"Vernon Vipers Teddy Bear Toss Night" Cranbrook 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 Junior hockey in Vernon since it started in 1961. I have two family members that played Junior hockey in Vernon. 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-Bucks game as Cranbrook defeated Vernon 4-2 in front of 1,679 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke
Cranbrook Bucks: Nathan Airey

1st Period: Both teams would get a couple of shots on goal early with no scoring chances until the Vipers turned over the puck, that eventually setup Bauer Morrissey who would be stopped by Roan Clarke before burying the rebound, giving Cranbrook an early 1-0 lead at 3:08 Hayden Gelbard & Jarrod Smith collected the assists. This was a goal Roan Clarke would like to have back, after giving up a big juicy rebound. About 1:22 later the Cranbrook Bucks would get the games first power play. The Bucks didn't get any real quality chances but with about ten seconds left in the man advantage, Cameron MacDonald setup Ryan Shostak shorthanded on an odd man rush but Shostak would be denied by Nathan Airey as the Vipers killed off the minor. Shortly after Reagan Milburn would get a good look from the inside the circle, couldn't solve Nathan Airey. A play or two later, Tyson Dyck with a rocket of a shot, went high on Roan Clarke giving Cranbrook a 2-0 lead at 8:06 taking the crowd out of the hockey game. Kellan Hjartarson drew the lone helper. Around the halfway mark, Luke Buss with an opportunity couldn't beat Nathan Airey who was solid between the pipes in the first half. About two minutes later, the Snakes setup forward/captain JoJo Tanaka-Campbell was left alone in the slot, missed the net on a glorious chance in the slot. With about five minutes remaining, Tyson Dyck ripped a low shot along the ice that forced Roan Clarke into having to stretch across the blue paint to make a very difficult left pad save and then watch the rebound with traffic going to the front of the net. A good chance for the Bucks towards the end of the period. It was 2-0 Cranbrook after 20 minutes of play. The Bucks opened the scoring and held a 2-0 lead before the first half. I thought Cranbrook had a slight step on the Snakes but not by much. The Vipers could have easily had a goal or two after some very good chances. I thought other then the scoreboard this period was fairly even with no team really taking control of the game. The Bucks capitalized on their chances and Vernon didn't. Vernon outshot Cranbrook 13-10.

2nd Period: The Bucks had the early jump and carried the better of the play. Just a few minutes into the middle frame, AJ Vasko lead the Cranbrook attack with a three on one. Vasko decided to keep and shoot but would be stopped by Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Roan Clarke who had a little difficulty with the shot/save. Clarke seemed to be fighting the puck a bit tonight. About seven minutes in, Cameron MacDonald tried setting up Ryan Shostak on an odd man rush, but a speedy pass through bodies couldn't connect on a missed opportunity. Shortly after the Snakes would get their first power play but struggled with the man advantage. Vernon with very few shots, couldn't generate or create any kind of offence as Cranbrook killed off the minor. About a minute later the Vipers would head back to the PP but not for long as the Snakes took a penalty, sending the play to four on four. While playing four on four Johnny Johnson had Roan Clarke down and out, somehow missed the open cage firing up and over the Viper netminder but also up and over the net, missing a chance to give the Bucks a 3-0 lead. Back to five on five, Jarrod Smith's shot missed the net, come hard off the end glass back into the play, where Hayden Gelbard jumped on the loose puck and buried it, giving Cranbrook a 3-0 lead at 14:54 Jarrod Smith and Zeth Kindrachuk picked up the helpers. This was a tough goal to give up, not only late in a period but now your down 3-0 nearing the 3rd period. On the following play after the goal, Tyson Dyck with a quick shot from in close rang it off Roan Clarke's mask with the Bucks pressing late. The Bucks would get a late PP with a minute left in the period, but unable to capitalize before the final buzzer. It was 3-0 Cranbrook after 40 minutes of play. There wasn't much to get excited about this period. Both teams didn't generate much offensive chances in a defensive period. The Vipers couldn't gain any kind of traction, had the lone odd man rush that Reagan Milburn couldn't connect with, while the Bucks also didn't get many quality chances other then scoring the lone goal. Cranbrook played very well defensively, limiting Vernon's shots and chances. Cranbrook outshot Vernon 11-10.

3rd Period: The Bucks started the frame on the man advantage that was carried over from the 2nd period but Vernon managed to kill off the remainder of the penalty. Two minutes into the period, Cameron MacDonald setup JoJo Tanaka-Campbell on an odd man rush. Tanaka-Campbell looked to have an open cage but somehow Cranbrook Bucks starting goaltender Nathan Airey got across the crease to just get a peice of Tanaka-Campbell's shot with his glove forcing the puck into the netting behind the goal. A missed opportunty by the Viper captain. Two minutes later Luke Buss setup Reagan Milburn who looked to have an open cage but Carsyn Good made a strong defensive play with his stick to just lift Milburn's stick as he fired wide, missing the open cage. Viper fans were in awe how that puck didn't go in. On the following play, Cameron MacDonald setup Luke Lavery who wired a shot high that hit iron and in, cutting Cranbrook's lead to 3-1 at 4:38 as the stuffed animals hit the ice on the Vernon Vipers annual teddy bear toss night. Cameron MacDonald & JoJo Tanaka-Campbell picked up the assists. There was about a fifteen minute delay to clean up all the stuffed toys. From where I was sitting this goal looked like it hit the crossbar and come out. I didn't think the puck went in, but I'll take the goal. Off the following faceoff and nine seconds later, Cameron MacDonald setup JoJo Tanaka-Campbell who beat Nathan Airey fivehole, cutting Cranbrook's lead to 3-2 at 4:47 Cameron MacDonald with the lone assist. On the following play Jack Glen took an undisciplined penalty, sending Cranbrook to the PP. Rhys Bentham with back to back chances from the point, couldn't solve Roan Clarke who had to make two big stops and a third save off a scramble in front as Vernon killed off the remainder of the penalty. About a minute and a half later, the Snakes would get their third PP of the game. The Bucks defence was very aggresive and solid, taking away the shooting lanes, covering the point and limiting Vernon's chances as the Vipers maybe got two shots as Cranbrook with a very good PK killed off the penalty. It was all Snakes as Vernon was outshooting the Bucks 10-3 at the midway mark. With about three minutes left, Reagan Milburn on the wrap around would be denied by Nathan Airey. The Vipers would get Roan Clarke to the bench for the extra attacker with 1:40 remaining. The Vipers had pressure but had trouble getting pucks to the net. With about a minute left, a shot from the point would be redirected on it's way to the goal but somehow Nathan Airey was able to track and find the puck, making a very difficult pad save with bodies in front. Eventually Noah Quinn missed the open cage before Andrew King hit the open net, giving Cranbrook a 4-2 lead at 18:47 Noah Quinn and Johnny Johnson picked up the assists as Cranbrook defeated Vernn 4-2. It was all Vipers as Vernon was the better team, carried the play, had most of the opportunities and zone time. Cranbrook heavily relied on Nathan Airey in goal and there strong defesnive play to hold on for the win. After Vernon's second goal, the Vipers didn't generate or create many opportunities as the Bucks played very well defensively. The Bucks saw a lot of play in their end only had three shots in the first ten minutes, while the Snakes only had three shots in the final ten minutes. Vernon outshot Cranbrook 13-7. 

Top Player's: Vernon Vipers

Luke Buss Was all over the ice but didn't pick up a point snapping his seven game point streak. Buss used his speed and skill to try and open up the ice, while creating chances. 

JoJo Tanaka-Campbell (1 goal & 1 assist) I had mentioned earlier in the season, JoJo wasn't playing up to par, didn't look himself and wasn't doing much. Well tonight, the Viper captain proved me wrong and played one of if not his best game of the season. Was involved in the play, was in and around the net, creating/generating chances and played hard. 

Matthew Culling I thought played very well, was physical, engaged and played hard. Was strong on the forecheck, hard in on pucks and competed.

Reagan Milburn Had some looks/opportunities, played well through out the hockey game.

Cameron MacDonald (2 assists) Looked very good this weekend. Was dangerous with and without the puck, was creating/generating chances, with his speed is another Viper who can really open up the ice. 

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

The Coquitlam Express were suppose to play in Vernon tonight, but the game was postponed earlier in the week due to the roads being closed. The league did a little juggling and scheduled in the Cranbrook Bucks instead. Well just like last night I thought the Snakes played well and looked good in the 1st and 3rd periods. It was the 2nd period where Vernon looked flat, didn't have any jump, had troubles getting any kind of traction for the entire middle frame. The Vipers couldn't get anything going during the 2nd period. The Vipers had some good looks/opportunities in the 1st period, couldn't capitalize on their chances. Vernon really needed a goal to get some life and some energy into their game. Instead they went into the 2nd period down two goals and then into the 3rd down 3-0. Give the Snakes credit, they didn't quit. A very strong 3rd period, got to within a goal but couldn't seem to gain any traction after the second goal, were limited in opportuinties and shots on goal. Vernon put up a good fight in the 3rd, come close to tying the game. The Vipers made some mistakes tonight, coughed up the puck, looked flat and didn't play very well in the 2nd period but other wise this was an entertaining game. Falling behind three goals obviously is the biggest wall to climb. The Snakes didn't seem to play with or have the jump/energy they had the past two games. The Vipers played their third game in four days, maybe were playing with heavy legs tonight? Roan Clarke seemed to have an off night, well at least during the first two periods. It looked like Clarke was fighting the puck during the first two periods. It seems like the Vipers struggle to score goals or don't play that well on most Teddy Bear Toss nights. I don't know if it's the pressure of knowing fans want to toss the stuffed animals or a player wants to be that guy to score the big goal? Whatever it is, the Vipers haven't played all that well or struggled to score that first goal on recent teddy bear toss games in past years. A good size crowd on hand tonight. The Vipers two game winning streak was snapped. Vernon's five game home stand comes to an end. The Vipers have lost twelve of their last fifteen games. With the loss Vernon falls to 6-10-3-2 sit 7th in the Interior Conference.

Top Player's: Cranbrook Bucks

Carsyn Good Played very well on the Bucks blueline. Made a very strong defensive play on Reagan Milburn early in the 3rd to take away a Viper empty net goal on what looked like a sure goal.

Rhys Bentham also played very well on the backend.

Hayden Gelbard (1 goal & 1 assist) Picked up two points, was speedy and shifty through out the game, played well.

Tyson Dyck (1 goal) Not the biggest kid, but is quick on his feet, hard to contain, involved in the play and goes to the net. Was always in and around the net, had some looks.

Game Thought's: Cranbrook Bucks

The Cranbrook Bucks joined the BCHL last season as an expansion team and played the Vipers for the first time tonight. The Bucks jumped out to the early 1-0 and took the crowd out of the game early with a 2-0 lead. I thought Cranbrook played fairly well and very well defensively for most of the night. Nathan Airey was forced to make some big stops in the 1st and 3rd periods, kept his team in the game and gave his team a chance to win. The Bucks closed the shooting lanes & limited the Snakes on chances. The Bucks scored on their chances while Vernon didn't for the first two periods. The Bucks had a bit of a step on Vernon and looked more sharp as the Vipers were playing their third game in four days. The Vipers & Bucks now don't play again until February when they play four straight games vs each other and then don't play again. Tonight's the second game of a six game road trip. The Bucks play six of their next eight games on the road. Cranbrook snapped a two game losing streak has lost three of their last five and four of their last six games. With the win Cranbrook improves to 10-8-1-0 sit 6th in the Interior Conference. 

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Adam Bourgeois
Liam Cavan
Seiya Tanaka-Campbell
Zach Tonelli (Injured)

Cranbrook Bucks:

Theo Thrun
Luke Pfoh
Liam Hansson

Three Star's:

1st Star: Hayden Gelbard (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Luke Lavery (1 goal)
3rd Star: Jarrod Smith (2 assists)

Energy Player of the Game:

Luke Buss

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 tastefull.

Here are some pictures I took before and during tonight's Vipers-Bucks game.