Vernon 4 Trail 0

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 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 game recap from both sides. Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog.

I was at tonight's Vipers-Smoke Eaters game as Vernon defeated Trail 4-0 in front of 1,635 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Max Palaga
Trail: Adam Marcoux

1st Period: Both teams went back and fourth early with very little to no scoring chances. About five minutes into the opening frame, Levi Glasman took a shot from well outside the faceoff dot, forced Max Palaga into making the pad save, kicked out a huge rebound before Kent Johnson didn't look to get enough on his shot, missed the open cage. A great opportunity for Trail to open the scoring. Just past the halfway mark Teddy Wooding's shot along the ice just missed the far corner, the puck come out front to Jesse Lansdell who looked to have Adam Marcoux beat but rang his shot off the post as the Snakes come very close to opening the scoring. About a minute and a half later Coleton Bilodeau setup Ben Helgeson who beat Adam Marcoux giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 12:39 Bilodeau & Elan Bar-Lev-Wise drew the assists. Minutes later Brendan Kim spotted Viper captain Jagger Williamson in front, giving Vernon a 2-0 lead at 15:36 Kim and Nick Cherkowski picked up the helpers. Off the following faceoff Kent Johnson missed his second open net of the period on a missed opportunity. Minutes later Jack Judson's point shot would be stopped in front before Adam Marcoux was forced to make a big stop with traffic in front. Shortly after the Vipers would get the games first powerplay of the contest. Inside the final minute Jack Judson skated back into his own end, allowed Vernon to make a quick change before moving the puck up to Jagger Williamson who broke down the wing on an odd man rush, setup Jesse Lansdell going to the goal, beat Adam Marcoux giving Vernon a 3-0 lead at 19:45 Williamson and Judson collected the assists. It was 3-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. I thought both teams were fairly evenly matched in the opening four or five minutes before the Vipers slowly started to take over the edge in play. The Snakes speed really took over as Vernon was really skating this evening, played with a ton of jump/energy. I don't think the Smoke Eaters got a shot on goal in the second half of the period. Trail didn't have a lot of puck possession, missed two open nets, didn't generate/or create much for quality chances. The Vipers didn't get a lot of grade a chances but had a ton of puck possession and offensive zone time. Vernon capitalized on their opportunities. Vernon outshot Trail 13-4.

2nd Period: Backup Tanner Marshall replaced Smoke Eaters starting goaltender Adam Marcoux to start the middle frame. Marcoux played the 1st period, allowed three goals on thirteen Vernon shots. Just over two minutes into the 2nd Kyle Chernenkoff with a great look-opportunity in front couldn't beat Vipers starting goaltender Max Palaga early to start the period. Less then a minute later the Snakes would jump on an early powerplay. The Vipers had some looks but couldn't capitalize with the man advantage, as Trail killed off the minor. Minutes later the Smokies would get their first PP of the night but it was Connor Marritt on a parcial breakaway couldn't solve Tanner Marshall. Vernon looking very good on the penalty kill, would eventually kill off the minor. The Smoke Eaters turned the tables and the momentum shortly after had some good pressure-zone time, had several looks-chances in and around the goal couldn't find the back of the net. Max Palaga had to be alert had a bit of luck on his side on a few saves. Just past the midway mark Carver Watson's shot from the point beat Tanner Marshall but not the crossbar as the Snakes come within inches of grabbing a four goal lead. Just minutes later Connor Marritt with a burst of speed setup Jagger Williamson for his second goal of the night, giving Vernon a 4-0 lead at 14:56 Marritt with the lone assist. Minutes later the Smoke Eaters would get a late powerplay, but unable to capitalize. It was 4-0 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. I thought the Smoke Eaters played much better. Trail looked good early and often in the first half, didn't get many quality chances but had a few goal mouth scrambles and looks in close, didn't get much puck luck in and around the goal. At the other end of the rink, the Vipers also didn't get generate a whole lot of chances either. I didn't think either team had many quality chances this period. Overall both teams were fairly even. Both teams carried the play for minutes at a time. Trail outshot Vernon 11-9.

3rd Period: Just twenty one seconds into the final frame Trail would get an early powerplay. But shorthanded Jagger Williamson on an odd man rush couldn't beat Tanner Marshall. The Smokies would get back to back powerplay's but unable to capitalize. Just as the second PP expired Trail with a goal mouth scramble couldn't find the back of the goal after Max Palaga somehow kept the puck out on a wild scramble in front of the Viper goal. About seven minutes in Hayden Rowan looked to have an open cage after Max Palaga come diving across the blue paint, somehow the puck stayed out as Trail couldn't catch a break tonight. Just before the halfway mark with Vernon on the powerplay tempers heated up. Mack Byers & Kjell Kjemhus got tangled up behind the Smoke Eaters goal, while everyone else started pushing and shoving in front of Tanner Marshall. Kjemhus and Byers took a few swings at one another, before the two hit the ice wrestling around along the end wall. Once the scrum was broken up, the Vipers got the extra, sending both teams to four on four. Byers & Kjemhus were both tossed from the game. As the period continued it looked like Trail ran out of gas and the Vipers were just holding onto a four goal lead, winding down the clock. It was more like a pond hockey game in the second half. With about six minutes remaining Vernon product Nick Cherkowski beat his defender before going hard to the goal, would be denied in close on a big save from Tanner Marshall. Inside the final minute the Snakes would get a late powerplay. Mitch Andres somehow missed an open cage before taking a penalty of his own, sending both teams to four on four. The Vipers would come away with the 4-0 victory. The Smoke Eaters had back to back powerplay's to start the 3rd and couldn't capitalize. The Viper penalty kill was sharp, had one or two chances shorthanded of their own didn't really give Trail a sniff on the PP. As the period continued there was no real flow to the game as I said earlier it looked like the Smokies were out of gas and Vernon was just winding down the clock with a four goal lead. Both teams didn't really generate/or create much for opportunities. A few here and there but overall not a lot. Trail outshot Vernon 11-10.

Top Player's: (Vernon)

Ben Helgeson (1 goal) Opened the scoring, played with a ton of jump/energy was flying all night. Had a strong game for the Vipers.

Jagger Williamson (2 goals & 1 assist) Returned to the Vipers lineup after missing the last two games with a rumored concussion. The Viper captain lead by example, played with heart, carried his team on his back tonight. A gutsy performance. Williamson played in career game #210 passing former Vernon Vipers forward/captain Mark Nelson into 4th place on the franchise all-time games played list. Nelson played in 209 games with the Vipers & Prince George Spruce Kings from 2001-2005 Was captain of the Vipers (2004-05) in his final year of junior hockey.

Connor Marritt (1 assist) Played one of if not his best game of the season tonight. Was another kid who played with a ton of jump/energy, was flying all night. Was strong on the forecheck, on the penalty kill, was dangerous with and without the puck.

Kjell Kjemhus Had a pretty good game. I really like this kid, plays with some grit, is scrappy, doesn't back down, goes to the net, gets involved in the battles down low and in front, competes and works extremely hard all night.

Teddy Wooding also was moving, finding open ice, made things happen at times. Played very well. Had a few good looks-chances.

Jack Judson (1 assist) I thought played very well on the Vernon backend. How much confidence is he playing with this year? For only his second year in the league, a huge step up from last season.

Coleton Bilodeau (1 assist) Was another forward who showed lots of hustle, played hard, had some jump and was involved in the play. Bilodeau is a kid that has to step up his game this year and try and make things happen. A bigger body has been inconsistent this season so far.

Elan Bar-Lev-Wise (1 assist) Was involved in the play, hustled, played with speed, was dangerous on the forecheck. Gave the Smokies defenders trouble at times. Good on the PK.

Max Palaga (27 saves-Shutout) Playing in just his third game with the Vipers after being released from the Kamloops Blazers, Palaga has looked very strong and played very well in all three games. I don't think was overly tested tonight, caught some huge breaks and had the puck bounce his way a few times, was sharp picking up his first win with the Vipers and first career BCHL shutout.

Game Thought's: (Vernon)

This has to be one of if not the Vipers most complete games from start to finish this season. I was very surprised but very impressed with how well Vernon played and for close to sixty minutes. All four lines contributed in the victory and earned their ice time. All four lines battled, competed and worked hard earning the win/two points. I thought everyone played with a ton of jump/energy, were really flying all night, this causing havoc for the Smokies defenders. I liked the Snakes forecheck and breakout. I thought their passing was very good for the most part and they stayed/played disciplined for most of the night. I thought their defence was good in front of Max Palaga and limited the Smokies opportunities. You would have never guessed Trail was in 2nd place and Vernon sat last in the division. Jagger Williamson plays a huge roll with this team on and off the ice, has missed a lot of hockey this season. Missed training camp and the pre-season due to having shingles, never quits, leads by example and carries this team on his back. Give credit to the kids who stepped up with five regulars out of the lineup. Does anyone know what happened to Alex Swetlikoff & Josh Latta? Graham Turnbull mentioned on the post game radio show Sebastian Streu left the game in the 1st period and didn't return. How good was Vernon's penalty kill? Dangerous at times. The Vipers had just two wins in their previous eight games heading into tonight, needed a win like this. This is a huge confidence booster and hopefully will get this team back on track. Vernon is lucky none of the other teams in the division have pulled away and everyone is still in a dog fight and only a handful of points reach of each other. Another small crowd for a Wednesday night. The Vipers play a lot of Wednesday night games this year, more then I think I have ever seen in past years. With the win Vernon improves to 5-5-3-0 moved into 6th place are now tied in points with West Kelowna, Wenatchee & Salmon Arm.

Top Player's: (Trail)

Trevor Zins I thought played well on the Smokies blueline. Liked to jump into the rush, get involved in the play at times.

Mack Byers played hard, was going to the net often, looking for loose pucks, battled and competed through out the game.

Kent Johnson Missed two open nets, showed lots of hustle, played hard through out the hockey game. Was more of the more dangerous forwards.

Tanner Marshall (19 saves) Replaced starting goaltender Adam Marcoux after the 1st period. Only gave up one goal in the final two periods, I thought played well for coming into the game after the opening frame.

Game Thought's: (Trail)

Both teams were fairly evenly matched off the drop of the puck. Neither team really had any scoring chances within the first few minutes before the Vipers took over the edge in play and never really looked back. Trail with just four shots in the 1st period, got all four shots in the first half of the period. The Smokies were outworked and outskated through out most of the 1st period. Trail didn't have the legs to keep up with the Vipers. Give the Smoke Eaters credit, they seemed to battle back early into the middle frame, had good pressure at times but didn't really generate/or create much for offence. Most of Trail's chances were goal mouth scrambles, scrambled plays in and around the goal, no real threat off the rush. The Smoke Eaters had troubles generating offence, didn't get any puck luck or bounces. In the 3rd Trail had back to back early powerplay's and couldn't capitalize. The Smokies get one, maybe they can get some momentum and get back in the hockey game. The Smoke Eaters also gave up way too many chances shorthanded. Specialty teams was a difference as Trail goes 0-6 with the PP while the Vipers go 1-4. The Smoke Eaters looked like they ran out of gas in the 3rd just couldn't compete-keep up with the play. Giving up the 3rd goal with just fifteen seconds left in the 1st really hurt Trail. Instead of heading to the dressing room down 2-0 now your down three goals on the road in a building you haven't had much luck in over the past few years. Overall I wasn't impressed with the Smokies, I didn't think they looked very good. The season series is tied 1-1 with the teams meeting again November 14th in Trail. With the loss Trail falls to 7-4-2-1 still remain in 2nd place three points back of division leading Merritt.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Landon Fuller (Suspended)
Austin Chorney (Injured)
Alex Swetlikoff
Josh Latta
Logan Chas (Injured)

Trail:

Sean Donaldson
Owen Ozar
Spencer McLean

Energy Player of the Game:

Trey Taylor

Three Star's:

1st Star: Jagger Williamson (2 goals & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Max Palaga (27 saves-First career BCHL Shutout)
3rd Star: Connor Marritt (1 assist)

Game Summary-Boxscore,

https://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/8604

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=8604

Text Boxscore,

https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/text-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8604