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 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 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 1-0 in front of 1,213 fans at Royal LePage Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Aidan Porter
West Kelowna: Connor Hopkins
1st Period: The Warriors started the hockey game on the man advantage after newly acquired Lane Zablocki was given a two minute delay of game penalty during warmup. The Tribe had some early shots but no real quality chances as the Vipers killed off the minor. A minute later Lane Zablocki would be stoned in close before the Warriors quickly cleared the zone, moving the puck back up ice where Aidan Porter had to flash the leather making a quick glove save off Mike Hardman. Two real good scoring chances at both ends of the rink. West Kelowna was outshooting Vernon 5-2 early before the Snakes would come back with a strong push back shift. The Vipers with pressure down low forced Connor Hopkins into making at least three or four saves in close before Vernon would get their first powerplay just over seven minutes into the 1st period. The Vipers had good pressure but no real quality chances until the final few seconds of the minor. Vernon setup Trey Taylor at the side of the net who was robbed by Connor Hopkins who made a large game saver keeping this game scoreless. The Tribe killed off the minor. Vernon went back to the PP about a minute and a half later, Lucas Cullen with a big shot block, looked to take a stinger, made his way to the Warriors bench in some discomfort, would stay in the game. Ben Sanderson would the Snakes best opportunity on the man advantage, would be denied on a great opportunity as WK killed off the penalty. The Snakes now outshooting the Warriors 11-6 at this point. Just as the penalty expired Will Dow-Kenny took a open ice hit near centre ice looked to have his head down, went down hard, losing his helmet. Dow-Kenny looked to be a little shaken up made his way to the Vipers dressing room, would later return. Towards the end of the period with the Vipers pressing, Connor Hopkins made the first save, before Elan Bar-Lev-Wise's shot went in and off a West Kelowna defender in front, giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 17:42 Tyler Ho & Ben Helgeson drew the helpers. It was 1-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Snakes were the better of the two teams for most of the entire period. Vernon carried most of play, had a ton of puck possession and more scoring chances. The Warriors saw a lot of the opening frame inside their own end. Connor Hopkins was the difference, or the Vipers could have easily been up by two or three goals. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 15-10.
2nd Period: A minute into the middle frame Ben Sanderson and another Viper forward both tried racing for the loose puck before Warriors starting goaltender Connor Hopkins come way out of the blue paint to play the puck. Veteran forward Parm Dhaliwal quickly carried the play up ice, before beating his defender drove hard to the goal, looked to have Aidan Porter beat as the puck went through the crease and out the other side, on a missed opportunity for West Kelowna. The Tribe with a ton of jump/energy to start the second period, carried the play early. Former Vernon Vipers forward Garrett Worth with two solid opportunities just minutes in, couldn't even the score. Minutes later Ben Sanderson somehow missed a wide open cage on a missed opportunity for Vernon to grab a two goal lead. Minutes later WK with some nice passing setup Lucas Cullen going to the goal, would be denied in close by Vipers starting goaltender Aidan Porter. With about six minutes left, Max Bulawka with a great opportunity would be denied by Aidan Porter. Towards the end of the period the Tribe would get a late powerplay. Bennett Norlin would be stoned in front by Aidan Porter on a large save, keeping this a one goal game. The Vipers would kill off the remainder of the penalty. It was 1-0 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. The Warriors responded with a much better period, carried most of the play but didn't get a lot of pucks to the net or create/generate many chances. West Kelowna had some quality opportunities but with all the zone time, didn't generate enough. The Vipers also had troubles getting the offense going, didn't get many chances through out the 2nd period. The Tribe was the better of the two teams. Shots were even 8-8.
3rd Period: Just fourteen seconds in the Snakes would jump on early powerplay but unable to capitalize. WK with a big PK early to start the final frame. Minutes later Connor Hopkins made a large save off a Vipers two on one before Will Dow-Kenny would be denied on the rebound. Two quality chances for Vernon. Shortly after Aidan Porter was forced to make a difficult save with traffic in front. Just before the halfway mark Lane Zablocki went crashing into the end boards on a parcial breakaway, was a little shaken getting up, lost his skate blade but stayed in the contest. Teddy Wooding looked to go knee on knee was a little shaken up on his way to the bench, but also stayed in the game. Ben Sanderson took a hit along the end wall, went straight to the Vipers bench but stayed in the game. With about five minutes remaining, Ben Helgeson alone in the slot would be stoned by Connor Hopkins who made a large save late, keeping this a one goal game. West Kelowna would get Connor Hopkins to the bench with about 2:20 remaining, while at the same time Lucas Cullen with a great look-opportunity tried beating Aidan Porter five hole would be denied in close. Michael Young, Connor Marritt, Ben Helgeson, Matt Kowlaski all had chances to put the game away missed the open cage at the other end of the rink, while the Tribe struggled to gain the zone and get any kind of attack going. Both teams would use their timeouts. Some pushing and shoving at the final buzzer, before both teams were quickly separated. The Vipers would hang on for the 1-0 victory. Both teams went back and fourth early in a fast paced period. But as the 3rd continued I thought the Vipers slowly began gaining just a little more puck possession and zone time. Vernon definitely had the better of the scoring chances, while the Warriors had a few but not as many quality chances as the Snakes. Both goaltenders played well. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 12-11.
Top Player's: (Vernon)
Ben Helgeson (1 assist) I thought was one of the more dangerous forwards who created/or generated chances through out the game.
Ben Sanderson Once again really used his speed and skill to make things happen. Had some looks-chances, played very well in the win.
Aidan Porter (30 saves-Shutout) Recorded his fourth shutout of the season, was very solid between the pipes this evening. Playing his best hockey of the season, is playing with confidence, getting some help from his d-men and making that first save, with no rebounds.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
Other then maybe parts of the 2nd period I thought the Vipers played very well tonight. I thought the Snakes were the better of the two teams in two out of three periods, had more quality chances through out the hockey game. The Vipers had a lot more zone time and puck possession at times through out the game. Vernon played very disciplined, had several opportunities to build on their lead but couldn't solve Connor Hopkins. I really liked the Snakes passing. The Vipers forced several turnovers, also had several odd man rushes. Will Dow-Kenny, Ben Sanderson, Teddy Wooding and Lane Zablocki all went down but all stayed in the game. For the first time this season, the Vernon Vipers have won four straight. The Snakes have at least a point in seven of their last eight games. Since the Christmas break the Vipers are playing their best hockey of the season, have won six of their last eight games. With the win Vernon improves to 18-16-7-3 pass the Salmon Arm Silverbacks into 5th place in the division are a point up on Salmon Arm, three points back of West Kelowna and nine points back of Wenatchee. Former Vernon Vipers defenceman (2014-2016) Mitchell Oliver's parents were in attendance tonight. A great turnout of Viper fans tonight.
Top Player's: (West Kelowna)
Andrew Viggars I thought played very well on the Tribes blueline.
Garrett Worth didn't really stand out in the opening frame but played very well in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Worth played four games with the Vipers this season before being traded to Prince George. The Warriors acquired Worth at the BCHL trade deadline.
Cavin Tilsley Was one of the more dangerous West Kelowna forwards. Played very well.
Lucas Cullen played with a lot of jump/energy, blocked a shot on the PK in the 1st period, shook it off and stayed in the game, played very well up front for the Warriors.
Connor Hopkins (33 saves) Kept his hockey club in the game, giving them a chance to win. Hopkins was the busier of the two netminders, made several large saves through out the night, making the difference.
Game Thought's: (West Kelowna)
The Warriors were outplayed for most of the opening period but responded well with a strong 2nd period. West Kelowna carried a lot of the play, had a ton of zone time and puck possession but only managed a handful of scoring chances, didn't get a lot of traffic/and or pucks to the net. I also didn't think WK had many quality chances in the 3rd compared to the Vipers. I thought Vernon had more opportunities tonight and more quality chances compared to the Warriors. WK didn't get the bounces or have much puck luck, could have easily tied the game or scored a few goals on plays where they didn't get the bounces. The puck just wasnt bouncing the Warriors way tonight. Both goaltenders played very well. Like the Vipers, the Tribe also played disciplined, staying out of the sin bin. This was a very exciting and entertaining hockey game, no matter what team you were cheering for. A great turnout tonight, one of the bigger crowds I have seen in West Kelowna in some time. The Warriors fall to 1-4 vs Vernon this year. With the loss the Warriors fall to 24-20-0-1 remain in 4th place are three points up on Vernon, are six points back of Wenatchee.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Jagger Williamson (Injured)
Jesse Lansdell (Suspended)
Logan Cash (Injured)
Carver Watson (Injured)
West Kelowna:
Declan Douthart
Mason Richey
Energy Player of the Game:
Cavin Tilsley
Three Star's:
1st Star: Aidan Porter (30 saves-Shutout)
2nd Star: Connor Hopkins (33 saves)
3rd Star: Elan Bar-Lev-Wise (1 goal)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
https://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/8861
Game Report,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/official-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8861
Text Boxscore,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/text-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8861
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