I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following junior hockey in Vernon my entire life. I have had season tickets since 1990 missing 46 home games since. I worked with the Vipers as colour commentator for a few games during the 2002-03 season. In 2011 I helped design and create the Vipers website and was in charge of running the website for five seasons. I started and created this blog in 2008 and have over 5.9 million viewers. My family watched senior men's hockey in Vernon in the 1950's and has been watching/following junior hockey in Vernon since getting a team in 1961. I have two family members that played junior hockey in Vernon.
I was at tonight's Vernon Vipers-Brooks Bandits game as the Bandits won 7-4 in front of 1,657 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Oliver Kanat
Brooks Bandits: Zach Zahara
1st Period: The hometown Vipers with a great start were the better team for most of the period. The Vipers had more zone time, had the better of the chances, looked sharp, were skating, moving the puck and making plays and lots of them. Vernon jumped out to a 2-0 lead and looked to be in control. Brooks needed to shake off the bus legs but got their game going after the first five to six minutes and played better as the period went on. The visiting Bandits had a couple of looks but not a whole lot of quality opportunities were outshot 6-2 early. It was 2-0 Vipers after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 15-11 Vernon.
2nd Period: The Snakes carried the play for most of the period, but a period where they couldn't get much going offensively. The Vipers couldn't seem to click, didn't generate much for offence, had lots of play in the offensive zone but not a lot of looks/opportunities. Vernon was the better team, had the better of the play. Samuel Charko had an opportunity on an odd man rush to make it 3-0 instead, the Bandits catch a lucky bounce and go the other way to get back in the hockey game and cut Vernon's lead to one. Twenty seconds later, Brooks would capitalize on a second bounce, tying the game 2-2 just over two minutes into the middle frame. The Bandits had no business being in this hockey game but after a couple of lucky bounces it's a different game. Brooks capitalized on a couple of lucky bounces go their way, scoring twice in twenty seconds. The Bandits played most of the period in their own end, get the breaks and bounces go their way were very fortunate to even be in this game. The Bandits took their first lead of the evening at 19:54 It was 4-3 Brooks after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 12-6 Vipers.
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