Game Recap - Salmon Arm Silverbacks 6 Vernon Vipers 3

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 & Salmon Arm Silverbacks as the Silverbacks defeated the Vipers 6-3 in front of 1,597 fans at Rogers Rink.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Jari Kykkanen

Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Andrew Ballantyne

To continue reading, please click the "read more" button below,

1st Period: This was a very entertaining period as both teams were fairly evenly matched. I thought the Vipers had a slight edge in play at different times in the opening period but otherwise a very even played period. Scott Miner opened the scoring, before the Snakes with a good push back tied the game fifty four seconds later. The Apes were skating, really moving the puck and generated several quality chances, had good puck possession and some zone time, while Vernon also was skating well, moving the puck, had a few good opportunities. The Vipers had the bounces and puck luck as both goals went in off strange plays/bounces. It was 2-2 after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 14-9 Salmon Arm.

2nd Period: The Snakes got into penalty trouble early and often, taking three straight penalties. It was all Silverbacks as Salmon Arm outplayed the Vipers the entire period. SA dominated the middle frame with a ton of zone time, were skating circles around Vernon. The Backs capitalized on their chances and made the Vipers pay for their mistakes, scoring three times to take a three goal lead. The Gorillas looked like they had the puck on a string at times, were buzzing in and around the net often. Vipers starting goaltender was busy, as the S'Backs had loads of opportunities. Vernon didn't look good, played most of the period in their own end. The Snakes needed just over ten minutes to get their first shot of the period. The Vipers struggled offensively with only three shots on goal but also defensively, making all kinds of mistakes and turnovers. It was 5-3 Salmon Arm after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 15-3 Silverbacks.

3rd Period: The hometown Silverbacks were the better team in the final frame. The Apes carried the better of the play, had more puck possession and zone time. The Backs had more scoring chances, were really moving the puck, getting lots of rushes off the play. Vipers goaltender Jari Kykkanen made some big saves to keep this game within three goals. The Vipers played a little better then the previous period, did manage to at least get some pucks to the net, created some opportunities and get a little zone time but for a team down three goals, weren't consistent and didn't play good enough the entire period. The Vipers would score late but it was too little too late. Salmon Arm would come away with the 6-3 victory. Shots were 10-9 Silverbacks.

Vernon Vipers Top Performers:

The line of Ryan Watt, Talan Blanck (1 goal & 1 assist) and Kyren Gronick (1 goal & 1 assist)was the Vipers best line in the loss. I thought this line stood out, played with a lot of jump/energy, were skating hard, moving the puck, generating offence and just worked hard

Dennis Lominac Played with an edge, was another forward who was really skating this afternoon, was involved in the play also played with an edge. Lominac did take back to back undisciplined penalties but otherwise played well

Jari Kykkanen (33 saves) Has been one of the more consistent Vipers this season. The Snakes haven't won many hockey games this year but how many games did Kykkanen start and keep his team in games? If it wasn't for Kykkanen some of these one or two goal losses could have been much worse and today was the same story. Kykkanen kept his team in the game, didn't get a lot of help from his defence played very well in goal

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- The Snakes are 6-14-1-0 on the road this season

- I thought the Vipers played a very good 1st period. Both teams were fairly even with Vernon having a bit of an edge in play at different times. I thought the Vipers were skating, moving the puck well, had some looks/chances and held their own vs a good Salmon Arm team. The Snakes got some bounces go their way, as both goals went in off a strange or lucky bounce or play in front. This was an entertaining/exciting opening period

- I thought Vernon was very disciplined in both home games over the long weekend but this afternoon they let their emotions get the better of them and got into penalty trouble today in Salmon Arm

- Their were some Vipers fans at today's game but not a whole lot

- For a team fighting for a playoff spot, they are going in the wrong direction

- Today was the Vipers third game in four days

- Consistency has been a major problem this year as the Vipers can't play anywhere close to sixty minutes

- The Vipers finished the season 2-4-1-0 vs the Silverbacks

- Vernon has lost sixteen of their last twenty games

- The Snakes went 0-3 with the man advantage

- The Vipers have twelve games remaining in the regular season

- The Vipers let the game get away from them in the 2nd period. Vernon would start the period shorthanded before taking the next two penalties, playing the first half shorthanded. The Snakes struggled offensively, played most of the period in their own end. Vernon needed just over ten minutes to get their first shot of the period and would only register three shots on goal. The Vipers with too many mistakes/turnovers looked pretty bad this period. Jari Kykkanen did his best to keep the team in the game. 

- The Vipers next game is Friday in Okotoks

- The Snakes power play struggled this afternoon and in my opinion struggled all long weekend. They scored three PP goals in the loss to Blackfalds on Friday and two in the loss to Penticton on Saturday but went 0-3 today. In all three games this long weekend, I didn't think Vernon had enough time with the puck in the offensive zone, weren't getting pucks to the net and struggled to move the puck around and generate some offence

- The Vipers have lost four of their last five games and lost eight of their past ten games

- Vernon is eight points back of the Okotoks Oilers who currently hold down the final playoff spot

- The Snakes went 1-3-0-0 in Salmon Arm this season

- I understand the Vipers have gone through a ton of players this season with players coming and going weekly but this team hasn't improved all year. They may have had a game here or their where they played one of their better games of the season but from the start of the season until today the Vipers have looked the same and played the same no matter who's been in the lineup

- Lets be honest this team just isn't good enough and they won't make the playoffs. Changes need to be made over the off season

- I thought Vernon played a little better for a short period of time in the 3rd period but no where near close to twenty minutes. The game was already over by the time the Snakes scored late in the period to get back to within three goals. The 2nd period basically cost the Vipers this game and down 5-2 heading into the 3rd I didn't see enough push/effort to witness any kind of a comeback. Jari Kykkanen was good in goal again, kept this game from really getting away on them

- I did like Vernon's PK and thought even though they gave up lots of opportunities, they played well along with getting some big stops from their goaltender

- The Vipers have just two wins in their last ten regular season games in Salmon Arm

- The Snakes have given up twenty four goals in their last four games

- With the loss, Vernon falls to 12-24-6-0 sit 10th in the Interior Conference and 19th overall in league standings

Salmon Arm Silverbacks Top Performers:

Donovan Hamilton is a big kid with a lot of size, and threw his weight around. The Gorillas defenceman was physical, used his size and body, played well at both ends of the rink

Ryan Philbrick (1 goal) Another kid on the blueline with some size, played well on SA's blueline

Scott Miner (1 goal) Opened the scoring for the S'Backs early into the hockey game, has some size, finished his checks, used his size keeping the Snakes away from the front of the net, had a good game this afternoon

Dakota MacIntosh (2 goals & 1 assist) Playing for his fourth BCHL team, was one of Salmon Arm's better players today. This kid can skate and has a wicked shot. I really liked his game all afternoon

Maddux Martin (2 goals & 1 assist) Was another forward who played very well in the victory. Martin always seems to play well vs the Vernon Vipers and did so today. This kid is a complete hockey player and plays the game the right way. Martin is hard to defend, hard to contain and is skilled, and can put the puck in the net 

Grant Dillard Playing in just his nineth game with the Backs, had a heck of a game. This kid never stopped skating, competed, played hard, was in on the forecheck, in on the puck, winning races, winning battles, didn't back down from the physical play, just a hard working kid that stood out all afternoon. Talking to the Salmon Arm fan next to me, she told me he was acquired from the USHL in January and one of her favourite players

Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks

- The Apes went 1-4 with the power play

- Today was the seventh and final regular season meeting vs the Vernon Vipers

- I liked the Backs 1st period as I said earlier I thought both teams played very well and were fairly even with Vernon having a bit of a slight edge from time to time. The Silverbacks got more pucks to the net and had more opportunities, were really skating, moving the puck, created/generated some quality chances. SA didn't get the bounces or have any puck luck as both of the Snakes two goals somehow found their way into the back of the net on a strange or lucky bounce

- The Silverbacks next game is Friday vs the visiting Penticton Vees

- The Gorillas are 11-7-2-0 at home this season

- The Silverbacks have lost three of their last five games and lost seven of their last ten games

- Today's attendance was announced at 1,597

- The S'Backs took over the game in the 2nd period and basically put the game away with three second period goals. The Apes were by far the better team as Salmon Arm dominated the middle frame. The Silverbacks carried most of the play, played most of the period in the offensive zone, were moving the puck, creating/generating opportunities, looked very strong

- Salmon Arm has twelve games remaining in the 2024-25 regular season

- Even though the Gorillas only scored once with the man advantage, I thought the Backs PP looked good. They moved the puck around, created several looks/opportunities

- Give this team credit, they never stopped skating, never stopped moving the puck, created/generated a ton of looks and quality chances, came very close to getting fourty shots on goal, were by far the better team today

- Andrew Ballantyne had a difficult time in goal this afternoon. Vernon's first two goals come off a strange play or lucky bounce as the Silverbacks netminder seemed to be fighting the puck from time to time, didn't look very comfortable between the pipes. It just seemed whatever shots were put towards the net, gave Ballantyne difficulty

- The Silverbacks were the better team in the 3rd. Playing with a three goal lead the Backs played well defensively only giving up nine shots, didn't give up a whole lot of opportunities, had more puck possession, more zone time and had more scoring chances

- With the win, Salmon Arm improves to 23-13-6-0 sit 5th in the Interior Conference and 7th overall in league standings

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Nathaniel Harvey

Tyson Zimmer

Salmon Arm Silverbacks:

Trigg Pimm

Tate O'Brien

Caleb Mahar

Easton Walos

Antonio Bevacqua

Energy Player of the Game:

Grant Dillard

Three Star's:

1st Star: Maddux Martin (2 goals & 1 assist)

2nd Star: Dakota MacIntosh (2 goals & 1 assist)

3rd Star: Roenick Jodoin (2 assists)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Vernon Vipers @ Salmon Arm Silverbacks Monday, February 17, 2025 | BCHL League Site

Game Report,

Game Report

Text Box Score,

Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.com

Vernon Junior Hockey History website,

VernonJrAHockey.CA

Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions in the comment box below. Please be respectful when leaving comments.

Here are some photo's I took before and during today's Vernon Vipers-Salmon Arm Silverbacks game.