I have had season tickets for the past 28 years and been following Junior hockey in Vernon for close to thirty five years. I've missed only three home games since 1998-99 season. 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-Warriors game as Vernon defeated West Kelowna 5-3 in front of 1,718 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Anthony Yamnitsky
West Kelowna: Cole Demers
1st Period: Not much action off the opening faceoff before the Vipers would get the games first powerplay just over four minutes in. Chris Jandric got in low before ripping a quick shot from well inside the faceoff dot but couldn't solve former Vernon Vipers goaltender Cole Demers who made a big stop on the penalty kill. The Vipers didn't really generate many looks-opportunities before Jordan Sandhu missed an open cage just as the penalty expired. Vernon with two good opportunities couldn't open the scoring. Just over a minute later Wyatt Head come in across the blueline, left the puck for Parm Dhaliwal who ripped a wicked high shot that went corner and in beating Anthony Yamnitsky high blocker giving West Kelowna a 1-0 lead at 7:30 Head & Chase Dubois collected the assists. The Snakes give up the opening goal in back to back games. The Vipers responded with a good push back shift. Less then a minute later Jesse Lansdell spotted Josh Prokop in front tying the game 1-1 at 8:13 Lansdell and Jagger Williamson drew the helpers. This goal seemed to give the Snakes a little life-momentum as Vernon rallied with some strong pressure-zone time for the following few minutes. Tyler Jutting walked in from the point, had loads of room before ripping a high shot that beat Anthony Yamnitsky but went off the post. The Vipers quick to the puck were able to break out on the rush. Jimmy Lambert collected the puck, lead the two on one before setting up Jordan Sandhu who beat Cole Demers giving Vernon a 2-1 lead at 13:21 Lambert drew the lone assist. The Warriors battled back and had some good pressure-zone time of their own. West Kelowna with several looks from in close were just missing the goal as the Tribe were buzzing in and around the Vernon goal. With just over five minutes remaining Jagger Williamson carried the play in across the line, leaned into a heavy shot that forced Cole Demers into making a big pad save, kicked out a huge rebound, where Josh Prokop jumped on the rebound wired his shot off the post, as Vernon come within inches of scoring. Inside the final minute a shot from the point looked to hit the post and come out, with the goal light on and the horn sounding, the Vipers thought they scored, were starting to celebrate. The Warriors bench erupted, as they didn't think the puck went in, the referee behind the goal was waiving the goal off, the Vipers then banged away at the loose puck in the crease before somehow beating Cole Demers who was down and out with a ton of bodies in the blue paint. This time the goal stood giving Vernon a 3-1 lead at 19:38 Josh Prokop would be credited with the goal, his second of the night. Jesse Lansdell and Michael Young with the assists. West Kelowna would get their first look with the man advantage on the following shift. The Warriors would run out of time before the final buzzer. It was 3-1 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. I thought both teams went back and fourth were fairly even through most of the period. Both teams had pressure-zone time, but it was the Warriors who had a few more looks-chances. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 16-11.
2nd Period: The Warriors started the middle frame on the powerplay that was carried over from the end of the 1st period. WK come very close to tying the game on a goal mouth scramble. A ton of traffic in and around the Viper crease, as the Warriors banging away looking for the puck but Anthony Yamnitsky on his back, somehow was able to keep the puck out. Vernon was able to kill off the minor. Shortly after the Snakes would get their first of three straight powerplay's. The Vipers moved the puck around and around had very few shots as the Warriors with a strong penalty kill, kept Vernon to the outside, limited their shots, closed the shooting lanes. In the dying seconds of the third penalty Parm Dhaliwal with a great solo individual effort, carried the puck through the neutral zone before going wide, blew by Michael Ufberg before making a slick move in close, beat Vipers starting goaltender Anthony Yamnitsky low along the ice, cutting the Vernon lead to 3-2 at 13:41 with one second remaining in the Warriors minor. This was the Tribes first shot of the period and Dhaliwal's second of the night. West Kelowna with a shorthanded marker, would kill off all three penalties, were only down a goal. From here on in neither team could get much of anything going. Not a lot of flow at either end with no real opportunities from both sides. Lots of whistles in the final few minutes, really slowed down the play. The Vipers would get their fourth powerplay of the period, late. Inside the final minute Michael Young's blast from the blueline beat Warriors starting goaltender Cole Demers low along the ice, giving Vernon a 4-2 lead at 19:45 Young's goal was unassisted. It was 4-2 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers with a great chance to blow this game open, couldn't capitalize with three straight powerplay's. Vernon struggled with the man advantage, waisted a lot of time passing the puck around, with very little shots-no opportunities. The Warriors made things interesting scoring shorthanded, but a late powerplay goal restored the Snakes two goal lead. Not a lot of scoring chances at either end of the rink. Playing shorthanded WK saw a lot of time on the penalty kill, in their own end. Very little action and lots of whistles in the final few minutes, really slowed down the game. Both teams didn't have much jump/energy. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 11-3.
3rd Period: Twenty seven seconds into the final frame Jordan Sandhu spotted Brett Stapley in the high slot, Stapley looked to wiff on his shot still managed to force Cole Demers into making a pad save on a quality chance off the opening faceoff. The Warriors would get an early powerplay just 1:15 into the 3rd and only their second PP of the evening. West Kelowna with a flurry of shots, had some good looks in close. Anthony Yamnitsky had to be alert, made a few big stops on the penalty kill. Vernon was able to hold off WK and kill off the minor. Minutes later the Vipers would jump on the man advantage but struggle, as the Warriors killed off the minor. Just past the midway mark the Tribe on the powerplay, moving the puck around before Stephen Kleysen beat Anthony Yamnitsky at 11:35 cutting the Vernon lead to 4-3. Kleysen's goal was unassisted. With seven minutes remaining Vernon with just two shots on goal as it was all West Kelowna at this point. The Tribe would head back to the powerplay minutes later. West Kelowna with some good looks again, had the Vipers back on their heels. Brett Stapley and Niko Karamanis with huge shot blocks. The Warriors come close but couldn't tie the game. With WK pressing and the Snakes back on their heels, the Warriors looked hungry. Vernon playing their third game in four nights, looked tired and were just hanging on. West Kelowna would get Cole Demers to the bench for the extra attacker with 1:40 to go. Before the Tribe could sustain any real pressure Josh Prokop skated up ice, took a good look at the empty net and hit the open cage from about center ice, giving Vernon a 5-3 lead at 18:28 and his third of the game. Prokop's goal was unassisted. The Snakes would kill off the remainder of the clock and hang on for the 5-3 victory. Vernon with very little pressure-zone time saw a lot of action in their own end. The Vipers defence blocked several shots while Anthony Yamnitsky was solid down the stretch. The Warriors carried most of the play, had a lot of sustained pressure and puck possession were the better of the two teams. WK had several looks-quality chances in close, were firing pucks to the net. The Vipers looked tired-didn't show much energy in the final frame. The Snakes were lucky and hung on for the two points. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 9-4.
Top Player's: (Vernon)
Michael Young (1 goal & 1 assist) I thought played well on the blueline.
Josh Prokop (3 goals) Was all around the net tonight, was going to the net, looking for opportunities, played very well.
Jordan Sandhu (1 goal) I thought worked hard, was going to the net, battled/competed. Played a strong two way game.
Chris Jandric Played well on the Viper backend. Carried the puck often, was jumping into the play-rush, had a good look/opportunity on a 1st period powerplay, was skating hard, really read the ice well.
Anthony Yamnitsky (25 saves) Made some big stops in the 3rd period with the Warriors pressing. Had to be sharp in the final twenty minutes, got some help from his defence.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
After playing well in the 1st I didn't think the Snakes looked as strong in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Up 3-1 after the opening frame I thought Vernon had a great opportunity to put the game away or at least build on that 3-1 lead with three straight powerplay's to start the 2nd period. The Vipers struggle and don't capitalize, give up a shorthanded marker, allowing West Kelowna back in the contest. How big was Michael Young's late powerplay goal in the middle frame? Young's goal gives Vernon a two goal lead heading into the 3rd. I didn't think the Snakes had any real good looks/chances in the 2nd or 3rd period. The 2nd period didn't have much excitement in a period where both teams didn't really generate anything for chances. Lots of whistles slowed the game down at times. Vernon was lucky in the 3rd and hung on for the win. With just two shots with only seven minutes remaining and the Warriors pressing, the Vipers got some huge blocks and solid goaltending from Anthony Yamnitsky. West Kelowna was one bounce away from tying the game. I didnt think the Vipers showed as much jump-energy as in last night's game. The Snakes played with a ton more jump last night. I didn't see the same intensity from last night. Vernon just didn't have the same speed, they showed in the win last night. Give the Vipers some credit, playing with three key veterans out of the lineup and only five d-men, they all battled hard-gutted one out in the 3rd. Several players sacrificed their bodies, to block shots-get in the shooting lanes. Playing their third game in four nights, it showed come the 3rd period. The Snakes looked to be running out of gas in the second half. The Vipers wearing their third set jerseys tonight. The Vipers get just two days off before back in action, Tuesday in Langley. With the win Vernon improves to 14-4-0-3 remain in 2nd place, tied in points with Trail. The Smoke Eaters claim top spot due to more wins. Playing back to back home games, a much smaller crowd on hand tonight, with no real atmosphere in the building tonight. Very quiet through out the stands.
Top Player's: (West Kelowna)
Michael Lombardi Had a strong night for the West Kelowna Warriors. Had lots of jump in his game, carried the puck often, really opened up the ice at times, created/generated opportunities. Very quick, gave some Viper defenders troubles.
Chase Dubois (1 assist) Played hard along the boards, worked-competed all night. Had a good game up front.
Parm Dhaliwal (2 goals) Opened the scoring and scored shorthanded was one of if not the Tribes better player in the loss. Saw a ton of ice time, seemed to be on the ice, every second shift. A good-strong skater, moves the puck well, sees the ice.
Game Thought's: (West Kelowna)
After a strong performance-win over the visiting Penticton Vees Friday, the Warriors played hard tonight, coming up short in the loss. I thought other then the 2nd period the Warriors played well. Giving up two late goals to end a period is always tough. Instead of going into the 2nd down 2-1 the Tribe was down 3-1 and same goes for the 3rd, they give up a late goal at the end of the 2nd period. These goals always seem to kill ya. I thought West Kelowna played hard-battled hard in the 1st and 3rd periods, held their own against Vernon in the 1st and were the better team in the 3rd. The Warriors fired sixteen shots towards Anthony Yamnitsky in the opening frame, had several good looks, missed on some chances not by much. Pressing in the 3rd the Tribe come close to tying the game, couldn't seem to catch a break or get a bounce. I liked the Warriors penalty kill, giving up just one PP goal kept the Snakes to the outside, closing the shooting lanes, limited the Vipers opportunities. Give WK credit for limiting the Vipers top line, surrendering just one goal. Former Viper goaltender Cole Demers gave up several rebounds. The Warriors fall to 0-2 vs the Vipers after playing for the second time within a week. These two teams will meet again in just eleven days. With the loss West Kelowna falls to 11-8-0-0 3rd in the Interior Division.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Shane Kelly
Sol Seibel (Injured)
Tanner Wishnowski (Injured)
Alex Swetlikoff (Playing at the U17 World Challenge)
West Kelowna:
Matt Kowalski
Cavin Tilsley
Willie Reim
Nik Amundrud
Energy Player of the Game:
Niko Karamanis
Three Star's:
1st Star: Josh Prokop (3 goals)
2nd Star: Parm Dhaliwal (2 goals)
3rd Star: Michael Young (1 goal & 1 assist)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
http://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/8015
Trevor Miller's West Kelowna Warriors Blog,
https://westkwarriors.wordpress.com/
Game Report,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/official-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8015
Text Boxscore,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/text-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8015
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