I have had season tickets for 29 years and been following junior hockey in Vernon for over thirty five years. I have missed four Vipers home games since 2009 and five Vipers home games since the 2002-03 season. For anyone who couldn't watch or attend tonight's game, here are my thought's and view's from tonight's game. You may agree or disagree but we all have our own opinion on the 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-Centennials game as Vernon defeated Merritt 3-2 in front of 1,700 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Aidan Porter
Merritt: Austin Roden
1st Period: Just fourty three seconds into the contest with the Cents using their speed cutting through the offensive zone, Bradley Cocca with a quick shot from in close was denied by Aidan Porter before Nick Granowicz would be stopped on the rebound on two quality chances for Merritt. The Centennials had the early jump and pressure. A few minutes later a quick shot from the point got through traffic beat Austin Roden but not the post as the Vipers grazed the post off a shot from the blueline. Shortly after Vernon would get the games first powerplay. The Snakes with a goal mouth scramble couldn't find the back of the cage with the loose puck lying in the crease. After some solid penalty kill by the Cents aggressive forecheckers, the Snakes would take a penalty while on the PP. Merritt would come out with a shortened powerplay but it was Vipers captain Jagger Williamson using his speed tried blowing by his defender before being hauled down on the way to the goal, before crashing into Austin Roden and the Centennials net. No call on the play as the Vipers wanted a penalty. Vernon would kill off the remainder of the minor. Just as the penalty expired, the Cents went back to work on their second straight PP. Mathieu Gosselin's point shot beat Aidan Porter ringing his shot off the crossbar as Merritt come very close to opening the scoring. The Cents would get a few chances in close but couldn't capitalize with the man advantage. Just as the penalty expired Teddy Wooding sprung Connor Marritt in for the breakaway beating Austin Roden short side giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 11:17 Wooding drew the lone helper on just the Vipers second shot of the period. The Centennials outshooting Vernon 6-2 at this point. Minutes later the Snakes went back to the powerplay but unable to capitalize with the man advantage. In the second half Rylan Van Unen with a quality chance couldn't solve Aidan Porter. It was 1-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. The Centennials jumped on the Vipers early, using their speed, skill and hard work to win a lot of the puck battles and one on ones down low. The Cents jumped out to a 6-1 lead in shots in the first half before the Vipers battled back getting the next seven shots to finish the opening frame. I thought Vernon played a little better in the second half, didn't really muster much for offence but had some zone time. Overall Merritt was the better of the two teams and carried the better of the play. Vernon outshot Merritt 8-6.
2nd Period: The Centennials once again jumped on Vernon early. Just a minute and a half in Rylan Van Unen with a quality opportunity couldn't beat Vipers starting goaltender Aidan Porter. The Vipers having all kinds of troubles getting out of their own end and across the red line. Merritt with a strong forecheck were causing all kinds of turnovers inside the Viper blueline. Just over five minutes in the Vipers would get the first powerplay and capitalize. On some nice three way passing Jesse Lansdell spotted a wide open Matt Kowalski at the side of the goal, giving Vernon a 2-0 lead at 6:43 Lansdell & Jagger Williamson with the assists. Shortly after on an odd man rush Michael Young with a solid defensive play broke up the Centennials attack. On the following shift, Landon Fuller made a strong defensive play to break up a Merritt rush coming in across the blueline before the Centennials would jump on the PP. Merritt moved the puck around setting up Christian Sabin who's point shot had eyes, finding its way to the back of the goal, cutting Vernon's lead to 2-1 at 9:50 Michael Van Unen and Nick Wicks picked up the helpers. Just past the halfway mark the Snakes would lose Jesse Lansdell for the remainder of the period after picking up a two minute minor and an automatic ten minute misconduct for a blow to the head penalty. The Cents with a few flurries unable to score as Vernon killed off the penalty. Just after the penalty expired Coleton Bilodeau and Nick Granowicz got tangled up and mixed it up down low, giving one another some shots before both went to the sin bin. No real flow in the second half as the play went back and fourth but very scrambled at times. Neither team really had or generated much for opportunities. With about four minutes remaining Nick Wicks and Rylan Van Unen with back to back chances couldn't beat Aidan Porter. In the dying seconds Jagger Williamson's shot from just outside centre ice handcuffed Centennials starting goaltender Austin Roden after catching the puck high in the mask. It was 2-1 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. I thought the Centennials were the better team for most of the first half. Merritt with a strong forecheck were forcing the Snakes into coughing up or turning over the puck inside their own blueline. Vernon having all kinds of trouble getting out of their own end and across the red line for a lot of the first half. Not much action in the second half as the play become very scrambled with no real quality chances at either end of the rink. Merritt outshot Vernon 12-10.
3rd Period: Just four minutes in the Centennials would get an early powerplay before the Vipers would go down two men sending Merritt to a five on three early into the final frame. The Snakes with a very strong penalty kill didn't allow the Cents to touch the puck often. I don't recall seeing Merritt get a shot on goal as Vernon would kill off both minors and escape. Seconds after the five on three, the Vipers would go on the powerplay. With several flurries in and around the Cents goal. Jack Judson with a solid individual effort weaved in and out of traffic before going to the goal hard would be stoned in front. The Snakes couldn't bury any of their chances as Merritt killed off the penalty. A minute later the Centennials would jump on the man advantage as most of the first half of the period was penalties. The Vipers with another strong penalty kill, would kill off the minor. Less then a minute later Alex Swetlikoff with a burst of speed come down the wing, got by his defender before beating Austin Roden fivehole giving Vernon a 3-1 lead at 13:29 Elan Bar-Lev-Wise collected the assist. On the following play, the Cents come right back and come very close to getting within a goal after Rylan Van Unen's shot beat Aidan Porter but not the crossbar. Minutes later Bradley Ziemer with a knuckler from the corner somehow beat Aidan Porter high glove cutting Vernon's lead to 3-2 at 15:07 Frazer Dodd with the lone assist. Merritt kept pressing but Aidan Porter made several key stops down the stretch. The Centennials with pressure late couldn't get anything towards the front of the goal as Vernon's defence played very well in the final minutes. The Cents would call a late timeout before getting Austin Roden to the bench with 1:44 left. The Centennials had troubles setting up, couldn't get set as the Vipers had several looks at the open cage couldn't hit the net. The Snakes played very well defensively to finish the game and hold onto the 3-2 victory. At the buzzer several players started pushing and shoving just to the left of the Viper bench before Jesse Lansdell was getting involved with a player on the Merritt bench. Both trainers had to get involved to break the pair up as lots of words were exchanged between the two benches before the teams made their ways off the ice. The Vipers only managed two shots in the first half and two in the second half I thought played very well defensively down the stretch. With the Centennials pressing Vernon did a good job at limiting Merritt's opportunities. The Cents had some good looks at times but couldn't beat Aidan Porter. Merritt had an edge in play for a lot of the 3rd period. Merritt outshot Vernon 11-4.
Top Player's: (Vernon)
Landon Fuller I thought played well on the Vipers backend. Used his size and played well defensively.
Michael Young was solid on the blueline, made several big defensive plays.
Jagger Williamson (1 assist) Played with a lot of jump/energy, played hard all night.
Connor Marritt (1 goal) Was another kid who played hard, played with a lot of jump and energy most of the game.
Tyler Ho Making his Vipers debut was impressive. Has some size, can skate, plays hard, always moving his feet, looks to have some speed and skill. Lets hope he's not like the previous WHL players that were acquired and then left back to the Western Hockey League.
Aidan Porter (20 saves) I thought played well, wasn't forced into making any real big stops but made some key saves at key times in the hockey game.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
I didn't think the Vipers had nearly as much puck possession as did the Merritt Centennials but the Vipers penalty kill, defense and goaltending was the difference. I didn't think either team had a lot of quality opportunities through out the night but the Vipers scored some timely goals. How big was killing off the five on three early to start the 3rd with a one goal lead. I thought the Viper defence played well especially in the 3rd period. Holding Merritt to just a goal heading into the 3rd didn't give up a lot of quality chances. Vernon did have troubles defending against the Centennials speed and aggressive forecheck. The Snakes lost a lot of puck battles-one on one battles down low. The Vipers were just a step behind Merritt most of the night. Vernon wins back to back games move three points up on Trail and are now tied in points with Salmon Arm. The Vipers pick up just their third win in their last nine games.
Top Player's: (Merritt)
Michael Van Unen (1 assist) I thought played hard on the Cents backend.
Rylan Van Unen Was one of Merritt's most dangerous forwards. A strong, quick skater was really moving the puck up ice in a hurry, created/generated all kinds of chances.
Nick Granowicz Was another forward who played well, had some looks-opportunities.
Brendan Schneider Has some wheels, can move, really opened up the ice with his speed and quickness, was buzzing all night.
Payton Matsui Another kid that can skate, has some wheels, was giving the Vipers trouble all night with his aggressive forecheck.
Bradley Cocca Not the biggest kid but quick on his feet, plays hard, aggressive on the forecheck, played with a ton of jump/energy.
Game Thought's: (Merritt)
This Merritt team is super quick, has a ton of speed, likes to rush-carry the play up ice in a hurry. The second highest scoring team in the league was held to just two goals tonight and limited on their opportunities. The Centennials play hard at both ends of the rink, have an aggressive forecheck, forced Vernon into several turnovers, won most of the puck battles. I thought Merritt carried the better of the play this evening but like the Vipers didn't generate/or create a lot of quality chances. The Cents struggled with the man advantage going 1-7 on the powerplay. Merritt has lost back to back games falls to 18-11-1-1 drop to 3rd in the division are tied in points with Wenatchee.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Ben Sanderson (Injured)
Logan Cash (Injured)
Carver Watson (Injured)
Merritt:
Mattias Dal Monte
Vincent Guy
Daniel Tkac
Energy Player of the Game:
Jagger Williamson (1 assist)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Connor Marritt (1 goal)
2nd Star: Matt Kowalski (1 goal)
3rd Star: Christian Sabin (1 goal)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
https://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/8739
Game Report,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/official-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8739
Text Boxscore,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/text-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8739
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