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 1950s and have 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 but we all have our own opinion on the hockey game. I try to be professional and give a fare game recap from both sides. Thank you for visiting my blog.
I was at tonight's Vipers-Spruce Kings game as Vernon defeated Prince George 4-3 in front of 1,265 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke
Prince George Spruce Kings: Adam Trotter (league website is listed as Aaron Trotter)
Before the game former Vernon Vipers forward/captain David Robinson (2009-2011) fired up the goal siren to get the crowd going before the two teams hit the ice. The Vipers held a special Rememberance Day ceremony before tonight's game.
1st Period: No real action at either end of the rink early. The Spruce Kings needed four a half minutes to record their first shot on goal on a shot Roan Clarke had to be sharp with traffic going to the front of the crease. The Vipers wouldn't get their first shot on goal until a shift or two later. Matthew Culling would open the scoring after his what looked like to be a pass out front, went in and off Spruce Kings goaltender Adam Trotter and into the back of the net, giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 7:27 Zach Tonelli drew the lone assist. The Snakes catch a break and get a lucky bounce on the games first goal. Less then a minute later, Luke Pakulak with a wrap around ran out of room, hitting the outside of the netting on a great chance for the hometown Vipers. The Spruce Kings with a strong push back shift, rallied up the ice as a quick shot from the faceoff circle, forced Roan Clarke to make a big blocker save, keeping this a one goal game. I didn't get a chance to catch the jersey # as I couldn't see who took the shot. Vernon was outshooting the Spruce Kings 8-4 at one point. With about six minutes reamining, Ayden Third with a strong defensive play broke up a Prince George odd man rush. Less then two minutes later, Logan Lorenz with some wheels would be denied by Adam Trotter. With exactly one minute left in the 1st period, Ty Gagno alone at the top of the crease, couldn't beat Roan Clarke who made a huge save late. It was 1-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Snakes had a slight edge in play. Both teams didn't get a lot of opportunities, but managed a few good looks/chances. PG was the more physical team, laying the body and finishing their checks. Vernon outshot Prince George 9-7.
2nd Period: The Prince George Spruce Kings jumped on the Vipers early and often and carried the early play. Early in the period Dylan Schives blocked a shot and stayed down before struggling to get off the ice. Schives limped off the ice and went straight to the Spruce Kings dressing room would later return. About seven minutes in Vernon would get the games first power play. The Snakes couldn't get much of anything going with the man advantage as PG killed off the penalty. Just as the penalty expired, Griffen Barr's point shot went in and off a Prince George defender in front, giving Vernon a 2-0 lead at 9:29 Matthew Culling & Jack Glen collected the helpers. Shortly after the Vipers would get called for too many men, giving Prince George their first PP of the evening. The Spruce Kings had some good looks before Rowan Miller tipped the shot in front, cutting Vernon's lead to 2-1 at 12:20 Dylan Schives & Nick Rheaume picked up the assists. Shortly after the Snakes spotted Luke Pakulak in front, would be robbed by Adam Trotter who come across with the glove, to make a highlight reel glove save. Colton Cousins blocked a shot and stayed down and didn't get up as the trainer rushed onto the ice. Cousins was down for a while wasn't moving, needed help off the ice and couldn't put any weight on his right leg. Cousins didn't return. Inside the final minute with about fourty four seconds left, Reagan Milburn with a harmless looking shot beat Adam Trotter ringing his shot off the crossbar as Vernon come very close to grab a two goal lead. It was 2-1 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. PG was the better team and carried the better of the play. The Spruce Kings were a step ahead of the Vipers, had more puck possession and zone time. The Snakes saw a lot of time in their own end, but played very well defensively. Vernon may have been outplayed but gave up very little scoring chances. The Spruce Kings had more puck possession and zone time but didn't generate many quality chances. Most of PG's opportunities were off rebounds or scrambles in and around the Viper goal. The Snakes didn't see a lot of time in the PG zone, had very few scoring opportunities. Shots were 8-8.
3rd Period: Off the opening faceoff, the Spruce Kings with a quick push off the opening draw. Vipers starting netminder Roan Clarke had to be alert early was forced to make at least one if not two saves in close off a scramble in front before making a large pad save off Nick Rheaume from a shot from well out. The Vipers get caught scrambling off the opening draw, get some big stops from their netminder. Shortly after Ryan Shostak's looks to go in and off a body on it's way to the goal, giving Vernon an early 3-1 lead at 3:08 Griffen Barr picked up the helper. Just over a minute later the Snakes with an early PP. Reagan Milburn forces Adam Trotter to make a quick glove save on a quality chance for the Snakes. Prince George with a very good PK kills off the minor as the Vipers struggle with the man advantage. A few minutes later, Nicholas Kent's point shot went in and off Zach Tonelli, giving Vernon a 4-1 lead at 10:24 Nicholas Kent and Seiya Tanaka-Campbell drew the assists. Just over two minutes later, PG would get just their second power play of the contest. The Spruce Kings with several good looks, had the Vipers reeling. Vernon would eventually turn over the puck and it cost them. Nick Rheaume cut Vernon's lead to 4-2 at 15:54 Ty Gagno and Dylan Schives collected the assists. Jason McKee would call his timeout with about three minutes left. The Spruce Kings would get Adam Trotter to the bench for the extra attacker with about two minutes remaining. The Snakes would get hemmed in their own end and couldn't get puck control. Eventually Rowan Miller cut Vernon's lead to 4-3 at 19:38 Dylan Schives with the lone assist, his third of the night. Alex Evin and the Spruce Kings called a timeout before getting Adam Trotter back to the bench for the extra attacker. PG would press, had a few looks before the Vipers would eventually clear the zone as the buzzer sounded as Vernon hangs on for the 4-3 win. What a wild period. For a second straight period the Spruce Kings with early pressure off the opening faceoff, carried the edge in play and were the better team. PG had more puck possession, zone time and were a step ahead of the Vipers for a lot of the 3rd period. Vernon got some timely goals, had some puck luck and got the bounces go their way. Even though Prince George had the better of the play, the Snakes played well defensively, keeping the Spruce Kings to the outside and not giving up a lot of grade a chances. In the final two minutes with the net empty, the Vipers got hemmed in their own end, couldn't gain puck control to clear the zone, that allowed the Spruce Kings to get with a goal. Prince George outshot Vernon 12-10.
Top Player's: Vernon Vipers
Griffen Barr (1 goal & 1 assist) I thought played well on the blueline. Wasn't rushing his passes, made the right moves and decissions.
Matthew Culling (1 goal & 1 assist) Played a real strong game this evening. A big body that plays hard and competes. This was a big pickup for the Vipers, acquiring him from the Western Hockey League just before the start of the regular season.
Nicholas Kent (1 assist) Played very well on Vernon's backend. The Vipers best defenceman, can skate, move and handle the puck, makes the right decissions and really sees/reads the ice well. Saw a lot of minutes tonight.
Luke Pakulak Was another kid who played hard, compteted and looked very well in the win tonight. A bigger body that had some looks, was in and around the net, played well at both ends of the rink.
Roan Clarke (24 saves) Was very good between the pipes tonight. Made some large saves at key times through out tonight's hockey game. Was sharp, making some difficult saves off scrambles or loose pucks around the top of the blue paint. Gave his team a chance to win tonight.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
The Vipers didn't want to lose seven in a row, really needed a win tonight! I thought Vernon played very well in the 1st period, were outplayed at times in the 2nd and 3rd periods but even though playing a lot of the final two periods in their own end, played well defensively. Give the Snakes defenders credit for keeping the Spruce Kings to the outside, limiting their chances and scoring some timely goals. PG carried a lot of the play in the 2nd and 3rd periods but the Snakes didn't give up a lot of opportunities. Vernon also didn't give up a lot of shots through each of the three periods. The Vipers did do some little things well in the 2nd and 3rd periods, competed, played hard, never gave up and played as a team. Vernon finally got some puck luck tonight, something they didn't get the past few games. The Vipers didn't get many quality scoring chances but got some bounces and breaks go there way tonight. After Saturday's dissapointing loss to Wenatchee the Vipers responded with a much better effort and performance tonight vs one of the Interior Conferences top teams. How big was this win? When the final buzzer sounded the Vipers rushed onto the ice to celebrate with Roan Clarke like they had just won an overtime game. These kids needed and deserved tonight's win. The second half of the home and home series will continue Friday in Prince George. Ther Vipers don't have an easy schedule as road games Friday in Prince George, Saturday in West Kelowna before the 1st place Salmon Arm Silverbacks come to Vernon next Wednesday. The Snakes snapped a six game losing streak, will now play four of their next five games on the road. With the win, Vernon improves to 4-4-3-1 sit 7th in the Interior Conference.
Top Player's: Prince George Spruce Kings
Dylan Schives (3 assists) Played a heck of a game on PG's blueline. Blocked a shot in the middle frame and struggled to get off the ice, would later return to finish the hockey game. Played very well.
Rowan Miller (2 goals) This kid has some wheels and a wicked shot.
Ty Gagno (1 assist) I thought played a strong game for the Spruce Kings.
Nick Rheaume (1 goal & 1 assist) Was very good, played very well for the Spruce Kings. Was one of the more consistent forwards. His father Pacal Rheaume won a stanley cup with the New Jersey Devils, while his aunt Manon Rheaume is the first and only female to play in the NHL. Manon Rheaume played goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992.
Adam Trotter (23 saves) Is listed as Adam Trotter on the game lineup sheet tonight but is listed as Aaron Trotter on the league website and on the Spruce Kings roster. Both goaltenders played well. Roan Clarke was the busier of the two goaltenders as Aaron Trotter couldn't catch a break had three of Vernon's four goals get past him off lucky bounces.
Game Thought's: Prince George Spruce Kings
The Spruce Kings made their first visit to Vernon since the 2019-20 regular season, are back in the Interior Conference for the first time since the 2011-12 season. I thought PG played well and were the better team in the 2nd and 3rd periods but didn't get enough pucks to the net or create/generate enough quality opportunities. Most of PG''s scoring chances were off scrambles in and around the goal or loose pucks in close. The Spruce Kings didn't get any odd man rushes or grade a looks/chances. Prince George was kept to the outside and limited for chances. This is a fairly big team that can move the puck that doesn't give up much going back the other way. The Spruce Kings didn't get any puck luck or bounces go there way, instead had the bounces go against them. The Spruce Kings have lost back to back games for the first time this season, will host Vernon Friday. With the loss, Prince George falls to 8-5-0-0 sit 5th in the Interior Conference.
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Adam Bourgeois
Liam Cavan
Kjell Kjemhus (Injured)
Luke Ashton (Injured)
Cameron MacDonald (Injured)
Prince George Spruce Kings:
Max Borovinskiy
Linden Makow
Brody Gagno
Three Star's:
1st Star: Zach Tonelli (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Griffen Barr (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Rowan Miller (2 goals)
Energy Player of the Game:
Ryan Shostak (1 goal)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Game Report,
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-Spruce Kings game.
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