Game Recap - Exhibition: Vernon Vipers 6 Trail Smoke Eaters 5

I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following Junior hockey in Vernon my whole life. My family watched Senior men's hockey in Vernon in the 1950's and has been watching Junior hockey in Vernon since it started in 1961. I have two family members that played Junior hockey in Vernon. I have had season tickets since 1990 missing only 40 home games. Since 2001 I have missed 10 home games. I started and created this blog in November 2008 and have over 3 million viewers. For anyone who couldn't watch or attend tonight's Vipers game, here are my thoughts and views from tonight's hockey game. You may agree or disagree, but we all have our own opinion on the hockey game and see things differently. I try to be professional and give a fare game recap from both sides. Thank you for visiting my blog.

I was at tonight's exhibition game between the Vernon Vipers & Trail Smoke Eaters as the Vipers defeated the Smoke Eaters 6-5 in front of 702 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Colin Reay

Trail Smoke Eaters: Jake Torget

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1st Period: This was a fairly even played 1st period with both teams finding their way early in the hockey game. I thought the Smokies had a bit of an edge in play in the first half. Trail needed almost four minutes to record their first shot of the period. The Smoke Eaters had a little more puck possession, zone time and generated a bit of offence. Trail had at least four, maybe five good looks/quality chances. The Vipers didn't see the puck as often and couldn't seem to get any pressure in the offensive zone in the first half, needed just over five minutes to get their first shot on goal. Vipers starting goaltender Colin Reay back for a second season was very solid between the pipes was forced to make a few big stops in the first half. In the second half I thought the tables turned and the Snakes had a bit of the edge in play, Vernon now was able to get a little more puck possession and create/generate a couple of chances. The Vipers with two quick back to back goals less then a minute apart, seemed to tilt the ice a little in the second half. It was 2-1 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. The Smokies went 0-1 with the PP while the Snakes went 1-1. Shots were 9-8 Trail. 

2nd Period: Things seemed to go sideways for the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters in the middle frame. Trail would get into penalty trouble as the Vipers would score twice with the man advantage, taking a 5-2 lead. It was all Vernon for most of the period as Trail needed ten minutes to record their first shot of the period. The Snakes were by far the better team, had a ton of puck possession, zone time and were making plays. The Smoke Eaters were either back on their heels or killing penalties, saw a lot of time in their own end. Just past the halfway mark, the Smokies would switch goaltenders as Jake Torget was replaced by Chayse Johnson. Torget allowed four goals on twenty two Vernon shots. Trail did manage to come on late, cut the Viper lead to within two goals. Vernon with two posts, while the Smokies with a crossbar. It was 5-3 Vipers after 40 minutes of play. The Snakes with two power play goals. Shots were 18-13 Vipers.

3rd Period: I think Vernon took their foot off the gas as the Vipers sat back, quit skating, while the Smoke Eaters never gave up. Trail was by far the better team, kept pressing and pressing, outskating and outworking the Snakes for most of the period. The Smokies with a relentless work ethic kept plugging away until two quick back to back goals tied the hockey game as Kal Tire Place got suddenly quiet. The Vipers blew a 5-2 lead. The Snakes looked slow, sloppy and not very good in a lack luster period while Trail was skating, moving the puck, had loads of sustained pressure in the Vernon zone. Late in the hockey game, Keeghan Dunn with what looked like a knuckle puck, found the back of the net, giving Vernon a 6-5 lead at 17:47 For the first time in Kal Tire Place history fans would get a video review call, as the officials went to the penalty box to take a look at the last Viper goals. After several minutes, the goal stood. The Smoke Eaters would get Chayse Johnson to the bench for the extra attacker with 1:31 remaining but the Vipers would hang on for the 6-5 victory. Shots were 16-8 for the Smoke Eaters.

Vernon Vipers Top Performers:

Georgios Stavrianeas Has been one of the more consistent players this preseason as I have liked his game this preseason. I thought he played very well, played with a ton of jump/energy, hit the post in the 2nd period, was moving his feet, winning the races and making plays

Isaac Holt I thought played well on the Snakes blueline. A big body, is hard to play against, doesn't give you a lot of room in front of the net, blocked at least two shots this evening. Took a puck off the wrist/hand inside the final minute of play, went to the bench to get checked out by the trainer. 

Carter Streek (2 goals) Not the biggest kid but looked impressive on the Vipers power play tonight. This kid is small but quick on his feet and has one heck of a shot. Scored two PP goals was hard to contain/defend 

Lucas Brennan (1 goal & 3 assists) Had a strong game in the victory tonight. Was all over the ice, was involved in the play, was another forward who was hard to defend

Keeghan Dunn (2 goals) The former Cowichan Capital forward scored twice tonight, looked impressive for a youngster. Dunn come to play and played hard, was quick on his feet, engaged in the play and stood out

Koji Gibson Was another forward who played very well. Hit the post, had several good looks, was another Viper that was hard to contain/defend

Colin Reay (33 saves) Making back to back starts, was sharp, calm, confident and was the difference in the opening period. Trail had some good looks/quality chances in the 1st period, but it was Reay who was forced to make several big stops and a few with bodies in and around the blue paint, one or even two of these go in and now it's Vernon who's down a goal or two on home ice, having to play from behind. With the Smokies pressing in the 3rd, Reay was forced to bail out his team with a couple of big stops. I know he allowed five goals but made some key saves through out tonight

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- The Vipers and Smoke Eaters will face each other five times during the 2024-25 regular season

- Tonight was the Snakes fourth and final preseason game

- I haven't been impressed with the Vipers power play in the previous three exhibition games but the team played much better with the man advantage tonight

- I saw a lot of good in tonight's win that I didn't see in the first two exhibition games

- What happened to Payton Struck? He wasn't listed on the lineup sheet and wasn't announced as a scratch

- The Vipers went 3-2 with the power play

- I thought both teams were fairly even in the 1st period. I thought Trail had a slight edge in play in the first half, had some good looks/four or five quality chances but the Vipers responded and had a bit of the edge in play in the second half of the opening frame. Vernon was able to open the scoring before taking a 2-0 lead. Colin Reay was good in goal, making several key saves 

- The Vipers open the 2024-25 regular season September 20th in Trail

- Since 2009 Vernon is 6-0 vs Trail in the preseason

- I really liked the Snakes 2nd period. I thought Vernon was by far the better team, scoring three goals (two on the PP) and outplayed the Smokies. Trail got into penalty trouble and the Vipers made them pay

- The Vipers hit four posts this evening 

- I thought several youngsters/newcomers really stepped up tonight and played very well 

- The Vipers will open the 2024-25 regular season on a three game road trip

- Vernon was lucky blew a 5-2 2nd period lead but managed to hang on for the 6-5 win

- After losing the first two preseason games, Vernon plays much better in the last two preseason games

- The Snakes took their foot off the gas in the 3rd and it almost cost them a win. The Vipers quit skating, got sloppy, were standing around, were back on their heels, allowed the Smoke Eaters to score twice in the 3rd to tie the game. The Vipers saw a lot of time in their own end, didn't see a whole lot of time with the puck

- Vernon needs to play with a lot more consistency and play much better with the lead

With the win, Vernon finishes the preseason with a 2-2-0-0 record

Trail Smoke Eaters Top Performers:

Isaac Fecteau (2 assists) The former Vipers d-man saw a lot of ice time, played very well vs his former team

Ridge Dawson (1 assist) Returning for another season with the Smokies, is quick, moves the puck well, hard to contain/defend and plays hard at both ends of the rink

Evan Sundar (2 goals) Acquired over the summer from the Spruce Grove Saints, Sundar was another forward who played very well for Trail. This kid can move, made plays happen, was another Smoke Eater who was hard to contain/defend

Chayse Johnson (11 saves) Started the game on the bench but replaced Smoke Eaters starting netminder Jake Torget halfway through the 2nd period. Johnson wasn't tested as much as Torget but played well to finish the contest

Game Thought's: Trail Smoke Eaters

- I thought the Smokies were very quick, have a good transition game, some skilled forwards and aren't afraid to play with an edge

- Trail went 4-1-0-0 vs the Vipers during the 2023-24 regular season

- I liked the Smokies 1st and 3rd periods. I thought if Trail could have potted a goal or two early in the 1st this may have been a different hockey game. The Smoke Eaters had the better of the scoring chances in the opening frame but fell behind 2-0

Trail went 1-2 with the man advantage

- Tonight is the Smokies final exhibition game

- The Smoke Eaters need to be more disciplined, took way too many penalties tonight and it cost them

- Defenceman Isaac Fecteau started the 2023-24 season with the Vernon Vipers, was traded to Trail February 10th 2024

- Trail plays with an edge as this was a chippy/physical game

- It looks like the Smokies have their roster picked as they had name bars on the back of there jerseys

- The Smoke Eaters needed ten minutes to record their first shot of the 2nd period

- Evan Sundar hit the crossbar in the 2nd period

- Trail didn't look good/ was badly outplayed in the 2nd period. Not only did the Smokies get into penalty trouble, the Smoke Eaters saw most of the period in there own end, fell behind 5-2

- The Smoke Eaters lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs to the Vipers in 5 games

- The Smoke Eaters open the 2024-25 regular season at home vs Vernon

- I spotted one fan wearing a Smoke Eaters jersey

- Give the Smokies credit, down 5-3 to start the 3rd they didn't quit, using their speed and relentless hard work, the Smokies clawed their way back to tie the game. Trail was by far the better team in the 3rd had several opportunities, had more puck possession, zone time and overall outskated and outworked the Snakes

- With the loss, Trail finishes the preseason with a 3-2-0-0 record

Vernon Vipers Lineup/Roster:

Forwards:

Georgios Stavrianeas 05

Carson McGinley 06

Jakub Galnor 06

Luke Bibby 04

Carter Streek 04

Erik Pastro 05

Charlie Kresl 06

Lucas Brennan 04

Bronson Ross 06

Shea Busch 07

Keeghan Dunn 07

Koji Gibson 07

Defencemen:

Roarke Gilmour 06

Zhenya Miles 06

Isaac Holt 05

Carson Lloyd 05

Cooper Cleaves 06

Joey Mugaas 05

Goaltenders:

Marko Bilic 06

Colin Reay 05

Scratches:

Forwards:

Simon Binkley 06

Adam Csabi 05

Defencemen:

Lukas McCloskey 05

Trail Smoke Eaters Lineup/Roster:

Forwards:

Cash Carter 06

Attila Lippai 04

Ridge Dawson 04

Callas Pierce 06

Evan Sundar 04

Judah Makway 04

Jason Stefanek 04

Deacon Drummond 06

Jared Coccimiglio 04

Josh Evaschesen 06

Cade De St Hubert 06

Christian Kim 05

Defencmen:

Isaac Fecteau 05

Owen McCarthy 08

Jack Kennedy 04

Drew Anastasio 05

Cameron Johnson 05

Noah Ziskie 05

Carter Matthews 06

Goaltenders:

Chayse Johnson 07

Jake Torget 06

Scratches:

No Scratches

Energy Player of the Game:

No announcement

Three Star's:

1st Star: Lucas Brennan (1 goal & 3 assists)

2nd Star: Carter Streek (2 goals)

3rd Star: Evan Sundar (2 goals)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Trail Smoke Eaters @ Vernon Vipers Friday, September 13, 2024 | BCHL League Site

Game Report,

Game Report (hockeytech.com)

Text Box Score,

Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.com (hockeytech.com)

Vernon Junior Hockey History website,

VernonJrAHockey.CA

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Here are some photo's I took before and during tonight's Vernon Vipers-Trail Smoke Eaters preseason game.