Salmon Arm.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Sahir Gill
Trent Dorais
Kory Roy
Nick Amies

Salmon Arm:

Greg Noyes
Sam Mitchell

3 Stars:

1st Star: Andrew Hammond
2nd Star: Kellen Jones (1 Goal)
3rd Star: Adam Thompson (1 Goal)