I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following junior hockey in Vernon my entire life. 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 have had season tickets since 1990, missing 40 home games. I started and created this blog in 2008 and have over 5.7 million viewers.
I was at tonight's Vernon Vipers-Spruce Grove Saints game as the Saints won 3-2 in front of 2,207 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Oliver Kanat
Spruce Grove Saints: Joseph Quintilio
1st Period: The visiting Spruce Grove Saints were the better team in the opening period. Spruce Grove jumped on an early power play just over two minutes into the hockey game after Brendan Russell was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for charging. The Saints would score just eight seconds into the PP. Spruce Grove carried the better of the play for a lot of the period. The Saints are a quick puck moving team, that gets up the ice in a flash, can pass, make plays and generate offence quickly. I liked Spruce Grove's game. The Snakes were forced to kill off a major early to start the contest and never recovered. Vernon trailed and fell down 3-1. I thought the Snakes would seem to get going in the second half and have a few very good shifts with some pressure, with good looks. This was a bit of a chippy period as both teams didn't like each other with some after the whistle activities. It was 3-1 Spruce Grove after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 17-12 Saints.
2nd Period: The hometown Vipers responded with a good effort in a period where they played very well and held a slight edge in play. Vernon looked good off the opening faceoff, had lot's of zone time, pressure and created/generated chances. The Saints also played well in a period that looked pretty even at times. Spruce Grove's fourth goal was waived off after a hand pass. The Saints didn't get as many opportunities or pucks to the net. It was 3-2 Spruce Grove after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 13-8 Vipers.
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3rd Period: Both teams couldn't get much going offensively in a period that lacked excitement with very few to little plays/opportunities. I thought the Saints had a bit of an edge in play as Spruce Grove had the puck more on their stick, just didn't really do much with the puck. The Saints had the Vipers on their heels a couple of times as Vernon was forced to ice the puck often. The Snakes struggled offensively couldn't muster much offence. The Vipers had troubles getting across the blueline, and gaining puck possession. It seemed like anytime Vernon did get across the blueline, it was quickly coming back the other way. The Vipers struggled getting pucks to the net, just couldn't seem to get a bounce or puck luck go there way. The Saints had numerous opportunities to ice the game but missed several empty netters, including hitting the post. The Saints would get their first regular season victory in Vernon after a 3-2 win. Shots were 9-4 Spruce Grove.
Vernon Vipers Top Players:
Edvin Nilsson (1 assist) I thought was one of the better Vipers in the loss. Leading the team in points, has really improved from last season and become a top defender this season. This kid can skate, move the puck up ice in a hurry, generated several opportunities tonight
Samuel Charko (1 goal) I thought played well, had the puck on his stick a lot, generated/created plays through out the evening
Dmitrii Kubantsev (1 goal) Saw a ton of ice, gave the Saints defenders trouble all game. This kid has skill and hands, is very skilled with the puck
Oscar Bjork Played well on the blueline. I thought played well at both ends of the rink.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- Tonight's the first game of back to back games vs the Saints
- The Vipers went 2-2-0-0 vs Spruce Grove last season
- The Vipers aren't getting the wins but have been in almost every game. At some point you would think the hard work and effort will pay off? With a new Coach/GM, owners stepping back, new players and most players recruited by previous management/coaching staff, I'm being patient and giving this team some time to see what they can do after Christmas
- The Vipers have lost five straight and lost eight of their last ten games
- Vernon went 0-3 with the power play
- The Snakes were forced to kill off a major just minutes into the hockey game and couldn't seem to recover. Give credit to Vernon's PK for giving up just one goal on the five minute major. The Saints were the better team and carried the better of the play. I thought the Vipers looked their best in the second half with a few real good shifts, but falling down 3-1 didn't do them any good
- Tonight's attendance was announced at 2,207
- The Vipers play five of their next seven games on the road
- This team is better then their record shows
- Tonight was the Snakes first home game in thirty four days
- I really liked Vernon's 2nd period. I thought the Vipers had a slight edge in play in a period where they didn't give up a goal, and scored to get within a goal. The Vipers had several good looks/opportunities, were working hard, skating hard, played very well
- The Vipers next game is Friday in Spruce Grove
- The Snakes are 1-4-3-0 at home
- Only three teams have fewer wins then Vernon (Cranbrook, Powell Rive & Surrey)
- Down a goal heading into the 3rd, Vernon struggled at both ends of the rink. The Snakes got caught running around in their own end a few times and then had troubles getting across the blueline. The Vipers just couldn't gain any sustained pressure in the offensive zone, even had troubles getting pucks to the net. Vernon went a long time with only four shots on goal. The Snakes just seemed off a bit in the 3rd, lacked confidence. With the goaltender on the bench for the extra attacker, the Vipers couldn't even muster a shot on goal
- Other then two games, the Vipers have been in every game this season. This team works hard, competes, plays hard, has a very good young goaltender, but struggles offensively and can't seem to catch a break
- Will Brendan Russell get suspended for his hit?
- What a crappy schedule. I can't recall the Vipers not having a home game in thirty four days. When the season started, we saw Trail at home three straight Friday's and Cranbrook at home back to back Saturday's. The first four regular season home games were vs Trail & Cranbrook. The Vipers now play five of their next seven on the road
- Oliver Kanat didn't look very sharp. I thought he seemed to be fighting the puck at times, didn't look as quick, and as focused as he has been this season
- In a 3rd period when your down a goal, your not going to win many hockey games with only four shots on goal
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 3-9-3-0 sit 4th in the Interior West Division
Spruce Grove Saints Top Players:
Frederic Deschenes (1 assist) Was one of the better d-men for the Saints. This kid can skate, move the puck up ice, played very well on the blueline
Brandon Funk (1 assist) Saw a lot of ice, was involved in the play, made some smart plays this evening
James Richards Was another defenceman that played well in the Saints win
Felix Haibock (2 goals) Had a nose for the net. Opened the scoring on the PP and then gave the Saints the 3-1 lead on another power play
Joseph Quintilio (27 saves) I thought played well, especially in the 2nd period with Vernon pressing. The Saints netminder even got some luck as I think a few saves he either didn't see or saw at the last second. Has a quick glove hand, a bigger goaltender that covers a lot of the net
Game Thought's: Spruce Grove Saints
- This was the Saints first ever regular season win in Vernon
- Spruce Grove went 2-6 with the man advantage
- Defenceman Carson Lloyd played with the 2024-25 Vernon Vipers was traded to Spruce Grove October 1st 2024
- I like the Saints 1st period. Spruce Grove gets an early five minute major PP doesn't do a lot of damage but does score just eight seconds into the PP. Spruce Grove was the better team, carried the better of the play, moved the puck well, generated/created chances/looks, not only opened the scoring but put three on the board in a very good 1st period
- Tonight's the first game of a three game road trip
- I really like these uniforms, one of my favorite in the league
- Tonight's the first of four regular season meetings vs the Vipers
- Spruce Grove has a very lively bench, lots of chatter going on through out the game
- The Saints have won four of their last five games and won eight of their last ten games
- I thought both teams were pretty even at times in the 2nd period but it was the hometown Vipers who looked very good, had a slight edge in play. Spruce Grove didn't record nearly as many opportunities or pucks to the net as they did in the opening frame
- I spotted a small handful of Saints fans in the crowd
- The Saints next game is Saturday in West Kelowna
- Spruce Grove went 0-1-1-0 in Vernon last season
- This team can skate, really move the puck, have a quick transition game
- I'm not one to blame the officials but it seemed like the Saints had a lot of the calls go their way this evening
- These two teams will meet again next Friday in Spruce Grove
- Spruce Grove is 5-3-0-0 on the road this season
- Both teams couldn't seem to get much of anything going in the 3rd but it was the Saints who did manage to have the puck on their stick more, forced Vernon into icing the puck often and played well defensively, taking away time and space, not giving the Vipers any chance of a come back
- With the win, Spruce Grove improves to 9-5-0-0 sit 3rd in the Interior East Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Aaron Zulinick
Dome Szongoth
Sebastian Bradshaw
Alex Edwards
Andrei Gandurov
Spruce Grove Saints:
Landon Jamieson
Ben Buckley
Robert Fedor
Owen Leckelt
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Spruce Grove Saints @ Vernon Vipers Friday, November 07, 2025 | BCHL League Site
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.com
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
2 comments:
I think the Vipers played well against a fast paced Spruce Grove team. The Vipers were very easily taken off the puck quite a bit tonight. Also you can't win many games being shorthanded so much, but the reffing was not evened out, the Saints got away with a few non calls on the ice. The Vipers sure have lots of one goal losses this year
The boxscore shows Neka Jean on the Vipers roster, wearing Evan Sundars #21 Jean no longer plays for the Vipers.
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