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-Salmon Arm Silverbacks game as the Vipers defeated the Express 8-2 in front of 2,004 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Samuel DiBlasi
Coquitlam Express: Charles-Antoine Girard
2nd Period: The Snakes didn't look as sharp or nearly as quick as they did in the 1st period, but yet Vernon was the better of the two teams, carried and controlled most of the play. This was no where bear as exciting and entertaining as the first period, as both teams weren't skating or playing as hard as they did in the first twenty minutes. The Vipers looked a little laid back, maybe took their foot off the gas? But still were able to carry the better of the play, had more puck possession, more zone time and spent a lot of the period in the offensive zone. The Vipers didn't get a whole lot of looks or quality chances, were able to control the play and keep the puck on their stick and away from the visiting Express. Mason Kim was denied on a penalty shot. The Express who looked like a different team, compared to the opening frame, didn't have a great 2nd period. Coquitlam struggled to get out of their own end, struggled offensively, spent most of the middle frame playing in their own end. The visiting Express went lengthy periods of time without a shot on goal. The Express were the only team to score a goal this period. Charles-Antoine Girard was forced to make a couple of big saves, one including the penalty shot, was good between the pipes. It was 3-1 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 11-4 Vipers.
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3rd Period: Both teams didn't look very sharp early but not long into the period, Vernon would take over the edge in play and outplay Coquitlam for the entire period. The hometown Vipers carried and controlled most of the final frame, spent most of the period in the offensive zone. The Snakes had a ton of puck possession, zone time, were all over the ice, created/generated a ton of looks and opportunities. Vernon would eventually take a 5-1 lead before the Express lost their composure and started running around taking undisciplined penalties. The Vipers played over half the period on the power play. Charles-Antoine Girard had to be sharp as he was peppered with shots. The Snakes were buzzing in and around the goal. Coquitlam didn't look good at all, lost their composure and the wheels fell off as the Express were totally outskated, outplayed and spent most of the period in their own end. One of the strangest plays/goals I think I have ever seen at a Vipers game was on a delayed Coquitlam penalty, the Vipers shot went off Shaenan Long's skate and rolled into the Vipers empty net. Most fans in the rink figured the goal wouldn't count as it hit or touched a Coquitlam player, as the Vipers bench looked confused, the officials had a brief discussion before having the following faceoff in the Express zone. The goal was added to the scoreboard and eventually announced inside the rink. My question is, if the goal counted, why wasn't the faceoff at center ice? As the game continued the Snakes blew the game wide open and could have added another three or four goals with all the power play's but after the final buzzer, the Vipers come away with the 8-2 victory. Shots were 17-2 Vernon.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Mason Kim (2 goals & 2 assists) Was all over the rink this evening. Kim played very well and his four point night, proved that. Kim was skating, played with a lot of jump/energy, was buzzing up and down the wing, creating/generating lots of scoring chances. Kim was denied on a 2nd period penalty shot.
Ryan Fairbairn (1 goal) I thought played a strong game on the Snakes blueline. I have been very impressed with Fairbairn this season
Will Johnson (2 assists) Played well, picking up two helpers
Luca Pura (1 goal & 2 assists) I have liked since day 1 Played very well collecting three points
Samuel DiBlasi (18 saves) Wasn't tested often tonight, but I thought made a couple of large saves in the 1st period. DiBlasi was forced to make a couple of big stops on two PK's in the 1st period.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers next game is Friday in Cranbrook
- Tonight's attendance was announced at 2,004
- The Snakes are 6-0-1-0 at home
- The Vipers played a heck of a 1st period in a period where they looked very good. The Snakes were skating hard, played with a lot of jump/energy, had several good looks/chances, opened the scoring, before getting two goals, twenty three seconds apart late in the period to take a 3-0 lead. This was a very exciting and entertaining period
- Tonight was the second game of a two game home stand
- Vernon went 2-7 with the man advantage
- The Snakes are 2-0-1-0 vs teams from the Coastal Conference
- It was sure nice to see someone other then Salmon Arm or West Kelowna. Prior to tonight, the Vipers have played six home games, five of the six home games were vs West Kelowna or Salmon Arm
- Witt the win, Vernon moves into 1st overall in league standings
- The Snakes didn't look as sharp in the 2nd period but were the better team, carried and controlled most of the play. Vernon had more puck possession, more zone time, didn't get many looks or opportunities but spent most of the period in the offensive zone. Mason Kim was stopped on a penalty shot
- If the Vipers power play was clicking, they could have easily had another three or four goals
- Since the 2003-04 regular season, the Vipers are 17-9-3-0 vs Coquitlam
- After their worst game of the season Friday in a 4-3 overtime loss to West Kelowna, the Snakes responded with a much better effort and performance in a statement game vs one of the league's top teams
- The Vipers have won three of their last five games are 5-5 in their last ten games
- I wasn’t expecting a blowout. With Coquitlam and Vernon near the top of the league I was expecting a much closer game.
- Cole Bieksa played with the 2025-26 Coquitlam Express was traded to Vernon January 6th 2026
- Vernon was by far the better team as the hometown Vipers outplayed the Express in the 3rd period. The Snakes carried and controlled most of the play, spent most of the period in the offensive zone. Vernon had more puck possession, more zone time, had a ton of looks/opportunities, blew the game wide open with five goals
- For the first time in I don't know how many seasons, this year the Vipers have recruited very very well and brought in kids with talent & skill and it's shown this season on many nights
- With the win, Vernon improves to 12-4-2-0 sits 1st in the Interior West Division
Coquitlam Express Top Performers:
Tyler Chiovetti Was facing his former team, looked good in the 1st period. Chiovetti played with pace, had some jump/energy in his game
Charles-Antoine Girard (29 saves) Tried to keep his team in the game as long as he could. Was forced to make several saves in the 1st period, wasn't tested as often in the 2nd period but still had to be alert and come up with at least three or four saves and then didn't get any help from his team in the 3rd and was left out to dry
Game Thought's: Coquitlam Express
- Tonight's the third game of a three game road trip
- Spotted a few Express fans in attendance
- Coquitlam went 0-3 on the power play
- The Express played very well, looked good in the 1st period. Coquitlam moved the puck well, had several good looks, generated/created some opportunities, held their own vs the Vipers on the road. The visiting Express were unable to capitalize on two PPs and gave up two late goals twenty three seconds apart, that seemed to be the back breaker
- The Express have won four of their last five games and won eight of their last ten games
- One of the strangest plays/goals I think I have ever seen was Coquitlam's second goal. The Vipers were going on a delayed penalty and the puck hit a Coquitlam player in the skate, the puck rolled down and into the empty net. Most Vipers fans thought the play was dead and should be no goal, but the goal stood. The Vipers bench looked confused and instead of the following faceoff at center ice, the faceoff was in the Express zone. Very weird
- Michael Munroe played parts of two seasons in Vernon with the Vipers between 2024-2026
- The Express are 4-2-1-0 on the road
- The Express would score the only goal of the 2nd period in a period where they didn't look very good, or play very well. Coquitlam spent most of the period in their own end, went lengthy periods of time without a shot on goal, struggled in their own end and struggled offensively. Other then keeping the Vipers off the scoreboard, Coquitlam couldn't do much of anything
- The Express last regular season win in Vernon was a 5-4 victory on January 4th 2020
- Tyler Chiovetti played with the 2025-26 Vernon Vipers
- The visiting Express were once again outplayed in the 3rd, as the Vipers blew the game open, Coquitlam lost their composure and started taking undisciplined penalties, spending over half of the period shorthanded. The Express spent most of the period in their own end, went lengthy periods of time with no shots on goal, struggled in their own end and struggled offensively. Charles-Antoine Girard tried keeping the team in the game, was busy facing seventeen Vernon shots
- For a team 3rd overall in league standings, I wasn't overly impressed with Coquitlam. They looked good and played very well in the 1st period but otherwise were outplayed in the 2nd and 3rd periods
- With the loss, Coquitlam falls to 10-3-2-0 sits 2nd in the Coastal East Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Cohen Handby (Injured)
Mykolas Skadauskas (Injured)
Coquitlam Express:
Daniel Morozov
Joe Mense
Julian Revel
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Vernon Junior Hockey History,
1 comment:
What, how come the Vipers won that big as the Express I thought was the better team. Wow Salmon Arm beat my Warriors again tonight, This time 2-1
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