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Boxscore-Game Summary,
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Vernon Junior Hockey History,
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Tonight is the sixth of seven regular season meetings between the Vernon Vipers & Trail Smoke Eaters.
Image credit: Vernon Vipers
Source: Vernon Vipers X
Bitonti was added to the Vernon Vipers preseason roster September 11th 2025 was released after playing one preseason game.
The Western Hockey League Calgary Hitmen signed Bitonti in September 2024 but has never played a game.
Source: www.chl.ca
Hitmen Sign Forward Jonathan Bitonti - Calgary Hitmen
Jonathan Bitonti's Player Profile:
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Source: www.bchl.ca
Cole Bieksa's Player Profile:
Source: Brooks Bandits YouTube
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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 6.6 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 have 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 some programs and ticket stubs going back to 1988 but have every program and ticket stub from every game since 1990. I worked with the Vipers as colour commentator for a couple of home games during the 2002-03 season and in 2011 helped create/design the Vipers website that I was in charge of running for five seasons.
I was at tonight's Vernon Vipers-Brooks Bandits game as the Bandits won 7-2 in front of 1,934 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Jesse Sanche
Brooks Bandits: Zach Zahara
1st Period: The visiting Brooks Bandits were the better team and it showed for most of the opening period. The Bandits carried and controlled most of the play, had a ton of puck possession, loads of ice time in the offensive zone, were skating circles around the Vipers, were getting lots of pucks to the net and generated/created a ton of opportunities. The Snakes were outplayed, outworked and outskated for most of the period. Vernon went lengthy periods of time with no shots on goal, struggled defensively, struggled offensively, couldn't make a pass, gave up a ton of shots, lots of opportunities. Jesse Sanche was solid in goal, kept the Vipers in the 1st period with several saves with the Bandits pressing. If it wasn't for Vernon's goaltender, Brooks could have easily been up by five or more goals. It was 3-0 Bandits after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 17-9 Brooks.
2nd Period: The Bandits were the better team for most of the middle frame. Brooks for a second straight period, carried the better of the play, controlled the play, had the puck on their stick most of the period, didn't get as many shots on goal as in the 1st period but generated/created several quality opportunities. The Bandits have a quick transition game, move the puck up ice in a hurry, are also very good on the forecheck, were winning the raves/battles, were strong on pucks, forced the Snakes into turnovers. Vernon for a second straight period struggled for most of the period. The hometown Vipers went well over fifteen minutes without a shot on goal, struggled again defensively and offensively. The Vipers had trouble keeping the puck on their stick once getting through the neutral zone. Vernon with a late two man advantage, didn't record a single shot on goal. Jesse Sanche again kept Vernon in the hockey game with little to no help in front of him. It was 5-0 Brooks after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 11-3 Bandits.
3rd Period: The Snakes had a bit of an edge in play in the first half as Vernon had more puck possession early, would finally get some time in the offensive zone and were skating for the first time this evening, played with a little more jump to start the period. Lets not forget it was 5-0 Bandits at this time, so did Brooks take their foot off the gas? The Bandits did eventually re-gain control of the hockey game just before the midway mark and were the better team to finish the 3rd period. Dmitrii Kubantsev would eventually get the Snakes on the scoreboard, before the Bandits blew the game wide open shortly after. Brooks would carry the better of the play for most of the remainder of the period. Tempers heated up as Cole Bieksa dropped the gloves with Frantisek Albrecht. The Bandits would improve to 4-0 vs the Vipers with a 7-2 victory. Shots were 10-9 Vernon.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Henry Colbert "AP" Was recently signed for the 2026-27 season made his Vipers debut Saturday in Brooks, played his second game with the team this evening. 17 years old from San Francisco, California isn't the biggest kid but sure played with a lot of jump/energy. Didn't see the puck much at all but skated up and down the ice, competed, wasn't afraid to get involved in the play/scrums and gave out a couple of hits/checks
Dmitrii Kubantsev (1 goal) laid out two big hits, was one of if not the only forward who did anything with the puck. Kubantsev tried to generate/create some offence stood out for myself in a game that didn't mean anything for the Vipers
Jesse Sanche (30 saves) Was by far Vernon's best player who got no help from his team in front of him, was left out to dry on several occasions, kept the Snakes in this game or Brooks could have easily had another four or five goals. Sanche kept the game close in the 1st period or it could have easily been 5 or 6-0 after one period
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers next game is Friday vs the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters
- The Vipers are 0-4 vs Brooks
- This was not a good hockey game as the Brooks Bandits were by far the better team and fully deserved the outcome. The Vipers with nothing to play for, played like it for most of the hockey game
- Garin Ludwig dropped the gloves with Rylan Hue
- The Vipers have lost four of their last five games and lost seven of their last ten games
- The Bandits were by far the better team in the 1st period. The Snakes were outplayed, outskated, outshot, outscored, struggled offensively, defensively, couldn't make a pass, gave up a ton of shots and a ton of opportunities. Jesse Sanche kept Vernon in the opening frame or it could have easily been 5 or 6-0 Bandits
- Tonight's attendance was 1,934
- The Vipers have two regular season games remaining
- Listening to Matt Cooke on the post game show, the Vipers Head Coach/GM didn't sound happy with his teams performance and effort and said you'll see a different lineup on Friday
- Vernon is 6-15-5-0 at home
- Brooks was again by far the better of the two teams in the 2nd period. The hometown Vipers had just three shots and those three shots were taken within the first three-four minutes of the period. Vernon went the remainder of the period without a shot on goal. The Vipers were once again outplayed, outskated, outscored, struggled at both ends of the rink, relied again on their goaltender to keep them in the contest
- The Vipers are 0-8 all-time vs the Bandits
- The injury bug has hit the Snakes, who are missing several key players out with injury
- The Vipers didn't play with a whole lot of jump/energy, looked out of sorts, looked lifeless at times
- Vernon went 0-4 with the man advantage
- The Snakes have six wins in their last twenty three games
- Cole Bieksa dropped the gloves with Frantisek Albrecht
- Vernon couldn't make a pass tonight. The Vipers were missing their target by a couple of feet, which resulted in a turnover
- The Vipers are 4-13-3-0 vs Alberta teams
- When the opponents score first, Vernon is 3-24
- The Vipers would come out to start the 3rd and have a slight edge in play in the first half. For the first time this evening, the Snakes would get some early puck possession, zone time and have the puck on their stick. Now it was 5-0 Bandits, so did Brooks take their foot off the gas? It didn't really matter because just before the midway mark, the visiting Bandits would re-gain control and carry the better of the play for most of the remainder of the period
- The Vipers have two wins in their last twelve home games
- Vernon struggled at both ends of the rink, had trouble keeping the puck on their stick in the offensive zone and were turning over pucks often in their own end
- Tonight's the first game of a two game homestand
- The Snakes were outplayed for most of the hockey game. Vernon had no answer for the Bandits speed/skill, had troubles defending, were losing a lot of races/puck battles, went lengthy periods of time in the 1st and 2nd periods with no shots on goal
- One of Vernon's lone bright spots was their penalty kill. The Vipers "PK" I thought looked pretty good vs a strong Brooks PP
- The Snakes were not only missing some key players this evening out with injuries but some of their more skilled/offensive players. Sebastian Bradshaw, Evan Sundar & Christian Maro
- The Vipers looked like a team not heading to the playoffs, showed very little compete and weren't in tonight's game
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 14-31-7-0 sits 5th in the Interior West Division, will not make the playoffs for a second straight season
Brooks Bandits Top Performers:
Jack Rosesteel (2 assists) I thought played well, has some skill and was involved in the play often
Isaac Johnson (1 assist) Was another Bandits forward who caught my eye, played well in the victory
Frantisek Albrecht (1 goal) Had a strong game, saw lots of ice time, was involved in the play
Liam Fitzpatrick (1 assist) Was another forward with a strong game
Zachary Deleau Played well on the blueline
Game Thought's: Brooks Bandits
- The Bandits have won five straight games and won nine of their last ten games
- Brooks went 2-6 on the power play
- I saw two Bandits fans in attendance
- The visiting Brooks Bandits were by far the better team in the 1st period. Brooks carried and controlled most of the period, had a ton of puck possession, zone time, were getting lots of pucks to the net, generated/created lots of opportunities, could have easily had 5 or 6 goals in the period if it wasn't for the strong goaltending of Jesse Sanche
- The Bandits next game is Friday in Salmon Arm
- The Bandits have a very good transition game, move the puck in a hurry
- Brooks is 19-5-1-0 on the road
- This was a big game/win for Brooks who are trying to clinch the Interior East Division
- I think this is one of if not the most skilled team I have seen this season
- Forward Leon Bussmann played 13 games with the Vernon Vipers, was traded to Brooks January 1st
- The Bandits have outscored the Snakes 24-12 in four games this season
- Brooks was by far the better team in the 2nd period. Once again, the Bandits carried and controlled most of the play, had the puck on their stick a lot, didn't get a lot of shots on goal but did score two goals to take a 5-0 lead into the 3rd. Brooks has a very strong forecheck, gave Vernon's defence all kinds of trouble. The Bandits won a lot of the races/puck battles, are very skilled and hard to defend
- The Bandits have two regular season games remaining
- The Bandits have won eighteen of their last twenty two games
- With a 5-0 lead heading into the 3rd, I think Brooks took their foot off the gas, but not for long as the visiting Bandits would add two more goals to jump out to a 7-1 lead. After Vernon had a slight edge in play early to start the period, Brooks would pick it up a notch and carry the better of the play for the remainder of the period
- This is a very good/skilled hockey club that will be hard to beat come playoffs
- The Bandits are 2-0 in Vernon
- With the win, Brooks improves to 36-11-5-0 sits 1st in the Interior East Division are two points ahead of the Blackfalds Bulldogs
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Sebastian Bradshaw (Injured)
Christian Maro (Injured)
Brayden Pankey (Injured)
Evan Sundar (Injured)
Connor Dick (Suspended)
Oliver Kanat
Brooks Bandits:
Mark Konstantinov
Brody Barta
Michael Marsalek
Nicolas Addy
Michael Kucherawy
Connor Johnson
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Brooks Bandits @ Vernon Vipers Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | BCHL League Site
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Vernon Junior Hockey History,
