Wenatchee 5 Vernon 4

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-Wild game as Wenatchee defeated Vernon 5-4 in front of 2,150 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Aidan Porter
Wenatchee: Austin Park

1st Period: The visiting Wenatchee Wild jumped on the Vipers early off the opening faceoff. A quick odd man rush resulted in Murphy Stratton spotting Chad Sasaki coming up the middle of the ice giving Wenatchee an early 1-0 lead at 0:28 Stratton & Matt Dorsey collected the helpers. Off the following faceoff Aidan Porter come out behind his net to play the puck, miss played the puck almost turning over the puck behind the Vernon goal, the Wild strong on the forecheck kept the puck-play alive before setting up in front. Aidan Porter was forced to make the first stop before Brandon Koch buried the second opportunity, giving Wenatchee a 2-0 lead at 0:53 PJ Fletcher drew the lone assist. The Vipers would call a timeout to try and settle the troops down. About a minute later Coleton Bilodeau with a quality chance in front couldn't solve Austin Park on a great chance in the slot. A minute and a half later Aidan Porter was forced to make a quick glove save off AJ Hodges. About three or four minutes later Jack Judson walking in from the point looked to have room short side fired wide missing the net on a missed opportunity. Shortly after the Snakes would get the games first powerplay but shorthanded Michael Young with some nice stick work, broke up a two on one. Alex Swetlikoff had time and space, missed the net on another good chance with room as the Wild killed off the minor. About a minute after the PP the Wild would get their first look on the man advantage. Matt Gosiewski with an odd man rush couldn't beat Aidan Porter in close. The Wild unable to capitalize on the PP. Wenatchee was up in shots 6-1 and 9-3 at different parts of the opening frame. With about five minutes remaining Jagger Williamson with determination to beat out the icing call, somehow managed to spot Connor Marritt going to the front of the goal looked to be robbed by Austin Park who somehow got across to make a save with his goal stick. Back come Wenatchee on the following play, Landon Fuller lost an edge allowing the Wild in for the odd man rush before springing Matt Gosiewski in for the breakaway would be denied by Aidan Porter. Wenatchee would get into penalty trouble late, giving Vernon a lengthy five on three and the Vipers would capitalize. Jack Judson spotted Viper captain Jagger Williamson alone at the circle beat Austin Park cutting the Wenatchee lead to 2-1 at 17:46 Judson with the assist as the teddy bears hit the ice on the Vernon Vipers annual teddy bear toss. After a short five minute delay to clean up the bears the game resumed. The Vipers unable to tie the game on the second penalty. It was 2-1 Wenatchee after 20 minutes of play. It was all Wild early and often as Wenatchee finishing a two game road trip jumped on the Snakes early and often. Two quick back to back goals within the opening minute put Vernon in the hole early. I didn't think either goal was Aidan Porter's fault but after starting fourteen straight games, I thought Mark Ferner would have switched goaltenders at this point. The Vipers played a little better in the second half, had some real good looks but couldn't bury their chances. The Wild were the better team and outplayed Vernon most of the opening twenty minutes. Wenatchee outshot Vernon 16-8.

2nd Period: The Wild would get an early powerplay but didn't generate much for opportunities as Vernon killed off the minor. A lot of action going back and fourth early with a good pace to start the middle frame. The Wild were getting pucks to the goal, while the Snakes were having troubles getting shots on goal. Just before the halfway mark, Vipers starting goaltender Aidan Porter was forced to back to big back to back stops before Ben Helgeson come back the other way, beat Wild starting netminder Austin Park but not the post. Shortly after Chad Sasaki with his second of the evening, gave Wenatchee a 3-1 lead at 12:26 Nathan Iannone and Matt Gosiewski picked up the assists. The Vipers responded with a good push back shift. Two minutes later on a delayed Wild penalty the Vipers kept the play alive, before Coleton Bilodeau on a bit of a goal mouth scramble found the back of the net, catching Austin Park out of position cutting Wenatchee's lead to 3-2 at 14:25 Ben Helgeson collected the helper. With five minutes remaining Vernon product Matt Kowalski looked to break in on a parcial breakaway was tripped up going hard to the goal. The Snakes were looking for a call but wouldn't get it. Inside the final minute Jack Judson sprung Josh Latta in for the breakaway tied the game 3-3 at 19:16 as Kal Tire Place erupted. Judson with the assist. It was 3-3 after 40 minutes of play. This was a much better period for Vernon who held their own against the visiting Wild. The play went back and fourth for a lot of the middle frame but the Vipers had troubles getting pucks to the net. Wenatchee's defence played very well. Give the Vipers credit, down two goals, they didn't quit, battled back to tie the game heading to the 3rd. The Wild had the better of the scoring chances but only mustered one goal. Aidan Porter played well this period. Wenatchee outshot Vernon 12-6.

3rd Period: The Vipers with a strong start to the final frame took their first lead of the night. Just fourty two seconds in, Alex Swetlikoff banged away a loose puck in front before putting it home, giving Vernon a 4-3 lead at 0:42 Matt Kowalski and Connor Marritt with the helpers. But back come Wenatchee just minutes later. Matt Dorsey with a seeing eye backhand beat Aidan Porter high glove tying the game 4-4 at 2:24 Chad Sasaki with the assist. Just twenty two seconds later Cristophe Teller gives Wenatchee a 5-4 lead at 2:46 Murphy Stratton and Chad Sasaki picked up the assists. Minutes later Matt Gosiewski with a chance on an odd man rush would be denied again. The Vipers looked flat-shooken up after giving up the two quick goals, were back on their heals needed a good five minutes or so to get their game back. Just before the halfway mark Blake Bargar on a two on one, decided to keep and shoot would be stopped by Aidan Porter. The Vipers would get the only powerplay of the frame just past the midway mark, while the Wild would lose Murphy Stratton who would pick up a ten minute misconduct on the play. Vernon with just one shot couldn't muster any offence as the Wild killed off the minor. Both the Snakes and Wild had the puck go through the crease on a quick shot from the corner with nobody in front. Austin Park come close to turning over the puck after coming way out of the blue paint to chase down a loose puck. With about two and a half minutes left Matt Kowalski looked to have time and space wired a shot from the circle just missing the far corner. Vernon missed the net by inches on several chances tonight. With time winding down the Snakes couldn't get Aidan Porter to the bench as the Wild had full control of the play, winding down the clock. The Snakes would eventually get Aidan Porter to the bench with thirty seven seconds remaining but then had troubles getting puck possession and set. Vernon would get control of the puck in the final twenty seconds or so but couldn't get the puck or bodies to the front of the goal as Wenatchee kept the Vipers along the wall, before the final buzzer, coming away with the 5-4 victory. Both teams played hard, battled hard, had some looks-good opportunities. The big blow was the Wild's two quick back to back goals twenty two seconds part just minutes after Vernon took their first lead of the night, just fourty two seconds into the 3rd. This was the back breaker. I thought the play was even at times but then at times the Wild had a slight edge in play. The Vipers struggled offensively, couldn't create/or generate much for offence while the Wenatchee defence also played very well. Vernon outshot Wenatchee 10-9.

Top Player's: (Vernon)

Michael Young I thought played very well in the win over Merritt Friday, had another strong game in the loss tonight.

Matt Kowalski (1 assist) Had some jump, was moving his feet, created/generated some opportunities, played hard/well most of the game.

The line of Ben Helgeson (1 assist), Coleton Bilodeau (1 goal) & Josh Latta (1 goal) was really clicking-playing well for the Vipers. I think Latta was double shifting also playing on a second line during the game. These three had chemistry and created lots of chances.

Jack Judson (2 assists) Played very well in the loss. Took a heavy hit in the 2nd period I think? Shook it off and stayed in the hockey game.

Game Thought's: (Vernon)

After a rough opening 1st period I thought the Snakes responded and played very well in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Giving up the two quick back to back goals at the start of the game was a killer and then to give up two more back to back goals early into the 3rd just after taking the lead, seemed to take the wind out of the Vipers sail. The Vipers had some good looks/chances but couldn't bury their opportunities. I thought the Wild had the better of the chances most of the night as Vernon had troubles getting pucks to the goal. The Snakes gave up several odd man rushes through out the night played from behind most of the game. Give Vernon credit, they didn't quit, battled back after down two goals in the middle frame, played hard and gave the fans an entertaining hockey game to watch. Another one goal game loss. Landon Fuller looked to have skate issues, was falling often through out the night. Aidan Porter started his fourteenth straight game. With the loss snaps Vernon's two game winning streak. The Vipers stay three points ahead of Trail and remain tied in points with Salmon Arm. Vernon drops to 11-10-6-3 sit 6th in the division.

Top Player's: (Wenatchee)

Chad Sasaki (2 goals & 2 assists) Had a heck of a game on the Wild blueline. Not the biggest d-man but can skate, move the puck and loves getting involved in the play. Played very well against the Vipers last year both regular season and playoffs.

Brandon Koch (1 goal) Was another defenceman that I thought stood out and played well.

Matt Gosiewski (1 assist) Had several quality chances through out the night couldn't buy a goal. Was very dangerous with and without the puck. One of the more effective Wild forwards.

Matt Dorsey (1 goal & 1 assist) I thought played a strong game up front for Wenatchee collecting a goal and an assist.

Game Thought's: (Wenatchee)

The Wild jumped on the Vipers off the opening faceoff with two quick back to back goals inside the opening minute. Wenatchee took it to Vernon early and often were all over the Snakes for most of the 1st period. The Wild looked to maybe pull away after jumping out to a 3-1 lead in the second frame but allowed the Vipers to tie the game at three, heading into the third. Wenatchee can skate, move the puck well, have both size and skill also got some help from their defence tonight. The Wild's defence blocked several shots, took away a lot of open ice from the Vipers. After falling behind early into the 3rd Wenatchee roars back with two quick back to back goals and never looks back. With the win the Wild improve to 19-10-2-0 sit 2nd in the division are three points back of division leading Penticton. Wenatchee has won six straight and ten of their last eleven. This was the final regular season visit to Vernon as the Vipers now have to travel to Wenatchee for three games this season.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Ben Sanderson (Injured)
Jesse Lansdell (Suspended)
Logan Cash (Injured)
Carver Watson (Injured)

Wenatchee:

Avery Winslow
Jacques Bouquot

Energy Player of the Game:

Ben Helgeson (1 assist)

Three Star's:

1st Star: Chad Sasaki (2 goals & 2 assists)
2nd Star: Jagger Williamson (1 goal)
3rd Star: Coleton Bilodeau (1 goal)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

https://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/8747

Game Report,

https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/official-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8747

Text Boxscore,

https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/text-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8747