Vernon 2 Wenatchee 0

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 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-Wild game as Vernon defeated Wenatchee 2-0 in front of 1,166 fans at Kal Tire Place. Due to COVID-19 & restrictions, only 50% capacity allowed.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke
Wenatchee Wild: Tyler Shea

1st Period: The Wild got the early jump on the hometown Vipers early and often. Just over three minutes in, a shot from the circle missed the net before quickly coming out front where Ean Somoza would get a quality chance in front on the Wild's first opportunity of the evening. Roan Clarke had to be alert on the play after the first shot missed the net but the puck quickly come out front where Somoza had the opportunity. Wenatchee was outshooting Vernon at this point 4-0. Shortly after Luke Lavery spotted Viper forward/captain JoJo Tanaka-Campbell who's quick release beat Tyler Shea shortside, giving Vernon an early 1-0 lead at 3:39 Luke Lavery & Talon Zakall picked up the assists. Two and a half minutes later, Wenatchee would get the games first power play. The Wild couldn't muster much offence, would get only two shots with the man advantage, both towards the end of the PP as the Snakes do a good job at keeping the Wild to the outside and kill off the minor. A few minutes later, just past the midway mark the Vipers would get their first PP of the hockey game. Early into the man advantage, Anthony Cliche with a quick release from the circle forced Tyler Shea into making a pad save and then towards the end of the PP, Zack Tonelli's quick shot from the circle would be denied by Tyler Shea, making another big pad save, as the Wild get some big stops from their goaltender and kill off the minor. About twenty or so seconds later, the Wild spring Ben Ivey in for the breakaway. Ivey somehow got in behind the Snakes defence would be denied by Roan Clarke who stayed with the play, sprawled out to stretch his pads to make the big stop off the breakaway. On the following shift, the Vipers would head back to the power play. Vernon struggled with the man advantage, didn't record a shot on the PP as Wenatchee killed off the penalty. About twenty five seconds later, the Wild would jump on the PP, a power play that didn't last very long after Wenatchee took a penalty of their own, sending both teams to four on four. The Vipers would come out with a shortened PP but struggled with the man advantage as the Wild killed off the minor. Inside the final minute, with time winding down, Matthew Culling with a last second look/opportunity would be denied by Tyler Shea with 1.5 seconds remaining in the opening frame. It was 1-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Wenatchee Wild were the better team, carried the puck more, were strong on the forecheck, physical, forcing the Vipers into turn overs and played well. The Wild didn't get many looks, only had two or three chances, but played very well. The Vipers opened the scoring and played with the lead but were outplayed at times. Vernon made several mental mistakes/errors, coughing up the puck, looked disorganized at times. The Snakes power play struggled, going 0-3. The Wild were outshooting the Vipers 7-1 at one point. Vernon outshot Wenatchee 9-8.

2nd Period: Just over three minutes into the period, Vernon would get an early power play. The Snakes couldn't generate much offence as the Wild killed off the minor. Just past the halfway mark, Wenatchee would get a power play. A shot from the point, managed to get through traffic in front, just missing the far corner. The Snakes with a good penalty kill, kill off the penalty. Shortly after Reagan Milburn had a team mate going to the front of the net, decided to keep and shoot, forced Wenatchee Wild starting goaltender Tyler Shea into flashing the leather, making a big stop, keeping this a one goal game. With a minute remaining, the Vipers would get a late PP but unable to capitalize before the buzzer. It was 1-0 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. Neither team could get much of anything going. Both teams struggled offensively. The overall play was fairly even and choppy at times, as neither team really did much with the puck. The Snakes had the lone quality chance of the period. There wasn't a whole lot going on in a non exciting period. The Vipers went a good six minutes or longer in the second half of the period without a shot on goal, until finally getting a shot in the dying seconds. Wenatchee outshot Vernon 8-6.

3rd Period: The Snakes started the final frame on the man advantage that was carried over from the 2nd period. Vernon with some zone time but no real chances as Wenatchee killed off the remainder of the penalty. Just over three minutes later, Zack Tonelli with a highlight reel goal, going in and between three Wild defenders before beating Tyler Shea, giving Vernon a 2-0 lead at 4:35 Tonelli's goal was unassisted. In a 1-0 game, this was a huge goal for the Snakes. About a minute and a half later, the Wild would get the lone PP of the 3rd period. Wenatchee with good pressure, didn't get any real good looks as Vernon killed off the minor. Just before the midway point, Ayden Third on an odd man rush, would be denied by Tyler Shea who flashed the glove, making a big stop on a Vipers attack. With about seven minutes left, Zack Tonelli couldn't solve Tyler Shea who made a big stop in front before having to make a second save off Cade McNelly's point shot. Two good looks/chances from Vernon, on two big saves from the Wild netminder. The Wild would get Tyler Shea to the bench for the extra attacker with just over three minutes remaining and down by two goals. Wenatchee with good pressure, had troubles getting pucks to the net while the Snakes iced the puck on several clearing attempts. With about two minutes left on the clock, Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Roan Clarke made a big pad stop off a shot from the point before making a second pad save off Cade Littler on the rebound. Two big back to back stops from the Viper netminder. Both teams would exchange and call timesouts, while Vernon would ice the puck at least five or six different times, making for the final few minutes to drag on. Inside the final minute, with a goal mouth scramble, the Wild thought they had broke Roan Clarke's shutout bid and got to within a goal, but the referee blew the whistle before the puck went in with about thirty nine seconds remaining. The Wild pressed and poured on the pressure inside the final minutes. Roan Clarke had to be sharp, was forced into making several goal mouth scramble saves with bodies crowded in and around the top of the Vernon crease. The Vipers were able to wind the clock down and escape a final push from the Wenatchee Wild and hang on for the 2-0 victory. I thought the Vipers responded with a much better period and probably their best period of the hockey game. I thought Vernon played very well, had more puck possession, had some looks/chances, weren't turning over pucks or making mistakes and played well defensively. The Wild didn't really generate much until getting the tender out for the extra attacker. Wenatchee didn't have that aggresive forecheck and same energy they played with the opening frame. Wenatchee outshot Vernon 12-5.

Top Player's: Vernon Vipers

Cosmo Wilson "AP" Was brought up tonight as an affiliated player, due to the Vipers having seven players out due to injury or suspension. Wilson played six games as an "AP" with the Snakes, prior to tonight and has played very well this season. I really like this kid. He plays like a veteran out there, doesn't make a lot of mistakes, plays with confidence, makes that good first pass coming out of his own end, skates well and plays his position well. I actually like Wilson more then Cade McNelly. It's too bad the Vipers couldn't have acquired Wilson at the BCHL trade deadline, instead of McNelly who plays on the edge, is overly aggreisive and takes way too many penalties. 

Ayden Third Played a well rounded game on Vernon's blueline this evening. I really liked his game, especially in the 3rd period. 

Bennett Kuhnlein "AP" Was another kid who was brought up tonight as an affiliated player, made his Vipers debut. This kid didn't look out of place and played well in his first Junior A game. 

Matthew Culling I thought played a hard fought hockey game, blocked a shot late in the game, finished his checks, worked hard and competed for his space. I really like this kid, plays hard every game.

Copeland Fricker Played with a lot of jump/energy for a second straight game, really opens up the ice with his speed. It would be nice to see this kids hard work get rewarded with some points.

Zack Tonelli (1 goal) Was the Snakes best player tonight. Tonelli has played really well as of late. Scored a highlight reel goal, was generating/creating opportunities all night. His father and New York Islanders legend and four time Stanley Cup Champion John Tonelli was in attendance tonight.

Roan Clarke (27 saves-shutout) Made 27 saves for the win and his first career BCHL shutout. How big has Roan Clarke been for the Vipers this season? Clarke has kept his team in a lot of games this season, is playing like a veteran 20 yr old. Clarke has been playing a lot of hockey latley. 

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

For a team that has played four games in the past seven days and without seven players due to suspension/or injury, played a very gutsy game tonight. Vernon who has given up the games first goal on most nights, finally opened the scoring tonight in a 1st period where the visitors were the better team. I thought the Snakes were outplayed at times in the first twenty minutes, turned pucks over, were making mental errors/mistakes and struggled with the PP going 0-3 with the man advantage in the opening frame. Neither team could get much of anything going in the second period in a period that saw some choppy play with no real flow to the game. Vernon come to play in the 3rd, really stepped up their play/game and played well in the final twenty minutes. I thought the 3rd period was the Snakes best period of the evening. Vernon's power play really struggled, going 0-5. The Viper PK was very good and has been very good the past month or so. I thought the Snakes had the better scoring chances and played very well defensively. No matter who's not in the lineup or who they are playing, this team just doesn't quit. I still can't believe other then a few players, this is the same team that was very dismal before the Christmas break. A very small crowd tonight. The Vipers have won twelve of their past sixteen games. With the win, Vernon improves to 18-15-4-3 sit 6th in the Interior Conference are one point back of Cranbrook and eight points back of West Kelowna. 

Top Player's: Wenatchee Wild

David Hejduk Played very well on the Wild backend. Saw a lot of ice time and played well at both ends of the rink.

Connor Overson was another d-man I thought played well.

Ean Somoza Was one of the more dangerous Wild forwards. Had some looks/chances, was in and around the net. 

Cade Littler The son of Wild GM Bliss Littler has some size, played very well. Used his size and speed to open up the ice. Was hard to contain and defend against. 

Garrett Szydlowski Played well, had the puck on his stick often, was another forward who was in and around the goal.

Tyler Shea (18 saves) Didn't face as much rubber as Vernon's goaltender, but was forced to make several key saves through out the contest. 

Game Thought's: Wenatchee Wild

The Wild played a very good, yet strong road game in the 1st period. Wenatchee jumped on the hometown Vipers in a hurry, were quickly outshooting Vernon 4-0 but gave up the games first goal just over three minutes into the hockey game. Wenatchee was the better of the two teams in the first twenty minutes, but were down a goal. The Wild looked to run out of steam as the game continued, didn't look nearly as aggresive and have the upper hand in play. Wenatchee has several big kids, are very aggresive on the forecheck and PK, remind me a lot how the Cranbrook Bucks play. The Wild are right on top of you, and don't give you a lot of time to react or make a play, forcing the Snakes into turn overs and making mental mistakes with the puck, like we saw in the opening frame. I really liked Wenatchee's penalty kill, who basically shutdown Vernon's PP. The Wild PP had some pressure at times but not a lot of quality chances, went 0-4 with the man advantage. The Wild were wearing their alternate jersey's tonight. Mostly white with blue and silver trim and numbers with "Wenatchee" angled across the front, similar to the New York Rangers style of logo. The Wild & Vipers haven't played since early November. The Wild come into Vernon and beat the Vipers 3-2 overtime November 5th and 4-1 on November 6th. These two teams will play again back to back games in Wenatchee Thursday and Friday for the final time this regular season. The Wild have lost four of their last six road games. Tonight was Wenatchee's fifth game of a five game road trip. The Wild have lost three of their last five games and lost seven of their past ten games. With the loss, Wenatchee falls to 14-18-4-1 sit 8th in the Interior Conference, are two points back of Trail.

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

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

Wenatchee Wild:

Mario Gasparini
Anthony Cafarelli
Brasen Boser
Jakob Karpa
Andy Vlaha

Three Star's:

1st Star: Roan Clarke (27 saves-shutout)
2nd Star: Zack Tonelli (1 goal)
3rd Star: JoJo Tanaka-Campbell (1 goal)

Energy Player of the Game:

Ayden Third

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 photo's I took before and during tonight's Vipers-Wild game.