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 game between the Vernon Vipers & Blackfalds as the Bulldogs defeated the Vipers 6-4 in front of 2,144 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Logan Cunningham
Blackfalds Bulldogs: Kirill Kapustin
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2nd Period: I thought the visiting Bulldogs had the edge in play early, had more puck possession, zone time and were generating some chances. Vernon seemed to get their legs going and played better before the halfway mark and would eventually take over the edge in play. As both teams traded goals it was Blackfalds that slowly re-gained the momentum and were the better team to end the period. The Vipers consistency was up and down all game, while the Bulldogs never quit skating, never quit moving the puck and capitalized on their opportunities. It was 5-3 Blackfalds after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 11-8 Bulldogs.
3rd Period: The Vipers started the period with Jari Kykkanen in goal, who replaced Logan Cunnigham. Cunningham allowed five goals on twenty two Blackfalds shots after two periods. It was basically all Bulldogs from start to finiish. Blackfalds played with a lot more jump/energy, were skating hard, moving the puck, trying to open up the ice, generate some offence, while playing well defensively. The Snakes couldn't get much of anything going, players were out of position, getting tangled up with each other and the entire team looked very disorganized. With all these new players making their Vipers debuts tonight, the team looked very scrambled through out most of the night. On a late power play, with the goaltender out for the extra attacker, Vernon would press and get to within two goals but it was too little, too late as the Bulldogs would get their first ever win over the Vernon Vipers in franchise history with a 6-4 win. Shots were 9-7 Vernon.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Edvin Nilsson (1 goal) Opened the scoring this evening, other then taking two penalties, I thought was one of the better Vipers in the loss. Nilsson has really improved and been playing his best hockey of the season the past two months. I have thought he has been one of the better defencemen on most nights.
Kyren Gronick (1 goal) Scored on the power play, I thought was another Viper who played hard/played well. Gronick seemed to be a little more engaged in the play
Logan Cunningham (17 saves) Got the start in goal vs Blackfalds but was replaced by Jari Kykkanen to start the 3rd. I thought Cunningham played well in the two periods he saw, was the more busier of the two goaltenders, made some big stops in the 1st period with the Bulldogs pressing.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers are 2-1-0-0 vs the Bulldogs this season
- The Snakes next game is Saturday vs the visiting Penticton Vees
- Defenceman Eddie Revenig made his Vipers debut this evening
- The Vipers have one win in their last five games and have lost eight of their last ten games
- I liked the Snakes start to the 1st period. I thought Vernon come ready to play, had the early edge in play, seemed to have a lot of jump/energy and had a slight edge in play in the first seven to eight minutes. Vernon would open the scoring but the Bulldogs seemed to change the momentum, get a little better as the period went on and were the better team in the second half. Blackfalds had a good push to end the period.
- Vernon is seven points out of a playoff spot
- The Vipers went 3-7 with the man advantage
- This looked like a pre-season game. Vernon looked disorganized and scrambled for most of the hockey game. This was not a good game to watch, real choppy, sloppy, lots of mistakes, this team isn't good and will not make the playoffs
- Forward Ryan Watt made his Vipers debut tonight
The Snakes have only seven regular season home games left
- Vernon played well for about ten to fifteen minutes other then that weren't in this game
- For most of the night, both coaches stood far apart from each other and showed very little emotion on the bench. For a team fighting for a playoff spot, I would have thought the coaches would be talking with the players, giving pats on the back, getting the bench going
- The Snakes didn't have a great 2nd period. It was the Bulldogs who were the better team early, were outshooting the Vipers 18-5 at one point before Vernon seemed to change the momentum, get some puck possession and start to get some pucks to the net and score a couple of goals. Blackfalds was the better team in the middle frame, scored a big goal late inside the final minute of play, putting the Vipers down two goals heading into the 3rd
- Defenceman Eric Johnston made his Snakes debut this evening
- The Snakes gave up a couple of tough goals late in periods. They allowed the Bulldogs to tie the game, giving up a late goal inside the final minute of the 1st period and then put themselves down two goals with a late goal inside the final minute of play in the 2nd period
- The Vipers power play was one of a few lone bright spots and something that kept Vernon in this game
- The Snakes are 6-9-5-0 at home this season
- With all the changes week to week, how is this team suppose to gel, get better, play as a team, get to know each other etc It's really hard to follow the team with all the changes this season
- The Vipers & Bulldogs play once more, March 7th in Blackfalds
- Forward Michael Munroe made his Vipers debut tonight
- This was one of the worst games the Vipers have played at home this season
- The Vipers have fourteen regular season games remaining
- Vernon is 4-7-1-0 vs teams from Alberta this season
- Vernon has only four wins in their last eighteen games
- The Vipers looked very disorganized and scrambled in the 3rd, couldn't seem to get much of anything going. It was all Bulldogs as they carried the better of the play, seemed to have more puck possession, were skating, moving the puck and never quit. The Vipers looked lost at times, didn't seem to know where each other were. Vernon would score late on the PP to get within two goals but it was too little, too late
- Tonight's attendance was announced at 2,144
- The Snakes played a disciplined game, only taking three penalties
- With a team desperately trying to make the playoffs, they sure didn't look like it tonight. Tonight's loss is just another example of what a disaster this season has been
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 12-22-6-0 sit 10th in the Interior Conference and 19th overall in league standings
Blackfalds Bulldogs Top Performers:
Nicholas DiPaolo (1 goal) I thought looked good, played well in the win. This kid can skate, is quick on his feet and has a rocket of a shot
Joey Melo (1 goal & 1 assist) Not the biggest kid but another good skating forward who can move the puck up ice in a hurry, played well
Antoine Gauthier I thought worked hard, played hard, made some plays
Tyler Chiovetti Was another Bulldogs forward who was quick on his feet, played with pace, made some plays happen
Game Thought's: Blackfalds Bulldogs
- Tonight's the third game of a four game road trip
- Tonight was the second and final regular season trip to Vernon
- The Bulldogs went 0-3 with the power play
- Blackfalds went down 1-0 didn't have a great start but seemed to get better as the 1st period went along. The Bulldogs seemed to weather the storm, were only down a goal, gained some momentum, kept skating, moving the puck, played very well in the second half, were the better team to end the period. This team is quick, can skate, they work hard and scored the game tying goal inside the final minute of play
- The Bulldogs got into penalty trouble, were lucky Vernon didn't do more damage on the man advantage
- Tonight was a battle of the two bottom teams of the Interior Conference
- Watching tonight's game, you would have thought it was the Bulldogs trying to get into the playoffs. They seemed to want tonight's game more, played with a lot more jump/energy, never stopped skating, always moving their feet, a quick transition game, capitalized on the Vipers mistakes and scored on their opportunities
- Blackfalds with a big 2nd period, scored four times and played well for most of the period. A period where they were the better team, had more of the play, more puck possession and more scoring chances. The Vipers seemed to change the momentum for a bit before the Bulldogs gained it back
- The Bulldogs have won three of there last five games are 5-5 in their last ten games
- Blackfalds is 4-17-0-0 on the road this season
- Blackfalds was the better team for most of the hockey game
- The Bulldogs have a good transition game, are very quick up front, can move the puck, never stop skating, never quit working, capitalized on Vernon's mistakes, scored on their opportunities and played well defensively at times
- The Bulldogs have fourteen regular season games left
- Blackfalds next game is Saturday in West Kelowna
- A very good shutdown 3rd period as the Bulldogs were the better team. Blackfalds carried the better of the play, had more puck possession, zone time and a few quality chances. A big goal in the 3rd to take a 6-3 lead. The Bulldogs played well defensively late to come away with the 6-4 victory
- With the win, Blackfalds is 7-31-2-0 sits last in the Interior Conference and last in the league standings
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Jett Quaschnick
Nathaniel Harvey
Dennis Lominac
Blackfalds Bulldogs:
Braydan Smith
Juan Copeland
William Mitchell
Lucas McDonald
Matthew Ronn
Lukas Fursten
Energy Player of the Game:
Tyson Zimmer (2 assists)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Joey Melo (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Ryan Watt (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Oscar Bjork (2 assists)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions in the comment box below. Please be respectful when leaving comments.
17 comments:
Just not a good team and our goalie is not good. Brutal game
I thought it would be a closer game. But the reality is that this is a new team every game with their revolving door of players. Not enough time to build systems and chemistry, which is exactly the lack of what we saw in this game. Saturday night will be no different.
Considering these two are relatively on the same plane, it was Blackfalds that looked as if they were gunning for a playoff spot.
In a recent Vernon new s article Lomicky suggested that the team was looking for a playoff push. This game was by no means indicative of any kind of playoff push performance.
To me the Vipers looked uninterested to play the game, no heart, no intensity. Lomicky was the best example of a coach who could not care less. He was behind the bench, with his arms crossed for almost the whole game. He hardy ever engaged with the players, the same went for his assistant.
I mean, if, your wanting to pump your player and encourage them to play harder, for a so called playoff push, would you not project energy by more interaction with the players, show some fu##king emotion in a positive way.
Standing behind the bench with crossed arms just doesn’t cut it for me.
They got rid of all the players who apparently weren't good enough, or bury them on the 3rd and 4th lines. Whole team pretty much has turned over with same results. How are these coaches still here...absolutely insane
2144 in ATTENDANCE????? I was there, no way in hell their were that many there!!! Delusional beyond compare, just making themselves look good.
2,144 tickets sold, not everyone shows up. Lots of free tickets, giveaway tickets, sponsors, season ticket holders sick, on vacation, other plans etc
Well, then say TICKETS SOLD not in ATTENDANCE! ATTENDANCE meens people at the game!!! Your delusional also if you take that crap!
Every team does it exactly the same , geesh who cares how it’s done. A seat sold is an occupied seat , doesn’t matter if there is a person sitting in it or not.
Heard from a former player that he doesn’t even go into the dressing room between periods to review and make adjustments. I mean, if you’re taking the title of “coach” maybe try doing some coaching! Arms folded or hands in pockets is such a bad look. And we can see the team takes on the personality of the coach. This guy has to go!
Attendance means people in the arena, occupied means people in the seat, those are the definitions so, I take offence when they fudge the truth. Your just wrong and I am good with your ignorance of the facts.
The facts are, ‘attendance’ is based on tickets issued…the same goes for pro sports, concerts, etc. so if season ticket holders don’t show for whatever reason, that seat is still accounted for. Those are facts. What do you think, they’re doing a physical head count at the Super Bowl?? Get real, man.
The ignorance on this page is incredible. Should be shut down in my opinion. It’s become something that it was never intended to be. Too many people on here spreading incorrect information and slandering people. Not cool Die Hard. It’s supposed to be what your game thoughts are and sharing and I can respect that but what people comment after words because they think they know better…. SHOULD not be allowed! It’s so disrespectful to the people that work hard and care so much about this team and organization. So much to be proud of here but this has just become heavy and negative. Peace out.
Totally agree, Die Hard should turn of the COMMENTS!!!!
I understand fans are upset and don't like the way ownership is running this team. I understand fans are not use to losing and aren't happy with the Vipers since ownership took over. I get it, I feel the same way. We can comment about how poor ownership is and how poor the coaching is etc but lets try and leave the personal attacks on these people out of the comments. Lets try and talk more about the game instead of just jumping on ownership everytime. I have no problem with negative comments about a loss or how poor the team played that night but lets keep the comments somewhat respectful. I will not turn off the comments, but I will try and do a better job at moderating the comments. This is a site for fans to talk hockey, talk about the Vipers, talk about recent trades, new players etc but I don't want it to be a bs site. What do fans think if you have to leave your comment under a name or nickname and no more anonymous comments? Maybe this will keep the trolls away?
Anonymous or just something made up, it is all the same, just leave as is.
Out of curiosity, exactly what are you finding offensive in the comments? Understand, there’s a lot of ground being covered here
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