vipersdiehardfan blog: West Kelowna 4 Vernon 3

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 front of 1,204 fans at Royal Le Page Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Ethan David

West Kelowna Warriors: Justin Katz

1st Period: Two minutes into the hockey game, Julian Facchinelli with a shot from well outside the hashmarks, forced Justin Katz into challenging, making the big stop at the top of the crease. About a minute later, Kallus Green and Jake Bernadet on an odd man rush. Green decided to shoot but missed the goal on a good chance early to start the game. On the following play, Dylan Brooks point shot got through a maze of players, beating what looked like a screened Ethan David, giving West Kelowna an early 1-0 lead at 4:00 Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero drew the assist on the Warriors first shot on goal. Shots were 4-1 Vernon at this point. Just before the halfway mark Seiya Tanaka-Campbell setup Hank Cleaves on an odd man rush, but Cleaves somehow missed the open cage, hitting the base of the bottom of the post on a missed opportunity. Shortly after four on four, Reagan Milburn with a wicked shot from well out, beat Justin Katz tying the game 1-1 at 9:35 Lee Parks and Anthony Cliche with the assists. Shortly after Will Blackburn on a partial breakaway was unable to get a shot off after a strong defensive play from Aiden Reeves on a strong backcheck. Shortly after Jake Bernadet couldn't solve Ethan David in close. With about five minutes remaining in the period, the Warriors would get the games first power play. West Kelowna struggled with the man advantage as Vernon killed off the minor. Towards the end of the period, Felix Caron with some slick moves in front of the goal, couldn't beat Ethan David with about a minute and a half remaining. It was 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. Both teams had some good looks/chances as both goaltenders played well. The Vipers held their own against a very good Warriors team but I thought WK had a slight edge in play. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 10-9.

2nd Period: Inside the opening minute the Tribe would get an early power play. The Warriors activated their defence into the PP. Matt Fusco and Noah Laframboise both had good looks from the point, but Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Ethan David was forced to come up with at least three big stops on the PK as the Snakes killed off the minor. Shortly after Ben MacDonald beat Ethan David, giving West Kelowna a early 2-1 lead at 4:26 Jake Bernadet & Riley Sharun collected the helpers. On the following shift, the Vipers with a good push back shift. Luke Pakulak sprung Lee Parks who deked out West Kelowna Warriorts starting netminder Justin Katz, tying the game 2-2 at 5:15 on the Snakes first shot of the period. Luke Pakulak and Isaac Tremblay with the assists. On the following play after the faceoff, Hank Cleaves looked to have Justin Katz beat but rang his shot off the post as the Vipers come very close to taking their first lead of the hockey game. Around the midway mark, the Tribe would get a PP but unable to capitalize with the man advantage. Shortly after Ben MacDonald would be stoned by Ethan David. Within a minute or so later, the Vipers turn over the puck behind the net, that allowed Rylee Hlusiak to give West Kelowna a 3-2 lead at 15:09 Luke Devlin with the lone assist. About three minutes later, the Tribe would get a late power play and get some good looks but Ethan David once again was solid between the pipes on the penalty kill. David and the Vipers managed to escape the period before the penalty ended. It was 3-2 West Kelowna after 40 minutes of play. As the Vipers were skating off the ice, the Warriors bench was really giving it to Ethan David as he skated by West Kelowna's bench. WK was the better team and outplayed the Vipers for most of the 2nd period. The Warriors had a ton of puck possession, zone time, were getting pucks to the net and creating a ton of offensive opportunities. West Kelowna's speed and skill was dangerous and hard to contain as the Tribe could have blown the game open if it wasn't for Ethan David. The Snakes saw a lot of the middle frame in their own end, didn't get through the neutral zone often, which obviously resulted in few shots on goal and few scoring chances. The Vipers PK was very good. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 19-5.

3rd Period: The Warriors started the period on a very shortened PP that only lasted a handful of seconds before the Vipers killed off the remainder of the penalty. About two minutes into the period, Christopher Duclair with a partial breakaway, tried going short side but couldn't beat Ethan David. About a minute later, Vernon would get an early power play, their first of the evening. It didn't take Luke Pakulak long to get on the scoreboard, tying the game 3-3 at 3:00 Reagan Milburn picked up the helper. Two minutes later, Dylan Brook's point shot beat what looked to be a screened Ethan David, giving West Kelowna a 4-3 lead at 4:58 Isaiah Norlin & Rylee Hlusiak collected the assists. Shortly after Bowden Singleton with a quick release from the high slot, forced Justin Katz into making a quick pad save. Minutes later, Max Borovinskiy would be denied by Justin Katz. Minutes past the halfway mark, the Snakes setup Lee Parks for a redircection in front, would be denied by Justin Katz on a terrific save, keeping this game a one goal game. Shortly after the Vipers setup Luke Pakulak on an odd man rush, but the veteran forward somehow went high and over, what looked like an open net on a chance to tie the contest. Between a stoppage in play, Ayden Third and Riley Sharun were exchanging words and took a few shots at one another. With about three minutes remaining the Vipers would get a late power play. Vernon moved the puck around and around, as the Tribe kept the Viper shooters to the outside limiting their chances. The Snakes had troubles getting anything towards the net. The Vipers would get Ethan David to the bench for the extra attacker but still had troubles getting pucks to the net. West Kelowna would kill off the minor with the Snakes still pressing. Jason McKee and the Vipers would call a late timeout with forty seconds left. Vernon would get some late pressure but unable to sneak one past Justin Katz before the buzzer as West Kelowna would hang on for the 4-3 victory. At the buzzer Reagan Milburn and Felix Caron got involved deep in the Vipers zone. Both players took a few swings at each other with their sticks, before a crowd of players joined the altercation. The officials were very quick to breaking up the scrum and seperating both teams. After being outplayed in the 2nd period the Vipers responded with a good push back in the 3rd and were the better of the two teams, had the edge in play for a lot of the final frame. Vernon had some good looks/chances, couldn't catch a break or get some puck luck. The Tribe played very well defensively down the stretch, boxed out Vernon and kept their shooters to the outside, limiting their chances. The Warriors managed to limit the Vipers shots on goal in the final minutes. WK's defence come up with at least two big shot blocks in the final minutes. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 12-5.

Vernon Vipers Top Player's:

Ayden Third played well on the blueline

Reagan Milburn (1 goal) I thought played very well, had some looks/chances. Was one of Vernon's more dangerous threats tonight.

Connor Elliott made his Vipers debut this evening after coming over in a trade with the Cowichan Capitals on Thursday. Elliott didn't see a lot of ice time in the 1st or 2nd periods but saw more ice time as the game went along. I thought he played very well on the backend. A good skater, can move the puck up ice, quick on his feet, sees the ice well.

Hank Cleaves played fairly well, had some looks/opportunities. I really like this kid and think with a little more confidence he will be a good player down the road.

Lee Parks (1 goal & 1 assist) Scored a highlight reel goal, made some nice plays and had a few looks/opportunities.

Luke Pakulak (1 goal & 1 assist) Was another veteran forward who played hard and well in the loss. Pakulak was in and around the net and got involved in a few scrums after the play, was in the face of several Warriors, played with an edge tonight.

Ethan David (30 saves) Played very well, was solid in goal for the Snakes. Gave his team a chance to win and kept the Vipers in the game during the 2nd period, facing nineteen Warriors shots.

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- I thought the Vipers played very well for two periods. I thought the Snakes held their own in the 1st period, were outplayed and outshot pretty bad in the 2nd period but really stepped up their play in the 3rd and were the better team

- Vernon's penalty kill was very good. Warriors went 0-5 with the man advantage

- Not a lot of Viper fans in attendance. I spotted maybe a small handful at tonight's game

- The Vipers have been outshot in every game except two this season

- The Vipers played with a lot of jump/energy and emotion

- Give Vernon credit for holding their own in two periods and staying in the hockey game

- Give credit to Vernon's defence for improving on turnovers and mistakes inside their own blueline. They still made some mistakes and turned over pucks but not nearly as often as we have seen them this season

- The Vipers return home to host the Chilliwack Chiefs on Saturday

- I didn't see this coming. I was expecting a big win in favor of West Kelowna

- The Vipers were very good on the faceoffs, probably the best I have seen them all year

- I'd like to see a little more consistency from the Vipers and play more like they did last weekend vs Cranbrook and tonight vs West Kelowna. This team has been very inconsistent this year and you just don't know what Viper team will show up from game to game

- Assistant Coach Colton Sparrow wasn't behind the bench for a third straight game. I was told he is away scouting in Buffalo

- Tonight was a very exciting & entertaining hockey game

- The Vipers went 2-0 vs the Warriors during the preseason

- Vernon's veteran players stepped up and lead by example tonight

- The Snakes play four of their next six games on the road

- The Vipers have lost back to back games, have lost three of their last five games and are 5-5 in their last ten games

- With the loss Vernon falls to 6-7-0-1 and sit 7th in the Interior Division

West Kelowna Warriors Top Player's:

Dylan Brooks (2 goals) Played very well on the Warriors blueline. Scored twice and was involved in the play often

Ben MacDonald (1 goal) Was dangerous, hard to contain and defend against, was one of if not the Warriors best forward. This kid is quick on his feet, skilled and reads the ice well

Isaiah Norlin (1 assist) Played a strong game on West Kelowna's blueline

Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero (1 assist) I thought played well, had some looks/opportunities

Noah Laframboise Was another defender who played very well on the backend

Luke Devlin (1 assist) Chipped in with an assist on the Tribes third goal. Plays with a lot of jump/energy

Justin Katz (23 saves) Both goaltenders played very well. Ethan David was the busier of the two but Justin Katz also made some big stops through out the game.

Game Thought's: West Kelowna Warriors

- The Warriors & Vipers will meet five times during the regular season

- The Warriors have a very good, well-structured/coached hockey team

- Specialty teams saw Vernon go 1-3 with the man advantage and West Kelowna go 0-5 on the power play

- The Warriors are quick, can move the puck in a hurry, have some very skilled/talented forwards and a good blueline with solid goaltending. Former Kelowna Rocket Simon Ferguson has this team clicking along this season and competing with Penticton for 1st place

- A very large crowd tonight and one of the biggest I have seen in West Kelowna. Tonight's attendance was 1,204

- I really liked the Tribes game and thought they played well for most of the hockey game

- West Kelowna's defence did a good job at keeping Vernon's shooters to the outside and limiting their chances late in the hockey game

- The Warriors play in Merritt on Saturday

- West Kelowna will host the Vernon Vipers on Tuesday (Tuesday's game vs Vernon is free)

- The Warriors have won four of their last five games and won seven of their last ten games

- With the win, West Kelowna improves to 10-2-2-0 and sit 2nd in the Interior Division

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Griffen Barr (Injured)

Matthew Sutter

Dylan Compton (Injured)