This was in Wednesday's Vernon Morning Star Newspaper:
MacDonald scores in OT as Vipers beats Bandits
Morning Star Staff
Sep. 4, 2019
It was a good way to close off a strange day for the Vernon Vipers.
Cameron MacDonald scored off a set-up from Matt Kowalski in overtime to give the B.C. Hockey League’s Vipers a 3-2 win over the defending national Junior A hockey champion Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior loop in an interleague exhibition game before a capacity crowd Sunday afternoon in Vernon.
Capacity, yes, because the game was played in Kal Tire Place North as an issue with the ice Sunday morning at the Vipers’ regular home, the main arena at Kal Tire Place, forced the game to be moved next door.
Folding chairs were placed alongside the north end of the rink to accommodate those who couldn’t get a seat in North’s regular grandstand.
The Vipers and Bandits played a fantastic, back-and-forth contest on a hot, sunny Sept. 1.
Vernon opened the scoring when Ben Sanderson tipped in a shot from Brendan Kim on a powerplay at 6:12 of the first period.
The lead didn’t last long as Taylor Makar – younger brother of Colorado Avalanche 2017 first-round draft pick, defenceman Cale Makar – ripped a shot over the left shoulder of Vernon goalie Ross Hawryluk to make it 1-1.
The Bandits took the lead in the late stages of the opening frame when Trey Thomas banged in a rebound and it was 2-1 Brooks after 20 minutes.
Sanderson made it 2-2 with his second goal of the game four minutes in the middle frame on a breakaway, beating goalie Pierce Charleson low to the block side. The Vipers’ special teams looked solid, killing off a pair of penalties and getting some help from Hawryluk, who was replaced midway through the period by Dawson Pelletier.
There was no scoring in the third, thanks to the play of Pelletier and Charleson, who each stopped 11 shots.
“Everyone seemed a lot more engaged this afternoon than Friday night,” said Vernon head coach and GM Jason McKee, referring to a 4-2 loss at home to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, on the team’s website. “This was a nice way to finish off the preseason against a very good team.”
Brooks went 0-3 on its Okanagan weekend swing, dropping two games in Penticton, the Vees winning 5-2 and 6-3.
The Vipers will now get a full week of practice before beginning the regular season Friday night in West Kelowna. Vernon’s home opener is Friday, Sept. 20, against the Victoria Grizzlies.
3 comments:
I'm very disappointed in the Morning Star's coverage on the Vipers. It all started last season when the coverage on the team was very little to none at times. During the season last year, there were times when there was no write up or article in the paper on the Vipers previous games. Even when the paper did put a writeup in the paper after a game, the coverage and detail was almost useless. It was like whoever was at the game, didn't take notes or get a few interviews from a player or even a coach after the game. Basically they told you who scored, who they played and when there next game is. During the playoffs vs Salmon Arm, the paper went an entire week without anything on the Vipers and the playoffs. I have heard several rumors regarding long time sports reporter Kevin Mitchell, all from taking time off due to an illness and or no longer working at the paper. After the Vipers season/playoffs ended in April, the local paper has had four articles on the Vipers. There was no report or article regarding training camp and up until yesterday, no coverage or game reports on the Vipers exhibition games.
I have brought this up on here before and I know local papers in small towns, yet alone anywhere now are becoming a dying breed but there are still lots of people, mostly seniors who still rely on the local paper to get information, due to the fact they don't have a computer.
Why hasn't someone like the Vernon Castanet page taken over the coverage on the Vipers? If your a regular reader of Castanet, the Penticton & Kelowna Castanet pages have full coverage on the Vees, Rockets and Warriors. If the Morning Star doesn't want to support and cover the Vipers, maybe someone like Castanet should invest in covering our local Junior hockey team. Have a daily writeup/report on the Vipers a few days a week, maybe even some player/coaches interviews with highlights after every home game?
The lack of coverage regarding the Vipers compared to other small towns with Junior hockey teams, is a joke!
Yes you are correct VDHF thats why we as readers appreciate you your effort to keep Vipers fans informed. Lets face I have said this before until Kevin Mitchell comes back ( lets hope) there will be no quality coverage. I to have wondered why Castanet only covers the Vees and Warriors and if you go online to Vernon Morning Star there is probably more coverage about the Vees and Warriors there also. Vipers play tomorrow in West K so lets go Vipers and we'll read your analysis Saturday morning thx
The Morning Star has become a delivery vehicle for getting flyers to you. Electronic media is far more efficient in news distribution. But the level of grammar and spelling in both is brutal.
There is a reason that Castanet always has a lot of Warrior coverage. The writer of the Warrior stories is usually Wayne Moore. He's also the PA announcer for the Warriors. Don't think you'll ever find a critical story about the Warriors on Castanet.
Penticton? I don't know. Vernon? I don't think that Darren Handschuh is a big sports fan.
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