I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following junior hockey in Vernon my entire life. I started and created this blog in November 2008 and have over 10 million viewers. I have had season tickets since 1990 and missed 46 home games since. My family watched senior men's hockey in Vernon in the 1950's and has been watching/following junior hockey in Vernon since Vernon got a team in 1961. I have two family members that played junior hockey in Vernon. I have programs and ticket stubs from every game since 1988. I worked with the Vipers as colour commentator for a few home games during the 2002-03 season and in 2011 I helped create/design the Vipers website that I was in charge of for five seasons.
I was at tonight's Vernon Vipers-Blackfalds Bulldogs game as the Vipers won 4-1 in front of 1,623 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Samuel DiBlasi
Blackfalds Bulldogs: Oliver Kiraly
2nd Period: Both teams were pretty even in the first half but again the Snakes were still the better team. The play was a lot more back and fourth but the Vipers were able to do a lot more with the play when having puck possession. Vernon generated a lot more offence/opportunities, while the Dawgs struggled offensively, couldn't generate or create a ton of chances when having puck possession. The hometown Vipers caught a huge break just before the halfway mark, when it looked like the Bulldogs tied the game, but the goal was quickly waived off and blown down on a Blackfalds penalty. The Vipers would quickly make the Bulldogs pay, scored with the man advantage and making it 2-0. This was a big turning point in the hockey game. The Snakes weren't very sharp, made some mistakes and got a little sloppy at times, letting Blackfalds to hang in the hockey game. Vernon's power play struggled or the Vipers could have blown this game open. A lengthy delay towards the end of the period with a video review and then both officials talking to both benches, took close to ten or so minutes. Afterwards the final five minutes seemed to drag on with lots of stoppages and whistles, really dragged things out. It was 2-0 Vipers after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 14-4 Vernon.
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3rd Period: The Bulldogs jumped on Vernon early, and were the better team early. The Dawgs got to within a goal less then two minutes into the final frame. Blackfalds picked up the pace, were skating, moving the puck, were strong on the forecheck, were physical and pressed early. I thought Blackfalds was the better team at times and had a slight edge in play at times. Leon Brunn missed the net on a penalty shot, which was a big blow to the Bulldogs, who could have got back in the hockey game. The Vipers were back on their heels early, got sloppy, were running around, gave up an early goal, didn't look good to start the 3rd. Vernon re-grouped and played a little better but weren't very sharp, were able to capitalize with the man advantage, to re-gain the two goal lead. Samuel DiBlasi didn't see much action in the first two periods, had to be alert, made some key saves in the 3rd. The Dawgs pressed at different times, just don't have the skilled/offensive players couldn't mount a comeback as the Vipers won 4-1. Shots were 11-9 Blackfalds.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Van Martin (2 assists) I thought didn't stand out in Saturday's win over Salmon Arm did play fairly well, picked up two helpers this afternoon, was one of Vernon's better players today. Martin played with energy, was involved in the play through out the game
Will Johnson Was another forward who impressed me, I thought he played very well this afternoon. Carried the puck a lot, tried to create/generate some offence, was involved in the play
Samuel DiBlasi (23 saves) Didn't see whole lot of action in the first two periods, was finally tested early and often in the 3rd with the visiting Bulldogs pressing. After giving up the early goal in the 3rd, I thought maybe it would bother him and he may lose his focus but he stuck with it, was sharp making several saves along the way
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- Today was the first of four regular season meetings vs the Bulldogs
- Vernon played a disciplined game
- With the Bulldogs playing their third game in three days, the Snakes should have put this game away early but instead allowed the Dawgs to hang around all game
- Vipers have won five straight, when was the last time we won five straight? A long time ago that's for sure
- The Vipers next game is Friday vs the visiting West Kelowna Warriors
- Vernon has yet to give up a power play goal this season
- I thought the Snakes looked good and played very well, were the better team in the 1st period. The Vipers carried and controlled the opening frame, had more zone time, more puck possession, more shots, more opportunities, could have been up by a couple of goals but Blackfalds goaltender played well, making a couple of large saves
- Today is the third game of a four game home stand
- The Vipers went 2-2 vs Blackfalds last season
- Another disappointing/small crowd this afternoon
- Vipers were lucky to get the win, if Blackfalds was a better team, I don't know if Vernon would have won
- Oscar Bjork spent the 2024-25 season with the Blackfalds Bulldogs, was traded to Vernon September 24th 2025
- The Snakes struggled with the man advantage, weren't very sharp, some poor passes, missjudgement and couldn't seem to get any flow going
- Both teams were pretty even at times in the 2nd period as the play went back and fourth, but I still thought Vernon was the better team. The Vipers didn't look sharp, made some mistakes but still generated more offensive opportunities, had more opportunities and had a lot more shots on goal
- It was sure nice to see someone other then Salmon Arm play as the Vipers have played 10 preseason/regular season games, with five of those games being vs Salmon Arm
- Today's attendance was announced at 1,623
- Vernon had trouble keeping the puck on their sticks and getting sustained pressure
- The Snakes went 2-9 on the power play
- The Vipers struggled early to start the 3rd period, were real sloppy, struggled in their own end, gave up a quick goal less then two minutes into the period, were lucky to escape after scoring a PP goal and not giving up a goal on a penalty shot. The Bulldogs were the better team, had more edge in play, had a little more puck possession and generate more opportunities
- The Vipers are 3-0-0-0 at home
- Vernon should have put this game away in the 1st or 2nd period. The Snakes could have easily been up by a couple of goals after one period, and then should have put the game away in the 2nd period with all the missed opportunities on the power play
- The Snakes have won five straight and five of their first six games
- I didn't think the Vipers looked or played that bad, they just weren't very sharp or crisp today. Made lots of mistakes and got sloppy at times, were lucky the Bulldogs didn't have a better team and potted a couple of goals
- I couldn't understand why the video review on the Cole Bieksa/Krisjanis Sarts fight took so long? That delay took close to ten minutes and really dragged the 2nd period on
- With the win, Vernon improves to 5-1-0-0 sits 1st in the Interior West Division
Blackfalds Bulldogs Top Performers:
Matthew Croxall Was one of a few lone bright spots for the Dawgs. This kid can skate, has some speed and played with some jump, was one of the more dangerous forwards, had a couple of quality chances
Oliver Kiraly (31 saves) Was the busier of the two netminders, made at least four or five large saves or this game may have been over much earlier. Kiraly played very well and kept Blackfalds in the hockey game
Game Thought's: Blackfalds Bulldogs
- Today was the Bulldogs sixth game of a six game road trip
- Blackfalds went 0-2 on the power play
- The Bulldogs were outplayed for most of the 1st period. Blackfalds had a couple of good shifts but other wise it was all Vernon, who carried and controlled the opening frame. The Dawgs saw a lot of the period in their own end, relied on their goaltender to keep them in the contest
- Your not going to win many hockey games playing shorthanded as the Bulldogs take a lot of penalties and spent a lot of time in the penalty box today
- Blackfalds didn't impress me at all as I didn't think they have much of a team
- Today is the Bulldogs third game in three days
- The Bulldogs are 1-5-0-0 on the road
- The Bulldogs and Vipers were a lot more evenly played in the 2nd period but I thought the Vipers were still the better team. The play may have gone back and fourth but the Dawgs only managed four shots on goal and struggled offensively. Blackfalds was very lucky the Snakes PP wasn't clicking or Vernon could have easily blown this game open
- The Bulldogs next game is Friday vs the visiting Victoria Grizzlies
- Blackfalds lacks offence as they don't seem to have many skilled or offensive players and this weekend showed that, were shutout 6-0 Friday in Salmon Arm, 3-0 Saturday in West Kelowna and scored once today
- The Bulldogs have lost five straight and six of their first seven games
- The Bulldogs play five of their next six games at home
- For a team that didn't deserve to be in today's hockey game, Blackfalds jumped on Vernon early to start the 3rd period and it paid off as the Dawgs got to within a goal less then a minute into the period. The Bulldogs were the better team, having more of an edge in play, generate/created several looks/chances but couldn't capitalize. Leon Brunn missed the net on a penalty shot, that could have got them to within a goal
- With the loss, Blackfalds falls to 2-5-0-0 sits 4th in the Interior East Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Aaron Zulinick
Cohen Handby
Roman Lavery
Blackfalds Bulldogs:
Gavin Karl
Nicholas DiPaolo
Jeppe Bertram
Nico Armelin
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Vernon Junior Hockey History,
3 comments:
This should have been an easy win for the Vipers
The Vipers have been very entertaining to watch this season being coming up on the winning side of things and play 4 lines with each man stepping in for each other. But you sure notice when they let off the gas as play on their heels it really shows and is disappointing even knowing a team we are playing is just a little bit behind in standings. The Vipers can’t afford to let off the gas we need 60 mins off hard play and I know it’s hard for any team to put in a full 60 mins of hockey but they need to play hard the full 60 minutes of ice time they have. Go Vipers Go
Taking the foot off the pedal. The coaching staff have eyes and are more than aware of lazy attitude. It’s early in the season so let’s be patient
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