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-Centennials game as Vernon defeated Merritt 2-1 in overtime in front of 1,850 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Ethan David
Merritt Centennials: John Hicks
2nd Period: Lee Parks would get a quality chance just minutes into the middle frame. Five minutes in, Jaxson Murray with a good look/opportunity couldn't beat Vernon Vipers starting netminder Ethan David. Just over two minutes later, Ryan Spinale with a look/chance in close was denied by Ethan David. Shortly after the Vipers would get the games first power play. Hank Cleaves with a good look/quality chance would be stopped by John Hicks. Cleaves had the Snakes lone opportunity as Vernon struggled with the man advantage. The visiting Merritt Centennials killed off the minor. Just over three minutes later Luke Pakulak with a big hit in front of the Centennials goaltender, before several players jumped in. A mini scrum occurred as everyone on the ice was involved in the scrum in and around the Merritt goal. The scrum was broken up and Pakulak was the lone player, making his way to the penalty bix, giving the Cents their first PP of the evening. Merritt moved the puck around before setting up Jaxson Murray's one timer from the high slot, giving Merritt a 1-0 lead at 13:44 Jackson Krill with the lone assist. Vernon responded with a push back shift as the Vipers made one too many passes before Hank Cleaves would be stopped in close by Merritt Centennials starting goaltender John Hicks. Minutes later the Vipers would head back to the man advantage. Will Blackburn looked to redirect a point shot that would be stopped by John Hicks on the only real good chance as the Vipers struggled with the PP as the Centennials killed off the penalty. It was 1-0 Merritt after 40 minutes of play. The Centennials with a much better period, as both teams were more evenly matched. Both teams had some looks/opportunities. Both goaltenders played well and made some big stops. The Snakes allowed the Centennials to hang around and it cost them as Merritt was able to open the scoring after capitalizing with the man advantage. Vernon outshot Merritt 10-8.
3rd Period: Early into the period, Kurt Gurkan's shot from well out, forced John Hicks into making a big stop to start the 3rd period. Shortly after Thomas Tien's shot from the corner went in and off Aleksey Chichkin and into the Centennials net, tying the game 1-1 at 4:05 Connor Elliott with the lone helper. Tien and the Snakes catch a huge break with a lucky bounce to tie the hockey game. With about 1:50 remaining the Cents through a pass through the front of the crease but the Merritt forward couldn't connect on the pass on a missed opportunity late in the hockey game. It was 1-1 after 60 minutes of play. If it wasn't for a lucky bounce, the Centennials would have come away with the 1-0 victory, instead were heading to overtime. Both teams were even with very few to little scoring chances in a period that saw both teams go back and forth but with no opportunities or shots on goal. Both teams went several minutes without a shot on goal. For the longest time Vernon was stuck on thirty three shots. It seemed like anytime either team got into the offensive zone, they would make a mistake, turn over the puck or not hit the net. Merritt outshot Vernon 9-8.
Overtime: The Snakes won the draw before getting setup in the offensive zone before former West Kelowna Warriors forward Damon Jugnauth took a hooking penalty fifteen seconds into the extra frame. Off the faceoff, Connor Elliott setup Lee Parks who one timed a shot from the circle off the crossbar, before getting the puck back getting a chance at the side of the goal. Not long after, Hank Cleaves would be stopped in front before Luke Pakulak buried the rebound into the open cage, giving the hometown Vipers a 2-1 overtime victory as the Viper bench poured onto the ice. Pakulak's goal come at 1:51 with Hank Cleaves & Anson McMaster collecting the assists. Vernon outshot Merritt 3-0.
Vernon Vipers Top Player's:
Thomas Tien (1 goal) Was one of Vernon's more consistent forwards who played with a ton of jump/energy. Tien was buzzing all over Kal Tire Place, created a lot of open ice.
Ethan Merner I thought played very well, saw a lot of ice time.
Connor Elliott (1 assist) I thought finished his checks and played well at both ends of the rink. The Vipers are Elliott's forth team (Penticton, Cowichan, Prince George & Vernon)
Hank Cleaves (1 assist) Is really coming on and playing his best hockey of the season. Has looked/played very well the past few weeks and had another strong game tonight. Had some looks/opportunities.
Lee Parks I thought was the Snakes best forward in the win. Parks had several good looks/quality chances through out the game, was in the right place at the right time, just couldn't find the back of the net. Hit the crossbar in overtime.
Luke Pakulak (overtime winner) Played physical and big was finishing his checks, played a strong game vs the Centennials.
Ethan David (22 saves) Wasn't as busy as John Hicks but had to be sharp at times and was forced to make a few big stops. David has really played very well this season and kept the Vipers in a lot of games.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers had a ton of quality chances through out the game and the most opportunities I have seen them get in one game this season
- The Snakes were the better team overall
- Vernon outplayed and controlled the 1st period, had a ton of chances could have easily scored three or four goals but couldn't capitalize on their opportunities
- The Vipers have struggled scoring goals this season and it showed tonight. Vernon just doesn't have the goal scorers or elite players some of the other teams in the league have
- The Vipers have lost three of their last five games and have five wins in their last twelve games
- The Vipers still made mistakes but not nearly as many as in previous games
- A big crowd on hand tonight. Tonight's attendance was 1,850
- Vernon allowed Merritt to hang around and stay in the hockey game and it almost cost them as the Snakes could have easily lost tonight
- Tonight is only the fourth time this season, Vernon has outshot the other team
- If you talk to a lot of Viper fans, most are shocked a coaching change hasn't been made
- The Vipers have been playing a little better in three or four of their past seven games but at the end of the day they still have five wins in their last twelve games and need more consistency and wins
- The Vipers are the lowest scoring team in the league with forty-two goals
- The Vipers looked very good in the 1st period but then not so good at times in the 2nd and 3rd periods. This team still can't play sixty minutes
- You have to be able to beat teams below you in the standings but tonight proves a point on just how average of a team the Vipers have when they need to tie the game on a lucky bounce in the 3rd period and need to win in overtime over one of the bottom teams in the league
- With the win, the Vipers snap their two game losing streak
- The Snakes are 1-1 vs Merritt this season
- The Vipers hit the road next weekend for a two game road trip in Surrey & Coquitlam
- The Vipers went 5-0 vs Merritt last season
- The Vipers may have won and been the better team but need overtime to beat one of the bottom teams in the league? Come on!
- Vernon played hard, worked hard and had lots of opportunities to put this game away, can't score
- With the win, Vernon improves to 8-8-0-2 sit 6th in the Interior Division
Merritt Centennials Top Player's:
Jaxson Murray (1 goal) Opened the scoring on the power play, was the Cents best forward. Murray had some looks/chances was one of the lone bright spots for the Centennials
John Hicks (35 saves) Was the difference in tonight's game. Hicks kept Merritt in the contest and gave his team a chance to win. Hicks made 16 saves in the opening frame or Vernon could have easily been up by three or four goals after one period. A very small goaltender that had troubles with the puck and rebound control but made some big stops through out the game
Game Thought's: Merritt Centennials
- The Centennials aren't very good but yet managed to carry a 1-0 lead into the 3rd period and force overtime
- The Centennials have a small team that isn't very quick and has troubles generating offence
- Merritt struggled defensively, were turning over pucks, couldn't break out of their own end, gave up a ton of chances and shots
- The few bigger bodied players the Cents do have, are very slow and akward
- The Vipers may have outplayed and dominated the 1st period but both teams were fairly even in the 2nd and 3rd periods
- Longtime and former BCJHL referee Dave McClellan won tonight's 50/50 over over $1000
- Tonight's officials were four females
- The Centennials beat Vernon 4-2 in Merritt October 30th
- Give the Cents a little credit for hanging around and forcing overtime
- The Cents last regular season win in Vernon was a 3-2 overtime victory January 5th 2019
- The Centennials went 1-1 with the man advantage, while Vernon went 1-3 on the power play
- Merritt struggled offensively to generate a lot of time in the offensive zone
- Even though the Vipers were the better team, I think the Centennials go home unhappy knowing they had a chance to win tonight
- Tonight was Merritt's third game in three days
- John Hicks (35 saves) Was the difference as Merritt's young goaltender kept the Cents in tonight's game
- The Centennials have one win in their last five games and have three wins in their last fourteen games
- These two teams will meet again December 30th in Vernon
- With the loss, Merritt falls to 5-10-3-0 sit 8th in the Interior Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Griffen Barr (Injured)
Dylan Compton (Injured)
Reagan Milburn
Anthony Cliche
Merritt Centennials:
Chase Cooke
Walker Erickson
Davide Patella
Energy Player of the Game:
Connor Elliott (1 assist)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Luke Pakulak (overtime winner)
2nd Star: John Hicks (35 saves)
3rd Star: Thomas Tien (1 goal)
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.
9 comments:
I am beginning to think perhaps the contract that jason has with the owners has the owners hands tied and that is why a change has not been made. Perhaps I am wrong but it makes you wonder as will never see that conract the way it was written
Was really neat that we had an all female officiating team do the game, good job ladies!
Did anybody even go to the game?
@crazytrain
Ya over 1800 people were there. Where are all the seasons ticket holders who aren't going? Lol!
Where are all the fans who are frustrated and staying home?
Face it, when they are getting that many fans still for home games, there's no reason to make changes. Yes, the diehard fans aren't impressed with the team, but the fair weather fans don't care as long as they win a few here and there which they did. It was an entertaining game that went to overtime.
All but the bottom team makes the playoffs, so there's always hope. Nobody is beating Penticton this year, so might as well make the best of it.
It's funny you mention that because we were talking about how the crowds have been pretty good this year even with the team struggling. I was the one that said I bet half of these people here tonight, don't even know the Vipers record or follow the team day to day like we do as it's probably just a night out for them and more of a social thing.
I have a friend who lives in Kelowna and is a Warriors fan. He doesn't follow the Vipers like I do but does keep up with the standings and reads my blog. He watched Vernon play twice in West Kelowna last week and drove up to Vernon last night to watch the Vipers and said to me he has only seen the Vipers play three times this year but doesn't understand why the fans are so upset and want a new coach. He said in the three games he has seen Vernon play he was impressed and think they played very well and have a good team.
If you can't pass, turn the puck over a minimum 20 times a game, have terrible PP and can only beat teams below you, I guess the Vipers are a good team.
Does your friend have a seeing eye dog...lol! Did you clue him in. Are you changing your tune Diehard,if so I won't bother to follow anymore!!
You do realize that more than half of those tickets are comps right? Advertisers get them as part of their advertising package. I get free tickets all the time and they go straight into the shredder.
Nah, you're that guy out front scalping those tickets, aren't you?
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