I have had season tickets for 29 years and been following junior hockey in Vernon for over thirty five years. I have missed one Vipers home game since 2009 and two Vipers home games since the 2002-03 season. For anyone who couldn't attend or watch 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-Warriors game as Vernon defeated West Kelowna 6-3 in front of 919 fans at Royal Le Page Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Aidan Porter
West Kelowna: Brock Baier
1st Period: The Warriors come out hitting before Wyatt Head's shot would be redirected in front by Warriors captain Cavin Tilsley who was alone in front, giving West Kelowna the early 1-0 lead at 0:56 Head drew the lone assist. The Tribe looked to build off the opening goal were outshooting the Vipers 4-0 about three minutes into the contest. The Snakes responded back after Alex Swetlikoff setup Josh Latta who scored on the Vipers first shot of the night, tying the game 1-1 at 3:23 Swetlikoff with the only assist. About four minutes later Alex Swetlikoff with a nifty backhand just about caught Brock Baier napping couldn't sneak the puck between Baier and the post. On the following shift Brendan Kim with his first goal of the season gives Vernon a 2-1 lead at 7:20 Teddy Wooding & Ben Sanderson picked up the assists. Cavin Tilsley couldn't bang hom a loose puck on a goal mouth scramble at the midway mark after Aidan Porter somehow managed to keep the puck out on a flurry of chances from Tilsley. The puck would come back to the point before a quick shot towards the goal, beat Aidan Porter went off the crossbar as WK come close to tying the game. Just past the halfway mark the Warriors would get the games first powerplay. The Tribe with just one shot on goal couldn't muster much offense as Vernon killed off the penalty. Just as the penalty expired the Snakes sprung former West Kelowna Warriors forward Matt Kowalski out of the penalty box in for the breakaway but couldn't solve Brock Baider who just got a piece of the puck with his blocker. On the following shift Chase Dubois come very close to tying the game beat Aidan Porter but rang his shot off the crossbar. The Vipers would get their first look with the man advantage but it was the Tribe who had a few looks. Aidan Porter got caught out of his crease twice, just about turned over the puck as the Snakes got a bit of a scare. The Vipers unable to really muster much offense were denied on the PP. About a minute later Willie Reim with a harmless looking shot from well outside the circle beat Aidan Porter tying the game 2-2 at 17:07 Chase Dubois & Austin Chorney collected the helpers. Before the PA announcer could even announce the Warriors goal Josh Latta would be hauled down on a parcial breakaway before the puck somehow got between the legs of Brock Baier and into the back of the goal as Latta went crashing into the net. Vernon with a 3-2 lead at 17:31 Michael Young with the assist. It was 3-2 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. The Warriors come out hitting, jumped on the Vipers off the opening faceoff, opened the scoring just fifty six seconds into the game were the better team early. I thought West Kelowna carried the better of the play, had more puck possession were skating and moving the puck well. The Vipers didn't have much control of the puck/play but scored on their opportunities. I thought the Tribe really needed a save at one point on at least one of Vernon's three goals. Vernon with only three shots scored twice. The Snakes played better in the second half and had some offensive zone time for short periods looked better in the second half of the frame. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 16-10.
2nd Period: The Warriors started the middle frame on the man advantage. With good pressure and moving the puck around a quick shot from in close beat Aidan Porter before Jack Judson with a solid defensive play, cleared the puck from going over the goal line. Towards the end of the powerplay Max Bulawka and Bennett Norlin with quality chances couldn't solve Vipers starting goaltender Aidan Porter. Porter was solid on the penalty kill as Vernon killed off the minor. About a minute after the penalty expired the Vipers sprung Connor Marritt in for the breakaway would be stopped in close by Warriors starting goaltender Brock Baier who made a nice pad save in close, keeping this a one goal game. Just before the halfway mark Matt Kowalski gave Vernon a 4-2 lead at 9:13 Jagger Williamson and Jesse Lansdell with the helpers. Kowalski would get a nice ovation from the crowd after his goal was announced over the PA system. The Warriors come back the other way off the puck drop, but Brendan Kim with a solid defensive play broke up the odd man rush. Seconds later newly acquired Garrett Worth found the back of the goal giving Vernon a 5-2 lead at 9:58 Worth's goal was unassisted. This was the end of the night for Brock Baier would be replaced by Connor Hopkins. Baier allowed five goals on seventeen Vernon shots. On the following play West Kelowna come right back with another odd man rush but Trey Taylor with a defensive play broke up the Warriors scoring opportunity. Two solid defensive plays from Vernon's young d-men. With just under five minutes left in the period Max Bulawka and Eric Olson with two quality chances couldn't beat Aidan Porter. It was 5-2 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. WK started the period on the powerplay, had some good looks/opportunities couldn't solve Aidan Porter who played very well this period, made some big stops. The Warriors looked to have the edge/jump early before two quick goals from the Vipers changed the momentum and pace as Vernon took over most of the remainder of the period. Both teams went several minutes without a shot on goal, while the Tribe went at least ten minutes without a shot on net. The Snakes were the better of the two teams, carried a lot of the play, had the puck on their sticks were moving the puck well, had West Kelowna on their heels for a lot of the 2nd period. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 12-11.
3rd Period: The Warriors started the 3rd on the man advantage that was carried over from the final two seconds of the middle frame. The Vipers with a solid penalty kill, killed off the minor. Just as the penalty expired Brendan Kim with his second of the evening spotted the open cage, giving Vernon a 6-2 lead at 2:50 Ben Sanderson and Connor Marritt with the assists. Just after the goal Trey Taylor looked to have Connor Hopkins beat high but the WK goaltender somehow managed to come across the crease and get his arms high making a big stop with pressure from the Vipers. On the following play the Warriors sprung Lucas Cullen in for the breakaway who would be denied by Aidan Porter on a big pad save. Just before the midway mark, Teddy Wooding on a two on one would shoot but go up and over the goal on a missed opportunity. Shortly after the Snakes would get a powerplay. Jagger Williamson with a quality chance couldn't solve Connor Hopkins before a turnover in the Vipers zone allowed Bennett Norlin to sneak one through Aidan Porter's fivehole and into the back of the goal shorthanded, cutting Vernon's lead to 6-3 at 11:44 Norlin's goal was unassisted. Minutes later West Kelowna would get a powerplay before calling a timeout and then getting Connor Hopkins to the bench for the extra attacker with just over four minutes remaining. Vernon with a lengthy shot from their own end missed the open cage. The Vipers with a solid penalty kill, held the Warriors to the outside limiting their chances as Vernon killed off the minor. Once the penalty expired Connor Hopkins went back in goal. The Snakes would get a late powerplay with just over three minutes remaining, had several good looks but couldn't capitalize. Connor Hopkins made at least two big stops as WK killed off the penalty. The Warriors with pressure in the final minutes couldn't muster much offense as the Vipers limited the Warriors time and space. Vernon come away with the 6-3 victory. West Kelowna started the period on the PP had a good chance to get back in the game early but couldn't capitalize with the man advantage before giving up Vernon's sixth goal shortly after the PP. This was basically the game at this point even though most of the 3rd period was still remaining. I thought Vernon played hard, solid defensively and were very good on the PK. West Kelowna struggled with the powerplay, were held to the outside most of the frame, were limited in their shots and opportunities, had trouble creating/generating chances. The Vipers with a solid 3rd period snapped a four game losing streak. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 12-10.
Top Player's: (Vernon)
Matt Kowalski (1 goal) Facing his former team for the first time, played very well in just his second game with the Vipers. Was hard in on pucks, opens the ice, makes plays happen, adds some spark-offence to the Snakes lineup.
Connor Marritt (1 assist) I thought played a hard fought game, had some looks-opportunities, was very good up front.
The line of Josh Latta (2 goals), Garrett Worth (1 goal) & Alex Swetlikoff (1 assist) Was Vernon's best unit, were dangerous all night. Latta had a handful of chances to get his third goal of the night, while Worth isn't the biggest kid, was involved in the play. This line gave the Warriors troubles all evening.
Jack Judson Played a solid game on the blueline. Made at least two defensive plays, while looked good with the puck on the powerplay.
Brendan Kim (2 goals) Scored his first and second goal of the season, was very active with the puck, played with a ton of confidence, also made a solid defensive play in the 2nd period breaking up a West Kelowna odd man rush.
Trey Taylor was also another young d-man that impressed me tonight in the win. Made at least one or two defensive plays, also looked to score an early goal in the 3rd was denied on a big stop off Connor Hopkins.
Aidan Porter (34 saves) Played very well between the pipes. I think the rookie goaltender is making his ninth straight start in goal. I will have to double check that one. I think Porter would like to have back the Warriors second and third goal but otherwise was solid between the pipes.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
The Vipers give up the opening goal just fifty six seconds into the hockey game, were outhit and outshot 4-0 just minutes in, didn't panic, before Josh Latta ties the game minutes later on Vernon's first shot. The Vipers seemed to get better as the game went on and were the better of the two teams in the 2nd and 3rd periods. I thought Vernon was very good on the penalty kill and got some timely saves from Aidan Porter on the PK. The Vipers held the Tribe to the outside, limited their time and space, giving WK very little to look at. The Viper defence was also very strong, limiting West Kelowna's time and space. The young Viper defence played very well, played with confidence. I thought the Snakes speed took over as the game went on. Vernon seemed to capitalize on their chances and were going hard to the goal, were rewarded with a few garbage goals if you like to call em. I really like the addition of Matt Kowalski and Garrett Worth. It looks like both may bring some much needed offence to the Vipers lineup. The Snakes haven't had much puck luck this season, got the better of the bounces/breaks tonight. Vernon is 2-0 vs West Kelowna this year have won nine straight over the Warriors. The Snakes snapped a four game losing streak have three wins in their last eleven games, finish 1-3 on their four game road trip. With the win the Vipers get just their fourth win on the road this year improve to 9-8-6-2 sit 6th in the division tied in points with Trail. A fairly large amount of Vipers fans at tonight's game. Former Vernon Lakers forward and former West Kelowna Warriors head coach-gm Rylan Ferster was at tonight's game.
Top Player's: (West Kelowna)
Max Bulawka I thought played well for the Warriors. Had some good looks-quality chances couldn't solve Aidan Porter. Was battling in front of the goal, couldn't catch a break. Was one of the more dangerous forwards in the loss.
Lucas Cullen I thought had spurts, played well at times. Was stopped on a 3rd period breakaway.
Game Thought's: (West Kelowna)
It looked like the Tribe may run away with the game early after jumping out to the quick 1-0 lead. The Warriors had the edge in play at least for the first half of the opening period, needed a timely save as the Vipers scored twice on just three shots early into the 1st period. As the game went on West Kelowna struggled offensively need get any breaks, had some quality chances at times other wise were kept to the outside for most of the 2nd and 3rd periods. The Vipers took away a lot of WK's time and space and when West Kelowna managed any kind of offense, Aidan Porter was there for the big save. The Tribe didn't generate a whole ton of offence in the 2nd and 3rd periods, went at least ten minutes in the middle frame without a shot on goal. West Kelowna has given thirteen goals in their last two games. The Warriors played their fifth game in seven nights. With the loss the Warriors fall to 15-10-0-1 are 3rd in the Interior Division. A pretty good turnout for tonight's hockey game as I was very surprised at the size of crowd tonight. I heard the Warriors haven't been drawing well this year. Penticton Vees head coach-gm Fred Harbinson was at tonight's game.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Logan Cash (Injured)
Carver Watson (Injured)
West Kelowna:
Declan Douthart
Cody Paivarinta
Parm Dhaliwal
Energy Player of the Game:
Willie Reim (1 goal)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Brendan Kim (2 goals)
2nd Star: Josh Latta (2 goals)
3rd Star: Matt Kowalski (1 goal)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
https://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/8697
Game Report,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/official-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8697
Text Boxscore,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/text-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8697
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