Vernon 2 Prince George 1

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 2.1 million viewers. For anyone who couldn't watch or attend today's Vipers game, here are my thought's and views from today'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 today's Vipers-Spruce Kings game as Vernon defeated Prince George 2-1 in front of 2,423 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke
Prince George Spruce Kings: Jordan Fairlie

1st Period: The visiting Prince George Spruce Kings had the early edge in play before Griffen Barr's point shot was redirected in front by Matthew Culling, giving Vernon an early 1-0 lead at 3:35 Griffen Barr drew the lone assist. The Vipers gained some momentum after this goal and about a minute and a half later, Luke Buss with a quality chance in front, couldn't beat Jordan Fairlie before the Vipers with several cracks at the loose puck on a goal mouth scramble. Jordan Fairlie had to be sharp, smothering the puck with the Snakes pressing at the top of the crease. On the following shift, Vernon would get called for too many men, giving the Spruce Kings the games first power play. Vipers Head Coach/GM Jason McKee wasn't happy with the call and let the officials know about it after a quick discussion with the officials. It took PG only fourty seconds to capitalize with the man advantage, after Nick Rheaume spotted John Herrington who ripped a laser of a shot post and in, beating Roan Clarke, tying the game 1-1 on the PP at 6:40 Nick Rheaume & Nick Marciano picked up the assists. About a minute or so later, Roan Clarke had to be alert after making a difficult save off a shot from the point, that got through traffic. Vipers forward/captain JoJo Tanaka-Campbell with a quality chance in front of the net, couldn't solve Jordan Fairlie. Minutes past the halfway mark, the Spruce Kings went on their second PP of the opening frame. The Snakes with a good penalty kill, would kill off the penalty. Towards the end of the period, Rowan Miller beat two Viper defenders along the wall, before making a highlight reel move driving towards the front of the goal, looked to have Roan Clarke beat but somehow the Viper goaltender managed to stretch out the left pad and keep the puck out while on his belly. A nice move by Miller but a huge save from Clarke. Inside the final minute of play, PG would get a late power play and the Vipers would lose Talon Zakall for ten minutes, after receiving a ten minute misconduct. The Spruce Kings couldn't capitalize with the man advantage before the buzzer. It was 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Spruce Kings were the better team. PG gave up the games first goal but had a slight edge in play in the first half, before carrying the better of the play in the second half. The Spruce Kings got away with at least three or four penalties, had the calls go their way in the 1st period. The Vipers opened the scoring and seem to gain some momentum after the goal, played well until the Spruce Kings tied the game and the ice tilted a bit. Prince George outshot Vernon 12-6.

2nd Period: The Spruce Kings started the period on the PP that was carried over from the 1st period. Towards the end of the power play, the Spruce Kings couldn't hold the puck on the blueline, but the linesmen said the play was onside as the play continued. The Vipers were lucky enough to clear the zone and just as the penalty come to an end, Seiya Tanaka-Campbell setup Matthew Culling, who ripped a shot shortside past Prince George Spruce Kings starting goaltender Jordan Fairlie, giving Vernon an early 2-1 lead at 1:23 Seiya Tanaka-Campbell and Nicholas Kent collected the helpers. Just over six minutes into the period, PG would get their third power play of the afternoon. The Spruce Kings man advantage lasted all of five seconds after taking a penalty of their own, sending both teams to four on four. Just past the midway mark, the Snakes sprung JoJo Tanaka-Campbell on the breakaway, but with a Prince George defender chasing him down, Tanaka-Campbell was forced to release a shot from well out and into the chest of Jordan Fairlie. About a minute and a half later, the Vipers spotted Luke Buss at the side of the goal, Buss couldn't connect on the pass that went through the crease. With about three minutes remaining, Simon Labelle with a good look, couldn't beat Vernon Vipers starting netminder Roan Clarke. On the following shift, Luc Laylin with a partial breakaway was denied by Roan Clarke. Clarke with two big stops late in the middle frame. On the following shift the Spruce Kings couldn't tie the game on a goal mouth scramble, wacking away at the loose puck near the front of the crease with PG pressing. With 1:03 left a quick shot from the point would be redirected in front but Talon Zakall with a diving play, made a defensive play to keep the puck from going in on what looked like a sure goal. A huge defensive play by Zakall at the end of the period. It was 2-1 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. I thought the Snakes were the better team. Vernon with a very good period, carried a lot of the play, had more puck possession, zone time and more shots on goal. The Vipers looked and played very well for most of the 2nd period, had some good looks, only managed one goal. The Spruce Kings were outplayed for a lot of the period, saw a lot of the middle frame in their own end. PG did come on towards the end of the period with about four or five minutes remaining and gave a good push to finish the 2nd period. The Spruce Kings had two very good opportunities towards the end of the period. Vernon outshot Prince George 12-8.

3rd Period: Three minutes into the final frame, Nick Rheaume with a very good look, couldn't solve Roan Clarke. Less then three minutes later, Nick Rheaume with a second opportunity would be stopped again by Roan Clarke. Two big saves from Clarke early into the 3rd. Just before the midway mark, Amran Bhabra's shot from the blueline, forced Roan Clarke into making a difficult save with bodies in front as the Spruce Kings were all over the hometown Vipers. With 2:15 remaining and the Vipers icing the puck, the Spruce Kings won the draw. Ben LeFranc's point shot would be redirected at the side of the goal, but Roan Clarke flashed the leather with a large glove save on a puck that was labelled for the top corner. With the Spruce Kings pressing, Jordan Fairlie would get to the bench for the extra attacker with 1:35 remaining. The Vipers would hold on in the dying seconds to come away with the 2-1 victory. PG with a strong push in the 3rd totally outplayed Vernon and were the better team. The Spruce Kings were physical, winning the battles/races, carried the play the entire period, played the entire period in the offensive zone, had the Snakes on their heels. Nick Rheaume with two very good opportunities early to start the period, couldn't solve Roan Clarke. The Vipers looked like a team, scared to lose and instead of carrying the puck out of their own end, or up ice, lobbed the puck into the PG zone or iced the puck. Vernon saw a lot of the play in their own end, did play well defensively, limiting the Spruce Kings shots and chances and got some solid goaltending from Roan Clarke. The Snakes were lucky at times, hanging on for the win. Prince George outshot Vernon 9-2.

Top Player's: Vernon Vipers

Griffen Barr (1 assist) I thought played a very solid game on Vernon's backend. 

Seiya Tanaka-Campbell (1 assist) Has really played very well since being injured a lot of the first half of the season. This kid isn't the biggest kid but has some wheels and makes plays happen in a hurry. Made a nice play to setup Matthew Culling on the Snakes second goal. 

JoJo Tanaka-Campbell I have been very impressed with the Vipers captain play in the second half of the season. I don't know if he was playing hurt or had something going on with his personal life but he sure wasn't the player in October, November and December that Viper fans saw play during the 2019-20 season. What a turn around in the second half here and playing his best hockey of the season. I thought played very well this afternoon, had several good opportunities.

Matthew Culling (2 goals) I have liked this kid since he joined the team from the Western Hockey League early in the season. Not only scored both goals today, but did the little things most hockey fans don't notice during a game. Was a horse through out the conest, played hard, competed and battled for pucks along the wall and in the corners. A player that doesn't get a lot of attention is underestimated in my eyes.

Tyler Chan Played very well today. The smallest kid on the team, really used his feet and quickness to make some smart plays to keep the play alive in different situations. A very smart hockey player that doesn't put up a lot of points but goes unnoticed at times. 

Anthony Cliche Played very well through out the hockey game. This is an excellent puckup by Vipers Head Coach/GM Jason McKee. Someone they signed and didn't have to lose a player in a trade. I was a little skeptical at first, seeing Cliche had played for so many teams this season but has impressed me and played very well since joining the Vipers just days before the trade deadline.

Roan Clarke (28 saves) Where would the Vipers be on this current streak without Roan Clarke? Clarke has kept Vernon in a lot of hockey games not only this season but in the second half of the season. When the Snakes were dismal and losing what seemed like every game in the first half of the season, Clarke was keeping the team in games when they could have been blown out. Made some large saves today, to help preserve the win. 

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

Well I think the Vipers got lucky and escaped with the win in a game they could have easily lost. I thought Vernon played well in the first two periods, really needed another goal for insurance. The Snakes played nervous and looked scared to lose in the 3rd, as it seemed like nobody wanted to handle the puck. Everytime the Vipers got the puck, it was like a hot potato and they quickly got rid of it. The Vipers held their own and played well for the first two periods, played well defensively had to heavily rely on Roan Clarke in the 3rd to hang on for the win. With five regulars out of the lineup due to injury and playing their fourth game in seven days and third game in five days, have been playing a lot of hockey this month. This was a gutsy effort and a huge win over one of the top teams in the Interior Conference. No matter how many players are out of the lineup or who they are playing, this Viper team is playing it's best hockey of the season and continues to win hockey games. Give this team credit for battling, playing hard and still coming away with the win. I'm not only shocked at how much improved and better this team is playing since the trade deadline but at how well they are playing and continuing to win with some big names out of the lineup. I give these kids a ton of credit for sticking together, believing and playing for each other. This was a very exciting/entertaining hockey game and a nail biter of a 3rd period. A huge crowd on hand today, in the biggest crowd of the year. A big rant for not having all three concessions open, as huge lineups for both concessions. The Vipers are 5-2 vs Prince George this year. If the playoffs were today, the Vipers would face the Spruce Kings in the 1st round. The Vipers have won thirteen of their last sixteen games. With the win, Vernon improves to 20-16-4-3 sit 6th in the Interior Conference are twelve points ahead of Wenatchee, one point back of Cranbrook and six points back of West Kelowna.

Top Player's: Prince George Spruce Kings

Amran Bhabra I thought played well on the Spruce Kings blueline.

Luc Laylin Looked dangerous at times, not the biggest kid but has some wheels and is very shifty and hard to contain. Had some looks and played well this afternoon.

Rowan Miller Played very well in the loss today. Had a few looks/opportunities.

Ben LeFranc Had a solid game on PG's backend. 

Nick Rheaume (1 assist) Was the Spruce Kings best forward, getting several looks/chances through out the hockey game. Was dangerous with and without the puck, has some size, is hard to contain and defend against. 

John Herrington (1 goal) Was another forward who played well, was involved in the play, hard to defend and contain. Very skilled and dangerous with the puck.

Simon Labelle Had some opportunities, played well up front. A shifty player that found open ice and used it to his advantage. 

Jordan Fairlie (18 saves) Wasn't tested as much as Roan Clarke but still forced to make some big stops. Played well in the loss. 

Game Thought's: Prince George Spruce Kings

The Spruce Kings playing their third game in four days played very well today in a game where they didn't get the bounces or puck luck. Overall PG was the better team at times, couldn't solve Roan Clarke. The Spruce Kings have some size, speed and skill and can move the puck. One of the top teams in the Interior Conference have a strong team this season. The Spruce Kings got away with several 1st period penalties, had the calls go their way this afternoon. PG couldn't capitalize with the man advantage, went 1-4 on the power play. The Spruce Kings have lost four straight games to the Vipers are 1-3 in Vernon this season. These two teams will meet again March 2nd in Vernon. Today was the final game of a three game road trip, where the Spruce Kings went 2-1. PG has won three of their last five games and won six of their last nine games. With the loss Prince George falls to 25-10-3-6 sit 3rd in the Interior Conference are six points up on West Kelowna and five points back of Salmon Arm.

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Liam Cavan (Injured)
Jack Glen (Injured)
Luke Ashton (Injured)
Cameron MacDonald (Injured)
Ryan Shostak (Injured)

Prince George Spruce Kings:

Dylan Schives (Suspended)
Josh Wright
Nathan Fox
Luke German

Three Star's:

1st Star: Matthew Culling (2 goals)
2nd Star: Roan Clarke (28 saves)
3rd Star: John Herrington (1 goal)

Energy Player of the Game:

JoJo 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)

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Here are some pictures I took before and during today's Vipers-Spruce Kings game.