Langley 3 Vernon 1

I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following Junior hockey in Vernon my entire life. I have had season tickets since 1990 and only missed four Vipers home games since 2004. In the past thirty years I have missed 45 home games. I'm not a sports journalist, writer, reporter or work for the Vernon Vipers. I do not get paid and do this blog on my own personal time. I started and created this blog in November 2008 and now have over 1.7 million viewers. For anyone who couldn't attend or watch tonight's Vipers game, here are my thought's and views from tonight's game. You may agree or disagree but we all have our own opinion on the game. I try to be professional and unbiased and give a fare game recap from both sides. Thank you for visiting my blog.

I was at tonight's Vipers-Rivermen game as Langley defeated Vernon 3-1 in front of 2,073 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: James Porter, Jr
Langley: Kristian Lyon

There was about a ten minute delay to the start of tonight's Vipers-Rivermen game as the Vipers introduced all the Vipers parents who were in town for parents weekend, were brought onto a red carpet across center ice. The parents all got to meet up with there sons and take some photos. They started singing the national anthem before waiting for the Rivermen to hit the ice. The Riv were coming out of the tunnel onto the ice, while they were singing the national anthem.

1st Period: The Vipers got off to a good start, a carbon copy to last night's start vs the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Vernon with a strong opening shift, had good pressure off the opening faceoff, jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in shots. A quick shot from the blueline couldn't get through traffic in the high slot, bounced off a Langley player then come right out landing on the stick of Brendan Budy. Budy sprung Tristan Fraser who was close to a breakaway with a Viper defender chasing him down, before setting up Rivermen leading scorer Brendan Budy on the odd man rush, buried his chance in close, giving Langley an early 1-0 lead at 3:49 Fraser with the lone helper. A tough break for the Snakes on a shot that was intended to go towards the goal, hit a body or bodies in front took a Rivermen bounce, giving Langley the parcial breakaway/odd man rush and the pucks in the back of the net. This play/goal really seemed to turn the tables in a hurry. Vernon had a great start off the opening puck drop, now found themselves down a goal less then four minutes into the contest. Both teams went back and fourth but neither team created/or generated much for scoring chances. As the period continued the Rivermen slowly took over the edge in play. Langley stepped up the physical play and were playing with an edge. The Riv were hitting anybody in there way and it seemed to get Vernon off there game. Just before the halfway mark, Tristan Fraser with a quality chance would be denied by former Kelowna Rockets goaltender James Porter, Jr. After the radio timeout, Fraser would get another opportunity in front of the Vernon goal, was unable to find the back of the net. Porter, Jr with back to back saves with the Rivermen pressing. Less then two minutes later, Joseph Musa with a quality chance in front would be stopped by James Porter, Jr and then a minute or two later, Devin Leduc with a great look/chance would be stopped by Porter, Jr. The Vipers netminder was keeping his team in the hockey game. With about five minutes remaining, tempers heated up in a hurry as Landon Fuller and another Viper player went after a Langley player in front of the Rivermen bench. Fuller looked to throw a punch towards the Langley player, before a second Rivermen player joined in as a minor scrum broke loose with some pushing and shoving near the Riv bench. The officials quickly broke things up and with no penalties on the play, the game continued. This little scrum seemed to give the Snakes a little jolt as Vernon responded with a few good shifts towards the end of the opening frame. With about three minutes left, Landon Fuller;s point shot didn't get through traffic in front. On the following play/shift newly acquired Hunter Donohoe with a heads up play, started the rush, setup Matt Kowalski who then spotted Connor Sleeth going to the goal, tying the game 1-1 at 17:25 Donohoe & Kowalski collected the assists. It was 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. I thought the visiting Langley Rivermen were the better team. The Vipers had a good start before giving up the opening goal less then four minutes in. Vernon responded and had some good shifts in the final minutes of the period, but overall the Rivermen had more puck possession, more zone time and were by far the more physical team. The Riv finished checks, were hard on the body shift after shift after shift. Langley plays with an edge and was in the face of the Snakes most of the 1st period. Tempers heated up at times in the period, with both teams showing no love loss for one another. This period could have gotten out of hand but cooler there heads prevailed. This seemed to take Vernon off there game a little. Langley outshot Vernon 9-8.

2nd Period: About a minute and a half into the middle frame, the Snakes sprung Matt Kowalski in for a partial breakaway. The Vernon product used his speed, tried to get by his defender but would be stopped in close by Rivermen starting goaltender Kristian Lyon. On the following play/shift the Vipers would get the games first power play. Just seconds into the PP Vernon tried banging home a puck on a bit of a goal mouth scramble, couldn't get the puck through a maze of bodies in and around the Rivermen goal. Shorthanded Matthew Hubbarde on an odd man rush, tried getting the puck across to Sean Bunting but Jackson Caller with a solid defensive play, broke up the two on one and the Snakes catch a break. The Vipers with a look or two, didn't look all that great with the man advantage as Langley kills off the minor. On the following play or two, Devin Leduc witgh a quality opportunity couldn't beat Vernon Vipers starting goaltender James Porter, Jr. Shortly after the Riv would get there first PP of the evening. Langley moving the puck around, had a ton of pressure, had some very good looks/opportunities but James Porter, Jr was solid on the PK. Jackson Caller and Christian Felton also come up with two large shot blocks as Vernon escapes and kills off the penalty. Just over a minute later, the Snakes would get there second man advantage of the 2nd period. Dawson Holt alone down the right wing, had a ton of open ice and a good look at the net, ripped a shot from the circle that just missed the far corner on a missed opportunity. This was the lone opportunity. Once again, Vernon struggled and for a second straight power play, gave up an odd man rush. Devin Leduc decided to keep and shoot, would be stopped by James Porter, Jr. The Rivermen with another good penalty kill, kill off the minor. Just as the penalty expired, Daniel O'Neill with a redirect in front forced James Porter, Jr to make a large save. The Vipers goaltender making his first start at Kal Tire Place, was keeping his club in the hockey game. Just past the midway mark, the Riv would get there second PP of the game/& period. Another strong power play from Langley but once again, James Porter, Jr had to be alert, made some big stops as Vernon kills off the minor. With about four minutes remaining, Landon Fuller looked to get tripped up or got his skate tangled up with a Langley player, fell to the ice, allowing Brendan Budy to scoop up the loose puck and go in for the breakaway. Instead of making a move/shooting, Budy waited for a second Rivermen player to join the rush/play and the two passed the puck back and fourth before losing the puck as it hoped over Budy's stick on a blown play as two players tried getting too fancy. The Snakes get lucky and catch a huge break towards the end of the middle frame. It was 1-1 after 40 minutes of play. Well it was all Langley for most of the 2nd period. The ice was tilted as the Riv were by far the better of the two teams and carried most of if not all of the play. The Rivermen had a ton of puck possession, a ton of zone time and were skating circles around Vernon. If it wasn't for some solid defensive play and strong goaltending, this game may have been over. The Rivermen could have easily had a four or five goal lead heading into the final frame. The Vipers hung on and got lucky on numerous plays, were very lucky to be in the hockey game. The Snakes only real zone time was on there two power plays, that struggled. The Vipers saw and played most of the period in there own end. Vernon had troubles gaining puck possession and generating offence. Langley outshot Vernon 13-8.

3rd Period: The Vipers won the draw off the opening faceoff, setup former Seattle Thunderbirds defenceman Hunter Donohoe who's shot from the top of the circle beat Kristian Lyon but not the crossbar as Donohoe was shaking his head. About two minutes later, Riley Wallack with a quick release from the high slot, beat James Porter, Jr blocker side, giving Langley a 2-1 lead at 2:44 Wallack's goal was unassisted. After Hunter Donohoe rang a shot off the crossbar minutes prior, this was a tough break for the hometown Snakes. About two and a half minutes later the Rivermen tried grabbing a two goal lead on a goal mouth scramble, but once again James Porter, Jr was down and out, somehow managed to keep the puck out and give his team a chance to win. Two minutes later, Jonathan Stein used his wheels, to blow by the Vernon defenceman on the left wing, created a quality chance going to the goal, would be denied in close by James Porter, Jr who made a large save. Stein then would get a second look/opportunity on the next shift but once again be stopped by James Porter, Jr. Back to back chances from Langley. The Vipers once again having all kinds of trouble getting the offence going. It seemed like anytime Vernon did get into the offensive zone, the Riv were right on top of them, taking away time and space. Around the half way mark the Snakes would finally click and generate a grade a chance. On some nice three way passing, the Vipers spotted captain/forward Connor Marritt alone in the slot but would be robbed by the glove of Kristian Lyon who flashed the leather. Vernon just couldn't catch a break tonight. This play/shift seemed to spark the Snakes who in the second half, slowly started coming on. Now I don't know if the Rivermen were sitting on a one goal lead or the Vipers were picking up there play and pressing hard for the equalizer. The Snakes kept pressing and kept coming on towards the end of the period but now time was a key factor. The Vipers redirected pucks just short of the goal on at least three or four chances with bodies in front as Vernon just couldn't catch a break. The Snakes would get hemmed in there own end, had troubles getting James Porter, Jr to the bench for the extra attacker until finally after a timeout would get the netminder to the bench with 1:31 left in the contest. With the goaltender pulled, the Snakes just missed the far corner on a shot along the ice. The Vipers had two or three looks but couldn't find the back of the net and with only fourteen seconds left, Matt Kowalski beat Kristian Lyon but not the post, before Brendan Budy found the open cage for the empty netter, and his second of the night, giving Langley a 3-1 lead at 19:55 Budy's goal was unassisted. Langley would hold onto the 3-1 victory. The Vipers come oh so close to taking there first lead of the night, after Hunter Donohoe rang a shot off the crossbar inside the opening minute. Minutes later, Riley Wallack with a huge goal, is the game winner. The Riv carried the early play and had several quality opportunities to put the hockey game away but once again, James Porter, Jr was keeping his team in the game. Vernon who had troubles all night, getting any kind of traction going, finally gained some zone time and had pressure in the offensive zone all in the second half. The Vipers had several good looks/opportunities, none better then Connor Marritt. The Snakes couldn't catch a break/or get any puck luck in the 3rd fell short but not for a lack there of for trying. The Rivermen were the better team in the first half, but Vernon was the better team in the second half. The Vipers didn't get a lot of pucks on goal but several shots that were either redirected in front or on the way to the goal, just slipped by the net. The Rivermen escape and catch several breaks in the 3rd, manage to hang on for the win. The Vipers had there best and only real quality chances in the final period. I didn't see Cameron MacDonald much in the 2nd and 3rd period. MacDonald did finally see some shifts late in the 3rd. Langley outshot Vernon 13-4.

Top Player's: (Vernon)

Hunter Donohoe (1 assist) I thought played a heck of a game on the Vipers backend. Playing in just his fourth game with the Snakes, the veteran Western Hockey League defenceman joined the rush, was involved in the play, made things happen at both ends of the rink and made a few big defensive plays.

Jackson Caller was another d-man that I thought played hard/and very well. Made a very strong defensive play in the middle frame, to break up a Rivermen shorthanded odd man rush. Caller also was good at both ends of the rink.

Christian Felton has really improved since the start of the season. He seems to get better as the season moves along. I'm now really starting to like this kid and like the way he plays the game. I thought was another stand out on the Vernon blueline. Another d-man that carried the puck, joined the rush/play, played hard/well at both ends but also created/generated some opportunities.

Matt Kowalski (1 assist) Played with a ton of jump/energy, was very quick on his feet, was hard to contain and hard to defend against, had several looks/chances through out the game. None bigger then hitting the post with about fourteen seconds left in the 3rd. When Kowalski is going, so are the Vipers. Couldn't catch a break tonight.

Connor Marritt I thought played very well, hard and had some looks/chances. None bigger then his shot from the slot in the final frame. The third year Viper has really gotten better as the season has gone along.

Jo Jo Tanaka-Campbell Saw a lot of ice time in the 2nd and 3rd period. I noticed Cameron MacDonald wasn't playing/nor was on the bench towards the end of the 2nd period and early into the 3rd period, so was Tanaka-Campbell taking his spot? No matter what the reason was, I thought played with a lot of jump/energy, was creating plays/making things happen.

James Porter, Jr (32 saves) Making his first start at home this season, is now 0-3 with the Vipers since being reassigned by the Kelowna Rockets. Was the difference in the hockey game. Porter, Jr kept his team in the game all night and gave his team an opportunity to win. Made several big stops on the PK and through out the game. Played very well.

Game Thought's: (Vernon)

This wasn't a great game by the hometown Vipers. Were the Snakes that bad or were the Rivermen just that much better? Sure the Snakes made some mistakes, poor passes etc but overall I just don't think the Vipers matched the Rivermen's skill level and struggled offensively. The Vipers were definitely outplayed most of the night. Vernon struggled offensively all game, they couldn't create/or generate any kind of offence. The Riv defensive play was in the face of Vernon all night. Langley took away the Vipers time and space, limiting Vernon's puck possession. It seemed like as soon as the puck landed on a Vernon stick, a Langley player was right there within seconds, forcing the Snakes to either pass the puck, turn the puck over, fumble the puck or lose the puck. None of the Vipers shots were getting through, the Rivermen were doing a great job at closing the shooting lanes, getting bodies in front, blocking shots, getting sticks on sticks or Kristian Lyon was there to make the save. The Vipers gave up way too many odd man rushes, shots, defensive zone time, opportunities and had troubles turning over pucks. Vernon didn't look that great tonight, had there troubles in both the defensive zone and offensive zone. Once again the Vipers power play struggles and the Snakes cant score goals. This team is in desperate need of a goal scorer or two. The Vipers were limited to there shots and opportunities, didn't see much zone time or generate much for chances until the second half of the 3rd period. The Snakes didn't have any puck luck or catch a break. I don't think the Vipers liked the physical play/in your face style of play, the Riv played tonight. I think Vernon needed to be a little more quicker moving the puck/getting pucks to the net in the offensive zone. The Rivermen were limiting the Snakes time and space and that extra look/or second and now you have a defender on top of you. The Vipers were just lucky to still be in the game in the final minutes, because if it wasn't for James Porter, Jr this game wouldn't have been close. Were the parents a distraction this weekend? It's not very often you see the Vipers play/or look all that good on a parents weekend. In past years, the coaches would come on the post game show and say the boys are out of there normal game day routines, spending the day with friends and family, sight seeing, showing them around town etc and not really prepared or focused on the game. A pretty good size crowd on hand in the second of back to back home games this weekend. I heard from a few fans tonight, Brendan Kim has left the team. Former Vernon Vipers scout & assistant coach Kevin Pederson was at tonight's game. Pederson is now a scout with the Arizona Coyotes. The Vipers have lost three of there last five games, have two wins in there last seven games and lost six of there last eleven games. With the loss Vernon falls to 14-11-1-1 sit 4th in the Interior division are tied in points with Wenatchee but now ten points back of Trail and Salmon Arm who are tied for 2nd place.

Top Player's: (Langley)

Colten Kovich Played a very solid game on the Riv blueline. Was involved in the play, played very well at both ends of the rink. Was physical and solid defensively.

Brendan Budy (2 goals) Leads the Rivermen in goals and points had a strong night on the Langley backend. Not the biggest kid, but a good skater, can move the puck, gets involved in the play often, creates/generates plays.

Kalen Szeto Looked like a little kid out there tonight. Give this kid credit for playing big, taking some hits but also getting involved in the play, worked extremely hard and never quit moving his feet. Played with a lot of energy.

Joseph Musa Played well, was another forward who was involved in the play, created/generated some opportunities. Was always in and around the Vernon goal.

Tristan Fraser (1 assist) Had several looks/opportunities, was involved in the play, was hard to contain and defend against.

Sean Bunting A bigger kid that can skate, was also involved in the play often. Didn't really have any chances but played well.

Riley Wallack (1 goal) Scored the game winner at 2:44 of the 3rd period. Played with an edge, was under the skin of the hometown Snakes all evening. Was physical, gritty, finished his checks, didn't back down from the one on one battles, competed hard and played hard. Had a strong game for the Riv.

Devin Leduc Was another forward who caught my attention. Also involved in the play a lot. Had several looks/opportunities. Was driving to the net, looking for chances, battled and competed hard.

Game Thought's: (Langley)

The Rivermen were by far the better of the two teams and outplayed the Vipers for most of the night. Langley plays a very physical, in your face style of game with some grit and edge. The Riv are very quick, have some kids with wheels that can move the puck and some very skilled forwards. The d-men aren't afraid to carry the puck/play up ice, get involved in the play, have a good transition game. Bobby Henderson's team come ready to play and played hard. This team never quit skating, were relentless on the wall, the forecheck and very sound defensively. The Rivermen block a lot of shots, get sticks on sticks, close the shooting lanes and take away a lot of time and space. Langley has an aggressive power play that had some good looks/and great chances but couldn't capitalize with the man advantage. If it wasn't for Vernon's goaltending, this game could have been over in the 2nd period. Kristian Lyon wasn't busy until the 3rd period, picked up his first win of the season. I thought the Riv played/and looked much better then Salmon Arm who was in Vernon last night. Looking at the two teams records and the way both teams played, you would have thought the Rivermen were the 2nd place team. Langley has a much better team then there record shows. The Rivermen defeated the Vipers 3-2 in a shootout last weekend in Langley, sweep the two game series this season over Vernon. For those who don't know or don't remember, Head Coach Bobby Henderson was once captain of the Chilliwack Chiefs (1998-2003). The Rivermen have at least a point in three of there last five games, have just four wins in there last twelve games. With the victory Langley moves to 12-14-0-1 moves into 3rd place in the Mainland division, four points up on Surrey, a point up on Prince George and now only five points back of Chilliwack.

Scratches:

Vernon:

Ben Sanderson (Injured)
Brett Fudger
Brendan Kim
Ryan Shostak (Injured)
Max Palaga (Injured)

Langley:

Connor Wetsch
Matteo Pecchia
Tanner Versluis
Jake Livingstone

Energy Player of the Game:

Dawson Holt

Three Star's:

1st Star: Brendan Budy (2 goals)
2nd Star: Riley Wallack (1 goal)
3rd Star: James Porter, Jr (32 saves)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

https://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/9414

Game Report,

https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/official-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=9414

Text Boxscore,

https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/text-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=9414

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Here are some photo's I took before and during tonight's Vipers-Rivermen game.