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 953 fans at Royal Le Page Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke
West Kelowna Warriors: Justin Katz
2nd Period: Reagan Milburn sprung Lee Parks in for the breakaway, beating West Kelowna Warriors starting goaltender Justin Katz, tying the game 1-1 at 2:03 Reagan Milburn & Griffen Barr drew the helpers. Fifty two seconds later, Ben MacDonald beat Roan Clarke five hole, giving West Kelowna a 2-1 lead at 2:55 Brennan Nelson with the lone assist. Shortly after with a strong push back shift, Luke Devlin with a good look/opportunity from the high slot would be denied by Roan Clarke. Shortly after the Snakes would get their first power play of the evening. Seven seconds into the man advantage, Seiya Tanaka-Campbell converted on some nice passing in front, tying the game 2-2 at 4:24 Hank Cleaves and Reagan Milburn with the assists. Just over two minutes later, Jonathan Horn looked to have a breakaway but lost an edge before managing to maintain control of the puck. Horn decided to drive towards the net and beat Justin Katz on the wrap around, giving Vernon a 3-2 lead, their first lead of the night at 6:45 Isaac Tremblay picked up the assist. This was the end of the night for Justin Katz who was pulled in favor of Angelo Zol. Katz gave up three goals on twelve Vernon shots. Shortly after Julian Facchinelli and Hank Cleaves looked to have an odd man rush, before a Tribe defender hustled back into the play. Facchinelli was still able to get a shot off on a quality chance but was stopped by Angelo Zol. Around the halfway mark, the Snakes would get their second PP of the 2nd period. Brennan Nelson and Jaiden Moriello broke free for a two on one rush shorthanded. Moriello setup Nelson driving to the goal, but somehow missed a wide open net on a missed opportunity to tie the hockey game shorthanded. The Vipers struggled with the man advantage as the Warriors killed off the penalty. Towards the end of the period, Vernon would get a third straight power play. The Snakes struggled as WK killed off the minor. Inside the final minute of play, Griffen Barr and Christopher Duclair started exchanging words before the two took a few shots at one another. The officials let the play go on before the two gave each other a slash. Barr then slashed Duclair again which drew the penalty, giving the Warriors a late PP to finish the period. WK with lots of pressure had a few looks but would run out of time before the buzzer. It was 3-2 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. The Snakes with a much better period, come to play and played well in a period where they were the better team. I thought Vernon played with a lot more jump/energy, had their legs going and played with some pace. The Vipers who have struggled scoring all season, score three in a period to take their first lead of the night. I thought Vernon played well defensively and saw more puck possession in the offensive zone. The Vipers capitalized on their chances. West Kelowna looked sloppy and disorganized at times, almost looked sluggish and not in the hockey game. The Warriors were having troubles making a pass, getting through the neutral zone, just didn't look in sinc. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 10-7.
3rd Period: The Warriors started the period on the man advantage that was carried over from the middle frame. The Tribe had some pressure and a few good looks early but Roan Clarke with at least two big pad saves, as the Vipers kill off the remainder of the penalty. Just over five minutes into the 3rd Dylan Compton's point shot beat Angelo Zol but not the crossbar as Vernon was close to taking a two goal lead. Two minutes later the Snakes with an early PP. Early into the man advantage, the Vipers setup Julian Facchinelli who beat Angelo Zol but not the post as West Kelowna kills off the minor. About three minutes later, the Snakes head back to the PP after Riley Sharun was called for goaltender interference. The crowd and the Warriors bench was upset as Head Coach/GM and former Kelowna Rocket Simon Ferguson went nuts at the officials. The Vipers would pass the puck around and around, weren't getting pucks to the net. Late in the PP the Warriors would be down two men, sending Vernon to a shortened two man advantage. Once again the WK bench and Simon Ferguson were irate with the call. The Snakes had a few looks before the first penalty expired. Vernon would turn over the puck inside the blueline, allowing Jaiden Moriello and Riley Sharun in for the odd man rush. Moriello would shoot and miss the net on a missed opportunity. The Warriors would kill off the second penalty and get back to five on five. With about five minutes remaining, Vernon Vipers starting netminder Roan Clarke was forced to make a quick glove save from the circle, keeping this a one goal game. Shortly after Jaiden Moriello's shot beat Roan Clarke high, tying the game 3-3 at 16:45 Brennan Nelson & Isaiah Norlin picked up the helpers. This goal gave West Kelowna some life and momentum as the Tribe poured on the attack to finish the hockey game. It was 3-3 after 60 minutes of play. Both teams looked good at different times. The Warriors with a very strong PK in the 3rd were forced to kill off three Vernon power play's. The Vipers had three PP's to put the game away but couldn't hitting the crossbar and post each, allowed West Kelowna to hang around. Give the Tribe credit, they didn't quit and held their own and able to force overtime. Shots were 17-6 West Kelowna.
Overtime: The Snakes with two early chances before West Kelowna took over the play and the remainder of overtime. Isaiah Norlin would be stopped by Roan Clarke before Matt Fusco would be denied by Roan Clarke. Two great looks/chances from the Warriors to end the hockey game. It was 3-3 after 65 minutes of play. The Warriors were the better team in overtime. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 4-3.
Shootout:
Vernon Vipers Shooters:
Isaac Tremblay
Dylan Compton
Lee Parks
West Kelowna Warriors Shooters:
Luke Devlin
Ben MacDonald
Jaiden Moriello (Goal)
Vernon Vipers Top Player's:
Griffen Barr (1 assist) I thought other then taking an undisciplined penalty in the final minute of play to end the 2nd period played a strong game on Vernon's blueline.
Seiya Tanaka-Campbell (1 goal) Played with a lot of jump/energy, couldn't get a shot off on a 1st period breakaway but the penalty shot was awarded to Jonathan Horn.
Reagan Milburn (2 assists) Has really come into his own as of late and playing his best hockey of the season. Was making plays and making things happen tonight.
Roan Clarke (36 saves) Was very good in goal and made some big saves and key saves at different times in the contest or the Warriors may have put the game away early.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- Tonight was the Vipers third and final regular season visit to Royal Le Page Place. The Vipers finish 0-3 in West Kelowna this season
- The Vipers have lost eight of their last ten regular season visits in West Kelowna
- Vernon's last regular season victory in West Kelowna, was a 4-2 victory on September 6th 2019
- The Snakes PK was good
- The Snakes are the lowest scoring team with 55 goals
- Inconsistency has been a big problem for this hockey team this year and it showed again tonight. Vernon can't seem to play no where near sixty minutes as the Vipers didn't look very good and outplayed in the 1st period, played a very good 2nd period and played well at times in the 3rd
- The Snakes have lost seven straight road games. Vernon's last win on the road was a 5-3 win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in Chilliwack at the BCHL Showcase October 19th
- The Vipers are 2-9 on the road this season
- The Vipers power play struggled going 1-6 with the man advantage
- Newly acquired forward Gavin Schmidt wasn't in the lineup tonight
- Were now twenty three games into the season and within a few weeks of the Christmas break and this team continues to be inconsistent, make mistakes, players taking night's off etc. Jason McKee even said in his post game show he's frustrated with his teams start and inconsistent play and player's not playing the same every shift. This is all coaching and comes down to coaching. Jason McKee is the problem and a coaching is much needed if this team wants to improve and win hockey games. The Vipers have been an average hockey team the past four seasons and again this year. McKee's teams look and play the same every year and nothing changes. It's getting old real quick!
- I spotted one Vipers fan wearing a Viper jersey tonight
- Vernon had several opportunities to grab a two or more goal lead with three straight power play's in the 3rd but couldn't convert with the man advantage
- The Vipers are 0-3 vs West Kelowna this season
- Vernon is 4-12 vs teams from the Interior Division
- Jonathan Horn and Connor Welsh made their Viper debuts tonight
- The Snakes next game is Saturday at home vs Wenatchee
- The Vipers are 4-11 when giving up the games first goal
- The Warriors will be in Vernon December 16th
- The Vipers have one win in their last five games, have lost seven of their last ten games and lost nine of their last thirteen games
- With the loss Vernon falls to 9-10-0-4 sit 7th in the Interior Division
Top Player's: West Kelowna Warriors
Jake Bernadet (1 assist) I thought played well up front for the Warriors
Jaiden Moriello (2 goals) Tied the game and won the game in the shootout. This kid had a handful of chances through out the hockey game, was hard to contain and defend against. Very shifty and creates/generates offensive chances
Brennan Nelson (2 assists) Another forward who played very well in the shootout victory, was hard to defend and contain, had several opportunities
Christopher Duclair Played with a lot of jump/energy, was buzzing all over the rink. Was getting under the Vipers skin and played with an edge
Luke Devlin I thought stood out and played a heck of a hockey game. Was one the Warriors best and most dangerous forwards with several opportunities. Used his big body to open the ice and create chances on the rush. Played hard, was going to the net and creating opportunities
Angelo Zol (14 saves) Replaced starting goaltender Justin Katz who was yanked in the 2nd period after giving up three goals on twelve Vernon shots. Zol come in and stopped all fourteen Vernon shots and all three Viper shooters in the shootout. Zol looked to be fighting the puck on his first few shots but seemed to gain some confidence and played better as the game continued
Game Thought's: West Kelowna Warriors
- Three of the last four Warriors home games have been vs the Vernon Vipers
- The Warriors face the Vipers twice more in the regular season with games in Vernon December 16th and February 11th
- I thought the Warriors looked good in the 1st, weren't very good in the 2nd and played well at times in the 3rd. West Kelowna has a very good and strong hockey team but this isn't the same team I saw beat Vernon the past two games
- The Tribe went 0-3 with the man advantage
- West Kelowna's PK was very good
- Head Coach/GM Simon Ferguson likes to complain to the officials and does it often and did it often tonight
- The Warriors didn't play sixty minutes
- West Kelowna's next game is Saturday in Penticton
- The Warriors have some skilled forwards and very well rounded team that is very well coached
- The Warriors have won back to back games, have lost three of their last five games and won seven of their last ten games
- With the win, West Kelowna improves to 14-6-2-0 sit 2nd in the Interior Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Ethan Merner
Gavin Schmidt
Anthony Cliche (Injured)
West Kelowna Warriors:
Cayden Hamming (Injured)
Noaln Hayes (Injured)
Matthew Lee (Injured)
Energy Player of the Game:
Jake Bernadet (1 assist)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Jaiden Moriello (2 goals)
2nd Star: Roan Clarke (36 saves)
3rd Star: Brennan Nelson (2 assists)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Game Report,
Text Boxscore,
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions in the comment box below. Please be respectful when leaving comments.
I was at the game and the new players really made a difference in there aggression on the play and there willingness to having the want to win. We should have won this game but with less than three minutes to play in the third. The powerplays killed us because at times the powerplay showed real improvement and at other times I felt we where trying to hard rather than keeping it simple and getting the shot to the goal, too much passing back and forth. Also I felt in the second and third period the vernon vipers did alot of good things on the ice as a team, working as a team but what killed us was getting back to those old habits when players think individual play will win games and every time we go down that road it's not good. For the vernon vipers to be successful we have to keep it simple and play as a team.GO,VIPERS,GO.
ReplyDeleteIf it wasn't for the Viper goalies they wouldnt have won one game. They are keeping them from looking like what they are, a terribly coached team that are a joke in the BCHL.
ReplyDelete@bingo
ReplyDeleteSounds like an accurate assessment beacuse it's hard to play as a team when your team keeps getting traded away. No wonder they are playing as individuals. Hopefully they stick with a roster and start learning to gel as a group.
Wishful thinking, but maybe they'll even get coached how to do it!