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 1999-2000 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 7-5 in front of 1,130 fans at Royal LePage Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Aidan Porter
West Kelowna: Brock Baier
1st Period: The Vipers jumped on the Warriors off the opening puck drop. Vernon with good pressure early, had some looks were quickly outshooting West Kelowna 3-0 just a minute into the contest. About two minutes in the Tribe sprung Cavin Tilsley in for the breakaway. Landon Fuller hustled back, got good body position on Tilsley who managed to get off a shot but I don't think a quality shot as Aidan Porter stayed with Tilsley the entire way, making the stop on the Warriors first shot of the night. The play then really started to open up as both teams went back and fourth before Tyler Ho ripped a shot about five minutes in would force Brock Baier to flash the leather, making a nice glove save. On the following shift the Vipers setup assistant captain Jesse Lansdell who got in behind the defence, couldn't solve Brock Baier in close. While Lansdell was getting up Baier looked to kick Lansdell before Lansdell quickly turned around, shoving/crosschecking Baier from behind. This drew a scrum as everyone on the ice got involved in the scrum in front of the West Kelowna Warriors goal. Former Vernon Vipers defenceman Austin Chorney was having words with Vipers captain Jagger Williamson as tempers heated up in a hurry. WK would come out of the scrum with the games first powerplay. The Warriors couldn't capitalize with the man advantage. Just as the minor expired Lucas Bahn's point shot would be redirected on it's way to the goal by Max Bulawka, giving West Kelowna a 1-0 lead at 7:54 Bahn & Anthony Bishop collected the assists. The Tribe with a good push back after the goal, come right back on offence. Somehow Aidan Porter fell, allowing Brandon Dent to hit the open cage, giving West Kelowna a 2-0 lead at 8:33 Quinton Waitzner drew the lone helper. Two quick back to back goals from West Kelowna. I didn't see what happened to Porter on the play/goal. Im not sure if he was upended or just lost an edge and fell, but either way the goal stood and WK was up 2-0. Teddy Wooding responded with a good push back shift after the goal, would be denied by Brock Baier. On the same shift Connor Marritt would beat Brock Baier alone in front, cutting West Kelowna's lead to 2-1 at 9:28 Matt Kowalski and Teddy Wooding picked up the helpers. Shortly after Jesse Lansdell who was in the face of the Tribe most of the period, was involved in the play once again, mixing things up after the whistle. Minutes later the Warriors would get their second powerplay of the game. Aidan Porter had to be sharp, made a big pad save off a shot from the point. WK with no real quality chances other then the one on the PP as Vernon killed off the minor. Shortly after the powerplay, Quinton Waitzner's shot just missed the far corner on a quality chance for the Tribe. Teddy Wooding come back the other way, couldn't beat Brock Baier. Inside the final minute Ben Sanderson tied the game 2-2 at 19:21 Jesse Lansdell with the assist. Fourteen seconds later the Warriors would get a late powerplay, before the end of the period. It was 2-2 after 20 minutes of play. This was a fairly evenly matched opening frame with both teams going back and fourth. It didn't look good for Vernon who gave up two quick back to back goals, were down 2-0 on the road, managed to battle back to tie the game. Both teams had some looks-chances through out the period. A very feisty period with several scrums-scrimmages between whistles. Jesse Lansdell was involved in several of those. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 18-12.
2nd Period: The Warriors started the middle frame on the man advantage that was carried over from the 1st period. The Snakes would kill off the minor. Shortly after Elan Bar-Lev-Wise would give Vernon a 3-2 lead at 2:57 their first lead of the evening. Carver Watson and Nick Cherkowski with the helpers. A good push back from the Warriors minutes later. Max Bulawka alone in front couldn't solve Vipers starting goaltender Aidan Porter. A large save from the Vernon goaltender, keeping this a one goal game. On the following shift, Jagger Williamson back the other would be denied from Warriors starting goaltender Brock Baier. Minutes later on a scramble in front Parm Dhaliwal would be stoned in tight with the Tribe pressing. Just before the midway mark Mason Richey on a parcial three on one, decided to keep and shoot, fired wide on a missed opportunity. Michael Young with a rocket from the blueline forced Brock Baier to once again flash the leather, made a quick glove save off the Viper d-man. Shortly after Mason Richey's shot either hit someone on it's way to the goal, looked to be stopped by Aidan Porter before somehow rolling under Porter and into the back of the goal, tying the game 3-3 at 12:43 Quinton Waitzner & Lucas Bahn drew the helpers. Thirty three seconds later Logan Cash banked his shot in and off Brock Baier, giving Vernon a 4-3 lead at 13:16 Matt Kowalski picked up the lone assist. With about five minutes remaining Aidan Porter was forced to make a big save towards the end of the period to keep this a one goal game. It was 4-3 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. For the second straight period, this was anyone's hockey game as both teams were evenly matched. The play was back and fourth for most of the middle frame, with some quality chances at both ends of the rink. Both goaltenders played well. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 13-11.
3rd Period: A minor delay to start the third period as the teams waited a few minutes for the ice to dry. Garrett Ewert's shot would be redirected in front by Mike Hardman, tying the game 4-4 at 3:51 Ewert with the assist. Minutes later Ben Sanderson down the left wing, cut hard towards the goal couldn't beat Brock Baier in close would draw a penalty on the play, sending Vernon to the powerplay. The Vipers with good pressure, had troubles getting pucks to the net as West Kelowna killed off the minor. The Snakes seemed to build off the powerplay, gained some momentum and slowly started to take over the edge in play. Tyler Ho with a great look-opportunity couldn't give the Vipers the lead after a big stop from Brock Baier. Just past the midway mark the Snakes couldn't clear the zone, turned over the puck witch allowed Willie Reim alone in front to beat Aidan Porter, giving West Kelowna a 5-4 lead at 13:40 Quinton Waitzner and Anthony Bishop with the assists. Just over a minute later the Snakes would head back to the powerplay and capitalize. Jagger Williamson driving hard to the goal somehow managed to get to the puck with bodies in front, beat Brock Baier in close, tying the game 5-5 at 15:26 Williamson's goal was unassisted. On the play/goal Anthony Bishop lost his helmet, tried putting his helmet back on during the play/goal would be given a penalty for illegal equipment, sending Vernon back to the powerplay. On the man advantage, Brendan Kim spotted Jesse Lansdell in front, beat Brock Baier in close, giving Vernon a 6-5 lead at 16:09 Kim drew the lone helper. Two quick back to back powerplay goals for the Vipers. About a minute and a half later Teddy Wooding unloaded a cannon of a shot from just inside the blueline, gave Vernon a 7-5 lead at 17:34 Wooding's goal was unassisted as fans started to pour out of Royal LePage Place. On the following shift the Vipers went back to the man advantage as the Warriors were letting their emotions take over. The Snakes spent a lot of time with the puck in their own end, winding down the clock before coming away with the 7-5 victory. This was a wild 3rd period with both teams switching leads. The Vipers with a 4-3 lead coming into the final frame, gave up two goals, were down a goal, before rallying with three goals of their own. After the Warriors game tying fourth goal, I thought the Snakes took over the edge in play, had a lot of offensive zone time, more puck possession but didn't really create/or generate much for offence before WK took the lead just past the halfway mark on a bad turnover. The Tribe then got into penalty trouble and the Vipers PP who has struggled lately, clicked on two third period powerplay goals. I thought the Vipers were the better team in the 3rd, rally with a big third period come from behind win. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 15-10.
Top Player's: (Vernon)
Michael Young For a second straight night, I thought was one of Vernon's better defencemen. Has a wicked shot and used it in the win over Nanaimo Friday night and again tonight. Likes getting pucks to the net, has a quick release, creates opportunities when getting pucks to the net.
The line of Matt Kowalski (2 assists), Connor Marritt (1 goal) & Teddy Wooding (1 goal) were very strong for the Snakes. With Josh Latta out of the lineup Teddy Wooding jumped up on this line and fit in nicely. This line was creating/generating chances through out the night.
Ben Sanderson (1 goal) I thought had some looks-opportunities, scored once, played well.
Jagger Williamson (1 goal) The Vipers captain had another solid game.
Jesse Lansdell (1 goal & 1 assist) Was in the face of the Warriors through out the contest, especially in that opening frame. Played with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, calmed down as the game went on scored the game winner in the 3rd period on the powerplay.
Tyler Ho I thought played very well, had some looks/chances, created some open ice, made things happen at times.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
I thought the Vipers got off to a quick start, got good jump on the Tribe off the opening faceoff but fell down 2-0 in the first eight minutes. Give the Snakes credit, they didn't panic, battled hard to tie the game before the end of the 1st period. The Vipers really used their speed and quickness to open the flow/ice created/generated several quality chances through out the game. I thought Vernon played with a bit too much edge in the opening frame, took five minors but settled down as the game continued and played a much more disciplined game in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Kind of like last night's win over Nanaimo the Vipers couldn't pull away again tonight, allowing WK back in the game on several occasions, managed to put the game away late in the 3rd with the man advantage. The Snakes top two lines saw a ton of ice time. For a team that had so much troubles scoring at the start of the season and through the season, the Snakes have really started to find the back of the net in 2019. The Vipers with twelve goals in their last two games. Vipers captain Jagger Williamson played in career game #230 tonight, passes former Vernon Vipers forward Rob Short for second on Vernon junior hockey's all-time games played list. Short from Vernon played with the Vipers from 2005-2010 was the first Vernon junior hockey player to have his jersey retired. Short's jersey #20 was retired in September 2010. The Vipers struggled on the road at the start of the season, have now won five straight road games and nine of their last eleven games away from home. A good turn out of Vipers fans in attendance tonight. With the victory the Snakes win the season series going 5-1 vs the Warriors this year. Vernon improves to 25-20-7-3 jump into 4th place are now six points up on Trail, five points up on West Kelowna and a point up on Salmon Arm.
Top Player's: (West Kelowna)
Lucas Bahn (2 assists) Played very well on the blueline, was strong at both ends of the rink.
Max Bulawka (1 goal) Played with alotof jump/energy, was going to the net often, creating/generating chances through out the contest, played very well for the WK.
Quinton Waitzner (3 assists) Playing in just his thirteenth game with the Warriors, picked up three helpers in the loss. Looked very good, was hard to defend against.
Anthony Bishop (2 assists) I thought was a kid who played hard, was in the corners-along the wall, battled/competed through out the night.
Brock Baier (39 saves) Was the busier of the two netminders, gave up seven goals but stopped thirty nine Vernon shots. Made some big saves through out the game at key times in the game, to keep WK in the game. A bigger goaltender, covers a lot of the net, doesn't give up many second or third opportunities.
Game Thought's: (West Kelowna)
Tonight was a big game for both teams who are fighting for higher spots in the division. I thought the Warriors played very well in a game either team could have won. Tonight was not a defensive played game, as both teams went back and fourth with quality chances at both ends of the rink. With the Tribe needing the win to try and get within a point of 5th place Vernon, I don't think West Kelowna will be happy with the outcome, especially after blowing a 2-0 lead on home ice. This is one of those games I think the Warriors need to hang on and get the win, especially when you go up 2-0. Both teams struggled with the lead through out the game. I thought the Tribe like Vernon used their speed and skill to create/generate several quality opportunities. Tempers heated up in the 1st period in a feisty opening twenty minutes, before both teams seemed to settle down as the game continued. The Warriors took some penalties at bad times in the 3rd period, witch cost them the hockey game. One of the biggest crowds I have seen at a Vipers game in West Kelowna in a long time. Great turnout for the Warriors. West Kelowna has struggled lately and it's showed in the standings. The Warriors have dropped three straight, and have just three wins in their last eleven games. With the loss West Kelowna falls to 27-27-0-1 sit 6th in the Interior division are a point up on 7th place Trail, four points back of Salmon Arm and now five points back of Vernon.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Ben Helgeson (Injured)
Josh Latta
Lane Zablocki
West Kelowna:
Andrew Viggars
Garrett Worth
Energy Player of the Game:
Lucas Bahn (2 assists)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Quinton Waitzner (3 assists)
2nd Star: Matt Kowalski (2 assists)
3rd Star: Max Bulawka (1 goal)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
https://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/8953
Game Report,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/official-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8953
Text Boxscore,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/text-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=8953
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