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-West Kelowna Warriors game as the Vipers won 3-2 in overtime in front of 1,902 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Samuel DiBlasi
West Kelowna Warriors: Ethan Sawyer
Before tonight's game, the Vipers announced their leadership group, naming defenceman Brayden Pankey captain for the 2026-27 season.
1st Period: The Vipers were the better team for most of the opening frame. The Vipers looked to open the scoring three minutes into the 1st period but the goal was waived off after video review due to goaltender interference. Vernon carried and controlled a lot of the play, had more puck possession, more zone time and several opportunities. The visiting West Kelowna Warriors played ok at times but struggled offensively. The Warriors didn't have the puck on their stick often, didn't get a whole lot of looks at the net or generate a ton of opportunities, needed eighteen and a half minutes to get their first shot on goal. Ethan Sawyer was good in goal, keeping the Tribe in the game. It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 12-3 Vernon.
2nd Period: The Snakes were the better team to start. Josh Denes with his first BCHL goal on the man advantage opens the scoring at 2:49 before Cole Bieksa was given a five minute major/game misconduct for boarding, which resulted in a scrum before everyone gets involved. Van Martin drops the gloves with Carter Rebman. The Warriors did get a couple of looks on the man advantage but mustered only three shots on goal as Vernon killed off the major. Mason Kim was awarded a shorthanded penalty shot, hit the post. About three minutes later West Kelowna goes back to the PP and capitalizes. After all said and done I thought the Vipers were the better team, even with the Warriors on the power play for seven minutes in the second half of the period. The Snakes hit two goal posts. How good was Vernon's PK? It was 1-1 after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 9-7 West Kelowna.
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