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 3.3 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 & Penticton Vees as the Vipers defeated the Vees 3-2 in overtime in front of 4,322 fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Jari Kykkanen
Penticton Vees: Will Ingemann
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2nd Period: It was all Vees in the middle frame, as Penticton outplayed the Vipers the entire period. The Vees carried the better of the play, had more zone time, puck possession, more shots on goal and way more opportunities. Penticton played most of the first half of the period in the offensive zone. The Vees had a goal disallowed after a glove pass into the net. The Vipers needed almost nine minutes to record there first shot of the period, were caught stranded in there own end for a lot of the period. The Snakes struggled offensively, couldn't do much with the puck. The Vipers defence played well, made some big plays or smart plays to get the puck out of there own end but other wise Vernon was outplayed. Jari Kykkanen had to be sharp, made some big stops, keeping the Snakes in the game. Tristan Peterson opened the scoring at 16:09 as it stayed 1-0 Vees after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 11-4 Penticton.
3rd Period: The hometown Vees jumped on the Snakes early, before Simon Meier made it 2-0 at 5:29 For a second straight period it was all Vees as Penticton outplayed Vernon for most of the period. The Vees had the early edge in play, more puck possession, more zone time, were moving the puck, generating chances and had lots of time in the offensive zone. The Vipers on the other hand, were once again playing in there own end a lot, struggled to get the puck through the neutral zone. The Snakes needed almost nine minutes to get there first shot on goal. Vernon again struggled offensively for most of the period, couldn't get much of anything going. With about seven minutes remaining Charlie Kresl was denied by Will Ingemann on a game saver on just Vernon's second shot of the period. A goal here and it's 2-1, instead it stays 2-0 and time running out. Minutes later Kresl gets revenge and gets Vernon on the board at 16:50 The Vipers get Kari Kykkanen to the bench with about one minute remaining. The Snakes struggled to get anything going and with time running down, Erik Pastro is robbed at the side of the net with about eleven seconds to go. Pastro grabs the rebound, sets up Will Schumacher in the circle who beats Will Ingemann with 0.2 seconds left forcing overtime. Shots were 18-6 Vees.
Overtime: The Vees would get early control and on an odd man rush force Jari Kykkanen to make a save with the shaft of his stick, with two Vees in deep, the Vipers break out on a three on one. Kyren Gronick setup Tyson Zimmer for the overtime winner at 0:45 giving the Vipers their first regular season win in Penticton since October 2019.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Price Grimes (1 assist) Made his Vipers debut this evening after coming over in a trade with Chilliwack on Wednesday. I thought was one of the better Vipers tonight. This kid has some size, looked good, was in the face of most Vees, was physical, played with a bit of an edge and played well. I like the looks of him after only one game
Marko Stojkov Was another defenceman that played well and at both ends of the rink. The Vipers struggled offensively so the defence had to be sharp and Stojkov played very well
Jari Kykkanen (37 saves) Kept Vernon in this game and gave his team a chance to win. Penticton was by far the better team. The Vipers had no business being in tonight's game but due to Jari Kykkanen the Vipers had a chance. Kykkanen was very good all night, made a couple of large saves that even I thought were sure goals. The Vees could have easily been up four or five goals after two periods.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers are 1-2-1-0 vs the Vees this season
- The Vipers have only four wins in there last sixteen games
- The Vipers last win on the road was a 7-1 win in Coquitlam November 27th
- In the last twenty four games vs the Vees, the Vipers have only two wins
- I only spotted a couple of Vipers fans at tonight's game
- The Vipers were lucky to win tonight. They were outplayed most of the hockey game
- Forward Coen Miller made his Vipers debut tonight
- The Vipers didn't get off to a great start, were outplayed early for at least the first five minutes. Vernon had a couple of shifts where they held there own against Penticton but really struggled offensively, not only getting pucks to the net but generating/creating chances. Vernon had the only two power play's of the 1st period but had just one shot on goal. The Vees were the better team, didn't outplay Vernon but were the better team. Penticton scored with five seconds remaining in the opening period but the goal was waived off after video review due to goaltender interference
- The Snakes went 0-3 with the man advantage
- The Vipers have lost three of there last five games and lost seven of there last ten games
- The Vipers & Vees meet twice more with both games played in Vernon
- One of the Vipers biggest problems this season has been playing a full sixty minutes/consistency
- Defenceman Price Grimes made his Vipers debut tonight
- Tonight was the Vipers first regular season win in Penticton since a 2-1 overtime victory on October 18th 2019
- The Vipers next game is Saturday in West Kelowna
- Vernon was outplayed the entire 2nd period. The Vipers needed almost nine minutes to get there first shot on goal, played most of the period in there own end. The Vipers struggled offensively, had just four shots on goal with very little to no opportunities. Jari Kykkanen had to be sharp, kept the Snakes in the hockey game. Vernon was lucky it was only 1-0 going into the 3rd
- The Vipers are 6-12-1-0 on the road this season
- Vernon struggled with the power play. The Vipers had just one shot on two 1st period power plays
- Jari Kykkanen was the difference in tonight's game. If it wasn't for Vernon's goaltender this game would have never gotten to overtime. The Vees could have been up 5-0 after two periods
- In the last thirty games vs the Vees, the Vipers have only five wins
- The Snakes play four of there next six games on the road
- The Vipers were outplayed for most of the 3rd period, until about the final five minutes or so. The Vipers again struggled offensively, played a lot of the 3rd in there own end, needed almost nine minutes to record a shot on goal. The Snakes had troubles getting out of there own end and when they did, struggled to do anything with the puck. It wasn't until the final few minutes where the Snakes seemed to play a little better and were able to force overtime. Give the boys credit for not quitting and pulling off the upset
- The Snakes are 3-6 in overtime this season
- With the win, Vernon improves to 12-20-6-0 sit 10th in the Interior Conference and 19th overall in league standings
Penticton Vees Top Performers:
Max Heise I thought was one of the better forwards. This kid has always played well vs the Vipers and played well in the OT loss tonight
Tristan Peterson (1 goal & 1 assist) Took two penalties in the 1st period but got himself out of the dog house after opening the scoring in the 2nd period and playing very well for the remainder of the hockey game. This kid can skate, was hard to contain, played very well
Ryden Evers (2 assists) The former Vipers affiliated player, played well and looked good vs his former team. Evers is a big body that plays hard down low and in and around the net, was hard to defend
Simon Meier (1 goal & 1 assist) Gave the Vees a 2-0 3rd period lead, was another forward who had a strong game and gave the Snakes some troubles. This kid can skate, has a wicked shot and an all around good hockey player
Game Thought's: Penticton Vees
- The Vees are 15-1-3-0 at home this season
- The Vees play in Vernon next Saturday
- A large crowd in Penticton. Tonight's attendance was announced at 4,322
- The Vees got the early jump on Vernon to start the game and I thought were the better team. Penticton didn't get a ton of shots on goal but did generate a couple of quality chances, also hit the post. The Vees thought they opened the scoring with five seconds left in the period but the goal was waived off after video review due to goaltender interference. Penticton had more of the play, more puck possession and zone time.
- The Vees went 0-2 with the power play
- Assistant Coach Jason McKee spent parts of five seasons with the Vipers as Head Coach/GM from 2019-2024
- The Vees have won four of there last five games and won seven of there last ten games
- The Vees had two goals disallowed tonight
- Forward Ryden Evers was an "AP" with the 2021-22 Vernon Vipers
- Penticton outplayed the Vipers in the 2nd period. It was all Vees as they were all over the visiting Vipers. The Vees had more puck possession, zone time, shots on goal, opportunities. The Vees did have another goal disallowed after a glove pass, this was the second goal tonight called back. Penticton would eventually open the scoring and take a 1-0 lead into the 3rd period in a period where they could have been up by more if it wasn't for Jari Kykkanen
- The Vees were wearing Pink jerseys tonight for Paint the rink Pink night
- The Vees next game is Saturday in Trail
- Penticton should have never lost this game. They were in full control until the final minutes but couldn't beat Jari Kykkanen at a few different times in the game to blow the game open.
- The Vees play four of there next six games on the road
- Goaltender Ethan Buenaventura playing rights were held by the Vernon Vipers. The Vipers traded his rights to the Cowichan Capitals November 8th 2024. The Capitals traded Buenaventura to Penticton November 12th 2024
- The Vees outplayed the Vipers for most of the 3rd period until about the final five minutes or so. Penticton jumped on Vernon early and would grab a 2-0 lead early into the period. The Vees carried the better of the play, once again had more zone time, more puck possession, shots on goal and opportunities. The Vipers would get on the board at 16:50 and then with the goaltender out, the Vees couldn't clear the zone, that allowed Will Schumacher to force overtime with 0.2 seconds remaining. Not only were the Vees stunned but I also didn't see this coming
- With the overtime loss, Penticton falls to 30-6-3-0 sit 1st in the Interior Conference and 1st overall in league standings
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Jordan Gudridge
Nathaniel Harvey
Luke Bibby
Emils Skeltins (Injured)
Penticton Vees:
Zach Nyman
Luke Posthumus
Landen Hilditch
Anselmo Rego
Sharky Nowek
Energy Player of the Game:
Will Ingemann (16 saves)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Simon Meier (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Ryden Evers (2 assists)
3rd Star: Tristan Petersen (1 goal & 1 assist)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
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3 comments:
Were you at tonight's game? Or did you stay home and listen to the game on radio or watch it online?
What are your thought's and comments from tonight's game?
Unbelievable!
Wow, wow, wow, an unexpected win, fantastic effort, 3 unanswered goals after being down by 2, to win in OT, Go, Vipers, Go!
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