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 to 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-Vees game as Vernon defeated Penticton 2-1 in front of 1,935 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Aidan Porter
Penticton: Jack LaFontaine
1st Period: The Vipers come out hitting, Jagger Williamson and Jesse Lansdell with some hard checks off the opening faceoff. The Vees would get the games first powerplay, early into the opening period. Just 1:47 Penticton went to work on the man advantage. The Vees won the draw, tried setting up the winger at the circle who couldn't connect on the pass. The Snakes with a good penalty kill, Penticton didn't get a shot and couldn't capitalize on the PP. About a minute and a half later Ryan Sandelin with a quality chance in close, couldn't beat Aidan Porter, who made a big stop keeping the Vees off the board. Shortly after Vernon would get their first look with the powerplay. Jack Judson and Jagger Williamson with opportunities couldn't solve Jack LaFontaine before the Vees would go down two men after taking a second penalty, giving the Vipers a lengthy two man advantage. Mitch Andres high shot caught Jack Lafontaine in the mask, before Elan Bar-Lev-Wise buried the rebound giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 7:38 Andres & Jack Judson collected the assists. The Vees bench wanted an explanation on the play as the referee blew the whistle just seconds before the puck went in. My guess was the referee blew the whistle after the Penticton netminder took a puck to the mask but the mask stayed on and the play continued. It was a bang bang play, in the end the goal stood. The Snakes still had fifty five seconds on the powerplay. Vernon unable to capitalize as the Vees killed off the second minor. Just after the penalty expired the Vipers spotted a wide open Alex Swetlikoff. The second year Viper forward was alone at the circle, had lots of space couldn't beat Jack LaFontaine on two chances. Two big stops from LaFontaine. Vernon was outshooting Penticton 6-2 at the midway mark. On the following play the Snakes would go back to the powerplay but unable to capitalize as Penticton killed off the minor. Just after the penalty expired it looked like Vernon was heading back to the PP after Kenny Johnson hooked Kjell Kjemhus in the corner. But Kjemhus was called for unsportsmanlike embellishment, as the play was evened up. Viper fans weren't pleased with this call. With just over two minutes remaining, Josh Latta alone in the slot couldn't solve Jack LaFontaine on a quality chance in close. Less then a minute later Viper captain Jagger Williamson setup Alex Swetlikoff on a two on one, but again LaFontaine come up with a large save from in close, keeping this a one goal game. Williamson would go crashing hard into the end boards, was slow getting up but stayed in the game. Just before the final minute Jesse Lansdell looked to be tangled up with a Vees player in front of the two benches. As the Penticton player was heading off the ice, Lansdell took a few punches, landing him a spot in the box, giving the Vees a late powerplay, on an undisciplined penalty from the Viper assistant captain. The Vees had some looks but no real threat would run out of time before the buzzer. It was 1-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Snakes were the better team, carried the better of the play, had more puck possession and created/generated some quality chances. Vernon playing with a lot of jump/energy, were physical at times, moving the puck well, looked good. The Vees with just one real good opportunity, didn't have a lot of time with the puck, didn't see much time in the offensive zone. Penticton who usually plays a very disciplined game, took four penalties all in the opening period, something you rarely see. Jack LaFontaine made some big stops, keeping this a one goal game. Vernon outshot Penticton 11-6.
2nd Period:
The Vees started the middle frame on the man advantage that carried over from the 1st. The Snakes with a good penalty kill, killed off the minor. Just as the penalty expired James Miller with a rocket of a shot forced Vipers starting goaltender Aidan Porter into making a big stop. Shortly after the Snakes would get called for too many men, sending Penticton back to the PP. The man advantage only lasted a handful of seconds before the Vees took a penalty of their own. Vernon would eventually wind up with a shortened powerplay before taking a penalty of their own. No real flow to the game early as both teams had troubles staying out of the penalty box. The Vees would eventually wind up with a shortened PP but it was Vernon product Jagger Williamson who would get the parcial breakaway be stopped in close by Vees starting goaltender Jack LaFontaine. The Vipers would end up killing off the minor. Shortly after Peter Muzyka hit Jagger Williamson into the end boards, slamming his head into the glass. Williamson went down hard and didn't get up, before being attended too by a trainer. With no call on the play, Williamson needed help off the ice, looked a little woozy made his way to the Vernon dressing room. Viper fans screaming mad, wanted a penalty on the play. Williamson would return to the game/bench later on. Just before the halfway mark, Mitch Andres used his body as a shield, got by the Penticton defender before cutting hard to the goal, once in close Andres was stopped by Jack Lafontaine before being pushed from behind into LaFontaine as the two collided into the goal, knocking the net off. LaFontaine was up quickly and seemed to be ok, stayed in the game. Andres was given a five minute major for goaltender interference and tossed from the game. Viper fans were upset with the call, letting the referee's know what they thought as Penticton went to the powerplay. With lots of pressure, a quick shot from the circle forced Aidan Porter into making a tough save as the puck squeezed through his arm/blocker, rolled through the blue paint, before a Viper defender quickly cleared the puck from the crease and out of harms way. A close call for Porter and the Snakes. Still on the man advantage, the Vees had two or three wacks at the loose puck on a goal mouth scramble, before a Penticton player looked to have the upper top net open, somehow shot up and over the goal with Aidan Porter down and out. The Vees come very close to tying the game, as Vernon catches a break. With still over two minutes remaining on the five minute powerplay, the Vees take a powerplay of their own, as both teams went to four on four. The Snakes escape. Shortly after Teddy Wooding in on what looked like a parcial breakaway couldn't beat Jack LaFontaine, the Vees would take a penalty on the play. Once Mitch Andres five minute penalty expired, Vernon comes out with a shortened PP. But shorthanded with the play in the Viper end, somehow the Vees get control of the play. Kenny Johnson's laser shot from the point had eyes, found it's way to the back of the net, tying the game shorthanded 1-1 at 14:34 Johnson's goal was unassisted. The Vees would kill off the remainder of the penalty. In the dying seconds it looked like Alex Swetlikoff may have beat Jack LaFontaine but hit the crossbar on a play that was hard to tell. It was tied 1-1 after 40 minutes of play. There wasn't much five on five play for most of the first half due to all the penalties. Both teams couldn't capitalize with the powerplay. I thought both teams were fairly even at times, but give the Vees a slight edge in play. I wasn't happy with the Mitch Andres call. Andres was pushed from behind as he was driving to the net, I didn't think he had any time to try and react to stop or get out of the way. The Penticton d-man who I think was Kenny Johnson? Pushed Andres into Jack LaFontaine. LaFontaine was quick to get up and didn't appear to be hurt, stayed in the game. This was not worth a penalty nor a five minute major. If anything the Penticton defenceman should have been given a penalty. The Vipers would also lose Austin Chorney somewhere in the 1st or 2nd period as the former Chilliwack Chief-Salmon Arm Silverback d-man wasn't on the bench. A linesmen took a stick to the face in front of the benches, but toughed it out and stayed in the game. Penticton outshot Vernon 12-9.
3rd Period: The Snakes would jump on an early powerplay, just 1:15 into the final frame. Vernon struggled with the man advantage, didn't record a single shot, were having troubles getting out of their own end. The Vees with an aggressive attack, forced the Vipers into recycling the puck back into their own end. Penticton with a solid PK would kill off the minor. The Vipers looked flat and disorganised as the Vees would eventually take over puck possession. The Vees had some looks but didn't seem to be getting the bounces. Just before the halfway mark, Mason Snell hit Connor Marritt from behind in front of the Vees bench. Marritt was slow getting up, needed help off the ice with the trainer, looked to be hobbling on one leg, made his way to the dressing room. Snell would get tossed from the game for checking from behind but only given two minutes. Viper fans erupted, wanted a five minute major. A shot from the blueline forced Jack LaFontaine into making a quick pad save, on a shot I don't think he saw. The Snakes with just two shots on the PP couldn't capitalize. Just seconds before the penalty expired, Penticton would take another minor, sending Vernon back to the powerplay. Shorthanded Lukas Sillinger with a quality chance in front, couldn't solve Aidan Porter before the Vipers come back the other way. Jack Judson's shot from the point would be redirected in front by Jesse Lansdell, giving Vernon a 2-1 lead at 11:39 Judson & Alex Swetlikoff drew the helpers. A big goal from Lansdell after the Vipers had been struggling most of the period to this point. The Vees kept coming and now were coming in waves at times. Penticton with full puck possession, had a ton of pressure but once inside the offensive zone, didn't muster much for shots/or opportunities. The Viper defence down to four d-men played hard, did a good job at limiting the Vees time and space. Connor Marritt would return to the bench/game. With just a handful of minutes left in the contest, Elan Bar-Lev-Wise and Lukas Sillinger collided just inside the Vees blueline. Both players went down hard and didn't get up. Both players were attended to by the trainers and helped off the ice. Bar-Lev-Wise was bleeding, looked a little woozy. Sillinger looked to be ok, shook it off and stayed on the bench. The Vees in full control of the play and 2:52 remaining, Jack LaFontaine come way out of his crease, was close to the circle, was waiting for the signal to make his way to the bench for the extra attacker. Penticton with some good looks, also missed the net from in close, couldn't seem to get the bounces go their way. The Penticton Vees would get Jack LaFontaine to the bench with 1:49 remaining. Jagger Williamson who normally takes these late faceoffs was no where to be seen on the ice or on the bench. The Viper captain was missing for the final two minutes of the game. Williamson was on the bench/played in the 3rd didn't see a regular shift. Off the following faceoff, Logan Cash with a long shot towards the open cage, missed as Vernon was called for the icing. Shortly after Jesse Lansdell going for his second goal of the night, took a long shot at the open net, just missed the far side by inches on another icing call. Penticton would eventually call a late timeout. The Vees with all kinds of pressure inside the final minute, forced Aidan Porter into making two big stops in close. With time winding down, the Vipers were just barely hanging on, would hang on for the 2-1 victory before a large scrum took place at the buzzer. Almost everyone was involved as lots of pushing and shoving as tempers heated up at the end of the hockey game. After playing very well in the first two periods, the Vipers looked flat to start the 3rd, were disorganised and didn't look good for most of the period. Vernon struggled with the powerplay, had three powerplays to basically put the game away and couldn't, instead had to hold on for a wild finish. The Vees with a strong penalty kill, kill off all three minors, get very lucky Mason Snell's hit from behind on Connor Marritt wasn't a five minute major. If the referee's gave Mitch Andres a five minute major on his play/goaltender interference, Mason Snell's hit from behind was well worth a major. Penticton come on in the second half, carried the better of the play, had some looks but didn't really generate/or create much for quality chances. A few looks/chances in close, also missed the net on a few shots from in close. Penticton with good pressure in the second half and towards the end of the game, didn't catch a break or get a bounce go their way. The Vipers split the home and home series. Penticton outshot Vernon 8-6.
Top Player's: (Vernon)
Jagger Williamson I thought played hard, created/generated some chances, also took a pounding at times. Took a big check to the head in the 2nd period, went hard into the boards on a two on one late in the 1st period, didn't see a regular shift in the 3rd, didn't finish the game. Williamson played in career game #209 tying former Vernon Vipers forward/captain Mark Nelson for 5th place on the franchise all-time games played list. Nelson played in 209 games collected (92 goals-115-assists-207-points) Played parts of four seasons in Vernon was captain with the 2004-05 Vipers in his final season of junior hockey.
Kjell Kjemhus Playing in just his second game with the Vipers, I thought stood out and played hard. Not the biggest kid but plays hard, battles, goes to the front of the net, caused some havoc in front of Jack LaFontaine, showed a lot of hustle, I thought looked good in his Viper home debut.
Jack Judson (2 assists) I thought was one of, if not the better defenceman tonight. Judson has really stepped up this year, matured and looks very confident with and without the puck. Had a strong game in the win this evening.
Elan Bar-Lev-Wise (1 goal) Opened the scoring on the powerplay, I thought looked good/played very well. Found open ice and tried making things happen.
Aidan Porter (25 saves) I thought looked calm and confident between the pipes. Played very well through out the game. Played big, didn't give up many if any second chances.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
After a very disappointing effort and loss in Penticton last night, the Vipers responded with a very hard fought victory tonight, in the second game of a home and home series. I thought Vernon played very well and looked good in the first two periods. The Snakes playing with a lot of jump/energy, were moving the puck, had several quality chances. It was the 3rd period that was a little scary at times. The Vipers looked flat, had troubles coming out of their own end, making passes, struggled offensively. Vernon looked a little lost/disorganised at times in the 3rd but played well defensively. Limited Penticton's time and space, kept the Vees to the outside often, only surrendered eight shots with very little scoring chances. The Snakes were playing with just four defencemen in the 3rd. Things got a little nerve racking in the final two minutes, but the Vipers hung on for the win. I thought the penalty kill was good but the powerplay struggled again. Vernon looks slow, moves the puck around and around, didn't get many pucks to the net on the man advantage. The Vipers did score both goals on the PP went 2-8 with the man advantage. The Vipers looked like a different team compared to the same team that lost 3-0 in Penticton Friday. A much more energized group that played hard, battled and competed tonight. The Snakes once again struggled offensively, only scored twice. Vernon has troubles scoring and it shows. The Vipers have only scored more then three goals once this season, wich was a 4-3 victory over West Kelowna. The Vipers need to try and acquire a sniper/goal scorer. Assistant coach Kevin Pederson wasn't behind the bench tonight. Rumors around the rink tonight was Landon Fuller has been suspended. This was a huge win over a team the Vipers have had troubles beating over the years. After just one win in their last six games, lets hope this builds some confidence and the team can get on a bit of a roll after tonight. A big win after a disappointing loss last night. A disappointing/small crowd on hand tonight. Usually the Vipers draw very well with Penticton in town. Vernon product and former West Kelowna Warriors play by play man and current Prince George Spruce Kings marketing person, Kyle Anderson was at tonight's game. The Vipers get just their second win in their last seven games, only have four wins in ten games this year. With the win Vernon improves to 4-4-2-0 sit 6th in the Interior Division tied in points with Wenatchee, West Kelowna & Penticton.
Top Player's: (Penticton)
Kenny Johnson (1 goal) Scored the Vees lone goal, I thought played very well on the blueline.
Cole Sheppard who played very well last night, once again stood out in the loss this evening. This kid is quick, can move the puck, makes things happen in a hurry, gave the Vipers troubles again tonight. Not the biggest kid but shifty. Played very well.
Lukas Sillinger I thought was one of the better forwards for the Penticton Vees. Had a few looks/opportunities, played hard/well.
Mason Snell Had a strong game on the Vees backend before being tossed in the 3rd for a check from behind on Viper forward Connor Marritt.
Jack LaFontaine (24 saves) Come into tonight recording back to back shutouts over Alberni Valley and Vernon played well in the loss. A bigger goaltender, covers a lot of net, looked confident, made some big stops through out the game. I know goaltenders are suppose to be creatures of habit but watching LaFontaine during warmup and through out the game, this kid has some very strange tactics. Very interesting indeed.
Game Thought's: (Penticton)
The Vees didn't look like the same team that beat the Snakes 3-0 on home ice last night. I don't think Fred Harbinson will be overly pleased with his teams performance tonight. Penticton who plays a very disciplined game, took more penalties then usual tonight. The Vipers could have put the Vees away if the powerplay was clicking. On the other hand, Penticton could have done the same to the Snakes, but went 0-6 with the man advantage. In a 1-0 game the Vees come up empty handed on the five minute major (powerplay) A goal here, maybe changes the game and the outcome? Who knows. I didn't think the Vees were all that bad, I just don't think they played as well as they did in the win Friday night. Several veteran players who really stood out in the win last night, I didn't notice in the loss tonight. The Vees are also missing their captain and two key players from their lineup. Penticton wearing their new third jerseys tonight, look very sharp. A light blue with dark blue and white stripes up the arms and around the waist with the word "Vees" handwritten across the front of the jersey. I was surprised to see only a few select Vees fans at the game. Since the 2014-15 season the Vees are now 9-3-1-0 in Vernon. In their last thirty five games vs the Vipers, Penticton is 22-10-0-3. The Vees have played seven of their last nine games away from home. Penticton has played just twice at home this season. With the loss Penticton falls to 5-4-0-0 sit 4th in the division.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Landon Fuller
Brendan Kim
Sebastian Streu
Penticton:
Luke Loheit
Massimo Rizzo
Drew Elser
Cassidy Bowes
Energy Player of the Game:
Michael Young
Three Star's:
1st Star: Jesse Lansdell (1 goal)
2nd Star: Jack Judson (2 assists)
3rd Star: Kenny Johnson (1 goal)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
https://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/8576
Game Report,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/official-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8576
Text Boxscore,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/text-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8576
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