Exhibition - Salmon Arm 4 Vernon 2

I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following Junior hockey in Vernon my whole 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 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. You may agree or disagree but we all have our own opinion on the hockey game and see things differently. 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-Silverbacks game as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 4-2 in front of 340 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke
Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Matthew Tovell

1st Period: Off the opening faceoff Luke Lavery returning for a second season with the Vipers had a good look/chance in the slot but missed the net. The puck would eventually land back on Lavery's stick, giving Vernon an early 1-0 lead at 0:22 Dylan Compton drew the lone assist. About a minute later a shot fired in on goal, missed the net, come hard off the end boards rolled right through the legs of goaltender Matthew Tovell and through the crease but no Viper was in sight to bang home the loose puck as the Silverbacks catch a break. About a minute later, Will Blackburn would get a good look/chance but be denied by Matthew Tovell. Second year Viper Luke Pakulak would get a scoring opportunity about four and a half minutes into the opening period but would be stopped by Matthew Tovell. Shortly after the Snakes couldn't capitalize on a scramble at the top of the crease as Matthew Tovell had to be sharp, smothering the puck for a whistle. The Backs needed close to six minutes to record their first shot on goal. Salmon Arm would get the games first power play just before the midway mark. The Silverbacks unable to generate any kind of offence as Vernon killed off the minor. Just over two minutes later the Snakes would get their first PP of the evening. Luke Lavery with a chance at the side of the goal, would be denied by Matthew Tovell who made a large save. This was Vernon's only real good opportunity as the Apes killed off the minor. With about three minutes remaining, Ethan Ullrick with a partial breakaway would be denied by Roan Clarke. This was Salmon Arm's first real good look/opportunity of the hockey game. On the following play, Luke Ashton turned over the puck behind the goal line, allowing Lian Gayfer to setup Jayden Grier, tying the game 1-1 at 17:48 Lain Gayfer collected the lone assist. Shortly after the S'Backs would get a late power play, their second of the period. In the dying seconds, Isaac Lambert alone at the side of the goal, looked to have the top part of the net open either hit the crossbar or went high and over the net, just seconds before the final buzzer. From where I was sitting, I couldn't tell if Lambert hit the crossbar or missed the goal. It was 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Snakes come out flying, were very physical, had lot's of energy/jump, had the better of the play for a lot of the opening frame. Vernon had the puck on their sticks, were in control of the puck/play, had lot's of offensive zone time. The Vipers had a few looks/chances, only mustered one goal. Salmon Arm got off to a slow start, saw a lot of time in their own end, had troubles getting the offence going. The Backs needed five or six minutes to get their first shot on goal, didn't generate a whole lot for most of the period but had a strong finish. SA had two or three opportunities in the final minutes, managed to tie the game late on a turnover. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 8-6.

2nd Period: Luke Pakulak had a good look/chance early into the period, couldn't get past Salmon Arm Silverbacks starting goaltender Matthew Tovell. Just over two minutes into the middle frame, the Snakes would get an early man advantage, their second of the contest. Twenty nine seconds into the PP Bobby Landry with a wicked wrister beat Vernon Vipers starting netminder Roan Clarke shortside, giving Salmon Arm a 2-1 lead at 2:43 their first lead of the night. Landry's goal was unassisted. The Vipers struggled on the power play and before it ended, Lian Gayfer with a wrsiter from the right circle beat Roan Clarke stick side, on a goal I think the second year Viper goaltender would like to have back. The Gorillas with their second shorthanded goal on the same penalty kill and it's now 3-1 Salmon Arm at 4:11 Gayfer's goal was unassisted. With only a few seconds left on the PP the Backs would kill off the minor. Just before the halfway mark, Luke Cozens beat Roan Clarke five hole, on a scramble play in front of the net, giving Salmon Arm a 4-1 lead at 8:07 CJ Foley and Jayden Grier with the helpers. Less then a minute later, the Backs would jump on the man advantage. Roan Clarke had to be alert, was forced to make a difficult save with bodies in and around the goal on a scramble at the top of the blue paint. The Vipers were able to kill off the penalty. Shortly after the penalty expired, Mathieu Bourgault with an opportunity at the side of the goal, would be denied by Roan Clarke. Shortly after Lian Gayfer with an odd man rush, couldn't convert after keeping and shooting. Shortly after Max Borovinskiy would spot Revy Mack in the slot, beating Matthew Tovell cutting Salmon Arm's lead to 4-2 at 11:54 Max Borovinskiy and Ethan Merner with the assists. With just less then six minutes left in the 2nd period, Luke Pakulak laid a huge hit on a Salmon Arm player along the wall, Pakulak was given two minutes for a check to the head and an automatic ten minute misconduct. I think it was Nic Leggett who took the hit but I could be wrong. The Salmon Arm player was a little slow getting to his feet but stayed in the game. Early into the PP Roan Clarke had to stretch across the blue paint to make a large save off a Silverbacks forward at the side of the net, before Aidan Lindblad cross checked a Vernon defender into Roan Clarke/the net, which resulted in a scrum. Lindblad would get called for cross checking, sending both teams to four on four. The Gorillas dominated the four on four with several chances as the Snakes had troubles getting out of their own end. Ryan Gillespie with back to back opportunities. Aidan Lindblad would come out of the box and get a quality chance of his own as Roan Clarke was busy towards the end of the period. It was 4-2 Salmon Arm after 40 minutes of play. The Silverbacks took advantage on an early Snakes PP and sorta blew the game open. Two back to back shorthanded goals by SA on the same PK gave the visitors a 3-1 lead. This took the crowd out of the game and Vernon couldn't recover. The Backs were by far the better team, totally outplayed, outhit and out skilled the Vipers this period. Salmon Arm's skilled players took over the game and schooled the Vipers. The Apes with several odd man rushes, saw a lot of time with the puck, played most of the period in the offensive zone. Roan Clarke gave up three goals but kept the game somewhat close or the S'Backs could have easily blown this game wide open. The Snakes struggled offensively, defensively and looked flat footed all period. The Vipers weren't the same team I saw play in the opening frame, looked disorganized and sloppy. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 17-7.

3rd period: 1:59 into the final frame, the Snakes would get an early man advantage. Brock Krulicki with an opportunity couldn't find the back of the net. This was the lone chance Vernon would get as the Vipers struggled with the PP as the Backs killed off the minor. A few minutes before the midway mark, the Silverbacks would get their only power play of the period. Fifteen seconds into the PP SA would take a penalty of their own, sending both teams to four on four. With neither team able to do much four on four, the Snakes would get a PP minutes later. Vernon struggled again with the man advantage as Salmon Arm killed off the penalty. The Silverbacks needed fourteen minutes to record their first shot of the period. The Vipers would get Roan Clarke to the bench with about 1:37 left in the hockey game for the extra attacker. The Vipers struggled to get any kind of opportunities, let alone getting pucks to the net. In the dying seconds, Brock Krulicki would get a chance on a scramble in front of the Silverbacks goal but unable to find the back of the net. Time would eventually run out as Salmon Arm defeats Vernon 4-2. This was a very scrambled game/period. Neither team could get much of anything going. Both teams looked very sloppy, made mistakes, had troubles generating any kind of offensive chances. Not a whole lot of action in the 3rd made for a very dull/boring period. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 9-2.

Vernon Vipers Top Player's:

Ayden Third back for a third season in Vernon, I thought played well on the Viper blueline. 

Anthony Cliche Was another defenceman who played well.

Brock Krulicki I thought had a few looks/chances, looked good at different times through out the game.

Isaac Tremblay Played with some jump/energy, worked hard, found some open space, created a few chances.

Luke Pakulak Was very physical, played a strong hard game, was one of the more consistent Vipers in the loss.

Roan Clarke (21 saves) Was the busier of the two goaltenders, played well and kept Vernon in the game during the 2nd period. I think Clarke would like to have back the third Salmon Arm goal. 

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- I thought the Snakes played very well and were the better team in the 1st period. Vernon was outplayed, outskilled and outworked in the 2nd period. The Vipers looked very flat, disorganized and not in the game in the 2nd and 3rd periods.

- Luke Ashton was on the ice for at least three if not all four Salmon Arm goals.

- The Vipers were wearing their previous home jerseys, they wore during the 2018-19 season. 

- The Snakes struggled on the power play, giving up two shorthanded goals.

- The Vipers gave up several odd man rushes.

- With the loss Vernon falls to 0-2 in the preseason.

-The Snakes have been outscored 10-5 in two preseason games.

- A very small and disappointing crowd of only 340 tonight.

- If the Vipers have 11 players returning from last season and 13 committed players for this season, why are they going with 30 players into the preseason? 

- The Vipers hit the road for two games this weekend in Penticton & West Kelowna, have four exhibition games remaining.

- Colton Sparrow and Lukas Lomicky were behind the Vipers bench tonight.

- Vernon dressed 8 returning players & 8 committed players.

- The Snakes need to be more consistent and play sixty minutes.

Salmon Arm Silverbacks Top Player's:

Ryan Gillespie This kid has some wheels, can skate, had several opportunities.

Mathieu Bourgault Played very well, had some looks/chances.

Isaac Lambert Was another forward that had some chances and played well.

Lian Gayfer (1 goal & 1 assist) Picked up an assist on Salmon Arm's opening goal and scored shorthanded on the Backs 3rd goal of the hockey game. Not the biggest kid but quick, can skate and make plays happen. 

Aidan Lindblad looked good for the S'Backs.

Matthew Tovell (24 saves) Wasn't tested much after the opening frame. Had some troubles with the puck in the opening few minutes of the hockey game, but seemed to settle down as the game went on. 

Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks

- The Silverbacks didn't get off to a great start, were outplayed most of the 1st period, but managed to only give up the lone goal, holding Vernon off until tying the game late in the period. The Apes re-grouped and played much better in the 2nd period. It was all Salmon Arm in the middle frame. SA played better as the game went on. 

- The Gorillas score two shorthanded goals on the same penalty kill

- The S'Backs had several odd man rushes.

-Salmon Arm had a more skilled lineup as the Silverbacks skilled forwards really stood out.

- With the win, Salmon Arm improves to 2-0 in the preseason.

- Salmon Arm dressed 8 returning players.

- The Silverbacks were wearing purple Salmon Arm Pro Am practice jerseys tonight. 

- I noticed about ten or so Silverbacks fans in attendance 

- The Apes penalty kill was very good, limiting Vernon's chances and scoring two shorthanded goals.

- One thing I have noticed after watching both Vipers/Silverbacks games is that Salmon Arm has much more skilled players. The Silverbacks have a lot more talent from what I have seen so fat after two preseason games.

- I thought Sunday's Vipers/Silverbacks game in Salmon Arm was much better and more entertaining.

- The Silverbacks charged $10 Sunday for preseason tickets, while the Vipers tickets were going with $5 tonight

- These two teams will open the 2022-23 regular season with a home & home series, starting September 23rd in Salmon Arm.

Vernon Vipers Roster:

Goaltenders:

Roan Clarke 03
Ethan David 03

Defence:

Ayden third 02
Dylan Compton 05
Luke Ashton 05
Connor Chalmers 03
Justin Chaput 03
Anthony Cliche 03

Forwards: 

Max Seguin 04
Will Blackburn 03
Jack Sears 06
Luke Lavery 04
Erik Pastro 05 
Brock Krulicki 02
Isaac Tremblay 04
Mark Rechan 04
Luke Pakulak 03
Ethan Merner 06
Max Borovinskiy 04
Revy Mack 02

Vernon Vipers Scratches:

Kalan Anderlini 06
Dane Weston 03
David Brandes 04
Kurt Gurkan 04
Hank Cleaves 03
Julian Facchinelli 04
Ludovik Tardif 04
Reagan Milburn 03
Seiya Tanaka-Campbell 03
Griffen Barr 02

Salmon Arm Silverbacks Roster:

Goaltenders:

Rhys Netherton 04
Matthew Tovell 02

Defence:

Ryan Buckley 04
Nic Leggett 05
Jake Lammens 02
CJ Foley 04
William Patterson 07
William Lavigne 02

Forwards:

Luke Cozens 06
Ryan Gillespie 03
Nathan Morin 04
Mathieu Bourgault 03
Isaac Lambert 03
Lian Gayfer 06
Barret Joynt 03
Reid Varkonyi 06
Aidan Lindblad 04
Bobby Landry 04
Ethan Ullrick 03
Jayden Grier 03

Salmon Arm Silverbacks Scratches:

Carter Richardson 05
Lynden Hanvold 04
Owen Desilets 04
Brandon Santa Juana 02
Owen Beckner 05
Connor Welsh 04
Maddux Martin 05
Mathieu Cobetto-Roy 03 
Hayden Stavroff 04
Liam Vanderkooi 03

Three Star's:

No star's were announced

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Salmon Arm Silverbacks @ Vernon Vipers Tuesday, September 06, 2022 | BCHL League Site

Game Report,

Game Report (hockeytech.com)

Text Box Score,

Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.com (hockeytech.com)

Vernon Junior Hockey History website,

Home Bench (vernonjrahockey.ca)

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-Silverbacks game.