Vernon 2 Trail 1 Shootout

I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following Junior hockey in Vernon my entire life. My family watched Senior men's 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 do this blog as a hobby and in my own personal time. I started and created this blog in November 2008 and have over 1.2 million viewers. For anyone who couldn't watch or attend tonight's Vipers game, here are my thought's and views from tonight's 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-Smoke Eaters game as Vernon defeated Trail 2-1 in a shootout in front of 1,104 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke
Trail Smoke Eaters: Evan Fradette

1st Period: The Smoke Eaters jumped on the Vipers off the opening faceoff, quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead in shots. About a minute and a half into the opening frame, Cameron MacDonald with a good look from the slot, missed the net on a missed opportunity. Less then a minute later Brady Hunter with a good look, fired wide of the goal on a missed opportunity. Back to back chances early at both ends of the rink. About three minutes into the contest, Jordan Hendry leaned into a shot from the point that forced Roan Clarke to make a big stop early. About two minutes later, the Smoke Eaters would get the games first power play. Trail would get one quality chance but couldn't solve Roan Clarke. The Smokies had some pressure but not a lot of quality chances as Vernon killed off the minor. Just as the penalty come to an end, Brady Hunter with a good look/opportunity couldn't beat Roan Clarke. Trail was outshooting the Snakes 9-1 at the halfway point of the 1st period. With about seven minutes left in the opening frame, the Smoke Eaters couldn't jam a loose puck home on a bit of a goal mouth scramble. With about five minutes remaining, captain Coalson Woldord ripped a shot from the top of the circle, forcing Roan Clarke into making a large left pad save, keeping this game scoreless. The Vipers who played most of the period in the neutral zone or their own end, finally got their second shot of the period late towards the end of the period. It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. Trail was the better of the two teams and dominated the 1st period as it was all Smoke Eaters. The Snakes looked like the visiting team that had the long five hour plus bus ride to the Okanagan. The Smokies played with a ton of jump/energy, were strong on pucks, winning battles, winning the races, carried the majority of the play, had a ton of offensive zone time and puck possession. Trail's only problem was they couldn't find the back of the net. Roan Clarke looked a little shaky at the start, but seemed to settle down as the period went on. Clarke in his second season with the Vipers, made some big stops, keeping Vernon in the hockey game. The Vipers looked very flat, sluggish and not engaged in the game at all. The Snakes were losing most of the races/battles for pucks, gave up several odd man rushes, had troubles coming out of their own end, getting across the red line and keeping the puck on their stick. The Vipers had troubles gaining into the offensive zone and not only creating chances but getting pucks towards the net. Vernon made several poor passes and turnovers which resulted in a Smokies rush back the other way. Trail outshot Vernon 14-4.

2nd Period: About two minutes into the middle frame, the Vipers with some nice passing coming in across the blueline on a three on two. Ryan Shostak would get a good look/shot from the high slot that would be denied by Trail Smoke Eaters starting netminder Evan Fradette. Less then two minutes later, Roan Clarke would make a stop from the circle before Christian Lowe would be robbed on the second opportunity on a large save from Clarke. Shortly after Quinn Disher & former Vernon Vipers forward Nicholas Remissong lead the Smokies on a two on one. Disher decided to keep and shoot would be stopped by Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Roan Clarke.  Shortly after Vernon would send in Ryan Shostak in for the breakaway but be stopped in close by Evan Fradette as Shostak went hard into the post, knocking the net off it's moorings. Just before the midway mark, the Snakes would get their first look with the man advantage and the only power play of the period. The Vipers had some pressure and a few looks but none better then Luke Buss. Buss with two attempts at ripping a shot from the circle, couldn't connect with his stick and the puck, missing on both shots. Buss would redeem himself after getting the puck back and ripping a shot low along the ice, beating Evan Fradette fivehole, giving Vernon a 1-0 lead on the PP at 9:59 Talon Zakall and JoJo Tanaka-Campbell collected the assists. Less then three minutes later, on an odd man rush Ridge Dawson dropped the puck for Jordan Hendry who ripped a heavy shot high past Roan Clarke, tying the game 1-1 at 12:50 Ridge Dawson and Evan Bushy drawing the helpers. With about five minutes remaining, Nicholas Kent's blast from the circle forced Evan Fradette into making a quick left pad save on a quick shot/opportunity from the Viper defenceman. With about three minutes left, Coalson Wolford would be denied by Roan Clarke. Both teams with good chances towards the end of the period. In the dying seconds, Teddy Lagerback left alone at the top of the blue paint, fired high and over the goal, on a missed opporunity. Lagerback would get the puck back just seconds before the buzzer but couldn't get a shot off as the Vipers escape a late push from the Smokies. It was 1-1 after 40 minutes of play. This was a more evenly played period with Trail holding a slight edge in play at times. I thought the Vipers responded and played a much better period after a very dreadfull 1st period. The Snakes were finally able to get across the red line and gain some momentum and pressure into the attacking zone for the first time tonight. Vernon managed some pressure and zone time at times and created/generated some looks/opportunities. The Smoke Eaters also had some pressure and zone time, had some good looks/chances. Vernon opened the scoring, but Trail responded less then three minutes later, to tie the game. Vernon outshot Trail 12-10.

3rd Period: Off the opening faceoff, former Vernon Vipers forward Nicholas Remissong come very close to beating Roan Clarke as the Viper goaltender had to be sharp. Just over four minutes into the final frame, the Snakes would get an early PP. This was odd because nobody in the rink knew what the penalty was. The play was blown dead inside the Smokies zone and a faceoff was going to be held to the left of Evan Fradette. In the mean time Quinn Disher was making his way to the penalty box. No penalty was announced over the PA system, so Viper fans had no idea what the penalty was for. I had to check the boxscore once I got home to find out Trail was given a minor penalty for too many men. Ryan Shostak and Cameron MacDonald had good looks with the man advantage but couldn't capitalize as Trail gets a big penalty kill, early into the 3rd and kills off the minor. Just past the halfway mark, Ayden Third took a big check along the wall near the penalty box and went down to one knee before getting up very slowly. Third was in some discomfort as he made his way to the Viper bench and went straight to the dressingroom. Third seemed to be ok would return to the Viper bench later. With about seven minutes remaining, Brady Hunter with a very good look/chance couldn't solve Roan Clarke. Ryan Shostak would get another opportunity late in the period, couldn't give Vernon the lead. With about two and a half minutes left, Josh Schenk left alone in the slot, got the puck but rang it off the mask of Roan Clarke as Schenk looked skywards after the shot. Inside the final minute the Smoke Eaters get a late power play. Trail gets a couple of shots but would run out of time before the buzzer. It was 1-1 after 60 minutes of play. I thought the Smokies were the better team, had more of the play, more puck possession, zone time and were again beating Vernon to the puck, winning the races/battles. The Snakes looked flat at times and sluggish, were again making poor passes and turning pucks over. Both teams had some good looks/opportunities but both goaltenders played very well. At times both teams struggled to get going and slowed down the play. Trail outshot Vernon 9-6.

Overtime: The visiting Smoke Eaters started the extra frame on the man advantage that was carried over from the end of the 3rd period. Off the opening faceoff, Trail forward/captain Coalson Wolford with a good hard drive to the net, couldn't beat Roan Clarke in front. Former Wenatchee Wild defenceman Nicholas Kent takes the puck from the neutral zone and carries it into the offesive zone before beating his man wide and driving hard towards the goal, would denied in close on a shorthanded rush as Vernon kills off the minor. With 1:54 left in OT the Snakes head to the PP after Teddy Lagerback's highstick in front of the net. The Vipers get some looks but spend a lot of time moving the puck around and don't really get much as Trail blocks some shots and does a great job at keeping Vernon's shooters to the outside as the Smokies manage to escape and kill off the minor as overtime comes to an end. Both teams had opportunities to end the game as both goaltenders played well. Shots were 3-3.

Shootout:

Vernon Vipers:

Zack Tonelli (Goal)
Luke Buss (Miss)
Cameron MacDonald (Goal)

Trail Smoke Eaters:

Teddy Lagerback (Miss)
Brady Hunter (Miss)

Vipers win 2-1 in a shootout

Top Player's: Vernon Vipers

Ryan Shostak Was one of the lone Vipers that played with some spark/energy. Shostak lead the Viper offence with several quailty chances through out the hockey game.

Roan Clarke (35 saves) Was the difference in the hockey game this evening. If it wasn't for Clarke, Trail would have come away with a regulation victory. The Smokies jumped on Vernon off the opening faceoff and fired fourteen shots on Clarke in the 1st period, could have easily gone up two or three goals. Clarke kept the Snakes in the game and gave his team a chance to win. The Vipers went with two 18 yr old goaltenders this season. With only nine wins on the season and near the bottom of the standings, goaltending hasn't been an issue with the Snakes. 

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

The Vipers were outplayed and outworked most of the evening, played/looked good for maybe twenty minutes tonight? Vernon was lucky to come away with the win and the two points. The Snakes looked very flat to start the hockey game, were outplayed, outworked, outshot and outchanced were totally dominated in the opening frame. Trail was outshooting Vernon 14-1 late in the period, before the Vipers managed to get three shots towards the end of the period. I thought the Vipers looked and played much better in the 2nd period, played with a lot more jump/energy, were finally able to get pucks to the net and create/generate some chances. The Vipers looked flat and sluggish in the 3rd looked good in spurts but were outplayed and outworked for a long lengths of the 3rd period. Consistancy has been one of the Vipers biggest problems this season and it showed again tonight. Vernon continued to make poor passes, had troubles breaking out of their own end, lost most of the battles/races, were turning over pucks/making mistakes in their own end through out the entire game. At times breaking out of their own end, it looked like this team had no idea what they were doing. Trail could have easily been up by two or three goals in the 1st period, which would have changed the outlook of the game. Roan Clarke kept the Vipers in the game. Let's give the Vipers a little credit for hanging on for the win, but your going to have to win me over with a few wins over some of the top teams. Good on Vernon for winning back to back games, but let's not get too excited as one was over last place Merritt and tonight's win was in a game where the Vipers were outplayed for a lot of the night, heavily relied on some stellar goaltending to preserve the win. With the trade deadline over, the Vipers were five points back of Trail prior to tonight and trying to make a strong finish in the second half of the season and the team comes out and starts off the hockey game like this? Trail had the long bus ride into the Okanagan, had one win in their last seven games prior to tonight and you can't jump on a struggling team that has just got off the bus? The Vipers should have been hungry and jumped on a Trail team that had one win in their last seven games. I blame all of this on the coach! It's Jason McKee's job to have these kids ready and prepared before the game and they weren't. The Vipers are making the same mistakes now they were back in October. This team still has troubles passing, breaking out of their own end, consistancy, turning over pucks, making defensive mistakes and this is all to do with coaching. By now the coach should have practised and shown these kids how to make a pass, how not to turn over pucks, how to break out of your own end and fans should start seeing some improvement not only in the players but from the team overall and were not and this is all on Jason McKee. The Vipers have struggled and been very dismal this season and were dismal again tonight and hard to watch. The mistakes this team is making at this time of year is absolutely ridiculous. This all comes down to Jason McKee! This is the same coach that said after the trade deadline, once were healthy were going to make a long playoff run! Hey coach, you have nine wins this year and you keep playing inconsistant hockey like you did tonight and you won't win a game in the playoffs. It's time for a coaching change! The real test will start Friday vs 1st place Salmon Arm before heading out on a seven game road trip. The Vipers have lost ten straight on the road and only won twice on the road this season. With almost two months left in the regular season and the Vipers only have nine wins? I have said it before and will say it again, I have been watching Junior hockey in Vernon my entire life and this is one of the worst Vernon teams I've seen. It's no longer fun or exciting coming to the rink anymore. Has anyone else noticed the attendance dropping and several season ticket holders not at the past handful of games? A very small crowd tonight, maybe 600-700? Lot's of season ticket no shows tonight again. The Snakes get their first shootout win of the season, are 1-3 in shootout's this season. The Vipers get back to back wins for just the third time this season. The Vipers pick up just their sixth win since October 28th and their sixth win in their last twenty four games. With the win Vernon improves to 9-14-3-3 sit 8th in the Interior Conference. 

Top Player's: Trail Smoke Eaters

Joshua Orrico I thought played very well on the backend. I didn't notice him at first but stepped up his play and stood out as the game continued. A very good skater, can move the puck up ice in a hurry, was joining the rush and stepping up into the play in the 3rd and overtime periods. 

Jordan Hendry (1 goal) Another defenceman that looked/played very well. Also jumped up into the play at times, was very good at both ends of the rink. 

Brady Hunter was by far Trail's best forward. This kid was all over the rink tonight, played with a ton of jump, created/generated a ton of chances through out the contest.

Coalson Wolford Was another forward who played very well, was involved in the play, was physical and engaged in the game. Had some chances through out the game.

Charlie Strobel I liked his game. Didn't create or generate any quality chances but was involved in the play, was winning the battles/races, making that first pass up ice. 

Evan Bushy Played very well at both ends of the rink. A good skating d-man that can move the puck but also plays well defensively. Saw a ton of icetime tonight.

Evan Fradette (24 saves) Wasn't tested as often as Roan Clarke but was forced to make some big stops this evening. Made a big save off Ryan Shostak on a 2nd period breakaway, stopped Nicholas Kent on an overtime shorthanded rush and was forced to make a few big stops in the 2nd period. A bigger goaltender, covers a lot of the net.

Game Thought's: Trail Smoke Eaters

The Trail Smoke Eaters were the better team and should have deserved a better finish. Trail dominated the Snakes in the 1st period, outshot Vernon 14-4 after twenty minutes but the game was still scoreless. The Smoke Eaters needed to bury a few and take a two or three goal lead heading into the 2nd period on a Viper team that isn't very good at coming back trailing in hockey games this season. I don't think the Smokies coaching staff will be happy after allowing Vernon to hang around and not putting them away when they had the opportunities. Trail should have never let the Vipers to be in this game and never let this game get to overtime, should won in regulation. Give some credit to Roan Clarke who was solid in goal for the Vipers, had a lot to do with the Smoke Eaters only scoring once in the loss. I thought the Smokies were the better team, outplayed Vernon in the 1st period and lengthy periods of time in the 3rd were outworking, outhitting, and winning the races/battles. Trail was beating the Vipers to almost every puck. The Smoke Eaters had three or four missed opportunities on odd man rushes and missing the net from shots in close. Trail couldn't bury or capitalize on their chances and make Vernon pay for their mistakes. For a Trail team that has been struggling heading into tonight, they played a very well road game in a game I thought they should have won. The Smokies are 1-2 vs Vernon this season. These two teams will meet again, February 2nd in Trail. Former Vernon Vipers forward Dallas Calvin is in his first season as an Assistant Coach with the Smoke Eaters. Former Vernon Vipers forward Nicholas Remissong faced his former team for the first time after coming to Trail involving a trade with the Merritt Centennials January 10th. The Smoke Eaters have one win in their last eight games, fall to 13-13-1-1 remain in 6th place in the Interior Conference.

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Cade McNelly
Liam Cavan
Seiya Tanaka-Campbell
Tyler Chan

Trail Smoke Eaters:

Ethan Warrener
Corey Cunningham
Zach Michaelis

Three Star's:

1st Star: Roan Clarke (35 saves)
2nd Star: Cameron MacDonald (1 goal)
3rd Star: Jordan Hendry (1 goal)

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 pictures I took before and during tonight's Vipers-Smoke Eaters game.