West Kelowna 4 Vernon 3 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 2.2 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-Warriors game as West Kelowna defeated Vernon 4-3 in a shootout in front of 1,381 (sellout) at Royal Le Page Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Ethan David

West Kelowna Warriors: Justin Katz

1st Period: Inside the opening minute, Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero ripped a high shot from about the circle that forced Ethan David into flashing the leather on an early glove save. On the following shift, the Vipers sprung Julian Facchinelli who beat his defender, cut hard to the goal but couldn't get a shot off in close on a quality chance early into the hockey game. About four minutes into the period, Lee Parks and Seiya Tanaka-Campbell on an odd man rush. Parks shot was blocked on a missed opportunity. On the same play, West Kelowna would get the game's first power play. The Warriors had a couple of looks but no real quality chances as Vernon with a good PK killed off the minor. Shortly after Hank Cleaves on a partial breakaway would be denied by Justin Katz before the Warriors would head back to the PP. The Tribe didn't generate much with the man advantage as the Snakes killed off the penalty. Ten seconds later, the Vipers would get their first man advantage. Seiya Tanaka-Campbell opened the scoring, giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 11:02 Luke Pakulak and Hank Cleaves with the helpers. 1:20 later Brennan Nelson broke down the left wing and snapped a low shot along the ice, beating Ethan David tying the hockey game 1-1 at 12:22 Riley Sharun and Christopher Duclair picked up the assists. With about three and a half minutes remaining, Seiya Tanaka-Campbell with a shot from the circle, would be denied by Justin Katz. Inside the final minute, Ayden Third took a high stick and went to the Viper dressing room immediately, sending Vernon to a late PP. With seven seconds left in the opening frame, Justin Katz stopped Lee Parks before Reagan Milburn burried the rebound, giving Vernon a 2-1 lead at 19:53 Lee Parks with the lone assist. It was 2-1 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. This period was back and forth with both teams fairly evenly matched. I thought the Snakes had more quality opportunities. Both goaltenders played well. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 15-11.

2nd Period: Off the opening faceoff, Noah Laframboise with a quick shot from the blueline, somehow got through traffic, forcing Vernon Vipers starting netminder Ethan David to make a difficult save with bodies in front. The Vipers responded with a good push back shift. On the following shift, Reagan Milburn and newly acquired Thomas Tien lead an odd man rush. Milburn decided to keep and shoot, forcing West Kelowna Warriors starting goaltender Justin Katz into making a big stop inside the opening minute of play. Less then a minute later, Matt Fusco's shot would be stopped by Ethan David before Ben MacDonald burried the rebound, tying the contest 2-2 at 1:51 Matt Fusco with the lone helper. Just over three minutes later, the Snakes would get an early PP. Vernon struggled with the man advantage as WK killed off the minor. Three minutes later, the Tribe would jump on the man advantage. The power player was short lived as the Warriors took a penalty, sending both teams to four on four. While four on four WK skated circles around Vernon getting a handful of quality looks/chances from in close, but Ethan David was stellar, making several big stops keeping his team in the hockey game. Towards the end of the 2nd period, the Warriors would get a late PP. The Tribe with several looks, but none better then Jake Bernadet's shot from the circle. West Kelowna with several quality chances, couldn't solve Vernon's goaltender. The Snakes with solid goaltending, killed off the penalty. Just over a minute and a half later, West Kelowna went back to work with a second straight power play. The Tribe with a ton of puck possession, again couldn't solve Ethan David. Late in the power play, Felix Caron had Ethan David beat but not the post as Vernon escapes and catches a break, kills off the minor. It was 2-2 after 40 minutes of play. The hometown West Kelowna Warriors were the better team and dominated the play. It was all Warriors as they outshot, outplayed and outchanced Vernon the entire period. The Tribe had a ton of very good opportunities, were skating circles around the Viper defenders. The Snakes saw a lot of play in their own end, had only one shot in the final eleven minutes. Vernon was having all kinds of trouble getting out of their own end and clearing the zone, turning over the puck over and over again. Ethan David was solid between the pipes for the Vipers. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 18-5.

3rd Period: Off a turnover deep in their own end, Jaiden Moriello beat Ethan David, giving West Kelowna a 3-2 lead their first lead of the night at 1:57 Moriello's goal was unassisted. Both teams had some very good looks early and often. Just before the midway mark before Hank Cleaves on a partial breakaway would be stopped, before Anson McMaster would be denied on the rebound and then the puck somehow got behind Justin Katz, looked to be going across the goal line before Katz somehow managed to sprawl on his back and swipe the puck from going across the goal line. The Vipers with three good chances couldn't tie the game. Shortly after the Snakes sprung Julian Facchinelli in for the breakaway, would be stopped by Justin Katz, coming up with the blocker save, keeping this a one goal game. Shortly after Christopher Duclair and Felix Caron with good looks/chances, were denied by Ethan David. Towards the end of the game, Reagan Milburn and Thomas Tien would be stopped in close before Hank Cleaves buried the rebound, tying the game 3-3 at 14:32 Reagan Milburn and Thomas Tien with the helpers. With about two minutes remaining, Ben MacDonald on a wrap around, couldn't solve Ethan David down low. Shortly after the Tribe would get a power play to finish the hockey game. The Warriors had a few looks, but a strong Viper penalty kill, would escape the period with the buzzer. It was 3-3 after 60 minutes of play. This was a very fast pace period with chances and plays going back and forth at both ends of the rink. Both teams were pretty fair at times, but the Vipers had an edge in play at times. Vernon had some several quality opportunities but Justin Katz was solid between the pipes. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 18-15.

Overtime: Neither team could get much of anything going but the Warriors did have most of the puck in the overtime. Hank Cleaves may have had a breakaway early into OT but instead of putting his head down and driving to the goal, lead up and waited for a team mate to join him, while the Tribe defenders were able to set and break up the play. With about two minutes left in the extra frame, a nice shot from well out was redirected by captain Aiden Reeves going to the goal, as Ethan David had to be alert making one of his biggest stops of the evening. It stayed 3-3 after 65 minutes of play. Shots were 2-2.

Shootout:

Vernon Vipers Shooters:

Max Borovinskiy

Thomas Tien

Luke Pakulak

West Kelowna Warriors Shooters:

Matthew Lee

Ben MacDonald (Scored)

Vernon Vipers Top Player's:

Seiya Tanaka-Campbell (1 goal) Opened the scoring for the Snakes on a 1st period power play, had a strong night with several opportunities. Played with a lot of jump/energy was buzzing all over the rink.

Reagan Milburn (1 goal & 1 assist) Was another Viper forward I thought played very well in the loss. Had some looks/opportunities, was going to the net, creating plays. Milburn has really stepped up his play as of late and playing his best hockey of the season.

Hank Cleaves (1 goal & 2 assists) Was Vernon's best forward. I have liked Cleaves since the season started and he's really starting to blossom into a very good hockey player. I have been very critical of the Vipers scouting/recruiting the past few seasons but Cleaves has been a good signing. Was all over the ice tonight, making plays happen. Had several quality chances.

Ethan David (43 saves) Was the Vipers best player. David was Vernon's best penalty killer and was solid between the pipes. David has really played well this season. With Roan Clarke off to school next season, David will likely be the #1 goaltender in Vernon next season unless he gets a scholarship. How good has the Vipers goaltending been this season? Could you imagine if the Vipers had average goaltending this year, how many less wins they would have? David and Clarke have kept the Snakes in most games and given this team a chance to win.

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- Tonight was almost a carbon copy of Friday's Vipers/Warriors game in West Kelowna

- Other then the 2nd period, I thought the Vipers played very well and held their own vs a very strong Warriors team

- The Vipers went 2-0 vs the Warriors during the preseason, are now 0-2 vs the Warriors during the regular season

- The Viper PK was very good and has been one of their few bright spots this season

- Give the Vipers credit for battling hard and holding their own at times in back to back games vs a very strong Warriors team

- The Vipers have had trouble this season getting pucks to the net and more then 10 shots in a period. Tonight Vernon with 15 and 18 shots on goal in the 1st and 3rd periods

- Vernon was outshot 47-40 tonight, has been outshot thirteen out of sixteen games this season

- The Vipers & Warriors will meet again December 2nd in West Kelowna

- I have said this before, the Vipers have been very inconsistent this year, struggle to play a full sixty minutes

- I spotted about eight-ten Vipers fans at tonight's game

- The Vipers have lost three of their last five games and six of their last ten games

- Vernon still makes way too many mistakes and costly mistakes and now sixteen games into the season and your still making those same mistakes? Where's the coaching?

- Former Vernon Vikings forward (1973-1975) and current Buffalo Sabres scout Marty Stein was at tonight's game

- The Warriors seem to bring out the best in the Vipers as both games this season vs West Kelowna, Vernon has played some of their best hockey of the season. Why can't the Snakes play like this on most night's?

- Thomas Tien made his Vipers debut after signing with the team today. I didn't see much in a kid who is small (listed at 5'7 168lbs) and put up 9 points last season with the Moose Jaw Warriors

- Give the Vipers a little credit for not turning over the puck as much as they have in previous games. I thought the Vipers limited their turnovers in the 1st and 3rd periods but were giving the puck away like a hot potato in the 2nd period

- The Vipers two game road trip continues Friday in Penticton

- The Vipers have only two wins in seven road games this season

- With the win, Vernon falls to 7-7-0-2 sit 6th in the Interior Division 

Top Player's: West Kelowna Warriors

Ben MacDonald (2 goals) Scored the shootout winner is very dangerous, hard to defend and contain. This kid is very skilled, can skate and has soft hands in and around the goal. I think MacDonald is the Warriors best forward

Felix Caron Was another forward who was dangerous and hard to contain/defend. Not the biggest kid but quick, shifty and creative with and without the puck. Hit the post on a late 2nd period power play, had some looks

Isaiah Norlin Had a very solid game on the Warriors blueline. I really like this kid. One of the Tribes better d-men. Has size, can skate, move the puck and plays well at both ends of the rink. Gets involved in the offensive side and sees the ice well

Noah Laframboise Is another solid defender for West Kelowna, played well tonight

Christopher Duclair (1 assist) Played with jump/energy, was skating, created and generated some opportunities

Justin Katz (37 saves) Improves to 2-0 vs the Vipers this season, played very well between the pipes. Both goaltenders played well. Katz was busy in the 1st and 3rd periods. Made his biggest saves in the 3rd with Vernon pressing for the tying goal.

Game Thought's: West Kelowna Warriors

- I haven't missed a Vipers game this season and other then the Penticton Vees, the Warriors are the second best team I have watched this season. This team is quick, has skill, size, solid defence and goaltending and is very well coached. Put this team up against the Vees in a seven game series come playoffs and I think WK has a chance

- This is the second meeting between the Warriors and Vipers in five days. The Warriors beat Vernon at home 4-3 on Friday

- The Warriors improve to 7-2-0-0 on home ice

- The Tribe make very few mistakes, are very good moving the puck and make crisp passes

- A big crowd on hand with tonight's attendance announced at 1,381 (sellout)

- The Warriors went 0-6 with the power play, while the Vipers went 2-4 with the man advantage

- West Kelowna has won four of their last five games and ten of their last eleven games

- Warriors forward Christopher Duclair's brother Anthony Duclair plays with the Florida Panthers

- The Warriors don't play their first game in Vernon until December 16th

- The Warriors are dangerous and hard to defend/contain

- This was a very exciting/entertaining hockey game

- The Tribe hit the road for a two game road trip, play four of their next five games on the road

- The Warriors have ten players committed to scholarships 

- Former Kelowna Rockets forward and current West Kelowna Warriors Head Coach/GM Simon Ferguson sure likes to chat with the officials often through out the game

- The Warriors next game is Saturday in Wenatchee

- Tonight's game was free for all fans and announced as a sellout (1,381) but lots of empty seats

- I really liked West Kelowna's game and thought they played very well in all three periods. The Tribe had close to 50 shots on goal ran into a hot goaltender in Ethan David

- Warriors Assistant Coach Josh Gorges attended the Vernon Vipers training in 2000, played in the NHL from 2005-2018 with San Jose, Montreal & Buffalo

- With the win, West Kelowna improves to 12-2-2-0 sit 2nd in the Interior Division

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Griffen Barr (Injured)

Matthew Sutter

Dylan Compton (Injured)

David Brandes

Kurt Gurkan 

West Kelowna Warriors:

Cayden Hamming (Injured)

Nolan Hayes (Injured)

Angelo Zol

Energy Player of the Game:

Ben MacDonald (1 goal)

Three Star's:

1st Star: Justin Katz (37 saves)

2nd Star: Hank Cleaves (1 goal & 1 assist)

3rd Star: Jaiden Moriello (1 goal)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Vernon Vipers @ West Kelowna Warriors Tuesday, November 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,

VernonJrAHockey.CA

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Here are some photo's I took before tonight's Vipers-Warriors game.