Day 3 Report From Vipers Spring Identification Camp:

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 five home games since 2004 and 46 home games since 1990. Here are my thought's and views from todays Vipers Identification Camp.

I stopped by Kal Tire Place North this morning and watched all three games/scrimmages on the final day of Vipers Spring Identification Camp.

-Camp consists of 2 thirty minute periods

-Ice is cleaned after each period

-A penalty is an automatic penalty shot

-No lineups/rosters were available

The first game/scrimmage of the morning saw Team Black defeat Team Green 4-3 in a very tight game. Both teams were physical at times but played with an edge and a little chippyness through out the game. A mini scrum broke out at the final buzzer with almost everyone pushing and shoving, while several punches were thrown. Tempers really heated up at the final buzzer. With no lineups or rosters I didn't know the names or age groups of the players. #14 forward on Team Black really caught my eye and I thought was the best player at camp this weekend. He stood out in the games I saw. A very smooth skater, can handle the puck, soft hands and has a nose for the net. Creates/generates chances and makes plays happen in a hurry. 

In the second game/scrimmage of camp saw Team Blue shutout Team Gold 2-0 Team Blue has some size, especially on the backend. #3 defenceman was one of the bigger d-men at camp and #12 forward also has some size. 

In the third and final game/scrimmage of the day saw Team White defeat Team Red 6-2 Team White has some speed up front and their goaltender wearing jersey #1 was solid between the pipes in the 2nd period. Team White jumped out to a 4-0 lead before Team Red pressed hard cutting the lead to 4-2 before Team Red added two more goals to come away with the victory.

I would guess there was an average of around 70-80 people in attendance for most games/scrimmages. I heard due to COVID-19 only 200 people were allowed inside Kal Tire Place North.

I saw maybe seven or eight Viper fans I reconized from the hockey games at camp this weekend. Most of the people in attendance were parents/or family and the Vipers coaching staff etc

Former Vernon Vipers captain and Head Coach/GM Jason Williamson was at camp today as was former Vernon Vipers Assistant Coach Joe Oliver.

I mentioned this in my previous reports and will say it again. With no lineups or rosters you have no idea who players are and how old they are. Its also difficult to watch kids in the future not knowing their names. 

These kind of camps are hard to really get a read on anyways. The Vipers are only losing four players from last season and have committed to seven players for the 2021-22 season, so the chances of some of these kids making the 2021-22 roster, I would think is very slim. 

With not being inside a hockey rink or watching the Vipers play in person since March of 2020 this was very exciting to getting back into the rink even if it was only an Identification Camp.

The Vipers will hold a Jr Prep Camp August 30th-September 2nd

Here are some pictures I took during todays camp,