I was at tonight's Vernon Vipers Blue & White intersquad game as Team White defeated Team Blue 4-3 in front of around 150 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Team Blue: Max Palaga
Team White: Ross Hawryluk
1st Period: Team Blue got the early jump out of the gates, were getting pucks to the net early and often, outshooting Team White 4-1 two minutes into the final day of Vipers training camp. About four minutes into the opening period, Gerrit Lindhout with a quick high wrist shot from the slot, missed the net on a missed opportunity. Team Blue opened the scoring. Blake Bryce's shot from the point would be redirected in front by second year Viper forward Elan Bar-Lev-Wise, giving Team Blue a 1-0 lead at 8:06 Bryce with the only helper on the goal. With about eight minutes left in the 1st period, Team White would get the games first power play. Nick Kent who was acquired over the off season from the Buffalo Jr. Sabres with a chance in front would be denied by former Everett Silvertips goaltender Max Palaga. Palaga had to be alert was forced to quickly make a save off Gerrit Lindhout at the side of the net. Two quality chances for Team White on the man advantage. Team Blue killed off the minor. With about four minutes left in the opening frame, Jacob Dorohoy rang a shot off the mask of Ross Hawryluk on a chance from the slot. With just under two minutes to go, Team Blue would get their first look with the PP late in the period. Team White would hold off Team Blue before the final buzzer. It was 1-0 Team Blue after 20 minutes of play. Team Blue was the better of the two teams, didn't get a lot of quality chances but carried the majority of the play. Team White saw a lot of action in the neutral zone or their own end, ended up with the better scoring chances. Team Blue outshot Team White 15-6.
2nd Period: Team Blue started the middle frame on the man advantage, that was carried over from the 1st period. With only ten seconds remaining in the minor, Team White would kill off the penalty. Both teams ramped up the intensity and physical play early and often after very little hitting in the first twenty minutes. Team White turned things around with a strong start to the 2nd period. Ben Sanderson returning to the Vipers for a second season, beat Max Palaga on the breakaway, tying the game 1-1 at 4:02 Sanderson's goal was unassisted. Palaga has been named Vernon's starting goaltender this season. Just fourteen seconds later S Tanaka-Campbell setup Vernon Vipers captain and third year veteran Connor Marritt in front, giving Team White their first lead of the evening, 2-1 at 4:16 Tanaka-Campbell drew the assist. On the following play, Connor Sleeth who was acquired over the summer from the Kanata Lasers, would be stopped on an odd man rush. Minutes later Curtis Hammond on a backhand in front, beat Max Palaga high giving Team White a 3-1 lead at 8:48 second year Viper forward Ben Helgeson picked up the lone helper. Team White with three straight unanswered goals. On the next stoppage in play, both teams switched goaltenders with just over nine minutes left in the middle frame. Max Palaga allowed three goals for Team Blue, was replaced by backup netminder Kobe Grant. Ross Hawryluk allowed one goal for Team White who was replaced by Dawson Pelletier. With about five minutes to go Jack Glen, the son of Vipers owner Tom Glen looked to have beat Kobe Grant five hole as the puck looked to go in and out in the blink of an eye, as the play continued. Vernon Vipers recruit/committed forward Ryan Shostak cut Team Whites lead to within a goal at 18:40 KT Walters & Vernon Product Matt Kowalski collected the assists. It was 3-2 Team White after 40 minutes of play. Team White with a much better performance this period, was the better of the teams. Team White carried most of the play, scored three straight goals to start the 2nd period. Team Blue fired nineteen shots towards the goal, didn't generate or create much for offence. Team Blue outshot Team White 19-13.
3rd Period: Team Blue got off to a quick start, with a flurry of chances in and around the goal, couldn't jam one in past Dawson Pelletier. Just past the halfway mark, Curtis Hammond with his second goal of the evening beat, Kobe Grant at 11:48 giving Team White a 4-2 lead. Team Blue called a timeout shortly after to try and re-group the troops. Ryan Shostak was getting some attention down the tunnel but would later return and stay in the intersquad game. With about four minutes left in the final frame, Blake Bryce with a quick shot from the high slot, forced Dawson Pelletier to flash the leather, making a quick glove save. Team Blue would get Kobe Grant to the bench with about two minutes left, for the extra attacker. With the clock winding down, and a scramble in front, Connor Sleeth found the back of the net at 19:25, getting Team Blue to within a goal. It was 4-3 Team White. Team White would call a timeout. Off the following draw, Matt Kowalski took a shot at Vernon Vipers recruit/committed defenceman Ryan MacLean. Team Blue poured on the pressure late but couldn't keep the puck in the zone, before the final buzzer, as Team White defeated Team Blue 4-3 in the Vernon Vipers Blue & White intersquad game. I thought Team Blue was the better team at times. Both teams looked scrambled at times. Not a lot of scoring chances at either ends of the rink. Team Blue was getting pucks to the net often, but didn't get a lot of quality shots on goal. Team Blue outshot Team White 18-4.
Top Player's (Team Blue)
Elan Bar-Lev-Wise (1 goal) Opened the scoring, I thought had some good shifts through out the scrimmage.
Ryan Shostak (1 goal) Recruited/Committed to the Vipers over the summer, Played very well. Caught my attention. I liked the looks of this kid.
Top Player's: (Team White)
Ben Sanderson (1 goal) Returning to Vernon for a second season, I thought was the best player tonight. Really ramped up his game, played with a lot of pace, speed and intensity. Was engaged in the play, showed a lot of hustle and looked to be game ready.
Jojo Tanaka-Campbell Another Vipers recruit/Committed forward. I really liked the looks of this young man. Can skate, move the puck well. Was involved with the play, makes things happen in a hurry. A very clean, smooth skater.
Gerrit Lindhout Caught my attention. I thought had a good game, had some looks/opportunities, involved in the play, played hard and was going to the net. A decent skater that created/generated some chances.
Nick Kent I thought played well on the blueline.
Trey Taylor Returning to the Vernon Vipers for a second season, looks to have grown and gained some size. Was very steady on the backend.
News & Notes:
Rumors around the rink Logan Cash is sick and didn't play tonight
Jason McKee reported Tuesday the Vipers trimmed their training camp roster from 57 players down to 42
Rumors around the rink is that the Vipers will make cuts either after tonight's intersquad game or sometime before Friday night's first exhibition game vs Grande Prairie (AJHL)
Vernon Vipers owner Tom Glen's son Jack Glen played for Team White
Jason McKee along side John and Tom Glen were in attendance, watching tonight's intersquad game from the stands
Today was the third and final day of Vipers training camp. The Vipers will now open the pre-season Friday vs the AJHL Grande Prairie Storm. The Snakes have four exhibition games with three at home.
Here are both team's roster's/lineup's from tonight
Team Blue:
Goaltenders:
Max Palaga (00) (Returning from last season)
Kobe Grant (02)
Defence:
Graham Skinner (02)
Landon Fuller (99) (Returning from last season)
Blake Bryce (02)
Brendan Kim (00) (Returning from last season)
Keigo Hachisuka (01)
Griffin Barr (02)
Forwards:
Brett Fudger (01) (Recruited/Committed)
Elan Bar-Lev-Wise (01) (Returning from last season)
Ethan Anstey (02)
Jakob Jones (03)
Connor Sleeth (99) (Acquired in a trade with the Kanata Lasers)
Cam MacDonald (02) (Recruited/Committed)
KT Walters (02)
Ryan Shostak (01) (Recruited/Committed)
Matt Kowalski (99) (Returning from last season)
Arman Hosseinpour (03)
Jacob Dorohoy (02)
Brendan Pigeon (01)
Coaches: Larry Draper and another guy
Team White:
Goaltenders:
Ross Hawryluk (01)
Dawson Pelletier (01)
Defence:
Ty Marchant (01)
Nick Kent (01) (Acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres)
Trey Taylor (02) (Returning from last season)
Jason Carroll (03)
Brendan Kirschner (02)
Ryan MacLean (Recruited/Committed)
Forwards:
Ben Sanderson (00) (Returning from last season)
Jojo Tanaka-Campbell (01) (Recruited/Committed)
Gerrit Lindhout (01)
S Tanaka-Campbell (03)
Connor Marritt (Returning from last season)
Isaac Suppin (Played 9 games as an "AP" with the Vipers last season)
Luke German (02)
Hudson Foley (02)
Curtis Hammond (01)
Jack Glen (01)
Ben Helgeson (00) (Returning from last season)
Nick Cherkowski (00) (Returning from last season)
Coaches: Erik Morrissette and another guy
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Here are some photo's I took from inside Kal Tire Place tonight
2 comments:
This is posted on the Vipers website:
Training Camp Recap – Day 3
August 21, 2019
Vernon, BC: It was the annual Blue/White game at Kal Tire Place on Wednesday night to wrap up the Vernon Vipers training camp.
This was the last opportunity for some hopefuls before the preseason starts on Friday.
Team Blue struck early as Elan Bar-lev-Wise deflected home a point shot from Blake Bryce at 8:06. Team Blue heavily out shot Team White for the majority of the game and specifically in the first period when Ross Hawryluk was tested early and often. The product out of Lloydminster was solid in the first frame as it ended 1-0.
Team White exploded in the first half of the 2nd period scoring 2 goals just 14 seconds apart as Ben Sanderson fired up the afterburners and slid home the tying tally. Moments later Connor Marritt finished off a nice play started by Seiya Tanaka-Campbell. At the 8 minute mark Curtis Hammond followed up on a Ben Helgeson net front drive to make it 3-1 white midway thru the game. Both teams would switch their goalies as Max Palaga and Ross Hawryluk were replaced by Kobe Grant and Dawson Pelletier. Team Blue got the game within one as Ryan Shostak sniped one through traffic to make it 3-2 after 2 periods.
In the third, it was Team White taking advantage of their opportunities Curtis Hammond was Johnny on the spot in front to ring up his 2nd of the night which would stand up as the eventual game winner. Connor Sleeth hit the back of the net in the final minute for Team Blue, but it wasn’t enough as the final horn sounded to give Team White a 4-3 win.
Overall, Head Coach and GM of the Vipers, Jason McKee was happy with the effort. “This was a good evaluation tool for our staff as we prepare for the exhibition part of the schedule.”
Following the game, the Vipers trimmed their roster to 34 players to begin exhibition play.
The Vipers welcome the Grande Prairie Storm on Friday night for the first of three home dates in the preseason. Tickets are $5 for adults and kids get in free.
Lets hope that last nights game will be the only time we'll have to wait 30 minutes between periods for the ice to get cleaned. 2 rinks and 1 zamboni. You think the "City " crews could get their act together
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