Penticton 4 Vernon 0

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-Vees game as Penticton defeated Vernon 4-0 in front of 2,276 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Ethan David

Penticton Vees: Luca Di Pasquo

1st Period: About forty five seconds into the opening frame, former Wenatchee Wild forward Jonathon Horn on a scramble at the top of the crease, couldn't solve Luca Di Pasquo. The Vipers come out hitting early, laying the body with some big checks in the opening few minutes. Penticton needed about two and a half minutes to record their first shot of the evening. Just before the midway mark, Lee Parks with a nifty shift setup Isaac Tremblay going to the net, would be denied by Luca Di Pasquo. Shortly after the Snakes would get the games first power play. Vernon didn't record a shot on goal, struggled with the man advantage as the Vees kill off the minor. Vernon was outshooting Penticton 5-1 at the halfway mark. Just as the penalty expired, Austin Cameron with a quality chance at the top of the blue paint, would just miss the net. Shortly after the Vees would get their first PP of the hockey game. Late in the power play, Josh Nadeau with a wrister from the high slot, would be stopped by Ethan David. The Vipers killed off the penalty. Just as the penalty expired, Julian Facchinelli going to the net, couldn't redirect a shot on goal, just missing the far corner. Shortly after Penticton went back to the man advantage. The Vees would get several pucks to the net but Vernon would kill off the minor. As the penalty expired, the Snakes couldn't clear the zone, allowing Brett Moravec to give Penticton a 1-0 lead at 16:17 Joshua Niedermayer & Nic DeGraves with the helpers. The Vees come right back with a solid shift, but Ethan David with a big stop in close, keeping this a one goal game. Inside the final minute of play, Ethan David was forced to make a left pad save off a point shot before the hometown Vipers would get a late PP to finish the period. Vernon was unable to capitalize before the final buzzer. It was 1-0 Penticton after 20 minutes of play. I thought the Snakes got off to a good start, were physical, had the early play, had some looks and were ahead in shots but the tables turned after Vernon took back to back penalties, allowing the visiting Penticton Vees to claw back into the contest and gain some momentum. After being outshot 5-1 at the midway mark, Penticton jumped ahead 10-6 in shots at one point. The Vipers were the better team in the first half, with the Vees the better team in the second half. The Snakes really needed a goal to build off their early strong play, but then allowed the Vees to take over in the second half, giving up the games opening goal. Penticton outshot Vernon 11-6.

2nd Period: The Vipers started the period with the man advantage that was carried over from the 1st period. Vernon unable to capitalize with the PP. Jonathan Horn was setup going to the goal on an odd man rush about two minutes into the 2nd period, but would be denied by Penticton Vees starting netminder Luca Di Pasquo who come across the crease to make a big pad save early into the middle frame. Two minutes later, Jackson Nieuwendyk (son of former NHLer Joe Nieuwendyk) would be robbed by the quick glove of Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Ethan David. About a minute and a half later, Vernon would get an early power play. The Vipers didn't really generate much, struggled as the Vees with a very aggresive PK would kill off the penalty. Just before the halfway mark, Josh Nadeau with a good look/quality opportunity would be stopped by Ethan David. With about three or so minutes remaining, Isaac Tremblay with a partial breakaway, would be robbed by the quick glove of Luca Di Pasquo. On the following play, the Vipers looked to have a three on one rush, but Luke Pakulak waited to long to try and get the pass across, as the puck had troubles getting by a Penticton defender. Quickly after Pakulak driving hard to the net, tried to outwait Luca Di Pasquo but couldn't hit the open cage in front. Vernon with three very good opportunities towards the end of the period. It wasn't long after, Connor Elliott turned over the puck deep in his own end, wich allowed Jackson Nieuwendyk to spot Bradly Nadeau, giving Penticton a late 2-0 lead at 18:14 Jackson Nieuwendyk with the lone assist. This was a tough goal to give up if your the Snakes, after getting three very good looks just before. It was 2-0 Penticton after 40 minutes of play. The Vees were the better team, had more puck possession, zone time and created a little more opportunities. The Vipers held their own at times but struggled making a pass, didn't get enough pucks to the net and didn't generate a whole lot of chances until late in the period. Penticton outshot Vernon 16-10.

3rd Period: The Penticton Vees would get an early power play and capitalize. Aydar Suniev put Penticton ahead 3-0 early at 2:41 Suniev's goal was unassisted. This goal basically put the game away. Just before the midway mark, the Snakes had several looks/wacks on a goal mouth scramble, but somehow Luca Di Pasquo was up to the test, smothering the puck. With about five minutes to go in the hockey game, Aydar Suniev with a redirect in front, couldn't beat Ethan David. Towards the end of the period, Josh Nadeau setup his brother Bradly Nadeau on a nice two way passing play, giving Penticton a 4-0 lead at 16:00 Josh Nadeau with the lone assist. One minute later, the Vees would get a late PP. Vernon would kill off the minor. Inside the final minute of play, Penticton went back to the man advantage. The Vipers would kill off the remainder of the period as the Vees would come away with a 4-0 victory. This wasn't much of a period. The Snakes had some early puck possession but not a lot of chances or zone time. Penticton played a very defensive 3rd period, limiting Vernon's shots and chances through out the period. The Vees smothered the Vipers attack almost every entry. Neither team generated much offence with the Vees scoring two third period goals. Penticton outshot Vernon 8-4.

Vernon Vipers Top Player's:

Julian Facchinelli I thought played well at times, had two quality chances

Seiya Tanaka-Campbell Recently named Vipers captain, was another strong forward for the Snakes in the loss

Lee Parks was arguably Vernon's most dangerous forward this evening. I thought created some plays and opened up some ice with his speed/skill

Isaac Tremblay Was another forward who looked good/played well

Ethan David (31 saves) Played very well in goal. Almost got caught out of his crease on two chances but other wise made some big stops, keeping his team in the contest

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- I liked Vernon's start as I thought the Snakes played well in the first half of the opening frame. I thought the Vipers had the better of the play, were physical, getting pucks to the net and generated some offence but unable to open the scoring

- The Vipers are 0-4 vs Penticton this year

- Vernon's PK was good as the Vees went 1-5 with the man advantage

- I thought the Vipers held their own, didn't capitalize on their opportunities

- A big crowd for a mid week game. Tonight's attendance was 2,276 

- The Vipers last regular season win at home over Penticton was a 2-0 victory on December 13th 2019

- Snakes go 0-3 with the power play

- The Vipers started off physical but got away from their physicality and didn't continue to lay the body for three periods. The Vees are very quick, skilled and don't like to be hit. In order for Vernon to be successful the Vipers need to by physical and try and ware down the Vees quick/skilled players

- The Vipers play twelve of their final eighteen regular season games on the road

- In four games vs the Vees this season, Vernon has been outscored 24-7

- Both goaltenders played very well

- Vernon's passing struggled through out the night

- The Vipers next game is Friday in Wenatchee

- Vernon held their own vs a very good Penticton team, needed to get more bodies in front of the Vees net. Luca Di Pasquo was seeing everything

- Connor Elliott played 4 games with the 2019-20 Penticton Vees

- The Vipers play ten of their next twelve games on the road

- The Vipers may have not been the better team at times but were in this hockey game until giving up a late 2nd period goal, falling down 2-0 heading into the 3rd

- Vernon struggled with the man advantage, going 0-3 on the PP

- The Vipers & Vees will meet once more during the regular season, March 24th in Penticton

- I didn't think Vernon did enough to create/generate opportunities. The Vipers needed to get more pucks to the net, look for second and third opportunities 

- The Vipers are a single point up on 7th place Wenatchee and two points back of 5th place Salmon Arm

- The Snakes have at least a point in eleven of their last fourteen home games

- Why do the Snakes put a forward on the point during the power play? Reagan Milburn and Jonathan Horn were playing the point tonight with the man advantage. The Vipers have struggled scoring this season and your going to take two of your more offensive/skilled forwards away from the front of the net and put them on your blueline? This is why you have defencemen to play defence

- The Vipers needed to go to the grey area more and make life difficult for Penticton Vees goaltender Luca Di Pasquo

- I thought the Vipers played hard, competed just didn't get the bounces or capitalize on their opportunities

- Playing a team like Penticton, the Vipers not only need to capitalize on their opportunities but almost need to play a flawless game with zero to no mistakes

- With the loss, Vernon falls to 16-16-0-4 sits 6th in the Interior Division

Penticton Vees Top Player's:

Josh Nadeau (1 assist) Has played well vs the Vipers this season and did again tonight. A real shifty forward who is quick, skilled and dangerous with and without the puck. Had some looks tonight

Frank Djurasevic The Vees captain was very steady on the blueline

Jackson Nieuwendyk (1 assist) The son of former NHLer and Stanley Cup Champion Joe Nieuwendyk played very well in the victory

Joshua Niedermayer (1 assist) The son of former NHLer Scott Niedermayer played very well on the Vees backend. Is hard to beat one on one, is like a man against boys, has some size and hard to play against

Bradly Nadeau (2 goals) The brother of Vees forward Josh Nadeau also plays well vs the Vernon Vipers, had a strong night in the win. This kid had some looks, is hard to defend, hard to play against, has a wicked shot and always around the net. Very skilled and always open

Luca Di Pasquo (20 saves-shutout) Wasn't tested often but made the stops when called apon. No disrespect but Di Pasquo was seeing almost every Viper shot and no second opportunities, got some breaks and help from his defence, played well between the pipes

Game Thought's: Penticton Vees

- The Vees improve to 16-3-0-0 on the road this season

- Tonight was the third and final regular season visit to Kal Tire Place as the Vees went 3-0 in Vernon this year

- Penticton was the better team but the Vipers held their own at times and gave the Vees a good push

- Assistant Coach Cam Barker played in the NHL with Chicago, Minnesota, Edmonton & Vancouver from 2005-2013 before retiring from professional hockey in 2018

- A big shoutout to Jerry, a long time Vees fan and supporter of this blog who made the trip up from Penticton tonight to watch his Vees play 

- I thought the tables turned after Vernon took back to back 1st period penalties. The Vees gained some momentum and took over the edge in play for the remainder of the 1st period

- Tonight's the first game of a four game road trip

- Since the 2017-18 regular season, the Vees are 20-6-2-0 vs the Vipers

- I spotted a small handful of Penticton fans in attendance

- The Vees play ten of their final 18 regular season games at home

- Penticton played very well defensively, limiting Vernon's shooters and time and space. The Vipers with only six shots on goal in the 1st and four shots on goal in the 3rd

- The Vees have won thirteen straight games over the Vipers 

- The Vees played very disciplined only taking three minor penalties

- Jack Bakker made his Penticton Vees/BCHL debut tonight

- The Vees are very well coached, very skilled, very good at all positions and hard to beat

- With the win, Penticton improves to 33-3-0-0 sit atop the BCHL standings 

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Thomas Tien (Injured)

Connor Welsh (Injured)

Luke Ashton (Injured)

Penticton Vees:

Billy Norcross

Ben Brunette

Callum Arnott

Derek Sparks

Energy Player of the Game:

Walker Erickson

Three Star's:

1st Star: Luca Di Pasquo (20 saves-shutout)

2nd Star: Bradly Nadeau (2 goals)

3rd Star: Jackson Nieuwendyk (1 assist)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Penticton Vees @ Vernon Vipers Wednesday, January 25, 2023 | 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-Vees game.