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 2.2 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-Rivermen game as Vernon defeated Langley 4-0 in front of 1,790 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke
Langley Rivermen: Ajeet Gundarah
1st Period: Twenty five seconds into the hockey game, the visiting Langley Rivermen jumped on an early power play. Early into the man advantage, Roan Clarke was forced to make a large save off Dominick Rivelli in front. The Rivermen would only manage one shot on goal as the Snakes kill off the minor. About five minutes later, Anson McMaster sprawled out to make a strong defensive play, breaking up a Rivermen two on one attack. Two minutes later, newly acquired Ethan Sundar with a quick snap shot from inside the dot, beat Ajeet Gundarah but clipped the corner of the crossbar/post as the Vipers come very close to opening the scoring. Just past the halfway mark, Connor Elliot's point should would be redirected in front but Ajeet Gundarah stayed with the play, managed to track the shot/puck and make a difficult save at the side of the goal. With about four and a half minutes remaining, a shot from well out, looked to handcuff Roan Clarke, who couldn't get all of the shot as the puck rolled behind the Viper netminder before smothering the puck and stopping the play as the Rivermen come very close to opening the scoring. On the following play/shift, the Vipers sprung Ethan Sundar who used his wheels, to beat the defender before being denied by Ajeet Gundarah on a breakaway. On the following play Vernon would get a late power play. The Snakes struggled with the man advantage as Langley killed off the penalty. It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. I thought both teams were even at times but the Vipers had a bit of a slight edge in play. Vernon generated a few more opportunities. Both goaltenders played well. Vernon outshot Langley 12-8.
2nd Period: The hometown Vipers had the early jump and early edge in play before Griffen Barr's shot from the blueline would be redirected on it's way in front by former Moose Jaw Warriors forward Thomas Tien. Vernon with an early 1-0 lead at 5:24 Griffen Barr & Isaac Tremblay drew the helpers. Vernon kept coming and come in waves for the next few minutes were skating/buzzing, generated several opportunities. Ayden Third couldn't convert on a nice three way passing play minutes before the midway mark. Shortly after Connor Elliott's point shot beat Langley Rivermen's starting goaltender Ajeet Gundarah, giving Vernon a 2-0 lead at 10:25 Ethan Sundar and Thomas Tien collected the assists. Towards the end of the period, Luke Pakulak with a nice shift setup Reagan Milburn, giving Vernon some insurance and a 3-0 lead at 16:22 Luke Pakulak & Lee Parks with the assists. Inside the final minute of play, Lee Parks with some speed and soft hands, almost deked out Ajeet Gundarah who made a large save with twenty one seconds remaining in the middle frame, keeping this a three goal game. It was 3-0 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. It was all Snakes as Vernon was the better team. The Vipers carried and controlled most of the period. I thought the Vipers looked real good early and in the first half but the play slowed up in the second half with the Snakes still having a lot of puck possession but didn't get as many opportunities. The Rivermen didn't have a great period, saw a lot of time in their own end, were outplayed for most of the period. Vernon outshot Langley 15-5.
3rd Period: The Rivermen with a good start, had some jump and early zone time. Colton Eisner with a quality chance in the slot two minutes into the final frame, would be denied by Vernon Vipers starting netminder Roan Clarke. Langley with early pressure before Vernon weathered the storm. The Vipers would get a PP just before the halfway mark. The Snakes didn't generate much as Langley killed off the minor. Just as the penalty expired, Thomas Tien with a burst of speed, ripped a quick shot down the left wing beat Ajeet Gundarah but not the crossbar. Shortly after the Rivermen would get their only PP of the 3rd and send Ajeet Gundarah to the bench for the extra attacker. Luke Pakulak and Reagan Milburn both hit the post on lengthy shots from their own end, couldn't hit the open cage as Vernon killed off the minor. Tempers started to heat up as the period carried on as frustration started to creep into the Rivermen's game. Vernon would get a lengthy two man advantage. Isaac Tremblay with two quality looks in front, couldn't capitalize with the man advantage as Langley killed off the first minor before Luke Pakulak setup Lee Parks who scored a highlight goal, giving Vernon some extra insurance and a 4-0 lead at 15:55 Luke Pakulak drew the only assist. The play become chippy and really slowed down the end of the hockey game with the game out of reach. Vernon would come away with the 4-0 victory. The Rivermen with a good start, had some jump and some looks/opportunities but the Snakes managed to weather the storm before the game turned chippy with several penalties and trips to the penalty box. A very long and fairly boring period with not a whole lot of action. The Vipers were the better team. Vernon outshot Langley 11-5.
Vernon Vipers Top Player's:
Thomas Tien (1 goal & 1 assist) Played very well, had a ton of jump/energy in his game, was buzzing/creating open ice and opportunities through out the contest. Had a strong night with two points.
Ethan Sundar (1 assist) Playing in just his second game with the Vipers after recently coming over in a trade last week with the Cranbrook Bucks, Sundar didn't look out of place this weekend and played very well. Has some wheels, creates open ice and generates plays as well as brings some grit to the Vernon lineup.
Connor Elliott (1 goal) Has been a nice addition to the Vipers blueline. The local kid had to switch jerseys and was wearing #15 with no name bar for the 2nd and 3rd periods, played very well on the backend.
Lee Parks (1 goal) I thought had some jump/chemistry and was generating some opportunities.
Luke Pakulak (2 assists) Played very well this weekend. I have said this many times, when Pakulak plays well he seems to carry the team on his back. I really like this kid. Played a hard/strong game this evening.
Roan Clarke (18 saves-shutout) Wasn't tested often but did have to make at least three or four big stops tonight, to get the shutout. The Vipers goaltending duo of Clarke and Ethan David have been awesome not only last season but again this year. Where would the Vipers be without these two?
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers snapped their three game losing streak
- A much smaller crowd tonight. Tonight's attendance was 1,790
- Vernon was the better team and deserved the win
- The Snakes went 1-4 with the man advantage
- The Vipers have won four of their last five home games
- I thought the Vipers played well for most of the hockey game. Yes they still made some mistakes and turned over pucks etc but played well and a more complete game tonight
- The Vipers are 2-0 vs Langley this year
- The Snakes next game is Friday in West Kelowna
- With the card deadline coming this coming week, it will be interesting to see what the Vipers do
- Vernon's power play struggled and wasn't very good. Lee Parks scored the lone PP goal but the man advantage needs some work
- One thing that caught my attention tonight was Jason McKee. I noticed through out the game McKee was constantly pulling out the white board and going over plays with the players through out the hockey game, something I haven't seen the coach do before
- The Snakes are 5-2 vs teams from the Coast Division
- For just the fourth time this season, the Vipers outshoot the other team
- Let's not get too carried away as the Vipers may have played well and got the win, but Langley is last in the Coast Division and only a single point ahead of last place Merritt in the league standings
- Tonight's game wasn't very exciting and no where near as entertaining as Friday's game vs Cranbrook
- Tonight was the Vipers second and final game of a two game home stand
- The Vipers have lost three of their last five games and lost seven of their last ten games
- With the win Vernon improves to 9-10-0-3 sit 6th in the Interior Division
Top Player's: Langley Rivermen
Dominick Rivelli was one of the lone bright spots for the Rivermen. I thought was the lone forward who stood out
Game Thought's: Langley Rivermen
- Tonight was Langley's first regular season game in Vernon since a 3-1 victory on November 23rd 2019
- Tonight's the second game of a five game road trip
- The Rivermen played well and held their own in the 1st period but looked lost and not very good in the 2nd and 3rd periods
- The Rivermen with six players out of the lineup tonight
- Langley went 0-3 with the power play
- The Rivermen have lost three of their last six road games
- The Rivermen struggled offensively all night, couldn't seem to get much of anything going
- Langley lost 3-2 to Vernon in Chilliwack at the BCHL Showcase October 20th
- Tyler Chan returned to Vernon to play his former team for the first time. Chan played last season with the Vipers before being traded to Langley
- Your not going to win many games with only ten shots in the final two periods
- With the loss Langley falls to 6-14-0-2 sit 9th in the Coast Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Dane Weston
Kurt Gurkan
Anthony Cliche (Injured)
Langley Rivermen:
Ryan Tong
Kyle Kim
John Small
Andrej Kovacevic
Joseph Messina
Manjot Panghli
Energy Player of the Game:
Luke Pakulak (2 assists)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Thomas Tien (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Roan Clarke (18 saves-shutout)
3rd Star: Lee Parks (1 goal & 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.
Here are some photo's I took before and during tonight's Vipers-Rivermen game.
