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 thoughts 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-Vees game as Penticton defeated Vernon 8-2 in front of 1,556 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Ethan David
Penticton Vees: Luca Di Pasquo
2nd Period: The Vees started the period on the power play that was carried over from the opening frame. Off the opening faceoff, Luke Pakulak setup Max Borovinskiy shorthanded on an odd man rush, but Penticton Vees starting netminder Luca Di Pasquo come up with a large save, keeping this a two goal game. The Vipers were able to kill off the minor. Just over five minutes into the middle frame, Thomas Pichette gave Penticton a 4-1 lead at 5:11 Jackson Nieuwendyk and Beanie Richter picked up the helpers. Just before the halfway mark, Luke Pakulak with a good look/scoring chance, couldn't solve Luca Di Pasquo. Shortly after Bradley Nadeau would be denied by Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Ethan David on a Vees odd man rush. Minutes later Ethan David got lucky with a long shot from well out, that looked to hit someone or something on it's way to the goal, bounced just in front and bounced off his pad. Towards the end of the period, Brett Moravec gave Penticton a commanding 5-1 lead at 15:30 Hiroki Gojsic and Ben Brunette collected the assists. Twenty seconds later, the Vipers would get their second power play of the hockey game. Less then a minute later, the Snakes would take a penalty, sending both teams to four on four before the Vees would get a shortened PP. The Snakes would kill off the shortened power play. It was 5-1 Penticton after 40 minutes of play. The Vees were the better team and carried the better of the play. Penticton's relentless forecheck and hard work were all over Vernon's defence. The Vees were winning the battles, races for pucks and outplaying the Vipers for a lot of the period. The skill level the Vees have is a treat to watch. The Vipers struggled for a second straight period. Vernon had troubles offensively, generating any kind of attack and were turning over pucks and losing puck battles in their own end. Penticton outshot Vernon 11-9.
3rd Period: Early into the final frame, Josh Nadeau with a quick snap shot beat Ethan David, giving Penticton a commanding 6-1 lead at 1:43 Bradley Nadeau and Dovar Tinling drew the helpers. Around the halfway mark, Ethan David would be forced to make a left pad save off a shot from the point, that looked to have eyes. A quick reaction save from the Viper goaltender. Shortly after the Vipers would get a rare odd man rush, as David Brandes playing forward tonight, would be denied by Luca Di Pasquo. Minutes later, Billy Norcross gave Penticton a 7-1 lead at 13:17 Hiroki Gojsic and Brett Moravec with the assists as several Viper fans started making their way for the doors. Just over four minutes later, Spencer Smith gave Penticton an 8-1 lead at 17:31 Callum Arnott with the lone helper as Kal Tire Place started to empty out with the score way out of reach. Less then a minute later, the Snakes setup Lee Parks for the breakaway, would be stopped by Luca Di Pasquo but Parks scored on the second opportunity, cutting Penticton's lead to 8-2 at 18:24 Kurt Gurkan with the helper. On the following shift, David Brandes would get a quality chance but couldn't solve Luca Di Pasquo. Inside the final minute of play, the Penticton Vees would get a late power play. Penticton had one or two looks but would wind down the clock and come away with the 8-2 victory. With the game already out of reach, heading to the 3rd period, Penticton took their foot off the gas. This was like a pond hockey game for most of the period. With no whistles and period actually went by pretty quick with very few stopages in play. Not much of a period with the game way out of hand and both teams just wanting to end the night. Penticton outshot Vernon 11-8.
Vernon Vipers Top Player's:
David Brandes moved from defence to forward once Ethan Rowland left the game in the 1st period with an injury. Brandes played pretty well up front, considering he's a defenceman. Had two quality chances, created some room and a few looks when the Vipers did manage to get control of the puck.
Luke Pakulak (1 assist) Had a few good shifts, created some plays/generated some offence.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- After back to back poor performances by the Vipers the last two games, I think most fans expected a blowout win for the Vees tonight
- The Vipers were pretty bad tonight and the final score proved it
- Win or lose, the Snakes haven't played very well or looked very good the last four games and as a long time season ticket holder that's concerning to me
- Vernon was outplayed, outworked, outskated, out skilled, outshot and outscored
- I think the Vipers have a better team on paper compared to last season but on ice the team looks and plays the same as last season
- After 8 games the Snakes have three wins and two of those they were lucky to win. The Vipers aren't very good this year and that's on ownership and the coaching staff
- The Vipers can't compete against a team like Penticton, it's like watching men against boys
- The Vipers better turn this around in a hurry or this season is starting to look a lot like last year
- Why was Ethan David left to finish the hockey game, in a lopsided score? Roan Clarke should have replaced David after five or six goals. You never want to embarrass your goaltender
- Tonight's game was hard to watch
- Starting the season 0-3 and only having three wins in your first eight games isn't good enough. Vipers fans are getting restless
- Last year the Vipers had three wins in their first eight games and three wins in their first eleven games
- Vernon was missing four regulars out of the lineup due to injury (Griffen Barr, Dylan Compton, Seiya Tanaka-Campbell and Will Blackburn)
- I see no improvement with this team from the preseason to the start of the regular season and that's all to blame on coaching
- I'm very disappointed in Bowden Singleton. A point a game player in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and he has 0 points with the Vipers and was a healthy scratch tonight
- The Vipers can't score and have struggled offensively all season. The Vipers have scored five goals in their last three games
- The Vipers were wearing their road blue jerseys
- Tonight was the final game of a four game home stand
- Ethan Rowland left the game in the 1st period after being hit
- Vernon is making the same mistakes, game after game
- After a very dismal and poor seasons last year, I was expecting the Vipers to compete and put together a much stronger team this season. Very disappointed
- The Vipers head to Chilliwack this coming week for the BCHL Showcase. Vernon will play Alberni Valley & Langley on Wednesday and Thursday
- Let's face it, after 8 games the Vipers have an average team at best
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 3-4-0-1 and sit 7th in the Interior Division
Top Player's: Penticton Vees
Billy Norcross (2 goals) I really like this kid. A very smart/skilled hockey player. Played a solid game up front for the Vees
Mason Poolman played very well on the Vees blueline
Beanie Richter (2 assists) Played very well, was involved in the play
Dovar Tinling (2 assists) Was another Penticton forward that played well and looked good for the Vees
Callum Arnott (1 assist) The nephew of former NHLer Jason Arnott, was involved in the play, created open ice and made some plays. I really liked his game this evening
Jackson Nieuwendyk (2 assists) Was at the right spot at the right time. Was involved in the play and always in and around the Vernon net
Brett Moravec (1 goal & 1 assist) Played well and seems to play well vs the Vipers
Hiroki Gojsic (3 assists) Was one of the more dangerous forwards, was hard to defend and contain
Bradley Nadeau (1 goal & 1 assist) I thought was the Vees best forward. This kid was all over the rink and made plays all game. Always plays well and does well vs Vernon. Hard to contain and defend all night.
Game Thought's: Penticton Vees
- This game was basically over three minutes into the hockey game. Penticton jumped out to an early 2-0 lead
- The Vees have been one of the elite teams for the past ten or so years and it showed again tonight. Penticton is loaded with skill and talent and will be very hard to beat this season
- The Vees went 5-0 vs the Vipers last season, are 3-0 vs Vernon this season (preseason & regular season)
- Penticton makes very little to no mistakes and even when they do make a mistake or bad pass, they somehow manage to recover and regain control of the puck/play
- The Vees play with a ton of speed, have a very good transition game and are very hard to play against, defend and contain
- Penticton's relentless forecheck gave Vernon's defenders all kinds of trouble through out the game
- The Vees make plays out of nothing at times and make the Vipers look silly
- The Vees have won eight straight games
- Penticton has scored a league high 52 goals and only given up a league low 13
- Tonight's the second game of a five game road trip
- Penticton has a very strong work ethic and not one player took a single shift off tonight
- I spotted a small handfull of Vees fans in attendance
- The Vees were wearing their new home jerseys tonight. I think it's way to much white and needs some more blue. They need to have blue helmets, a blue logo, blue gloves and even add another blue stripe. It looks a lot like the Toronto Maple Leafs logo but with a V in the middle
- Penticton was by far the better team, as they dominated most of the play, were strong on the forecheck, won most of the races/battles, were hungry for pucks, outworked and outplayed the Vipers and totally out skilled Vernon offensively
- With the win, Penticton improves to 8-0-0-0 and sit atop the BCHL standings
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Griffen Barr (Injured)
Dylan Compton (Injured)
Seiya Tanaka-Campbell (Injured)
Bowden Singleton
Will Blackburn (Injured)
Penticton Vees:
Gabriel Guilbault
Ethan Mann
Energy Player of the Game:
David Brandes
Three Star's:
1st Star: Bradley Nadeau (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Billy Norcross (2 goals)
3rd Star: Josh Nadeau (1 assist)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions in the comment box below. Please be respectful when leaving comments.
10 comments:
This was the Vipers franchise 600th loss
Over-all Record GP 1563 / W 934 / L 600 / T 29
As far as the games goes, I listening to my mom's advice of " If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all". So, I'm not saying anything, this time anyway.
The Glens may have a locked in contract with Jason , so buy it out before you have no fans in the stands. Maybe the glens ego is in the way and they do not wish to admit they where wrong in hiring Jason but in the end its the old statement in sports, get rid of the players who are no good for the team or the coaches. Your call GLENS. They fans are getting tired and soon you will not have to worry when all you see as a fan base is 500 or so every night.
Average attendance to the games have been on a steady decline since a peak in 2004, it stayed relatively even at about 1600 from 2013 to 2016, increased to another peak in 2017 at about 2100, then dipped to the current approximate attendance of about 1500 the last two years.
Junior A hockey is all about the recruitment of players. And that involves having a lot of contacts around Canada and the US who recommend players. The speed that the game is played at has gotten faster and faster in the past few years and Vernon has gotten the players that other teams have passed on because many of them just aren't fast enough. In all the games I've seen this season, Vernon has been far slower than SA, PG, WK, and Pen. So our guys are slower.
But it's more than just slower. All the opposition teams I've seen this season are better coached just because their forecheck is at least organized. And in puck battles along the boards, other teams' players are able to tie up a Viper player or tie up his stick and get better position on the puck. It's a subtle skill that Viper players don't have much of, likely because they aren't coached in it.
So my verdict is guilty on both counts over the past few seasons. Failure to recruit and failure to develop skill.
🧔🤡🧔 the guy in the middle has to go!
The viper fans need to chant for one whole period, the third period that WE NEED A COACH, WE NEED A COACH. Maybe just maybe it will get thru to that thick headed glen that as fans we are not happy with how this coach Jason has performed as a learning instructor. Just look at he stats for the last three years as they don't lie as it is what it is. As fans we are not being entertained as where all falling asleep waiting and wanting for something good to happen. After three years, come on Glen , for heaven sake are you that stupid in the head. Don't you see the writing on the wall. Your coach Jason is a no go.
Bob McInnes... you are 100% correct on both topics, very well said. Unfortunately little will change or improve until the owner, Tom Glen, recognizes this truth and hires a responsible hockey person. It is not good enough for his brother to travel around scouting. Being a hockey fan is not the same as being a competent scout and recruiter. All the effort will fall short until proper player analysis is done and that is clearly a skill Vernon lacks. It takes a capable/qualified hockey mind to recruit the best talent.
The current on ice product is hard to watch. Yes, there is effort but rarely you see a 5 man unit working in unison. Vernon plays a helter skelter style, relying far to much on their goalies with too many players trying to do it all themselves. Again, nothing will change until the coaching catches up with the modern game.
I have said it since Johnny boy took over the team "stop going to the games if you really want to support the boys". John is here to make money, bottom line. Nothing will change as long as the Glenns own the Vipers. Stop going and hopefully he will sell the team. There are plenty of buyers for the Vipers who would buy it for the love of the game and team. While you are at it never buy a Subaru in Vernon!!! Send him back to Alberta with his tail between his legs.
Let’s look for positive suggestions in addition to legitimate complaints. For example, the Vipers have not performed well in the face off circle. So, either they need to bring in Jerred Smithson to work with the centres or they need to find wingers who are proficient at taking draws. (Jerred was one of the NHL’s premier faceoff artists and he has really helped previous Vipers improve that part of their game. This is a critical skill because it’s much easier to have success when a team starts play with the puck.
Some commentators on this forum have commented on the Viper forecheck, but I don’t see any positive suggestions for improvement. Based on the current team makeup, what forecheck would you employ against a fast, skilled team like Penticton? Would you send two or even three forwards to flood the offensive zone or would you pull everyone back to clog up the neutral zone and try to create turnovers in the middle of the ice?
And in the case of losing puck battles along the boards in the corners, are the Vipers too passive? Do they take bad checking anglers? Do they fail to take advantage of the size on this year’s squad? What do you suggest?
If the Vipers simply don’t compete hard enough, or if they’re too inconsistent, that may be on the coaches. But it might be a matter of the team lacking a culture where they don’t play hard enough for each other. In other words, perhaps this is a symptom of a team culture that lacks that burning desire to win. In junior hockey, a lot of that desire has to be demonstrated by the veterans, the 20-year olds in particular. The team has brought in some 20-year olds recently. Maybe we need to give them some time to show the younger players, especially the prep school players, what good old fashioned Canadian heart and soul hockey looks like and feels like.
Perhaps as a suggestion the team needs to have a players only meeting amongst themselves and discuss there strengths and how they can improve as a group. Also the players should discuss there thoughts on whether or not they feel this coach Jason is helping them improve and if not they should go as a group and gave a private conversation with the glens about there thoughts without the pressure of the coach in the room. Maybe something good can happen.
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