I have had season tickets for 29 years and been following Junior hockey in Vernon for over thirty five years. I haven't missed a home game in nine years. I have only missed three home games since 1998-99 season. For anyone who could not attend or watch tonight’s Vipers game here are my thoughts and views from tonight’s game. You may agree or disagree but we all have our own view and opinion on any game we watch. This is my opinion and my thoughts on how I saw tonight’s game. I try to be unbiased and give a fare recap on both sides. Thanks for stopping by & visiting my blog.
I was at tonight's Vipers-Centennials exhibition game as Vernon defeated Merritt 2-1 at Kal Tire Place. No attendance was announced.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Aidan Hosein
Merritt: Austin Roden
1st Period: A minute into the game Brendan Schneider tried putting home a wrap around before throwing the puck out front before the Vipers were able to clear the puck out of harms way. Less then a minute later Mathieu Gosselin with a quality chance couldn't beat Aidan Hosein. The Cents with two good opportunities not even a minute into the hockey game. The Snakes would get the games first powerplay just over two minutes in. Vernon would only record two shots but no real pressure as the Centennials with a pretty solid penalty kill, killed off the minor. Just as the penalty expired, Brad Cocca with a quality chance in front couldn't solve Aidan Hosein. Shortly after Michael Van Unen had a good look, couldn't capitalize as Merritt with back to back chances just over five minutes in. Merritt was outshooting Vernon 9-2 at the midway mark. The Snakes would get their second PP of the evening at the halfway mark but struggle as the Centennials killed off another penalty. Vernon unable to generate much for offence on the man advantage. With three and a half minutes remaining Josh Prokop and Riley Andres lead a two on one attack. Prokop kept and shot was denied by Austin Roden on the odd man rush. With a minute and a half remaining Alex Swetlikoff tried setting up new recruit Teddy Wooding on an odd man rush who couldn't connect on the pass. The Vipers with two good opportunities late in the frame. It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Cents carried the better of the play at times, had more quality chances. The Vipers struggled offensively getting bodies and pucks to the net. The Snakes did a better job at getting pucks to the net in the second half but other then two, maybe three chances didn't generate much for offence. Vipers starting goaltender Aidan Hosein had to be sharp made some big stops. Vipers go 0-2 with the man advantage. Merritt outshot Vernon 13-10.
2nd Period: Sixteen seconds into the middle frame Viper recruit Nichalas Ardanaz's point shot was redirected in front by new recruit Teddy Wooding, giving Vernon an early 1-0 lead at 0:16 Ardanaz drew the lone assist. Just minutes later Frazer Dodd with a great look in front, couldn't beat Vipers starting goaltender Aidan Hosein with traffic in front. Both teams would switch goaltenders around the halfway mark. Vipers starting goaltender Aidan Hosein didn't allow a goal on 21 Merritt shots, was replaced by backup netminder Geo Wilson. Centennials starting goaltender Austin Roden gave up one goal on 16 Vernon shots, was replaced by backup goaltender Vincent Duplessis. On the following faceoff Duplessis didn't even have time to settle into the contest after Wyatt Andres come out from the corner looked to beat Duplessis five hole, giving Vernon a 2-0 lead at 10:09 Josh Latta with the helper. Duplessis allowing a goal on his first shot. The Cents battled back and minutes later forced Geo Wilson into making back to back saves from in close, keeping this a two goal game. Merritt seemed to rally after giving up the second goal, coming on strong shortly after. The Centennials would get their first and only look with the powerplay with about five minutes left in the 2nd period. Merritt firing pucks to the net, once again forced Geo Wilson into making some big saves. Thanks to Wilson the Vipers were able to kill off the penalty. Late in the frame the Snakes would get their third look with the man advantage but couldn't capitalize. In the dying seconds of the PP #10 (not listed on the lineup sheet) broke in shorthanded was denied in close by Geo Wilson. The Cents would kill off the minor. It was 2-0 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. Vernon opened the scoring just sixteen seconds into the period, looked good in the opening four or five minutes. The Vipers using their speed were finally going to the net early but couldn't keep it up for the entire frame. Merritt seemed to get their game going just before the halfway mark and carried the better of the play into the second half. The Centennials with several good opportunities couldn't beat Geo Wilson. Wilson had to be sharp keeping the Snakes in the hockey game. For a second straight period Merritt had the better of the chances. Merritt outshot Vernon 14-9.
3rd Period: The Vipers would get an early powerplay into the final frame but again unable to capitalize with the man advantage. The Cents looked to have more in the tank, slowly started to take over the game as the period went along. The Vipers defence was having all kinds of trouble clearing the front of the net and zone as Merritt was pressing hard. Geo Wilson forced to make a few big stops early. The Cents would eventually get on the board after Brendan Schneider was denied in front before Mathieu Gosselin buried the rebound cutting Vernon's lead to 2-1 at 6:35 Schneider & Brad Cocca collected the assists. Around the midway mark Geo Wilson made two quick back to back saves keeping the Snakes in the hockey game. It was all Merritt in the 3rd with the Centennials pressing. With about five minutes left Brad Cocca ripped a low shot, forcing Geo Wilson into flashing the leather, making a nice glove save. With about four minutes remaining Teddy Wooding looked to give Vernon a two goal lead, beat Vincent Duplessis but not the crossbar. The Centennials dominated the final minutes waited extra long before getting Vincent Duplessis to the bench. The Cents would eventually get Dupless to the bench with fourty one seconds left. Merritt with a ton of pressure in and around the Viper crease couldn't get the puck through a maze of players. Geo Wilson once again had to be alert and sharp making some key saves inside the final minute before the Vipers were able to clear the zone and excape. The Snakes would hang on for the 2-1 victory. Basically it was all Merritt most of if not the entire 3rd period. The Cents took advantage of the Vipers young defence, generated lots of good chances. Vernon back on their heels for a lot of the third, had troubles clearing the zone, coughed up the puck a few times inside their own end. Give credit to Geo Wilson who played well in the final twenty minutes, gave Vernon a chance to win. Merritt outshot Vernon 16-8.
Top Player's: (Vernon)
Michael Young Is returning for a second season with the Snakes I thought played very well on the backend. His veteran presence was big mixed in with all the young kids playing.
Nichalas Ardanaz (1 assist) I thought looked very impressive for his age. I thought he played well during training camp this week, didn't look out of place tonight. Has committed to the Vipers for 2019-20.
Geo Wilson (22 saves) I thought was very solid between the pipes for Vernon. Played the second half of the game, only allowing one goal in the 3rd period. This kid is quick, acrobatic and doesn't give up many if any second opportunities.
Aidan Hosein (21 saves) Started the game, didn't allow a goal before being taken out about halfway through the contest. I thought made some big saves in the 1st period. Played well.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
I thought the Vipers played well in the 1st didn't get a lot of pucks or bodies to the net in the first half, seemed to do much better in the second half. Vernon only had maybe three or four quality chances in the opening frame. I thought the Vipers got off to a good start in the 2nd period, opened the scoring but gave up way too many opportunities. Both goaltenders played well. In the 3rd it was all Merritt as the young Vipers had troubles defending against a more veteran Centennials club. The Snakes defence had troubles clearing the front of the net and zone in that final frame, were lucky the Cents didn't find the back of the net on a few occasions. If it wasn't for the goaltending of Geo Wilson, this would have easily been a different score/outcome. Overall the Centennials were the better team. The Vipers went with a much more younger/inexperienced lineup and it showed. Vernon had troubles getting pucks to the net, didn't generate or create a lot of offence, didn't have a ton of offensive opportunities. I didn't notice second year Viper forward Keyvan Mokhtari in the 2nd or 3rd periods. I couldn't see him on the bench. He played in the opening frame but come the 2nd period? I don't know. I heard Trey Taylor is the younger brother of former Vipers goaltender Ty Taylor. Nicholas Teale's father Brad attended a few Vernon Lakers training camps in the mid 1990s, played in a few exhibition games before being cut-released. Give the young kids credit they hung in their and got the win. I counted 24 Vipers/scratches sitting in the stands during the game. The Snakes improve to 2-0 and travel to Salmon Arm Friday. Vernon has two preseason games left. Former Vipers assistant coach and head coach Joe Oliver (1997-2001) was in attendance, while former Vernon Lakers forward David Oliver (1988-1990) was also at tonight's game. Oliver is an assistant coach with the New York Rangers. Former Vernon Lakers forward and Vipers assistant coach-head coach Troy Mick was also in attendance. I would guess tonight's attendance was around 700-800? Not bad for an exhibition game in August.
Top Player's: (Merritt)
Michael Van Unen I thought was one of if not Merritt's best d-man. Was involved in the play, was getting pucks to the net, had at least one or two scoring chances, was good at both ends of the rink.
The line of Mathieu Gosselin (1 goal), Brad Cocca (1 assist) & Brendan Schneider (1 assist) was by far the Cents most effective and offensive unit. These three were all over the ice, gave the Viper defenders a ton of trouble. All three were flying, creating/generating chances, going to the net, were skating hard.
Frazer Dodd Who I heard on the broadcast a lot last night, was involved in the play a lot tonight. Stood out often, another strong skater, can move the puck, has some skill, was creating/generating opportunities.
Christian Sabin I thought played well. Was involved in the play, made things happen at times. Looked good most of the night.
Game Thought's: (Merritt)
I thought the Centennials were the better of the two teams. Merritt went with a more veteran/experienced lineup and it showed often. The Cents have some speed, can move the puck and created/generated a ton of chances. I thought Merritt carried the better of the play for most of the night, and dominated the play in the 3rd. The Cents outshot Vernon in all three periods didn't get any bounces or puck luck. A bounce here or there and this would have gone the other way. Merritt outshot Vernon 90-59 in both exhibition games this weekend. The Vipers didn't have many scoring chances tonight, meaning both Merritt goaltenders had a pretty easy night in goal. Either goaltender wasn't really tested much. The Cents were wearing their home white jerseys with no name bars, while the Vipers were wearing their red away jerseys. Michael Young, Alex Swetlikoff, Josh Latta, Teddy Wooding & Josh Prokop had their names on their jerseys. Veteran forward and second year Viper Keyvan Mokhtari didn't have his name on his jersey. All veterans-returning players have their names on their jerseys, except Mokhtari. The Centennials fall to 0-2 in preseason travel to Prince George Wednesday.
Scratches:
No Scratches were announced
Three Star's:
1st Star:
2nd Star:
3rd Star:
No three stars were announced
Here are both team's rosters-lineup's:
Vernon:
Westin Andres D 01
Grady Caton D 99
Michael Young D 98
Trey Taylor D 02
Nichalas Ardanaz D 02
Nicholas Bolin F 01
Josh Prokop F 00
Keyvan Mokhtari F 98
Nicholas Teale F 02
Wyatt Andres F 00
Alex Swetlikoff F 01
Josh Latta F 98
Teddy Wooding F 99
Hayden Gelbard F 02
Riley Andres F 00
Gavin Andres D 00
KT Walters F 02
Ethan Schaffer F 01
Geo Wilson G 01
Aidan Hosein G 99
All three coaches were behind the Vipers bench
Merritt:
Michael Van Unen D 99
Colten Gerlib D 99
Joey Berkopec D 99
Jackson Munro D 00
Rylan Van Unen F 99
Nic Granowicz F 98
Josh Van Unen F 01
Mathieu Gosselin F 99
Frzer Dodd F 99
Brad Cocca F 99
Brendan Schneider F 98
Jaydon Fetter D 99
Ben Ward F 01
Talon Zakall D 02
Nicholas Wicks F 98
Matt Kopperud F 99
Christian Sabin F 98
Brett Roloson F 00
Austin Roden G 98
Vicent Duplessis G 99
The BCHL website doesn't keep track of statistics during exhibition games. There will be no boxscore during preseason games.
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