Game Recap: Brooks Bandits 7 Vernon Vipers 4

I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following junior hockey in Vernon my entire life. I have had season tickets since 1990 missing 46 home games since. I worked with the Vipers as colour commentator for a few games during the 2002-03 season. In 2011 I helped design and create the Vipers website and was in charge of running the website for five seasons. I started and created this blog in 2008 and have over 5.9 million viewers. 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 was at tonight's Vernon Vipers-Brooks Bandits game as the Bandits won 7-4 in front of 1,657 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Oliver Kanat
Brooks Bandits: Zach Zahara

1st Period: The hometown Vipers with a great start were the better team for most of the period. The Vipers had more zone time, had the better of the chances, looked sharp, were skating, moving the puck and making plays and lots of them. Vernon jumped out to a 2-0 lead and looked to be in control. Brooks needed to shake off the bus legs but got their game going after the first five to six minutes and played better as the period went on. The visiting Bandits had a couple of looks but not a whole lot of quality opportunities were outshot 6-2 early. It was 2-0 Vipers after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 15-11 Vernon.

2nd Period: The Snakes carried the play for most of the period, but a period where they couldn't get much going offensively. The Vipers couldn't seem to click, didn't generate much for offence, had lots of play in the offensive zone but not a lot of looks/opportunities. Vernon was the better team, had the better of the play. Samuel Charko had an opportunity on an odd man rush to make it 3-0 instead, the Bandits catch a lucky bounce and go the other way to get back in the hockey game and cut Vernon's lead to one. Twenty seconds later, Brooks would capitalize on a second bounce, tying the game 2-2 just over two minutes into the middle frame. The Bandits had no business being in this hockey game but after a couple of lucky bounces it's a different game. Brooks capitalized on a couple of lucky bounces go their way, scoring twice in twenty seconds. The Bandits played most of the period in their own end, get the breaks and bounces go their way were very fortunate to even be in this game. The Bandits took their first lead of the evening at 19:54 It was 4-3 Brooks after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 12-6 Vipers.

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

3rd Period: The Snakes replaced starting goaltender Oliver Kanat with Colton Jugnauth to start the period. Vernon started the period down 4-3 and on the PK. The visiting Brooks Bandits would get two goals in 1:25 to take a 6-3 lead and basically put the game away. The Bandits carried a lot of the play early, had several odd man rushes, were outskating the Vipers on almost every shift before the game turned ugly with a couple of big hits that lead to a couple of fights and lots of pushing and shoving. The game seemed to settle down and then it looked like the Bandits took their foot off the gas as Vernon was able to gain some possession and had the better of the play now and again at different times in a game that was basically over. Lots of whistles and the odd shot taken at each team with some coaches arguing with the officials lead to a very lengthy drawn out period. The Bandits would win 7-4. Shots were 14-9 Brooks.

Vernon Vipers Top Players:

Samuel Charko I thought played very well in the first two periods. I really liked his game on Saturday in the win over Cranbrook. Charko had an opportunity in the 2nd to give the Vipers a 3-0 lead but couldn't convert on the odd man rush, shortly after the Bandits score on a lucky bounce and get back into the game

The line of Evan Sundar (2 assists), Toms Trockis (1 goal) and Dmitrii Kubantsev (1 goal) was buzzing in the first two periods. This line looked real good in the win over Cranbrook on Saturday, has been the Snakes best unit the past several weeks. This line is playing with a lot of chemistry and seems to be clicking

Deagan McMillan (1 goal) The Vipers captain returned to the lineup after serving a two game suspension, I thought come to play and played hard. Scored a highlight reel goal in the 3rd

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- The Vipers are 0-2 vs Brooks

- The Vipers next game is Friday in Cranbrook

- The Snakes are 3-5-4-0 at home 

- One of the better 1st periods this season. The Vipers with a great start, played a heck of an opening period were the better team. Vernon jumped on Brooks early, were outshooting the Bandits 6-2 and up 2-0 at one point. The Vipers were skating, moving the puck, making plays, carried the better of the play, had more opportunities

- Tonight was the Vipers third game in six days

- Vernon is 0-6 all-time vs the Brooks Bandits

- Graham Turnbull said on the broadcast, a new player will be joining the Vipers tomorrow

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

- Vernon went 1-3 with the power play

- The Snakes have played twelve of their last seventeen games on the road

- The Vipers may have given up more goals but I thought Vernon was the better team in the 2nd period. The hometown Vipers carried the better of the play, had more puck possession, more zone time, but struggled offensively. The Snakes didn't get a whole lot of quality chances, couldn't seem to make any plays. Two bad bounces go the Bandits way and Brooks ties the game with two goals in twenty seconds. I thought the Vipers responded well after giving up back to back goals, eventually took a 3-2 lead but then on the next shift the Bandits catch another lucky break and capitalize on a third bounce that went their way. Brooks who had no business being in this hockey game, score in the dying seconds to take their first lead of the night. I thought the Vipers should have pulled Oliver Kanat and called a timeout after the third Brooks goal

- Tonight's attendance was announced at 1,657

- Tonight was the second and final game of a two game home stand

- Former Vipers Scout/Assistant Coach Kevin Pederson was in attendance

- The Vipers have lost twelve of their last fourteen games

- The Snakes had several bounces/lucky breaks go against them tonight

- Oliver Kanat who has been so great this season, had an off night, was pulled after two periods giving up four goals on six shots in the 2nd period. I think Kanat would like to have back the 3rd and 4th goals

- Captain Deagan McMillan returned to the lineup after serving his two game suspension

- Down 4-3 heading into the 3rd the Vipers give up two goals in 1:25 are down 6-3 and the games basically over. With the game out of reach this isn't much of a game as both teams are just wanting to go home. The Bandits were by far the better team, blowing the game wide open to start the period and then had chance after chance after chance with several odd man rushes. The Vipers did gain some puck possession and had a bit of edge in play but the Bandits already took their foot off the gas. This was a very lengthy period, with several video reviews, problems with the scoreclock and several whistles

- I felt sorry for Colton Jugnauth who was thrown out to the wolves to start the period. Jugnauth come into the 3rd period cold and then gives up two quick goals on two, maybe three shots, was hung out to dry

- Tonight was just the Vipers fifth home game since October 4th

- Vernon had the Bandits on the rope with a 2-0 lead, if the Vipers score the next goal this is a different hockey game and maybe a different outcome, instead the Bandits catch a couple of breaks, tie the game before taking the lead and never look back

- Former Vipers Bryce Kakoske, Kevin Kraus and Colton Sparrow were in attendance

- For the first time this season, the Vipers goaltending wasn't very sharp tonight. You can bet both goaltenders want a couple of goals back

- The Vipers looked so good and played so well in the first period, gave away two points tonight in a game they were the better team after two periods

- A very small crowd tonight. The smallest crowd of the season. Midweek games never draw well

- With the loss, Vernon falls to 5-14-5-0 sit 4th in the Interior West Division

Brooks Bandits Top Players:

Harry Ahlberg (2 goals) Has some size, scored twice, looked good up front for the Brooks Bandits

Alexei Zhukrov Was one of the better skaters, impressed me with his skating as well as his compete. I thought he played well and stood out, even though not recording any points

Isaac Johnson (3 goals) Now has fifteen on the season, scored three straight goals to give the Bandits the lead. Johnson seemed to be at the right place, at the right time

Connor Paronuzzi (1 assist) I liked this kids game, thought he was involved in the play often, made plays happen

Zachary Deleau (2 assists) Not the biggest d-man but played well on the Bandits blueline

Zach Zahara (32 saves) Was the busier of the three goaltenders, made several big saves in the first two periods, keeping Brooks in the hockey game, played very well

Game Thought's: Brooks Bandits

- The Bandits are 3-0 all-time in Vernon

- Brooks went 1-3 with the man advantage

- The Bandits didn't get off to a great start, were outplayed early and often as it was 2-0 Vernon and shots were 6-2 early in favor of the hometown Vipers. Brooks seemed to shake off the bus legs, slowly got going about five to six minutes into the 1st period, played better as the period went along but the Snakes were the better team. Brooks had a couple of looks/chances but didn't generate a whole lot of quality opportunities. Zach Zahara kept his team in the game with some key saves

- Nicolas Addy should get suspended after smashing the face of a Viper player head first into the ice during an altercation in the 3rd period. Addy laid out a couple of cheap shots tonight, was then giving the team high fives after he made his way to the dressing room

- The Bandits are 9-4-0-0 on the road

- The Bandits defeated the Vipers 6-4 November 15th in Brooks 

- The Bandits next game is Friday in Trail

- Brooks has won three of their last five games and won seven of their last ten games

- The visiting Brooks Bandits score four goals on six shots in the 2nd period, in a period they were outplayed for most of the period. The Bandits played most of the period in their own end, catch some lucky bounces that go there way and score a couple of goals, Vernon's goaltender would like to have back. The Bandits were close to going down 3-0 instead, capitalize on a couple of bounces, scoring twice in twenty seconds

- Give the Bandits credit, for battling some adversity, caught some breaks/bounces didn't quit

- The Bandits were late getting onto the ice to start the game, just barely making it out for the national anthem and then the coaching staff don't join the team until after the national anthem

- Tonight's the second game of a four game road trip

- Brooks got a lot of bounces and puck luck go there way tonight

- Leading 4-3 heading into the 3rd, the Bandits put the game away early with two quick goals 1:25 into the 3rd as Brooks was the better of the two teams in the final frame. The Bandits jumped on Vernon early and often to start the 3rd, had several odd man rushes, could have easily added a couple of more goals if they connected. As the period went on, Brooks took their foot off the gas

- If you weren't at tonight's game and saw the boxscore, you would think the Bandits won easily but Brooks was lucky to be in tonight's game as the Vipers game away two points in a game they should have won

- With the win, Brooks improves to 15-8-2-0 sit 2nd in the Interior East Division

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Dome Szongoth
Koji Gibson
Oscar Bjork

Brooks Bandits:

Harijis Cjunskis
Dante Siciliano
Mark Konstantinov
Mathis Dufour
Brody Barta
Brett Calhoon
Lincoln Molind

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Brooks Bandits @ Vernon Vipers Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | BCHL League Site

Game Report,

Game Report

Text Box Score,

Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.com

Vernon Junior Hockey History website,

VernonJrAHockey.CA