Salmon Arm 4 Vernon 2

I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following Junior hockey in Vernon my entire life. My family watched Senior mens hockey in Vernon in the 1950's and has been watching/following Junior hockey in Vernon since it started in 1961. I have had season tickets since 1990 and missed 5 home games since 2004 and 46 home games since 1990. I'm not a journalist, writer, reporter or work for the Vernon Vipers. I don't get paid to do this blog and do this blog in my own personal time. I started and created this blog in November 2008 and have over 2.1 million viewers. For anyone who couldn't watch or attend tonight's Vipers game, here are my thought's and views from tonight's game. You may agree or disagree with me but we all have our own opinion on the game. I try to be professional and do a fare game recap from both sides. Thank you for visiting my blog.

I was at tonight's Vipers-Silverbacks game as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 4-2 in front of 1,174 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke
Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Owen Say

1st Period: The Silverbacks took early possession and carried the play the opening few minutes. The Vipers would get the games first quality chance after Adam Bourgeois's shot from the blueline somehow got through traffic forcing Owen Say into making a difficult save. On the following play, Salmon Arm got the puck up ice, before setting up Simon Tassy in front. Tassy somehow missed the net on a great look/opportunity alone in the slot. Shortly after Tyler Chan's shot from the side wall, forced Owen Say into flashing the leather, making a quick glove save. Just before the halafway mark, the Gorillas would get the games first power play. The Backs had some looks early before Brandon Santa Juana buried his shot at the side of the goal, giving Salmon Arm a 1-0 lead at 11:31 Michael Ladyman & Simon Tassy drew the assists. With about six minutes remaining, Owen Beckner with an inside out move around his defender couldn't hit the net after some incredible stick work, missing the net on a good opportunity in front. Shortly after a shot missed the net, as the puck come straight out the other side, Braden Smith with a solid defensive play, stopped Isaac Lambert at the side of the net on what looked like to be a sure goal. With two and a half minutes left in the 1st period, the S'Backs would get a late PP on a penalty that Jack Glen argued over with the official on his way to the penalty box. SA had some looks but a good PK from the Snakes as Vernon killed off the minor. Inside the final minute the Vipers would get their first look with the man advantage but unable to capitalize before the buzzer. It was 1-0 Salmon Arm after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Snakes held their own for most of the period in a period that went back and fourth at times. Salmon Arm had a slight edge in play and had the better of the scoring chances. The Vipers didn't get many opportunities but also didn't give up many. The Apes were up 3-0 in shots early before the Snakes rallied back, were outshooting Salmon Arm 7-4 at one point. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 10-8.

2nd Period: The Vipers started the period on the power play, that was carried over from the 1st period. Viper captain JoJo Tanaka-Capbell setup Luke Buss down low, who's shot from the goal line somehow beat Salmon Arm Silverbacks starting netminder Owen Say from a poor angle, tying the game 1-1 at 0:33 JoJo Tanaka-Campbell and Reagan Milburn collected the assists. Just over two minutes later, Logan Lorenz would get called for hooking trying to stop a Silverbacks partial breakaway. The S'Backs would get an early PP. The Silverbacks had a few good looks but Vernon's PK was good killing off the penalty. Just as the penalty expired, Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Roan Clarke was forced to make a tough save on his belly on a goal mouth scramble at the top of the crease. On the following play the Snakes would get their second PP of the evening. The Vipers struggled with the man advantage as SA killed off the minor. Just before the midway mark, Reagan Milburn with a good look/opportunity in front couldn't capitalize on a good chance in front. Shortly after Daniel Panetta started the play at the blueline, weaved in and out of several Vernon defenders before dishing off to William Lavigne who then fired the puck back to Panetta who beat Roan Clarke, giving Salmon Arm a 2-1 lead at 14:20 William Lavigne drew the lone helper on a highlight reel goal. On the following shift the Snakes would get a power play but struggled with the man advantage. On a turn over Noah Serdachny sprung Simon Tassy in for the breakaway who out deked Roan Clarke, giving Salmon Arm a 3-1 lead at 16:23 Noah Serdachny picked up the assist on another Silverbacks highlight reel goal. Just after the power play expired, a Vernon player pushed or shoved Owen Say, with no call on the play, the play continued. Luke Buss spotted Liam Cavan who hit the open cage after Owen Say couldn't get back into position, cutting Salmon Arm's lead to 3-2 at 17:09 Luke Buss and JoJo Tanaka-Campbell collected the assists. Owen Say argued with the official that he was pushed out of position but the goal stood. I was very surprised the Apes bench didn't argue the goal as the Vipers catch a big break and get back to within a goal. Over a minute later the Silverbacks would get a late man advantage towards the end of the 2nd period. SA had some looks but couldn't capitalize on the power play before the buzzer. It was 3-2 Salmon Arm after 40 minutes of play. I thought the Backs were the better team and carried the better of the play. The Snakes having all kinds of trouble breaking out of their own end, couldn't make a pass all period. The Vipers looked disorganized and had troubles gaining puck possession, getting sustained pressure in the offensive zone as well as generating offence. Sure Vernon scored twice but on a very limited amount of scoring chances. The Silverbacks played a very well rounded game this period, have a good transition game, move the puck well, have the skill and talent up front to get the puck/play into the offensive zone and create plays. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 11-8.

3rd Period: The Gorillas started the final frame on the PP that was carried over from the 2nd period. With only a handful of seconds remaining in the power play, Vernon was able to kill off the remainder of the penalty. A few minutes in off an offensive zone faceoff, Nathan Morin somehow got behind Vernon's defence and was in all alone at the top of the crease would be denied by Roan Clarke who made a large save with nobody in the clear. A great chance for the Silverbacks to take a two goal lead early into the 3rd. The Snakes needed almost eight minutes to record their first shot of the period, a shot that Jack Glen took from the circle forcing Owen Say into making a difficult save from a tough angle. On the same play/shift, Matthew Culling would get a good look from in front but be stopped by Own Say who come up with a big stop. Two big saves from the Backs netminder just before the halfway mark. On the following shift the Vipers would get a PP. Vernon with a few looks but were kept to the outside as the Apes with some defensive help, killed off the minor. Shortly after the S'Backs jumped on the man advantage. SA moved the puck around, had several good looks as Roan Clarke was forced to make a few key saves, keeping this a one goal game as the Snakes managed to hold off and kill the penalty. The Vipers had two or three good looks late in the 3rd but missed the net. With time winding down, Vernon couldn't get out of their own end before Jason McKee would use his timeout. The Vipers would eventually get Roan Clarke to the bench with 1:32 remaining. The Snakes moved the puck around but unable to get pucks to the net. Daniel Panetta went for a pass instead of taking a shot at the empty net, iced the puck. Luke Buss with two shots towards the goal inside the final minute couldn't get a clear shot on goal before Daniel Panetta with the long shot at the empty net, hit the open cage, giving Salmon Arm a 4-2 lead at 19:58 Panetta's goal was unassisted. This goal sent the fans filing for the exits as Salmon Arm would come away with the 4-2 victory. In a period where your down a goal, the Vipers needed almost eight minutes to record a shot on goal. Both teams didn't get a lot of opportunities. The Snakes struggled to get pucks on net, while on the power play and with the net empty. Your not going to tie or win many hockey games with only seven shots on goal. Salmon Arm played very well defensively and kept Vernon's shooters to the outside, limiting their chances. Owen Say was good when called apon. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 7-6.

Top Player's: Vernon Vipers

Luke Buss (1 goal & 1 assist) I thought Luke played with a lot of jump & energy and was creating chances. With Cameron MacDonald out of the lineup with an undisclosed injury, the Snakes need a player like Luke to start putting the puck in the net and bringing some offence to the hockey club. 

Ryan Shostak didn't do much offensively but I thought he played very well, was another forward who showed a lot of jump and intensity in his game. Ryan didn't generate any opportunities but moved the puck well up ice and opened up some ice with his speed. 

Roan Clarke (23 saves) Wasn't overly busy but made some big stops when tested. I thought played well vs a Salmon Arm team that has some speed, skill and offensive minded forwards.

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

I thought the Vipers held their own in the 1st period but were outplayed and a step behind in the 2nd period. For a team that was down a goal in the 3rd, you needed almost eight minutes to record a shot on goal and then only muster seven shots on goal the entire period? You have trouble getting sustained pressure in the offensive zone and then when you do get a shift or two in the offensive zone you can't generate chances or get pucks to the net. Give the Snakes credit for playing well against Salmon Arm's top line. Also give Vernon some credit for limiting the Silverbacks opportunities and staying within a goal most of the night. But overall you need to create and generate more chances through out the game. The Vipers didn't generate or get a lot of quality chances tonight. This team can't score and doesn't have any goal scorers. You have to look at some of your veteran players who should be producing more then they are now. Jack Glen, Nicholas Remissong, Kjell Kjemhus and Logan Lorenz to name a few. These are older guys that should be producing you some points. If you look at the Penticton's, Salmon Arm's and West Kelowna's recruits and compare them to Vernon's, it's like night & day. The Vipers didn't recruit well enough to compete with the top teams in this league. The Snakes have a few good players but no elite skilled players like the Penticton's, West Kelowna's & Salmon Arm's. Were now 15 games into the season and the Vipers still are having troubles getting out of their own end and making a pass. I recall the Snakes making one pass on the tape breaking out of their own end and other then that, all passes coming off the d-mans stick missed the forwards breaking out of the zone. The Vipers couldn't make a pass all night and have struggled passing from the first exhibition game. Vernon with several poor passes and turnovers coming out of their own end tonight. If you can't make a pass after 15 games into the season, your in trouble. All of these things are coachable and can be improved on but aren't and that's on one person and one person only. The Vipers have lost nine of their last ten games and have only four wins on the season. Only Wenatchee, Merritt and Cowichan have fewer wins then the Vipers. The Vipers have lost some tough games and tough games in overtime, but I thought I would see some improvement by now and I haven't and that's on the coach and gm. Jason McKee is the guy who put this team together and right now we have an average team that can't make a pass, can't score, can't score on the power play or defend on the PK. A team that struggles to play with the lead and struggles without the lead. As the season goes on a fan should see some kind of improvement from the start of the season until now and I haven't seen that yet. This team is making some of the same mistakes they were making at the start of the season. I understand they have had some bad luck with injuries but other kids need to step up and they aren't. This team is struggling and looking at the upcomiung games, it doesn't get any easier with games vs Salmon Arm, Penticton, West Kelowna and Langley some of the league's top teams. With only four wins in fifteen games this reminds me of Jason Williamson's teams that missed the playoffs after three straight trips to the Royal Bank Cup. It's time for changes either on the ice or behind the bench but something has to be done as this team isn't getting the job done. Maybe I'm wrong and the team is in a major slump and will come out of it, but they better soon or it's going to be a long season. Luke Ashton returned to the lineup after being out with an undisclosed injury. With the loss Vernon falls to 4-6-3-2 and sit 7th in the Interior Conference. 

After 15 games this season the Vipers are 4-6-3-2 I went back and looked at the Vipers previous records after fifteen games going back to 2003.

2003-04 Vipers 7-3-4-1
2004-05 Vipers 9-2-2-2
2005-06 Vipers 9-3-1-2
2006-07 Vipers 8-7-0-0
2007-08 Vipers 9-6-0-0
2008-09 Vipers 10-4-1-1
2009-10 Vipers 14-1-0-0
2010-11 Vipers 7-5-2-1
2011-12 Vipers 11-4--0-0
2012-23 Vipers 3-7-5-0
2013-14 Vipers 8-4-2-1
2014-15 Vipers 9-5-1-0
2015-16 Vipers 8-6-1-0
2016-17 Vipers 7-6-2-0
2017-18 Vipers 9-4-0-2
2018-19 Vipers 6-5-4-0
2019-20 Vipers 9-6-0-0
2020-21 Vipers 8-5-1-1

Top Player's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks

Lucas Matta Played a solid game on Salmon Arm's blueline.

Danny Ciccarello Played with some jump, has some wheels and can move the puck up ice in a hurry. Played well through out the night.

Simon Tassy (1 goal & 1 assist) I didn't think Tassy stood out as in previous games vs Vernon but scored the game winning goal shorthanded on a highlight reel goal. 

Isaac Lambert I thought was the Silverbacks most consistent forward. Played a strong game up front for the Backs. 

Owen Say (21 saves) Wasn't overly busy but made the saves when needed.

Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks

The Silverbacks played a very well rounded road game after coming off back to back losses for the first time this season. The Apes were very good defensively, keeping the Vipers to the outside and limiting their chances. I didn't think either team had a lot of chances but the Backs definately had the better of the opportunities. Salmon Arm's top unit was involved in the score sheet but didn't dominate the game like in previous games vs the Vipers. Instead of the top line doing all the damage, all four lines contributited in tonight's contest. SA doesn't give up a lot of chances or shots, block a lot of shots. The Gorillas move the puck well, with a very good transition game, have some size, speed and very skilled forwards. The Backs have a very good PP and PK. Specialty teams was the difference tonight. The Vipers went 1-4 with the PP while the Silverbacks went 1-5 with a shorthanded goal. The final score was close but I thought Salmon Arm was a step ahead of Vernon and had a slight edge in play. The Silverbacks are 3-1 vs the Vipers this season as these two teams meet next Wednesday in Salmon Arm. The Apes have won eight of their last eleven games. I spotted a few Silverbacks fans in attendance. The Silverbacks were wearing their new third jersey's tonight. All black with silver and white numbers and name bars with the team logo they used last year. With the win Salmon Arm improves to 10-2-1-0 and sit 3rd in the Interior Conference.

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Kjell Kjemhus (Injured)
Seiya Tanaka-Campbell (Injured) 
Cameron MacDonald (Injured)
Nicholas Kent (Injured)

Salmon Arm Silverbacks:

Kieran Ruscheinski
Owen Desilets
Ethan Ullrick
Gabriel Murrells Allaway

Three Star's:

1st Star: Simon Tassy (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Luke Buss (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Daniel Panetta (2 goals)

Energy Player of the Game:

JoJo Tanaka-Campbell (2 assists)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

| BCHL League Site

Game Report,

Game Report (hockeytech.com)

Text Box Score,

Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.com (hockeytech.com)

Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions in the comment box below. I always enjoy and post all comments as long as there tasteful. 

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