I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following Junior hockey in Vernon my whole 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 2.1 million viewers. For anyone who couldn't watch or attend tonight's Vipers game, here are my thought's and views from the hockey 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-Vees game as Penticton defeated Vernon 4-0 in front of 1,757 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke
Penticton Vees: Kaeden Lane
1st Period: Fifty seven seconds into the hockey game, the Snakes would get the games first chance. Luke Buss setup Luke Lavery in front who just missed the far corner on a quality chance inside the opening minute. A minute later, the Vipers spotted Reagan Milburn in front who also just missed the far corner. Two good looks/opportunities for Vernon in the first two minutes. Eight minutes into the 1st period, Adam Eisele would get the Vees first good look/opportunity, but Roan Clarke was forced to make a quick left pad save from in close. A minute later, Cade McNelly's point shot would bounce off a Penticton Vees defender in front as the puck changed direction almost catching Kaeden Lane off guard as the puck rolled past the far corner after taking a Viper bounce. On the following shift, Nicholas Kent's shot from the blueline found it's way through traffic and got behind Kaeden Lane, before a Vees player sweeped the puck from rolling across the goal line as the Snakes were inches away from opening the scoring on a solid defensive play by a Penticton defender to keep this game scoreless. Just past the halfway mark, Anthony Cliche failed to clear the puck on two occasions. Cliche turned over the puck twice and on the second time it cost him and the Vipers. Braden Doyle gobbled up the puck on the Cliche turnover setup Frank Djurasevic's point shot that got through a ton of bodies in front, beating what looked like a screened Roan Clarke fivehole, giving Penticton a 1-0 lead at 11:59 Braden Doyle with the lone helper. 1:09 later, Owen Simpson's point shot looked to be redirected in front by Stefano Bottini, giving Penticton a 2-0 lead at 13:08 Owen Simpson collected the assist. With about three and a half minutes remaining, Seiya Tanaka-Campbell with a good look/opportunity couldn't solve Kaeden Lane towards the end of the period. With about a minute and a half left in the 1st the Snakes would get the games first power play of the contest. Inside the final minute with Vernon pressing, Viper forward/captain JoJo Tanaka-Campbell's shot from the side of the net, rolled through the crease and out the other side on a missed opportunity. It was 2-0 Penticton after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Vees carried a lot of the play through the 1st period. Penticton had more puck possession, zone time and control of the puck/play for a lot of the period. The Vees didn't get a lot of looks/chances but capitalized on one Vernon turnover and scored two goals on harmless looking shots from the point. Penticton with a strong yet aggresive forecheck, were forcing the Snakes into turning over pucks. The hometown Vipers had several quality looks/opportunities didn't get any puck luck or the bounces go there way. Vernon didn't have a lot of zone time or pressure with the puck but did get the better of the scoring chances. The Snakes had at least six or seven good looks/quality chances, couldn't find the back of the net. Penticton outshot Vernon 13-12.
2nd Period: The Vipers started the period on the power play, that was carried over from the 1st period. Vernon didn't get a shot in the remainder of the man advantage, as the Vees killed off the remainder of the penalty. The visiting Penticton Vees would get an early PP, their first of the hockey game just over four minutes into the middle frame. A minute into the PP, the Vipers would take a second minor, sending Penticton to a lengthy two man advantage. The Viper defence/PK was very good, only gave up two Penticton shots as Vernon killed off both penalties. The Snakes needed nine minutes to record their first shot of the period. Just before the midway point, Aydar Suniev with a quick wrister from the faceoff dot, forced Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Roan Clarke into flashing the leather, making a quick glove save. On the following shift, Braden Doyle's shot from the blueline hit a body on it's way to the net, as the puck changed direction and caught Roan Clarke off guard as the puck rolled past the far corner as the Vipers catch a break. Shortly after the Snakes would get a PP, their second of the evening. Vernon struggled with the man advantage, as the Vees killed off the penalty. With 7:14 remaining in the period, on a Viper turnover inside their own blueline, the Vees looked to have taken a 3-0 lead. I can't remember who had the puck, but the Penticton forward deeked out Roan Clarke, going high backhand as the puck either went off the crossbar and out or just under the crossbar and out. You could hear the puck hit the crossbar as the goal light come on, but no call from the official on the ice. The officials would gather after the first whistle and determine the puck didn't cross the goal line and the play continued. Vees Head Coach/GM/President Fred Harbinson called over an official, wanting an explination. Vernon catches a break and are still down 2-0. Less then two minutes later, Zakal Talon's point shot would be blocked and the Vees come up ice on a two on one. Stefano Bottini lead the rush, decided to keep and shoot, beating Roan Clarke far post and in, giving Penticton a 3-0 lead at 15:28 Jackson Nieuwendyk picked up the assist. It was 3-0 Penticton after 40 minutes of play. For a second straight period, the Vees carried the play, had more puck possession and zone time. Penticton with a very aggresive forecheck, were winning the battles, races and coming away with the puck. The Vees were also playing the body, finishing their checks and making it hard for Vernon to have control of the puck. The Vipers didn't have a whole lot of time with the puck, needed nine minutes to record their first shot on goal, were outworked and outmuscled. Your not going to win many hockey games with only three shots on goal and no pressure or time with the puck in the offensive zone. Vernon had trouble gaining any kind of momenttum, couldn't mount any kind of pressure in the offensive zone. The Snakes didn't get any scoring chances. Penticton outshot Vernon 7-3.
3rd Period: The Penticton Vees would get an early power play just over two minutes into the final frame. Twenty five seconds into the PK, Vernon would take a second penalty, giving Penticton a lengthy two man advantage. The Vees needed just fourty six seconds into the two man advantage to capitalize. Roan Clarke made the first save but couldn't stop the second opportunity after Adam Eisele buried the rebound in front, giving Penticton an early 4-0 lead at 3:39 Aydar Suniev & Braden Doyle picking up the helpers. Just before the halfway mark, Josh Nadeau with a nice shot from the high slot, forced Roan Clarke into making a quick pad save, while the Vipers quickly moved the puck up ice, setup Luke Buss in the slot, couldn't get enough on his shot on a wobbling puck that went high and over the goal, on a missed opportunity. Shortly after Cade McNelly lost his cool in a shoving match with a Penticton player at the side of Roan Clarke. McNelly would give two crosschecks and be sent to the sin bin for two minutes, sending Penticton to the PP. The Vees didn't really generate much with the man advantage as Vernon killed off the minor. Jackson Nieuwendyk took a late hit along the boards and looked to be in some discomfort, went straight to the Vees bench. I didn't notice if he returned to the ice. Kaeden Lane and the visiting Penticton Vees would shutout the hometown Vernon Vipers 4-0. The Vees put the game away early on the power play, played a solid defensive road game in the 3rd to come away with the win. The Vees carried the better of the play, had more puck posession, zone time and were outworking and outskating Vernon, wich resulted in winning the battles and puck races. The Vees played very well defensively. Both teams didn't generate much with the offence in a tight defensive period from Penticton. The Snakes had trouble gaining the offensive zone and getting pucks to the net. Penticton outshot Vernon 8-4.
Top Player's: Vernon Vipers
Ayden Third I thought played well on the blueline. Played the body, with a couple of checks and was solid defensively.
Griffen Barr was another Viper defenceman that used the body and was good at both ends of the rink tonight.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
The Vipers had trouble holding onto the puck and gaining any kind of traction through out the night. The Vipers had at least six or seven good looks/chances in the 1st period, didn't get the bounces and couldn't capitalize. I think if the Vipers could have opened the scoring or at least kept the score tied early, it may have been a bit of a different game. Vernon gave up two quick back to back 1st period goals, falling behind 2-0 and playing a team like Penticton, it's going to be an up hill climb to try and come from behind no matter how many goals your down. The Snakes had very little to no zone time or pressure in the offensive zone. It seemed like everytime Vernon got across the Vees blueline, it was either a shot on goal or lose the puck along the boards and back come the Vees up ice. The Vipers struggled all evening to gain any kind of traction or momentum, saw a lot of time in their own end, seemed to be chasing Penticton most of the hockey game. Vernon turned over the puck way too many times in their own end, took some undisciplined penalties and lost a lot of the battles/races. The Vipers really needed some puck luck or a bounce go their way in the opening frame, to at least keep the game/score close but ended up falling behind two goals halfway through the 1st period. Your not going to win many games with seven shots in the final two periods. It just wasn't the Snakes night. A good sized crowd for a Sunday evening. I much prefer a Sunday evening game over a Sunday afternoon game. Former Vernon Vikings forward Marty Stein, former Vernon Lakers forward David Oliver and former Vernon Vipers Assistant Coach & Head Coach Joe Oliver were in attendance tonight. The Vipers have won three of their last five games and won fourteen of their last eighteen games. With the loss, Vernon falls to 21-17-4-3 sits 6th in the Interior Conference.
Top Player's: Penticton Vees
Adam Eisele (1 goal) Scored the only goal of the 3rd period, on the PP. I thought was one of the more lively Vees forwards. Seemed to play with a lot of jump, was going to the net and looking for pucks. Played very well through out the contest.
Josh Nadeau Was another Vees forward who had some looks/chances, played very well in the win tonight. Not the biggest kid but always seems to be in the mix.
Frank Djurasevic (1 goal) Opened the scoring for the Penticton Vees, played very well on the backend.
Stefano Bottini (2 goals) Had Penticton's second and third goals, played hard, was engaged in the play. A very smooth skater, has a nice shot.
Braden Doyle (2 assists) Played very well at both ends of the rink. Jumped into the play when needed, was getting pucks towards the net.
Kaeden Lane (19 saves-shutout) Improves to 26-2 on the season recorded picking up his fifth shutout of the season. Lane wasn't tested often but was there to make the saves when called apon.
Game Thought's: Penticton Vees
The Penticton Vees outplayed and carried most of the play/game tonight. The Vees played a lot of the game in the offensive zone, had a lot of the play, a lot of puck possession, were finishing their checks and the more physical team, were very aggresive on the forecheck, winning the battles, races, forcing Vernon into turning over pucks & making mistakes. Penticton outworked and outhustled the Vipers. The Vees defence was very good, shutting down the Snakes offensive players, limiting Vernon's chances and opportunities. The Vees kept the Vipers to the outside and limitied Vernon from getting pucks to the net. The Vees didn't get a lot of chances but capitalized on their opportunities. Penticton could have blew this game wide open if their power play was clicking. The Vees went 1-5 with the man advantage. For the past eight to nine years, Penticton has been one of if not the top team not only in the Interior Division but in the league and a step above a lot of the other teams. It seems like nothing changes and every season, the Vees have a similar style of team. Penticton moves the puck well, has a quick transition game and doesn't make many mistakes. A team that prides itself on team discipline, makes other teams pay for their mistakes. The Vees looked good and were the better team. Penticton has shutout Vernon twice this season and wins the regular season series 5-0. It's hard to believe that the Vees only come to Vernon twice this season. A small handful of Vees fans made the trip and made some noise on the Vees goals. The Vees have won nine straight on the road. Penticton has won four straight and fifteen of their last sixteen games. With the win, Penticton improves to 36-7-0-2 sit atop the league standings with the best record in the BCHL.
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Liam Cavan (Injured)
Jack Glen (Injured)
Tyler Chan
Cameron MacDonald (Injured)
Penticton Vees:
Mason Poolman
Finlay Williams (Out for the season)
Brett Moravec
Colin Purcell
Three Star's:
1st Star: Stefano Bottini (2 goals)
2nd Star: Kaeden Lane (19 saves-shutout)
3rd Star: Beanie Richter
Energy Player of the Game:
Ayden Third
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. Please be respectful when leaving comments.
Here are some photo's I took before and during tonight's Vipers-Vees game.
3 comments:
It sure seemed like we were watching the November/December Vipers. Couldn't generate any offense at all and turnovers in their own zone turned into goals for the Vees.
Atta Boy Boooooby.......Make sure you post some Negativity, cause thats ALL you do. Your keyboard obviously Freezes up after Wins !!!
Obviously the truth and the facts are upsetting you but if you want a positive out of the game the PK was pretty good, going 4/5. Be brave and put a "Real Name" on your post 😉
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