Vernon 5 Salmon Arm 2

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-Silverbacks game as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 5-2 in front of 1,808 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke

Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Matthew Tovell

1st Period: The Silverbacks with a good push to start the hockey game, come out strong. With a good forecheck off the opening faceoff, the Backs setup Isaac Lambert one minute into the opening period, but Lambert's shot would hit someone in front on a quality chance a minute into the 1st. Four minutes into the period, Ryan Gillespie and Isaac Lambert with back to back opportunities, couldn't solve Roan Clarke. Shortly after, Brandon Santa Juana spotted Ethan Ullrick who beat Roan Clarke, giving Salmon Arm a 1-0 lead at 5:52 Brandon Santa Juana with the lone helper. A few minutes later, the Vipers couldn't jam a puck home at the side of the net before Ethan Sundar with a quick release/opportunity shortly after couldn't tie the hockey game. Shortly after Ethan Sundar took a high hit in the Vipers zone and didn't get up. Sundar needed help off the ice and didn't return. With about eight minutes remaining in the period, Reagan Milburn would be denied from the high slot. Shortly after former Salmon Arm Silverbacks forward Connor Welsh with a wicked backhand, beat Matthew Tovell on a highlight reel goal, tying the game 1-1 at 13:51 Max Borovinskiy collected the assist. Shortly after Vernon would get the games first power play and capitalize. Lee Parks setup Luke Pakulak on a nice highlight reel goal, giving Vernon a 2-1 lead at 17:11 Lee Parks and Seiya Tanaka-Campbell with the helpers. It was 2-1 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Silverbacks got off to a quick start, come out with a ton of jump/energy and controlled the game early off the opening faceoff. SA with a quick transition game, was moving the puck in a hurry, strong on the forecheck and playing physical/finishing their checks. The Apes were the better team in the first half, before the Snakes responded and played much better with a strong finish to end the period. Vernon was outshot 8-4 at one point, played very well in the second half. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 11-10.

2nd Period: About 1:40 into the middle frame, Luke Pakulak would be stoned in the slot, before Isaac Lambert come back the other way, beat Vernon Vipers starting netminder Roan Clarke but not the post as the Gorillas come close to tying the game. The Snakes quickly pushed the puck back up ice, before Luke Pakulak gave Vernon an early 3-1 lead at 2:04 Gavin Schmidt with his first point as a Viper in his Vipers debut. Exactly two minutes later, Thomas Tien with a strong shift, setup former Wenatchee Wild forward Jonathan Horn who ripped a shot past Matthew Tovell, giving Vernon a early 4-1 lead at 4:04 Thomas Tien with the assist. This was the end of the night for Salmon Arm Silverbacks starting goaltender Matthew Tovell. Tovell gave up four goals on fifteen Vernon shots. Carter Richardson replaced Tovell. Salmon Arm would call a timeout as Head Coach Tyler Shattock ripped into his team. Just before the halfway mark, Jonathan Horn with a quick release from the circle forced Carter Richardson into making a quick reaction save. Shortly after the Snakes would get their second PP of the evening. The Vipers with not much of a man advantage as Salmon Arm killed off the minor. Two minutes later, the Vipers got a little laid back as William Lavigne snapped home a quick shot past Roan Clarke, cutting Vernon's lead to 4-2 at 15:51 CJ Foley and Brandon Santa Juana with the helpers. With about 1:24 remaining Nathan Mackie got behind the Viper defence couldn't get the puck up and over Roan Clarke on a scramble in front of the Snakes net. Inside the final minute, the Backs would get their first PP to finish the period. The Apes couldn't convert with the man advantage before the buzzer. It was 4-2 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. I thought the Snakes were the better team and controlled most of the 2nd period. Vernon with two quick back to back goals, two minutes apart, took a 4-1 lead and were in the drivers seat. The Vipers with a lot of jump/energy were playing with confidence and playing some of their best hockey of the season. Very little mistakes, turnovers and some much better passing, played with a little more physicality. The Snakes had the Silverbacks on their heels for a lot of the period. Vernon had a lot of their chances in the first half as SA managed to come on towards the end of the period, scored a late goal that gave them some life and finished the period with some strong play. The Silverbacks went most of the period with only one shot on goal. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 8-5.

3rd Period: The S'Backs started the final frame with the power play, that was carried over from the 2nd period. Towards the end of the PP Isaac Lambert ripped a shot off the post in the final ten or so seconds of the power play. Just as the PP expired, CJ Foley with a quick shot from the blueline, forced Roan Clarke into making a big pad save. Early into the period, the Silverbacks would jump back on the man advantage. Vernon with a very strong PK didn't give up much as the Apes didn't generate much as the Vipers killed off the minor. Fifteen seconds later, Salmon Arm went back to the man advantage. The Gorillas would get a flurry of chances in and around the net, on several goal mouth scrambles but Roan Clarke was the Snakes best penalty killer as Vernon would kill off it's third penalty of the period. With about three minutes remaining, the Silverbacks would get Carter Richardson to the bench for the extra attacker. Hank Cleaves with a long dump in shot, rolled all the way into the open cage, giving Vernon a 5-2 lead at 17:01 Cleaves goal was unassisted. With about 1:30ish remaining, the Vipers setup Isaac Tremblay for a partial breakaway, but would be denied by Carter Richardson. The Vipers would come away with the 5-2 victory. The Silverbacks controlled most of the period and had a ton of pressure in the offensive zone but had troubles generating offence. The Apes with three power plays, couldn't capitalize. Isaac Lambert hit the post on the PP as the Backs didn't get any puck luck or bounces go their way. The Snakes saw a lot of play in their own end but played very well defensively, keeping the Silverbacks to the outside, playing along the wall and limiting SA's opportunities. Vernon's defenders with a few blocked shots, managed to hang on for the win. The Snakes went a long period of time with only two shots on goal. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 11-4.

Vernon Vipers Top Player's:

Ayden Third played a very strong game on Vernon's blueline.

Jonathan Horn (1 goal) Playing in just his third game as a Viper after coming over in a trade from the Wenatchee Wild, played his best game as a Viper and looked very strong. Created/generated some chances, was skating, moving the puck and hard to defend against.

Thomas Tien (1 assist) Played with a lot of jump/energy

Connor Welsh (1 goal) Playing his former team after recently being traded from Salmon Arm to Vernon, looked good/played well tonight.

Seiya Tanaka-Campbell (1 assist) Was another forward that showed a lot of hustle, played with a ton of energy and spark. Was very good on the PK.

Connor Elliott Played very well on the backend. A big pickup earlier in the season has been a strong addition to the Vipers blueline.

Anson McMaster was another Snakes defender I thought that played very well but physical.

Luke Pakulak (2 goals) Had a very strong night/game scoring twice. 

Roan Clarke (24 saves) Played well and was forced to make some difficult saves on the PK on several goal mouth scrambles with a ton of bodies in and around the net. 

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- This was one of the better games we have seen the Snakes play this season

- A great atmosphere inside Kal Tire Place this evening

- For the first time in a long time, I can finally say I see some improvement with the Vipers. Maybe all these trades were for the best as the team looks much better and played much better tonight

- The Vipers were 1-2 with the power play

- Vernon's penalty kill was very good

- Gavin Schmidt made his Vipers debut tonight

- This was one of the more complete games the Snakes have played this season

- The Vipers have won six of their last seven home games

- This was a very exciting and entertaining hockey game

- I really noticed an improvement with the Vipers passing tonight

- Where has this team been all year? Imagine if the Vipers could play like this on a night to night basis? I guess will see

- Vernon is 2-2 vs Salmon Arm this season

- The Vipers have won back to back games. Vernon has won three of their last five games and lost six of their last ten games

- With the win, Vernon improves to 11-10-0-4 sits 6th in the Interior Division

Salmon Arm Silverbacks Top Player's:

Jayden Grier played with an edge and was in the face of several Vernon players

Isaac Lambert was the Backs most dangerous forward, hit two goal posts and was buzzing in and around the net all evening

Carter Richardson (7 saves) Replaced starting goaltender Matthew Tovell in the 2nd period and played well to finish the hockey game

Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks

- I thought the Silverbacks played well in the 2nd and 3rd periods

- A good turnout of Silverbacks fans in attendance tonight

- Salmon Arm went 0-3 with the man advantage

- Tonight was the fifth game of a five game road trip

- The Silverbacks didn't catch many breaks or get any bounces tonight

- The Apes have a very quick transition game, move the puck well and dangerous up front with a strong forecheck

- These two teams will play again Saturday in Salmon Arm

- SA couldn't recover after giving up two quick 2nd period goals, two minutes apart

- The Silverbacks have lost five of their last seven road games

- Vernon & Salmon Arm will meet three more times during the regular season

- The Silverbacks controlled most of the 3rd period but had trouble creating opportunities

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

- With the loss, Salmon Arm falls to 14-10-1-1 sit 4th in the Interior Division

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Julian Facchinelli

Ethan Merner

Anthony Cliche (Injured)

Salmon Arm Silverbacks:

Jake Lammens

Liam Steele

Casy Laylin

Lian Gayfer

Energy Player of the Game:

Gavin Schmidt (1 assist)

Three Star's:

1st Star: Luke Pakulak (2 goals)

2nd Star: Connor Welsh (1 goal)

3rd Star: Jonathan Horn (1 goal)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Salmon Arm Silverbacks @ Vernon Vipers Friday, December 09, 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 and during tonight's Vipers-Silverbacks game.