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 today's game between the Vernon Vipers & Brooks Bandits as the Bandits defeated the Vipers 6-3 in front of 2,272 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Logan Cunningham
Brooks Bandits: Chris Quizi
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2nd Period: I thought both teams were fairly even in the first half, even though the Bandits scored two quick goals twenty one seconds apart just minutes into the middle frame. For a second straight period the Vipers held there own, before Brooks took over the period in the second half and were the better team. It seemed like once the Bandits took a 3-2 lead, they never really looked back and finished the period on a strong note. It was 3-2 Bandits after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 16-11 Brooks.
3rd Period: The hometown Vipers started the period with an early PP but on a brutal turnover, gave up a shorthanded goal, to fall behind 4-2 and that was the hockey game. The visiting Brooks Bandits were the better team for most of the period. The Bandits carried the better of the play, were skating, moving the puck, had lots of chances were up by four goals before taking there foot off the gas. The Vipers would get to within three goals and then had the edge in play towards the end of the period where both teams got a little chippy. Vernon had several quality chances but couldn't capitalize. The Bandits come away with the 6-3 victory. Shots were 13-9 Vernon.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Luke Bibby (1 assist) I thought played hard, was skating, played with a lot of jump/energy was involved in the play.
Koji Gibson (1 goal) Has really improved and started to play his best hockey of the season. I thought Gibson played well at the start of the season but wasn't getting any points, has recently found the back of the net and getting more involved on the scoresheet
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers are 0-3-0-0 vs the Brooks Bandits this season
- The Vipers have lost four of there last five games and lost eight of there last ten games
- The Snakes missed several quality chances, couldn't capitalize on several missed opportunities
- The Vipers next game is Friday in Penticton
- I thought Vernon held there own vs the Bandits in the 1st period. Koji Gibson opened the scoring as the Snakes were getting pucks to the net early, creating some chances, were fairly even with Brooks for most of the period. I thought the Bandits had a bit of an edge in play in the second half but overall I thought the hometown Vipers played well, especially for a team coming off an 8-3 loss last night in Trail and getting home late.
- Today's attendance was announced at 2,272
- Logan Cunningham made his Vipers home debut this afternoon, made 27 saves in the loss
- Vernon went 1-5 with the man advantage
- The Vipers & Bandits will meet once more, February 22nd in Brooks
- This season is over, the Vipers are just not good enough and won't make the playoffs. Very very disappointing
- Defenceman Emils Skeltins left the game in the 1st period with what looked like some kind of leg injury
- Vernon didn't get any bounces go there way or have any puck luck today
- The Vipers were wearing there baby blue alternate jerseys this afternoon
- I thought the Snakes played well and held there own for at least the first half of the 2nd period, even though giving up two quick back to back goals twenty one seconds apart just minutes into the period. Vernon was able to tie the game but fell apart in the second half as the Bandits took the lead and were the better team in the second half. Brooks carried the better of the play, had more puck possession and zone time, took over the edge in play
- The Vipers are 6-7-5-0 at Kal Tire Place this season
- Forward Nathaniel Harvey left the game in the 1st period with what looked like a shoulder injury
- The Vipers made several mistakes this afternoon, with three leading to goals
- It's really hard to stay positive and enjoy going to games when the team and season has been a complete disaster
- I liked Vernon's PK and thought they did a great job at killing off a lengthy two man advantage
- The Vipers have lost twelve of there last fifteen games
- You have to wonder if Lukas Lomicky will be back next season? This is one of the worst season's in Vernon franchise history and the team has struggled all season
- Down 3-2 heading into the 3rd, the Snakes would get an early power play but on a brutal turnover gave up a shorthanded goal, putting the team down 4-2 and that basically put the game away. This killed any momentum of the team coming back, as the Bandits took control and were by far the better team. Brooks carried the better of the play, were skating/moving the puck, creating opportunities would eventually go up by four goals before taking there foot off the gas. Vernon would have the edge in play late and miss on several quality chances in another 3rd period letdown on home ice
- The Vipers have only eight home games remaining
- For team that hasn't been good all season, this team has played better and showed some signs of improvement at home the past few home games but consistency has been a major problem. This team can not play sixty minutes and mistakes/turnovers seem to be a major issue
- The Snakes are 4-6-1-0 vs teams from Alberta
- The Vipers bench showed very little emotion this afternoon. Both coaches looked lifeless behind the bench through out the entire game
- For a team fighting for a playoff spot, they are not winning many games and running out of time
- With the BCHL trade deadline February 10th you have to wonder what the Vipers will do?
- Vernon has lost fifteen of there last twenty one games
- Luke Bibby played 24 games with the 2022-23 Brooks Bandits
- Two games have been played this weekend and still no mention from the Vipers, Binkley is no longer with the team
- The Vipers power play struggled, needed to generate more with the man advantage
- Give the Snakes some credit. For a team coming off a 8-3 loss in Trail on Saturday and getting home late with a game this afternoon, I thought the Vipers held there own and played well in at least the first two periods before a letdown in the 3rd period
- Consistency has been a major problem this season and it showed again today
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 11-20-6-0 sit 10th in the Interior Conference and 19th overall in league standings
Brooks Bandits Top Performers:
Ethan Beyer played a strong game on the Bandits blueline
Shane Burns Was another d-man that looked good and had a strong game for the visitors. This kid can skate, move the puck and was hard to knock off the puck. Burns skated circles around several Vipers, played well at both ends of the rink
Nathan Free didn't register any points but was hard to contain/defend, made some plays and created some opportunities
Davide Patella played with an edge, was in the face of the Snakes the entire afternoon, was under the skin of several Vipers today
Jace Letourneau (2 goals & 1 assist) Gave Vernon troubles with three points. I was impressed with the play from Letourneau
AJ Lacroix Was another Brooks forward who was hard to defend/contain, had a strong game up front for the Bandits
Caden Drury (1 goal & 2 assists) Has played well vs the Vipers, had another strong game this afternoon
Chris Quizi (28 saves) Played well. The Vipers had some good looks/chances early and then towards the end of the period but were denied by the Bandits netminder
Game Thought's: Brooks Bandits
- I thought both teams were fairly even in the 1st period but Brooks did have a bit more edge in play in the second half of the period. The Bandits were outshot 5-2 early but finished the period, outshooting Vernon 8-7 The Bandits coming off a 6-1 loss last night in Penticton, didn't show any signs of rust, had some opportunities, really move the puck and quick on there feet
- Today was the Bandits third game in three days
- The Bandits are 2-0-0-0 in Vernon this season
- This team can skate, move the puck, has a quick transition game, is hard to defend/contain
- Brooks went 1-3 with the power play
- This Bandits team is a little chippy as several players were getting under the skin of some Vernon players
- I spotted a small group of Bandits fans in attendance today
- This afternoon is the Bandits third game of a four game road trip
- The Bandits have won three of there last five games are 5-5 in there last ten games
- Brooks capitalized on a couple of Vipers turnovers, that lead to goals
- The Bandits were down 1-0 to start the 2nd period, scored two quick back to back goals twenty one seconds apart early in the middle frame, to take there first lead of the game. I thought both teams were even in the first half, before the visiting Brooks Bandits took over the edge in play and were the better of the two teams in the second half. Brooks can really move the puck, are quick on there feet and were skating circles around the hometown Snakes
- Brooks next game is Friday in Spruce Grove
- For a team playing there third game in three days, the Bandits didn't show it and played very well earning the 6-3 victory
- I like the Bandits jerseys/logo
- The Bandits are 14-4-0-1 on the road this season
- Brooks had some bounces go there way this afternoon
- The Bandits had seven players out of the lineup
- Leading 3-2 heading into the 3rd, Brooks capitalized on a Vipers turnover, scoring shorthanded to take a 4-2 lead before adding two more and going up by four goals, putting the game away. Brooks eventually took there foot off the gas but were the better team in the period
- With the win, Brooks improved to 27-8-0-2 sit 3rd in the Interior Conference and 3rd overall in league standings
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Jordan Gudridge
Dennis Lominac
Erik Pastro
Brooks Bandits:
Isaac Johnson
Dante Siciliano
Julian Fantino
Parker Lalonde
Michal Liscinsky
Nick Peluso
Griffin Wright
Energy Player of the Game:
Luke Bibby (1 assist)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Jace Letourneau (2 goals & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Caden Drury (1 goal & 2 assists)
3rd Star: Talan Blanck (1 goal & 1 assist)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
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14 comments:
Were you at today's game? What did you think of today's Vipers/Bandits game? What are your comments/opinion on the game?
Comment was deleted by Vipersdiehardfan
Vernon played well in the first period and held their own in the second period. Against a strong team to hang in there for two periods was good. We all knew winning this game was too far of an outside chance, and the first two periods could have been a lot worse. Let’s build for next season.
I totally agree with you JB about building for next season. This season is over, the Vipers won't make the playoffs. The trade deadline is next Monday,, so why not trade most of your older players or players that won't be back next season for younger players that will be here next season. Start filling some of your roster spots for next season at the trade deadline.
Realistically how many of the players who finish the season here are really going to want to come back to Vernon . This would be the last possible destination you would want want to play unless there is absolutely no where else to go. John Glenn has to be the first to go and then bring in a GM with hockey sense and go from there.
It's now February, geting close to the time of the year when the team offers us an early renewal of our season tickets. For the first time in nearly 30 years I'm undecided about next season. With the current management and recruitment I just don't know yet. After the NCAA changes and Major Junior raiding BCHL rosters, what will next year look like? Will the league even continue as it is?
In a normal year I would agree with you diehard. This year I am not sure that there are many older players other teams would need to bring them to the next level. At least not to the point of getting a reputation as a team that will send young talent to a team with a poor recruiting reputation and lots of internal problems. Also, with the many league options for next season what are the chances the young players will even agree to play in vernon next year.
Also, on the fence for buying season tickets however, am leaning toward doing so. It will be a very hard choice considering prices have gone up while the product quality has gone down drastically.
We currently spend about 700$, two tickets, for the privilege of watching a substandard product. Is it worth it to continue, when it seems the organization does not care about its fans. This, because they don't tell us fans what is happening with the players and their social media interaction is almost non-existent. Also, the season ticket advantages has eroded since the new ownership, no nice programs, lack of substantial 4-sheet PC printed program draws, lack of acknowledging long time season ticket holders, lack of acknowledging long time season ticket holders that have passed away, lack of acknowledging the history and legacy of the club, period.
With my FloHockey subscription of 150$ish which allows us to watch not only the Vipers but, any and all BCHL games being broadcast. Many times we invite others to take in the game with us in our relaxed atmosphere of adults. I say adults because, however nice it is to be at the game live the game is spoiled many times with kids yelling, screaming, going up and down the isles during play, it is even worse with groups of teens or pre-teens on the concourse.
And don’t even get me going about the absolute brutal concession experience!!!!!!
That being said, we are still leaning towards season tickets for next season however a hard choice it will be.
That is my rant, Go Vipers, or Velcros or whatever they will be, Go!!!!
Chances are not good. What Vernon will end up with will be some 20 year olds on their last chance and then a pile of underaged kids who will put up with the clown show in order to get some experience against older kids at the junior level. Any player with solid skills and a good reputation will have plenty of options with better run organizations, like most of the kids who left this year. It’s unfortunate for the fans but that’s what has been created with this year’s debacle.
Major Junior did not raid this BCHL roster !!!! The man in charge caused all the turnover. Don't believe Lomicky when he comments...
AS long as you keep paying to go then nothing will change.
There is no way to stop everyone from buying tickets. Things will change at some point.
Even if the season tickets were a no go, would still pick and choose which games to attend, it is still a relatively cheap night out and then my expectations would not be as high.
That give away on the Vipers PP in the 3rd to give Brooks there 4th goal cost us the game and then Brooks just took the game over. I know it was the new goalies first full game with the Vipers but I didn't think he was that good, there was a few goals he should have saved. I didn't expect the Vipers to win on Sunday, but still.
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