Vernon 2 Victoria 1 Shootout

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-Grizzlies game as Vernon defeated Victoria 2-1 in a shootout in front of 1,452 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Ethan David

Victoria Grizzlies: Ansel Holt

1st Period: The Vipers won the draw and had an early shift and pressure in the offensive zone before giving up a breakaway to Olivier Picard who would be denied by Ethan David. Picard stayed with the play and puck setup Owen Bohn who spotted Jack Gorton, giving Victoria an early 1-0 lead at 1:44 Owen Bohn & Olivier Picard collected the assists. Close to two minutes later the Vipers would get the games first power play. The Snakes would get two quality chances. One shot looked to beat Ansel Holt five hole as the puck come out the other end and through the crease. Towards the end of the man advantage, Vernon couldn't tie the game on a scramble at the top of the blue paint as Ansel Holt had to be sharp to smother the puck, as the Grizzlies killed off the minor. Just before the midway mark, former Vernon Viper Noah Leibl would be denied by Ethan David. Just past the halfway mark, Ansel Holt was handcuffed on a shot, had trouble but managed to stand tall and somehow hold on to the puck on a shot from the circle. With about three minutes remaining, Nathan King's point shot would be stopped by Ethan David who flashed the leather with a glove save. Not long after on a dump in play from just past centre ice, Ansel Holt made the save but the puck squeezed through his pads, coming out the other end, lying in the crease before a Grizzlies defender swooped the puck away with no Viper forwards near the net as Holt and Victoria gets some puck luck and holds the one goal lead. It was 1-0 Victoria after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Snakes had an edge in play, had more puck possession but had troubles creating/generating offence. Vernon struggled offensively, were mainly getting shots on goal and no real scoring plays. The Vipers had two chances on the PP but mostly just had more possession and zone time with the puck. The Grizzlies opened the scoring early into the hockey game but didn't really do much of anything. Victoria had a couple of scoring chances but didn't have a lot of puck possession. Scoring chances were far and few between on both sides. Vernon outshot Victoria 10-7.

2nd Period: Inside the opening shift, Vernon Vipers starting netminder Ethan David either lost an edge or just fell outside of his crease, but thankfully the Vipers were in control of the puck and it didn't cost them a goal. Ethan Merner took a big check in front of the Victoria Grizzlies bench, Merner looked to be in some discomfort went to the bench to get looked at by the trainer. Merner seemed to shake it off and stayed in the contest. Just before the midway mark, Vernon would get its second power play of the evening. The Snakes struggled with the man advantage as the visiting Victoria Grizzlies killed off the penalty. About a minute and a half later, the Grizzlies would get their first look with the man advantage. The Grizz with lots of pressure, would generate some opportunities. Early into the PP the Grizzlies tried to convert on a wrap around, before looked like they took a 2-0 lead but somehow Ethan David managed to sprawl across the crease to make a right pad save. From my view it looked like the puck was going in on a highlight reel save. Towards the end of the power play, Jack Gorton couldn't solve Ethan David on a scramble in front. The Grizzlies with a strong PP unable to convert with the man advantage. This power play seemed to change the momentum and flow of the game as Victoria turned the tables, and took full control of the hockey game for the remainder of the period. It was 1-0 Victoria after 40 minutes of play. I thought the play was fairly even for the first seven to eight minutes until the Grizzlies turned the tables and changed the momentum in the second half. It was all Victoria in the second half of the 2nd period. The Grizz with loads of pressure, zone time and puck possession had the Vipers back on their heels. Vernon struggled defensively and in their own end. The Snakes had troubles clearing the zone, getting through the neutral zone and containing the visitors. The Grizzlies won most of the faceoffs and puck battles. The Snakes went at least five or so minutes without a shot on goal. The Vipers were simply outworked towards the end of the period. Ethan David was the difference, keeping Vernon in the hockey game. Victoria outshot Vernon 16-6.

3rd Period: Off the opening shift, former Vernon Viper Noah Leibl couldn't solve Ethan David on a three on two attack. David with a large save, keeping this a 1-0 game inside the opening minute. Less then a minute later, Owen Bohn with an odd man rush, kept and fired beating Ethan Divid but not the far post. The Snakes looking very sloppy early to start the period. Victoria with at least three or four odd man rushes in the first four or five minutes. Minutes past the halfway mark, Vernon would get the only PP of the 3rd period. The Vipers with a couple of scrambles in and around the crease had troubles generating offence as the Grizz killed off the minor. The Snakes would get Ethan David to the bench for the extra skater with just over two minutes remaining. Hank Cleaves spotted Ethan Merner who setup Max Borovinskiy who ripped a shot past Victoria Grizzlies starting goaltender Ansel Holt, tying the game 1-1 at 18:44 as Viper fans erupted out of their seats. Hank Cleaves and Ethan Merner picked up the helpers. It was 1-1 after 60 minutes of play. The Grizzlies jumped on the hometown Vipers off the opening faceoff and created several odd man rushes early. Victoria playing with a lot of jump and energy early was looking to put the Snakes away. The Grizz block a lot of shots and did a good job at keeping Vernon's shooters to the outside. The Vipers struggled defensively early and often to start the 3rd period. The Grizz with some good looks/opportunities couldn't grab a two goal lead. Vernon struggled offensively most of the hockey game and the 3rd period was no different. The Vipers with no puck luck, didn't catch a break or bounce had a few looks but not a ton of pressure. I thought Victoria was the better team and deserve the win in regulation. Victoria outshot Vernon 9-8.

Overtime: Lee Parks had the best opportunity about two minutes into the extra frame. Parks created and started the whole play, weaved his way in and out before getting around the Victoria defender, deked out Ansel Holt but somehow missed the goal on what looked to be a highlight reel overtime winner. The Vipers with a two on one with about 1:45 remaining but Tim Busconi with a diving play, come up with a solid defensive play, breaking up the odd man rush and taking away a Vernon scoring chance. Inside the final minute, the Vipers setup Anthony Cliche on an odd man rush but would be stoned by Ansel Holt who robbed Cliche with a huge left pad save. Somehow, they didn't count this as a shot for the Vipers. Back come the Grizzlies with about ten seconds left, Owen Bohn would be stopped by Ethan David with his biggest save in overtime. It was 1-1 after 65 minutes of play. A very exciting and entertaining overtime. Both teams with chances/opportunities. Both teams went back and forth. Vernon had at least two shots on goal but was recorded as having no shots on goal. Victoria outshot Vernon 4-0.

Shootout:

Vernon Vipers Shootout Shooters:

Ludovik Tardif

Lee Parks

Max Borovinskiy

Luke Pakulak (scored)

Victoria Grizzlies Shootout Shooters:

Jack Gorton

Owen Bohn

Olivier Picard

Anthony Carone 

- Attention Vernon Vipers- Thank you for adjusting & lowering the sound system, music and PA announcer tonight. The music was much lower in volume and so was the PA announcer. You could actually talk to the person sitting next to you and hold a conversation. 

Vernon Vipers Top Player's:

Kurt Gurkan I thought played with some energy and looked good up front for the Snakes.

Hank Cleaves played fairly well through out the victory

Lee Parks Playing in just his second game as a Viper, is probably the most complete Viper. This kid has some skill, can see and read the ice very well, always seems to have the puck on his stick and makes plays happen every shift. I really like this kid. 

Ethan David (35 saves) Was by far Vernon's best player this evening. David kept his team in the hockey game and gave his team a chance to win. Made several big stops through out the contest. Was the busier of the two goaltenders and was forced to make the more difficult saves out of the two netminders. 

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- I thought the Vipers played well in the 1st period and early into the first half of the 2nd period, struggled and outplayed in the second half of the 2nd period and most of the 3rd period. 

- This wasn't the same Viper team I saw beat Salmon Arm Friday night

- Vernon didn't have the same jump or energy they played with last night vs Salmon Arm

- A smaller crowd compared to Friday's game vs Salmon Arm. Tonight's attendance announced at 1,452

- After scoring six goals Friday, the Snakes struggled offensively tonight

- The Viper defence struggled, had troubles clearing the zone, breaking out of their own end, making a pass, defending.

- The Vipers were wearing their navy blue road jerseys tonight

- The Snakes were lucky to come away with the win

- The Vipers play four of their next six games at home

- The Vipers have four players out with injuries

- Heading into some tough opponents next weekend, tonight was a must win vs a Victoria team with only one win on the season

- These two teams won't play again this season

- The officials called a very good game and let both teams play hockey

- Give Vernon full credit for battling through the tough going and not giving up. This wasn't the prettiest game but a wins a win

- Vernon went 0-3 with the man advantage, Victoria went 0-1 with the power play

- The Vipers didn't get any puck luck or bounces go their way

- Ethan David was by far the difference in tonight's game. If it wasn't for David the Grizzlies could have easily put this game away in the 2nd period.

- No offence to Luke Ashton but the poor kid turns over the puck almost every shift and is more of a liability on the ice

- With the win Vernon improves to 3-3-0-0 and sits 6th in the Interior Division

- The Vipers started the season 0-3 have won three straight

- The Vipers next game is Friday and Saturday at home vs Prince George & Penticton

Top Player's: Victoria Grizzlies

Eli Barnett is a big bodied defenceman that played well at both ends of the rink

Owen Bohn (1 assist) Was one of the more skilled Grizzlies forwards. Had some looks/opportunities, rang a shot off the far post inside the opening minute of the 3rd period, was denied in the shootout.

Jack Gorton (1 goal) I thought played well for Victoria

Justin Gibson Was another defender that played well on the Victoria blueline

Ansel Holt (22 saves) Wasn't tested often, was one save away from recording the win/shutout. Had some difficulties with a couple of Vernon's shots but otherwise played well between the pipes. Didn't see a whole lot of quality scoring chances as most of the Viper shots were from outside.

Game Thought's: Victoria Grizzlies

- The Grizzlies were wearing their home white jerseys 

- Tonight was Victoria's first visit to Kal Tire Place since a 5-1 victory in Vernon September 20th 2019

- The Grizzlies are a much better team then their record shows

- The Grizz have a big team

- Grizzlies Head Coach/GM Rylan Ferster played with the 1989-90 Vernon Lakers

- Noah Leibl played with the 2019-20 Vernon Vipers

- The Grizzlies opened the scoring, didn't get going until the midway mark of the 2nd period and were the better of the two teams for the remainder of the 2nd and 3rd periods

- The Grizzlies had several high end quality chances, had the better of the scoring opportunities

- Victoria blocked a lot of shots and kept the Viper shooters to the outside 

- Tonight's the second and final game of a two game road trip

- For a team with only one win on the season, the Grizzlies played a very good road game

- Victoria plays three of their next four games on the road

- The Grizzlies could have easily put this game away, allowed Vernon to hang around, to force overtime 

- The Grizzlies played a very sound defensive game

- With the shootout loss, Victoria falls to 1-3-0-2 sit 7th in the Coastal Division

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Julian Facchinelli (Injured)

Griffen Barr (Injured)

Revy Mack (Injured)

Will Blackburn (Injured)

Victoria Grizzlies:

Michael Adamek

Reegan Hiscock

Jacksenn Hungle

Energy Player of the Game:

Luke Ashton 

Three Star's:

1st Star: Ethan David (35 saves)

2nd Star: Luke Pakulak (1 goal)

3rd Star: Jack Gorton (1 goal)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Victoria Grizzlies @ Vernon Vipers Saturday, October 08, 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)

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Here are some photo's I took before and during tonight's Vipers-Grizzlies game.