Salmon Arm 5 Vernon 4 Overtime

I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following Junior hockey in Vernon my entire life. My family has been watching/following Senior mens hockey in Vernon since the 1950s and Junior hockey in Vernon since it started in 1961. I have had season tickets since 1990 and missed five 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, I'm a hockey fan and do this blog in my own personal time. I started and created this blog in November 2008 and have over 2 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 with me but we all have our own opinion on the hockey game. I try to be professional and give a fair game recap from both sides. Thank you for visiting my blog.

I was at tonight's Vipers-Silverbacks game as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 5-4 in overtime in front of 667 fans at the Shaw Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Ethan David
Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Owen Say

1st Period: The Silverbacks got the early jump on the visiting Vernon Vipers. The Backs got the puck into the offensive zone off the opening faceoff but no real pressure in the opening first minute. Salmon Arm then had the Vipers hemmed in their own end for the following two minutes or so but only managed a single shot on goal. The Vipers would get the games first quality chance of the evening. Six minutes into the opening frame, Ryan Shostak alone in front would be denied by Owen Say. The Apes come right back the other way where Mathieu Bourgault with a good look/opportunity couldn't solve Ethan David at the side of the goal. Two very good scoring chances at both ends of the rink. About three minutes later Ayden Third's shot from the blueline forced Owen Say into making a difficult save with bodies in front. On the following shift Noah Serdachny with a shot from well out would be stopped by Ethan David before David was forced into making a second save off the rebound on a quality chance for SA. With about five minutes remaining, the Snakes sprung Zach Tonelli in for the breakaway. Tonelli couldn't beat Owen Say on his first shot would be denied on his second opportunity. Say with two large saves on a two great chances for Tonelli. Luke Pakulak forced a turnover inside the S'Backs blueline, allowing Viper forward/captain JoJo Tanaka-Campbell to go high glove beating Owen Say, opening the scoring giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 17:29 Pakulak collected the assist. If you look at the time of the goal 17:29 #17 is JoJo Tanaka-Campbell and #29 is Luke Pakulak, The Vipers with a chance at the side of the net with a minute to go were unable to grab a two goal lead. Inside the final minute the Snakes would get the games first power play with fifteen seconds remaining. Vernon would run out of time before the buzzer. It was 1-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. The Silverbacks jumped on the Snakes early and had the better of the play early and often. The Apes had more puck possession and zone time early as the Vipers were back on their heels and couldn't get much going. The Gorillas were up in shots 5-1 at one point. The S'Backs had only one shot in the final nine minutes. Vernon found their legs and slowly got going just before the halfway mark. The Snakes had lots more jump and speed in the second half and carried a bit of play at times. Salmon Arm definately was the better team for at least the first seven or eight minutes but the Vipers were the better team in the second half. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 9-8.

2nd Period: Vernon started the middle frame on the man advantage that was carried over at the end of the 1st period. The Snakes had some good looks early. The Vipers moved the puck around, Griffen Barr spotted Zach Tonelli who beat Salmon Arm Silverbacks netminder Owen Say giving Vernon an early 2-0 lead at 1:23 Griffen Barr & Ryan Shostak picked up the helpers. Nineteen seconds later Former Wenatchee Wild defenceman Nicholas Kent's point shot looked to be redirected on it's way to the goal, beat Owen Say giving Vernon a 3-0 lead at 1:42 JoJo Tanaka-Campbell drew the assist. Kent would be credited with the goal as on the replay it clearly shows Kent's shot double bounced before beating Owen Say. About five minutes later Simon Tassy lead the rush with an odd man rush but Griffen Barr with a solid defensive play, broke up the Silverbacks opportunity. Three minutes later Salmon Arm with another odd man rush, this time the Backs couldn't connect on the pass missing a very good scoring chance as the Vipers catch a break. The Vipers quickly turn the puck back up ice, get an odd man rush of their own. Matthew Culling would be robbed after Owen Say sprawls across the blue paint to make a large save, keeping this game at 3-0. With about eight minutes remaining, Isaac Lambert ripped a shot from the wing that forced Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Ethan David into making a big stop. Luke Pakulak took a big check along the wall, looked to be in some discomfort heading to the Viper bench. Pakulak stayed on the bench and stayed in the hockey game. With just under six minutes left, on a Viper turnover Simon Tassy went in for the two on one. Tassy waits for Griffen Barr to go down to try and block the pass, this allowing Tassy to move around Barr and then rip a shot past Ethan David getting the Silverbacks on the scoreboard, cutting Vernon's lead to 3-1 at 13:48 Tassy's goal was unassisted as he gives it to the Vipers bench after celebrating his goal. About a minute and a half later what looked to be a Silverbacks breakaway actually ended up into a Vernon power play. With Brandon Santa-Juana going to the sin bin for tripping, Lucas Matta was given a late penalty and sent to the Backs dressing room. Matta was given a ten minute misconduct. The Snakes needed all but fifteen seconds to capitalize on the PP. Logan Lorenz's shot beat Owen Say on almost an identical looking shot-goal that Nicholas Kent scored early in the period. Lorenz would give Vernon a 4-1 lead at 15:45 JoJo Tanaka-Campbell collected the assist. This goal took the life out of the Shaw Centre. Three minutes later on a Vernon turnover Daniel Panetta with a quick release beat Ethan David fivehole, cutting Vernon's lead to 4-2 at 18:33 Panetta's goal was unassisted. This goal gets the crowd back into the game and brings some life back into the rink. The Gorillas keep pressing and on a goal mouth scramble can't burry the puck home at the top of the crease with a minute left in the 2nd period. It was 4-2 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. The Snakes with a strong start jumped on Salmon Arm with two quick goals to start the middle frame. Vernon looked very good and was all over the Apes for the first half. Vernon's speed and work etheic was the difference in the first half, the Snakes were winning the one on one battles and races for the puck. How big was Owen Say's save off Matthew Culling? If Culling scores here it's 4-0 Vernon and a long hill to climb for SA. Instead the Silverbacks get the next goal, get some life in the building, get the crowd into the game and get to within two goals. The tables turned after the media timeout. The S'Backs were a different team and took it to Vernon for the remainder of the period. The Silverbacks were the better team in the second half. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 15-9.

3rd Period: Inside the opening minute, Lynden Hanvold's point shot would be redirected in by Brandon Santa-Juana at 0:48 cutting Vernon's lead to 4-3 Lynden Hanvold drew the helper. The Backs bench was on their feet as so was the crowd as the rink was rocking less then a minute into the final frame. Just over two minutes later, Danny Ciccarello beat Ethan David ringing his shot off the post as the S'Backs come very close to tying the game. On the same shift the Vipers would be penalized as Salmon Arm would get their first PP of the evening. SA had several good looks couldn't capitalize with the man advantage. Vipers rookie goaltender Ethan David was forced to make a large pad save around the halfway mark, keeping this a one goal game. Minutes later Simon Tassy got behind the Vernon defenders and was able to walk in and tie the game 4-4 at 12:34 sending the Shaw Centre into a frenzy. The Viper bench was in disbelief. Noah Serdachny picked up the lone assist. With a minute remaining the Backs come very close to scoring the go ahead goal on a scramble in front of Ethan David. It was 4-4 after 60 minutes of play. The ice was tilted in the 3rd period as it was all Silverbacks. SA dominated the final twenty minutes as Vernon was reeling and hemmed in their own end for long periods at a time. The Gorillas had numerous good looks/chances. The Backs carried the play for almost the entire 3rd period. The Vipers played the period either in their own end or the neutral zone. The Snakes had troubles getting out of their own end and getting through the neutral zone. Vernon struggled offensively getting pucks in deep and creating/or generating any kind of offence. Salmon Arm was outshooting Vernon 9-2 at the halfway mark. This was not a good period for the visiting Vipers. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 15-6.

Overtime: The Apes won the draw and got early puck possession. Inside the opening minute, Owen Desilets was able to walk in but would be stopped by Ethan David on a very solid opportunity. The Vipers struggled to gain puck possession and were being skated circles around early into overtime. SA with a few good looks in the opening minute couldn't put the game away. Luke Buss and Nicholas Kent both had end to end rushes in the extra frame would be denied by Silverbacks starting goaltender Owen Say. JoJo Tanaka-Campbell would be called for tripping in overtime, sending Salmon Arm to the PP. Tyler Shattock and the Backs used their timeout to draw up a plan on the power play. Michael Ladyman setup Noah Serdachny who ripped a laser past Ethan David, giving the Silverbacks the come from behind 5-4 overtime victory at 4:55 as the Apes bench erupted onto the ice. The Snakes bench looked to be in shock after blowing a 4-1 lead. The Vipers had a few good looks and opportunities in OT but Salmon Arm carried the better of the play in the extra period. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 5-3.

Top Player's: Vernon Vipers

Griffen Barr I thought played very well on the Vipers backend. I thought Barr struggled during the preseason and early into the regular season, looked and played much better tonight.

Luke Buss Played with a lot of jump/energy, had his legs going every shift was hard to contain and defend against.

JoJo Tanaka-Campbell (1 goal & 2 assists) The Viper captain played well in the loss. 

Nicholas Kent (1 goal) I really liked Kent's game this evening. I thought he played very well.

Zach Tonelli (1 goal) I thought was the best Viper tonight. Played with a ton of jump/energy, was involved in the play, played and competed every shift, created/generated chances through out the hockey game.

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

The Snakes got off to a slow start and were outplayed early to start the game. I thought once the Vipers weathered the storm, found their legs and got their game going they played very well and looked very good as the 1st period went on. A late goal by JoJo Tanaka-Campbell gave Vernon some confidence heading into the 2nd period. The Vipers jumped on Salmon Arm early into the middle frame and less then two minutes in, had a 3-0 lead vs the Conference leaders. Vernon looked very good and were all over the Backs until the media timeout and the tables turned. The Vipers weren't the same team and couldn't recover. Even a 4-1 lead wasn't safe as the Snakes were outplayed the final twenty eight minutes or so before going to overtime. Giving up that late goal to end the 2nd period, gave Salmon Arm some confidence and some life. Giving up the early goal to start the 3rd didn't help as the wheels fell off and things went from bad to worse. Vernon couldn't get out of their own end in the 3rd and when they did, they coudn't get through the neutral zone. The Vipers gave up too many odd man rushes and too many chances couldn't muster any offence of their own in the 3rd period. Up 4-1 late in the 2nd period, these are games you can't blow and have to hang on for the win/two points. Consistency was a factor. Vernon played so well to finish the 1st period and looked so good the first half of the 2nd period, I don't know what happened. Defenceman Liam Cavan made his regular season Vipers debut after missing last season with an injury and was out of the lineup this season due to injury. Zach Tonelli's father John Tonelli won four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders was at tonight's game. Vernon has several injuries and some key players out of the lineup. The Vipers have lost four straight and finish the six game road trip with only two wins. The Vipers started the 2021-22 regular season, having to play eight of their first nine games on the road. Vernon returns home for a three game home stand. With the loss Vernon falls to 3-3-2-1 sit 7th in the Interior Conference. The Vipers host the 0-3-2-1 Wenatchee Wild this weekend.

Top Player's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks

Lynden Hanvold (1 assist) I thought was very steady on the Silverbacks blueline.

Lucas Matta is a very good yet solid defenceman and hard to beat one on one. Played lots of minutes.

Noah Serdachny (Overtime winner-1 assist) The Vipers did a good job at shutting him down early but elevated his game in the second half of the 2nd period, found some open ice, created/generated some chances late in the 2nd period and through out the 3rd period. 

Simon Tassy (2 goals) You didn't really notice Tassy in the 1st period but as the game went on he was another forward who elevated his game. Opened the scoring for the S'Backs in the 2nd period, had several looks in the middle frame, tied the game in the 3rd and was hard to contain as the game continued. This kid is very skilled and very dangerous. Hard to contain and defend against.

Brandon Santa-Juana (1 goal & 1 assist) Plays hard, competes and never quits skating. This kid has played very well against Vernon this season, played very well this evening.

Owen Say (28 saves) Gave up the games first three goals but also made some large game savers when it was 3-0 Say made a large save off Matthew Culling in the 2nd period, which would have gave the Snakes a 4-0 lead, instead it stayed 3-0 and the Backs get the next goal and get back in the game. 

Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks

The Silverbacks jumped on the Vipers off the opening faceoff but couldn't take advantage. Salmon Arm fell behind 3-0 less then two minutes into the 2nd period and things didn't look good. The Apes got some timely saves from Owen Say before Simon Tassy got the Backs on the scoreboard. Tassy's goal seemed to give the S'Backs some life and get the crowd into the hockey game. I don't know what was said during the 2nd period media timeout but the Silverbacks were a different team and tilted the ice the remainder of the game. SA dominated the game in the second half of the middle frame as well as the 3rd period. Simon Tassy and Noah Serdachny who weren't very noticable in the 1st period elevated their games in the 2nd and 3rd periods. They always tell you, never give up a goal late in a period or early into a period and that's exactly what the Vernon Vipers did. Daniel Panetta's goal late in the 2nd period, got Salmon Arm to within two goals, while Brandon Santa-Juana's goal early into the 3rd got the Apes to within a goal. These two key goals were instrumental in the Silverbacks come from behind victory tonight. I thought Salmon Arm played very well and looked good the first seven to eight minutes of the hockey game, the second half of the 2nd period and the entire 3rd period and most of overtime. The Gorillas have a very good team and several skilled players who are dangerous, so no lead is safe when playing the Backs. The Silverbacks only loss of the season was a 4-3 overtime loss October 16th in Vernon. Since then the Apes have won five straight and sit atop the Interior Conference standings. A very good sized crowd on hand tonight, especially for a mid week game. Nice to see a handful of Viper fans make the trip to Salmon Arm. The Silverbacks started the regular season playing four of its first five games on the road. The Silverbacks are currently on a four game home stand, play six of their next eight games at home. The Vipers & Silverbacks meet again November 17th in Vernon. With the win Salmon Arm improves to 7-0-1

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Adam Bourgeois
Jack Glen
Kjell Kjemhus
Luke Ashton
Cameron MacDonald

Salmon Arm Silverbacks:

Gabriel Murrells-Allaway
Kieran Ruscheinski
Lian Gayfer
Aidan Linblad
Matthew Johnston
Nathan Mackie

Three Star's:

1st Star: Noah Serdachny (Overtime winner-1 assist)
2nd Star: Zach Tonelli (1 goal)
3rd Star: Simon Tassy (2 goals)

Energy Player of the Game:

Isaac Lambert

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 all and post all comments as long as there tasteful.

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