West Kelowna 5 Vernon 1

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 5-1 in front of 1,659 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Ethan David

West Kelowna Warriors: Justin Katz

1st Period: The Warriors with a good jump on the hometown Vipers, carried the play early before Felix Caron with a quick release from in close, couldn't solve Ethan David about three minutes into the contest. About three minutes later, the Warriors would get the games first power play. The Tribe would get a few looks late in the man advantage but none better then Jaiden Moriello as Vernon kills off the minor. Just over two minutes later, Felix Caron on a Viper turnover beat Ethan David, giving West Kelowna a 1-0 lead at 10:21 Caron's goal was unassisted. The Vipers struggled offensively and didn't record their first shot of the hockey game until Dylan Compton's heavy shot from the point, with about eight minutes remaining. Compton's shot forced Justin Katz into making a big pad save. About a minute later, Max Borovinskiy driving to the goal, couldn't get a shot off after a strong defensive play from the Tribe. With about five minutes remaining, the Snakes would get a late PP but struggle early. Reagan Milburn coughed up the puck to Christopher Duclair who would be denied on the breakaway and shortly after Hank Cleaves turned over the puck at the blueline, allowing an odd man rush. Jaiden Moriello would be stopped in front on a two on one. Back to back shorthanded opportunities from West Kelowna. Late in the man advantage, Griffen Barr setup Julian Facchinelli, tying the game 1-1 at 16:54 Griffen Barr and Dylan Compton with the helpers. It was 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. The Warriors were the better of the two teams and carried the better of the play. West Kelowna was skating, moving the puck and played with speed and pace. The Tribe pressured Vernon's defence most of the period and capitalized on some Viper turnovers inside the Snakes blueline. The Vipers didn't have a lot of jump/energy in their game, weren't skating, moving their feet and played a lot of the opening frame in their own end. The Snakes have improved on their defensive play and turnovers in their own end recently but not tonight, going back to their old ways. Way too many turnovers and poor passes in their own end. Vernon wasn't sharp and struggled offensively, needing twelve minutes to get a shot on goal. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 11-6.

2nd Period: The Snakes would get an early PP just over four minutes into the period. The Vipers struggled with the man advantage as WK killed off the penalty. Just before the halfway mark, Matthew Fusco's shot from the blueline beat Ethan David but not the crossbar. On the following play, a minor scrum broke loose as tempers heated up. Shortly after Vernon Vipers starting netminder Ethan David was forced to make a big stop on Felix Caron. Shortly after the Warriors would get a lengthy two man advantage and capitalize. The hometown Vipers were able to kill off the first minor before Matthew Fusco's laser beat Ethan David clean, giving West Kelowna a 2-1 lead at 13:22 Rylee Hlusiak with the lone assist. Just over two minutes later, the Vipers with a late power play but struggled offensively as WK killed off the penalty. Just as the penalty expired, Ben MacDonald roofed a shot past Ethan David, giving West Kelowna a 3-1 lead at 17:53 Christopher Duclair picked up the assist. It was 3-1 West Kelowna after 40 minutes of play. Both teams were fairly even for most of the period. This was a chippy period as both teams got heated on a few occasions. The Vipers struggled offensively, were getting pucks to the net but didn't generate any real quality chances, while the Warriors only generated a few but scored on some of their opportunities. The Tribe with a big PP goal to take the lead and then ended the period with a big penalty kill, before taking a two goal lead just as the penalty expired. The Warriors with a bit of an edge in play in the second half. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 12-6.

3rd Period: About four minutes into the final frame, Rylee Hlusiak with a good look from the circle, couldn't beat Ethan David who come way out to challenge and make the big stop early into the period. On the following play, Vernon would get an early power play. Hank Cleaves with a good look/opportunity couldn't solve West Kelowna Warriors starting goaltender Justin Katz. A big stop from Katz as the Vipers didn't generate much as WK killed off the minor. Just as the penalty expired, Jake Bernadet gave West Kelowna a 4-1 lead at 7:06 and basically put the game away at this point. Matthew Fusco & Alexi Van Houtte Cachero with the helpers. This was the second time tonight, the Tribe killed off a penalty and scored shortly after a big penalty kill. Just over two minutes later, Luke Ashton and Dylan Brooks got tangled behind the West Kelowna net, before the two dropped the gloves. When's the last time you saw a fight at a Vipers game? Ashton & Brooks were both tossed from the hockey game. During the media timeout, both coaches come between the glass and were exchanging words as tempers heated up between the benches. Shortly after Dylan Compton turned over the puck in front of hos net, allowing Michael Salandra in for the breakaway, to give West Kelowna a commanding 5-1 lead at 10:53 Salandra's goal was unassisted. Tempers heated up towards the end of the game as both teams got chippy. Vernon would get a late PP. Hank Cleaves couldn't redirect a pass in front, missing the open cage. The Tribe killed off the minor. West Kelowna would jump on the final man advantage just as the Viper PP was coming to an end. The Warriors with a few looks as the Snakes kill off the penalty. West Kelowna comes away with the 5-1 victory. The Vipers had some early edge in play but no real quality opportunities. The Warriors put the game away with two 3rd period goals. With the game out of reach, it wasn't much of a game as both teams looked to want to end the game and go home. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 7-6.

Vernon Vipers Top Player's:

Ayden Third I thought played a hard fought, physical game

Dylan Compton (1 assist) Other then turning over the puck on West Kelowna's fifth goal, the rookie d-man played very well and at both ends of the rink. I have noticed Compton has really started to come on the last month or so and play with some confidence

Seiya Tanaka-Campbell Played with a lot of jump in his game, looked to have some open ice to try and create/generate a scoring opportunity but either ran out of gas or was defended well

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- The Vipers didn't show up for the 1sr period and had trouble regrouping the remainder of the way

- The Snakes didn't play with a lot of jump/energy, were outskated most of the evening

- Vernon's power play struggled, going 1-6 with the man advantage

- The Vipers have lost back to back games

- The Snakes didn't go to the grey area enough and made Justin Katz's night fairly easy

- Vernon is 0-4 vs West Kelowna and been outscored 17-10 

- The Vipers have won six of their last eight home games and have at least a point in seven of their past eight home games

- The Vipers & Warriors will meet once more, February 11th in Vernon

- The Vipers offence struggled five on five and on the PP

- Vernon's top player's struggled and didn't lead offensively

- Assistant Coach Colton Sparrow wasn't on the Viper bench

- The Vipers last regular season home win over West Kelowna, was a 5-1 victory on December 1st 2021

- The Vipers have one game remaining before the Christmas break. Saturday vs Wenatchee

- The Snakes didn't look very sharp, were missing on their passes, turning pucks over in their own end, didn't play very well

- This was a big game as prior to tonight, the Snakes were only four points back of West Kelowna for 4th place

- Vernon is the second lowest scoring team in the league with 70 goals 

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

- With the loss, Vernon falls to 12-12-0-4 sit 7th in the Interior Division

West Kelowna Warriors Top Player's:

Matthew Fusco (1 goal & 1 assist) Played very well on West Kelowna's backend. Was good at both ends of the rink. Hit the crossbar in the 2nd period

Jaiden Moriello I thought played well through out the game. Was in and around the net, had a few looks

Felix Caron (1 goal) Opened the scoring for the Tribe, was one of the better forwards. Had some looks/opportunities, was hard to contain and defend against

Christopher Duclair (1 assist) I like this kid, seems to always play well vs Vernon. Played with pace, a bit of an edge and used his speed and hockey sense to create/generate some opportunities

Game Thought's: West Kelowna Warriors

- West Kelowna was the better of the two teams

- The Warriors are a very well rounded hockey club, with speed, skill, defence and goaltending

- The Warriors outskated and out chanced the Vipers most of the evening

- The Tribe went 1-5 with the power play

- West Kelowna snapped a four game road losing streak

- The Warriors host the Penticton Vees tomorrow in their final game before the Holidays

- Christopher Duclair's older brother Anthony Duclair plays for the Florida Panthers

- Head Coach/GM Simon Ferguson is always chatting or complaining to the officials about something

- Assistant Coach and former NHLer Josh Gorges wasn't on the Warriors bench

- The Warriors scored several key goals tonight

- West Kelowna's PK was very good

- The Warriors have a good transition game and move the puck well up ice

- Justin Katz (23 saves) Wasn't overly busy between the pipes

- This was a chippy game at times as tempers heated up on a few occasions

- The Warriors have lost three of their last five games and lost six of their last ten games. West Kelowna has lost eight of their last twelve games

- With the win, West Kelowna improves to 16-8-4-0 sit 3rd in the Interior Division

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Ethan Merner

Ethan Sundar (Injured)

Anthony Cliche (Injured)

West Kelowna Warriors:

Nolan Hayes

Matthew Lee

Aiden Reeves

Cayden Hamming

Energy Player of the Game:

Isaac Tremblay 

Three Star's:

1st Star: Matthew Fusco (1 goal & 1 assist)

2nd Star: Michael Salandra (1 goal)

3rd Star: Justin Katz (23 saves)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

West Kelowna Warriors @ Vernon Vipers Friday, December 16, 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

Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions in the comment box below. Please be respectful when leaving comments.

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