Wenatchee 3 Vernon 2 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 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 on 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-Wild game as Wenatchee defeated Vernon 3-2 in overtime in front of 1,225 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke
Wenatchee Wild: Tyler Shea

Before tonight's hockey game, former Vernon Vipers defenceman/captain Lennie Rampone (1997-1999) fired up the goal siren to get the crowd going before the two teams hit the ice.

1st Period: The Vipers with a good start, had the early pressure off the opening faceoff. Vernon would get the games first quality chance after a shot from in close through traffic was stopped by Tyler Shea about a minute and a half in. I didn't see who got the shot but Shea was forced to make a big stop early into the hockey game. The Wild would get the games first power play just over three minutes into the contest. Wenatchee would record just a single shot on the man advantage as Vernon killed off the minor. Just before the halfway mark, Landon Parker with a quick shot from the circle forced Roan Clarke into making a big stop on the Wild's first good look/opportunity. Around the midway mark on a goal mouth scramble the Snakes couldn't bury the loose puck with a ton of traffic in and around the crease. The Vipers would send Luke Buss in for the breakaway with just under three minutes remaining but Tyler Shea with a big right pad save, kept this game at 0-0. Just before the final minute of play, Brett Oberle's point shot would be denied by Roan Clark who was out at the top of the blue paint to challenge, shutting the door. The Vipers would get a goal mouth scramble inside the final minute but no puck luck as the puck stayed out. It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Snakes were the better of the two teams. I thought Vernon carried the better of the play, had more puck possession, zone time and much more scoring chances. The Vipers had several good looks but had troubles getting pucks to the net, as Wenatchee did a great job at blocking shots, closing the lanes and collapsing to the front of the net. The Wild defence did a great job at keeping Vernon's shooters to the outside and the perimiter. Tyler Shea was good but also lucky, letting out several rebounds. The Snakes could have had at least two or three goals but didn't get any puck luck/bounces go there way. The Wild didn't generate much for chances, Wenatchee outshot Vernon 11-10.

2nd Period: Inside the opening minute the Vipers spotted Reagan Milburnat who couldn't open the scoring on a nice save off Wenatchee Wild starting netminder Tyler Shea. Just over two minutes in, the Wild would get an early power play, their second of the evening. Wenatchee didn't generate much with the man advantage, as the Snakes killed off the minor. Around the midway mark the Wild would get their second power play of the middle frame. Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Roan Clarke had to be sharp in the dying seconds after making a tough save off a goal mouth scramble. Cade Littler with a great opportunity couldn't open the scoring as the penalty expired. On the following shift after the penalty, a Viper player checked a Wenatchee player just as the whistle was blown. Landon Parker didn't like the hit skated over and cross checked a Viper player in the head as he was falling to the ice. Parker was given a minor penalty, giving Vernon their first PP of the hockey game. The Wild defenders did a great job at boxing the Vipers out, keeping the Snakes to the outside and limiting their shots as the Wild kill off the penalty with a solid penalty kill. It was 0-0 after 40 minutes of play. I thought Vernon had a slight edge in play and was the better of the two teams but didn't nearly get as many opportunities as in the opening period. The Wild played very well defensively, keeping the Snakes to the outside and limiting their shots and chances. The Vipers had a few looks but didn't create/or generate much for offence this period. Wenatchee for a second straight period didn't do much offensively as neither team had many quality chances. Vernon outshot Wenatchee 9-7.

3rd Period: The Vipers sprung Luke Buss in for the breakaway four minutes in. Tyler Shea made a big pad save, keeping this game scoreless. This was Buss's second breakaway of the night and both times Shea stopped the Viper rookie. Shortly after Tyler Chan's shot from the side wall, caught Tyler Shea off guard, just missing the far corner from a tough angle. Shortly after the Wild setup Cade Stibbe, who was alone in the slot would be shut down by Roan Clarke who was forced to make his biggest save of the evening. Shortly after Ayden Third spotted Ryan Shostak, opening the scoring and giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 7:38 Third drew the lone assist. But just over five minutes later, the Wild would break out from their own end on an odd man rush. Landon Parker setup captain Quinn Emerson for the tap in goal on the two on one, tying the game 1-1 at 13:07 Parker with the lone assist. This goal gave Wenatchee some life and a big spark as the Wild gained some momentum and slowly took over the edge in play. 2:10 later Griffen Barr on a turnover inside his own blueline, allowed Jakob Karpa to setup Mario Gasparini who spotted Owen Bohn in front, giving Wenatchee their first lead of the game, 2-1 at 15:17 Gasparini & Karpa collected the assists. Shortly after the Snakes setup Zach Tonelli for the breakaway but Connor Overson with a strong defensive play, lifted Tonelli's stick at the last minute, taking away the shot. Shortly after the Vipers would get a power play towards the end of the period. Garrett Szydlowski with a blocked shot as the Wild with a big PK kill off the minor. With two minutes remaining, Reagan Milburn spotted Luke Buss at the side of the net, tying the game 2-2 at 18:01 Milburn with the lone helper. It was 2-2 after 60 minutes of play. Both teams had some very good looks/quality chances inside the first few minutes before the Snakes opened the scoring. Vernon then gives up an odd man rush and turns over the puck inside their own blueline and the Vipers are now down a goal. I thought Wenatchee played their best hockey of the night once getting on the scoreboard and seemed to take over the edge in play. Two quick goals two minutes apart seemed to stun the Vipers who couldn't recover for a while. The Vipers seemed to press hard towards the end, managed to force overtime with a game tying goal with two minutes left. Vernon outshot Wenatchee 11-7.

Overtime: The Snakes won the draw to start the extra period. Griffen Barr tried to setup forward/captain JoJo Tanaka-Campbell going to the net but missed. The Wild quickly gathered the puck and moved up ice. Ean Somoza ripped a shot high and over the goal, the puck come hard off the end glass right back out front, where Cade Stibbe buried the rebound into the open cage at 0:26 giving Wenatchee their first win of the season as the Wild bench poured onto the ice, as a stunned Viper bench looked in awe. Wenatchee outshot Vernon 1-0.

Top Player's: Vernon Vipers

Desmond Johnson I thought played very well on the Viper blueline.

Luke Buss (1 goal) Played with some jump in his game, was hard to contain and defend against. Was stopped on two breakaways, had some looks. 

Zach Tonelli For a second straight game, I thought looked good/played very well. Had some chances, made things happen at times. Couldn't bury a shot on a third period breakaway. 

Roan Clarke (23 saves) Was as busy as Tyler Shea but still managed to play well and make some big stops for the Snakes in the loss.

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

I thought the Vipers were the better team and if capitalizing on their chances, should have won tonight. The Snakes allowed the Wild to hang around, instead of putting the winless Wild away in the opening frame. I thought Vernon was the better team in the first two periods. Didn't get many looks/opportunities in the middle frame, but had several good looks/chances in the 1st didn't have the bounces go their way or capitalize on their chances. The Snakes could have had two or three goals in that opening frame. Vernon opens the scoring, but can't handle the lead. The Vipers give up an odd man rush and turn over the puck in their own end both coming in the 3rd, both resulting in Wild goals. In a game where your carrying the play, getting the better opportunities and playing a team at home that has yet to win this season, you need to put teams away early and win these games. You need to beat teams below you in the standings. This weekend should have been two wins, instead the Vipers have now lost five straight and have only three wins in their first ten games. Overall I thought Vernon played very well. Other then a couple of mistakes and some poor passing, the Vipers were the better team but come up on the wrong end of the stick. The Vipers didn't get the bounces or have any puck luck. The Vipers need to bury their chances and didn't tonight. I'm trying to be positive and looking back at the past five games/losses the Vipers were in all five games and could have easily won all five games. The Vipers have played only two home games this season and both games have gone to overtime. The Vipers have gone to overtime or a shootout in four of their last five games. Tonight's the first game of a three game home stand. With the loss Vernon falls to 3-3-3-1 and sit 7th in the Interior Conference. 

Top Player's: Wenatchee Wild

Connor Overson made very well on the Wild backend. Made a strong defensive play on a Zach Tonelli 3rd period breakaway. 

Brett Oberle was another Wild d-man that played very well in the victory.

Landon Parker plays with an edge, has some wheels and goes to the net. Was Wenatchee's most effective forward tonight.

Jakob Karpa played well at both ends of the rink. 

Tyler Shea (28 saves) Lets out lots of rebounds but played well, making some key saves through out the hockey game. Was the busier of the two netminders.

Game Thought's: Wenatchee Wild

The Wild were outplayed for a lot of tonight's game but played very well defensively. Wenatchee blocked lots of shots, kept Vernon's shooters to the outside. The Wild got some timely saves from Tyler Shea in the opening frame and relied on their goaltender at times. Wenatchee didn't create or generate much for offence in the first two periods, scored on an odd man rush and a Viper turnover to take the lead in the 3rd period. Once tying the game I thought the Wild played their best hockey of the game and took it too the Vipers for a bit. Wenatchee escaped the 1st period not allowing a goal. The more the game went on, the more I think the Wild felt comfortable playing in a scoreless game. As the game continued the pressure became more and more on the Snakes side as the winless Wild had nothing to lose. I didn't think the Wild had any business being in this hockey game come the 3rd period but that wasn't the case. If your a member of the Wild or just a Wild fan, tonight's win has to feel good after starting the season winless in your first six games. The Wild are the lowest scoring team in the league with only sixteen goals. Wenatchee Head Coach Chris Clark once played in the BCHL with Victoria & Salmon Arm from 2000-2002. Give credit to the officials who allowed both teams to play hockey, allowing lots go. Due to COVID-19 and the borders restrictions, the Wild started the 2021-22 regular season playing it's first eight games on the road. The Wild will finally get to return home when the host the West Kelowna Warriors November 11th. The Wild & Vipers will play again Saturday in Vernon. With the win, the Wild improve to 1-3-2-1 and sit 8th in the Interior Conference.  

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Liam Cavan
Kjell Kjemhus (Injured)
Luke Ashton (Injured)
Cameron MacDonald (Injured)

Wenatchee Wild:

Jack Ivey
Brasen Boser
Wes Turner
Travis Bohnet

Energy Player of the Game:

Seiya Tanaka-Campbell

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 comments box below. I always enjoy and post all comments as long as there tasteful.

Here are some photo's I took before or during tonight's Vipers game.