Trail 3 Vernon 1

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 Vipers home game in nine years and only missed three home games since the 1998-99 season. For anyone who couldn't attend or watch tonight's Vipers game, here are my thought's and view's from tonight's game. You may agree or disagree but we all have our own view and opinion on the game. This is my opinion and thought's on how I saw tonight's game. I try and be unbiased and give a fare recap from both sides. Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog.

I was at tonight's Vipers-Smoke Eaters game as Trail defeated Vernon 3-1 in front of 1,913 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Aidan Porter

Trail: Adam Marcoux

1st Period: The Smoke Eaters would get a good opportunity off the opening faceoff. Just thirty five seconds in, veteran forward Levi Glasman with a quality chance from the slot was denied by Aidan Porter who was forced to juggle the rebound and wait for a whistle. Just twenty five seconds later, Jack Judson's shot from the blueline was redirected on it's way to the net forced veteran goaltender Adam Marcoux into making a difficult save. About a minute and a half later, the Vipers setup Austin Chorney who got behind the Smokies defence, but couldn't solve Adam Marcoux who come up with the big save. Minutes later with Vernon pressing, the Snakes couldn't convert on a wrap around. The Vipers looking good just minutes in, were outshooting Trail 4-1 early. Five minutes in Mack Byers with a good look-quality chance couldn't beat Aidan Porter. Just before the midway mark Mack Byers with another good chance would be stopped by Aidan Porter. In the second half Vernon took over the play and would get a flurry of good looks-opportunities couldn't open the scoring. Late in the frame with Alex Swetlikoff basically sitting on a Smoke Eaters defender just to the left of the crease, Ben Helgeson fired the puck towards the goal, the puck would either hit Swetlikoff in front or the Viper second year forward redirected Helgeson's shot into the open cage, giving Vernon a late 1-0 lead at 17:33 Helgeson & Austin Chorney collected the helpers. The Smokies bench was up in arms on why Swetlikoff wasn't given a penalty on the play. It was 1-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Snakes were the better of the two teams. Vernon carried the better of the play and had more puck possession-zone time. The Smokies had troubles with the Snakes speed and skill. The Vipers with several good looks-opportunities, couldn't capitalize on their chances. Trail didn't have much puck possession nor a lot of offensive zone time, didn't create or generate a ton of offensive chances. The Vipers were the better team. The referee's let the teams play as both teams got away with a few penalties. Vernon outshot Trail 14-6. 

2nd Period: The Vipers carried the play early but unable to really generate much. Carver Watson looked to have an open net minutes into the second period but somehow couldn't hit the open cage. About seven minutes in Trail would get the games first powerplay. Just twenty seconds into the man advantage, assistant captain Jesse Lansdell hit Trevor Zins along the end wall. Zins went down hard and didn't get up. Zins was attended to by the team trainer, was very slow getting up, needed help off the ice and didn't return. After a short discussion Lansdell was given five minutes for checking from behind and a game misconduct. The Smokies with a lengthy two man advantage. Trail didn't waist time going to work on the PP. Jeremy Smith tied the game 1-1 at 7:53 Diarmad Dimurro and Carter Jones drew the assists. Less then a minute later Levi Glasman found the back of the net, giving Trail a 2-1 lead at 8:24 Kent Johnson & Jeremy Smith picked up the helpers. The Vipers penalty killers seemed to settle down and would do a great job at shutting down the Smoke Eaters powerplay the rest of the way. Viper captain Jagger Williamson with two back to back blocked shots, was leading the way. Trail with just two shots on the two man advantage, scored twice as Vernon killed off the remainder of the five on three. Just as the penalty expired Jagger Williamson got away with a slash in the neutral zone making his way to the bench. On the play Tyler Ghirandosi would sneak one past Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Aidan Porter giving Trail a 3-1 lead at 12:25 Jeremy Smith with his third point of the period. The Smokies with three goals in four and a half minutes. This goal took the crowd out of the game as you could hear a pin drop inside Kal Tire Place. This goal stung the Vipers as Vernon now frustrated got away from their game plan. The next few shifts saw the Snakes play with a bit of a chip on their shoulder, running players, giving shots after the play, not concentrated about getting back in the hockey game. Minutes later the Smoke Eaters would jump back on the powerplay, get some good looks but couldn't capitalize as the Vipers killed off the minor. Ten seconds later the Vipers would get a late powerplay, their first of the evening. Vernon with a few good looks but no real grade a chances unable to get within a goal as the penalty/period come to an end. It was 3-1 Trail after 40 minutes of play. The TSN turning point was Jesse Lansdell's hit from behind while on the penalty kill. Trail comes out on top with a lengthy five on three, scored twice on just two shots on the man advantage, before adding some insurance just as the five on three expired. This powerplay and three goals took the life out of the crowd and the Vipers. Vernon wasn't the same team after the five on three and didn't generate or create much for offence. While the Smokies capitalized on the powerplay were now playing with the lead in a game I didn't think they deserved to be winning. Other then the three goals, the Smoke Eaters didn't generate or create much of an attack. Specialty teams was the difference in the middle frame. Vernon outshot Trail 14-9.

3rd Period: Two minutes into the final frame, Carter Jones on an odd man rush, kept and fired was stopped by Aidan Porter. Two minutes later the Smokies with two chances at the side of the net couldn't bang home the loose puck before Aidan Porter was able to smother the puck and get a whistle. The Snakes down two goals turned up the energy but couldn't get any sustained pressure in the offensive zone. Trail playing a very tight defensive 3rd period, was keeping Vernon to the outside, limiting their time and space. Both teams didn't generate much offensively as the play went back and fourth at times. Vernon product Coleton Bilodeau with a good look from the slot couldn't beat Smoke Eaters starting goaltender Adam Marcoux at the halfway mark. Just past the ten minute mark Kent Johnson on an odd man rush, kept and fired would be denied by Aidan Porter. The Snakes would get a few looks in the second half but Adam Marcoux flashing the leather made a few quick glove saves. With three minutes left the Smoke Eaters with some nice three way passing setup Braeden Tuck going to the goal, would be robbed by Aidan Porter who come across the blue paint to make a highlight reel save, keeping this a two goal game. Trail would call a late timeout and Vernon would get Aidan Porter to the bench with about two minutes remaining for the extra attacker. The Vipers were kept to the outside had troubles getting pucks & bodies to the net, eventually ran out of time as the Smokies defence shutdown Vernon's late push. Trail comes away with a 3-1 victory. Both teams had a few looks-opportunities. The Smoke Eaters defence was large in the final twenty minutes, keeping the Snakes to the outside, limiting their time and space. Vernon pressed hard but unable to really create or generate much for offence. Coleton Bilodeau's opportunity was about the only real grade a chance. The Smokies had a few looks-opportunities but played a solid defensive road game to hang on for the win. Shots were even 9-9.

Top Player's: (Vernon)

Austin Chorney (1 assist) I thought looked good for a second straight night. Playing with a lot of confidence, carries the play, opens the ice, generates offence from the backend. Looked good in the two home games this weekend.

Josh Latta I thought had another strong game this evening. Scored twice in the win over West Kelowna Friday night, played with some jump and energy.

Logan Cash I thought looked good at different times tonight. Had the puck, made things happen now and again. A tall but lanky kid looks to have some skill. 

Game Thought's: (Vernon)

After the opening period it looked like the Vipers may walk away with this game. Don't get me wrong it was only 1-0 and only the 1st period but I thought Vernon was the better team and looked strong in the first twenty minutes. Back to back penalties in the middle frame cost the Snakes. Veteran forward Jesse Lansdell's penalty, gives Trail a lengthy five on three powerplay. The Smokies score two quick goals before adding some insurance just as the penalties expire and that was all Trail needed to hang on for the win. After watching the highlight's I didn't think this was a five minute major. The Snakes weren't the same team after that powerplay, looked rattled for the remainder of the second period. I thought Vernon responded and played hard in the 3rd but were up against a strong defence. The Smokies defence took away the Vipers time and space, limiting their opportunities. Vernon was kept to the outside most of the third, had a few looks but had troubles getting bodies and pucks to the net most of the final frame. The Vipers still struggled at times breaking out of their own end-defensively, were a little better then last night. In the two losses the Vipers suffered this year, the visiting team's powerplay was the difference. The Vipers now hit the road for two games will travel to Chilliwack for the BCHL Showcase this coming week. With the loss the Vipers fall to 500 with a 2-2-0-0 record. Rumors going around the rink last night and again tonight, Kal Tire Place is getting a new score clock with a video screen. 

Top Player's: (Trail)

Sean Donaldson Not the biggest kid but has some wheels, found some open ice and took advantage, was involved in the play at times, created/generated some chances.

Mack Byers I thought played well in the Smoke Eaters victory. Had some looks-opportunities, was going to the net, making things happen.

Logan Harris A big body was under the skin of the Snakes often. Was hard to play against.

Levi Glasman (1 goal) Scored the game winner on the powerplay, was another forward who was involved in the play, was going to the net, making things happen.

Adam Marcoux (37 saves) Had to be on his game off the start as Vernon fired fourteen shots in the first twenty minutes, had several good looks-quality chances, only managed one goal in a period the Vipers carried the better of the play. Marcoux wasn't tested much if at all in the middle frame was forced to be sharp in the 3rd flashed the leather, making some glove saves in the final frame. Wasn't tested often in the final two periods but played well between the pipes.

Game Thought's: (Trail)

The Trail Smoke Eaters come into town atop the Interior Division had the second best record in the league, behind the Prince George Spruce Kings. After the opening frame I didn't really see much in the Smokies who were down a goal, didn't have the puck much and outshot 14-6. Other then three quick goals in just over four minutes again I didn't see much in this Trail team. They struck twice on the powerplay but only managed two shots on a lengthy five on three. It was in the 3rd when Trail's defence stood out and stole the show. The Smoke Eaters up two goals played a shutdown third period, limiting Vernon's time and space, kept the Snakes to the outside, blocked a ton of shots, played very well in their own end in the final twenty minutes. Trail has some big bodies, I didn't think generate or created a lot of offence, didn't have a lot of puck possession, didn't really get any sustained pressure in the offensive zone. The Smoke Eaters were limited to their chances through out the game. Give Trail credit, they didn't carry much of the play or have a lot of offensive zone time, managed to hold on in the 1st only giving up one goal, before making Vernon pay on the powerplay in the 2nd period. A shutdown third and they hang on for a big road win in a building they haven't had much success in lately. You take away that five on three powerplay and would we see the same result-final score? This could have been a different hockey game take away the 2nd period. These two teams will meet again in Vernon October 17th. Trail picks up just their third win in Vernon in their last eleven games. The Smokies last win at Kal Tire Place was a 403 victory on October 21st 2016. With the win Trail improves to 3-0-1-0.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Nick Cherkowski

Brendan Kim

Trail:

Hayden Rowan

Spencer McLean

Energy Player of the Game:

Jagger Williamson

Three Star's:

1st Star: Jeremy Smith (1 goal & 2 assists)

2nd Star: Alex Swetlikoff (1 goal)

3rd Star: Tyler Ghirandosi (1 goal)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

https://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/8534   

Trevor Miller's Trail Smoke Eaters Blog,

https://trasmokeeaters.wordpress.com/

Game Report,

https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/official-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8534     

Text Boxscore,

https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/text-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8534