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 6-3 in front of 2,103 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke
Penticton Vees: Luca Di Pasquo
2nd Period: Off the opening faceoff, a bad turnover from the Vernon defence, allowed Bradley Nadeau to pick up the errand pass, quickly spot Josh Nadeau for the redirect past Vernon Vipers starting netminder Roan Clarke, giving Penticton an early 2-1 lead at 0:13 Bradley Nadeau with the lone helper on a poor turnover from the hometown Snakes. About forty five seconds later, former Cranbrook Bucks forward Ethan Sundar couldn't get enough on his shot on a two on one rush, forcing Luca Di Pasquo to make the blocker save one minute into the middle frame. Two minutes later, Isaac Tremblay with a glorious opportunity, couldn't solve Penticton Vees starting goaltender Luca Di Pasquo. Two minutes later Reagan Milburn on an odd man rush would be denied by Luca Di Pasquo. Three very good quality chances from the Vernon Vipers but three big stops from the Vees goaltender. Just before the midway mark, Aydar Suniev spotted Nic DeGraves on a two on one, giving Penticton a 3-1 lead at 8:23 Aydar Suniev picked up the lone assist. At the midway mark, Dovar Tinling would be stoned by Roan Clarke who come across the blue paint, making a large pad save, keeping this a 3-1 score. Shortly after the Vees with pressure, forced a quick pass from behind the goal, as Roan Clarke had to be alert, made a big stop with a Vees forward at the top of the crease. On the following play, the visiting Penticton Vees would get their second PP of the afternoon. The Vees with a goal mouth scramble couldn't find the back of the net, didn't generate a lot as Vernon killed off the minor. Twenty nine seconds later, with the Vipers in the offensive zone, a Vernon player was tripped up, with no call on the play, the Vees with a quick transition game, moved the puck quickly up ice that forced a two on one. Joshua Niedermayer setup Hiroki Gojsic, giving Penticton a 4-1 lead at 13:51 and probably putting the game away. Joshua Niedermayer collected the assist. Less then a minute later, the Snakes would get their first man advantage of the contest. The only real look/chance the Snakes would get was after Luca Di Pasquo either lost an edge or was bumped, hitting the ice was forced to quickly recover to squeeze the pads tight on a save off a shot from in close. Penticton's penalty kill was very strong and stingy, forced the Vipers PP to the outside and along the wall as Vernon didn't generate much with the man advantage as the Vees killed off the penalty. It was 4-1 Penticton after 40 minutes of play. The Vees were the better of the two teams and capitalized on their opportunities and Vernon's mistakes. Scoring thirteen seconds into the period before adding on two more almost put the game away looking at how good the Vees are and how the Vipers aren't a high scoring team. The Snakes turned over the puck on the first goal of the period and gave up two odd man rushes that lead to two goals. Vernon did get some looks/very good opportunities early into the period, but couldn't bury their chances. Give credit to Luca Di Pasquo who made three big saves early into the period. The Vipers weren't outplayed or dominated, just made some mistakes and gave up too many goals to fall behind and it cost them. Penticton outshot Vernon 14-7.
3rd Period: Off the opening faceoff, the Vees couldn't hit the net on an odd man rush. Shortly after Joshua Niedermayer with a quick shot from the circle, gave Penticton an early 5-1 lead at 3:55 Beanie Richter & Callum Arnott with the helpers. Minutes past the halfway mark, Reagan Milburn setup Julian Facchinelli, cutting Penticton's lead to 5-2 at 12:31 Reagan Milburn and Seiya Tanaka-Campbell drew the helpers. With about five minutes remaining Reagan Milburn would be denied by Luca Di Pasquo before Lee Parks would be stopped about a minute later. Back to back chances for the hometown Vipers. Towards the end of the 3rd period, Austin Cameron with a laser shot, went bar down, giving Penticton a commanding 6-2 lead at 17:23 Callum Arnott picked up the assist. The Snakes would get a power play with one minute remaining in the frame. Isaac Tremblay wired a shot from the high slot, cutting Penticton's lead to 6-3 at 19:43 Julian Facchinelli and Seiya Tanaka-Campbell collected the assists. That would be the hockey game as Penticton would come away with the 6-3 win. Both teams were fairly even and the play was fairly even, with a slight edge in play going to the Vipers. With the score & game out of reach, you could say the Vees may have took the foot off the gas as the Snakes held their own in the 3rd period, did still manage to create a few good looks/chances. Both teams didn't really generate much other then a few from Vernon. With the game basically over there wasn't much excitement in the final frame. Penticton outshot Vernon 8-6.
Vernon Vipers Top Player's:
Ayden Third I thought was one of the more physical players in today's contest. Third with a big hit in the opening frame, was physical/finishing his checks through out the game
Connor Welsh I thought played with a lot of jump/energy, showed some hustle when on the ice and competed at a high level
The line of Ethan Sundar, Hank Cleaves and Lee Parks I thought was the Vernon Vipers best unit today. This line generate/created some offence and made plays happen through out the hockey game. I really like what Ethan Sundar brings to the Snakes lineup since being acquired from the Cranbrook Bucks
Anson McMaster Was another Viper defenceman that was physical and took the body, played well on the blueline
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers may have lost but I thought held their own for a lot of today's contest and played the Vees fairly well considering how good Penticton really is
- The Snakes have at least a point in nine of their last eleven home games
- Vernon went 1-2 with the man advantage
- When's the last time the Vipers haven't had a third set/alternate jersey? The Vipers have only gone with a home & away jersey this season
- A big RANT to who ever is in charge of clearing the snow and ice from the sidewalks outside Kal Tire Place. Several sidewalks haven't been plowed or several are full of ice with no sand or ice melt being put down and very very slippery
- Vernon is a point back of 5th place Salmon Arm, three points back of 4th place Prince George and four points back of 3rd place West Kelowna
- The 2nd period basically cost the Vipers the game. Tied 1-1 you give up a goal thirteen seconds into the period and you can't recover, before giving up two more goals, are now down 4-1 heading into the intermission. The Snakes had three very good opportunities minutes into the middle frame, couldn't bury their chances. If one of these go in, it's now 2-2 and maybe a different outcome in the period?
- Vernon has to play almost a complete flawless game vs the Vees if they expect to win and tonight a couple of mistakes/shifts cost them
- Vernon really misses a kid like Luke Pakulak. Someone that plays with an edge, is physical and leads by example
- The Vipers last regular season win at home over Penticton was a 2-0 victory on December 13th 2019
- The Vipers next game is Friday in Salmon Arm
- Give the Vipers some credit for holding their own at times and not being dominated like in previous games vs the Vees
- A huge RANT goes out to the people or company that cleans Kal Tire Place before or after Vipers games. I have noticed several coffee or drink stains on the floor that haven't been cleaned up for several weeks. I noticed one of the sets of stairs had spilled popcorn up and down the stairs for back to back games over a weekend and talked to a friend this afternoon that has two french fries in his section still lying on the floor for several weeks now. I have talked to several other fans that have noticed the same similar type of mess. One fan pointed out to me two garbage cans were filled to the top prior to today's game even starting and I also heard complaints about no paper towel in both the mens and womens washrooms. This place is dirty and disgusting and should be cleaned properly after every home game
- The Snakes have won three of their last five games and won seven of their last ten games
- The Vipers were the more physical team
- When you have an afternoon game, you can expect most fans to looking to eat/have lunch or an early dinner at the hockey game. So why would you only have one of the three concessions open? This forcing very long lineups for food/drinks
- Vernon is 0-3 vs Penticton this season
- These two teams will meet again January 25th in Vernon
- The Vipers have two very good goaltenders but I think you need to eventually go with one as your clear #1 especially in the second half of the season. I thought Ethan David clearly deserved to get the start this afternoon after shutting out the visiting Merritt Centennials on Friday. Nothing against Roan Clarke but David fully deserved to get back between the pipes and get another crack in goal coming off a shutout
- With the BCHL trade deadline on the 10th, will Vernon make any moves?
- The Vipers have nine home games remaining with fourteen road games remaining
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 14-13-0-4 sit 6th in the Interior Division
Penticton Vees Top Player's:
Aydar Suniev (1 goal & 1 assist) I thought played very well and one of the Vees better forwards
Josh Nadeau (1 goal & 1 assist) Played a very strong two game picking up two points
Callumn Arnott (2 assists) The nephew of former NHLer and Stanley Cup Champion Jason Arnott was another Penticton forward who played very well
Joshua Niedermayer (1 goal & 1 assist) The son of former NHLer and Stanley Cup Champion Scott Niedermayer had a very strong two way game
Bradley Nadeau (2 assists) Chipped in with two helpers, looked good/played well
Luca Di Pasquo (21 saves) Was very solid between the pipes for the Penticton Vees. Di Pasquo come up with a couple of big stops in the 1st and 2nd periods, when the game and score was close to keep the Vees in check and keep the Vipers off the scoreboard
Game Thought's: Penticton Vees
- The Vees new jerseys/logo look a lot like the Toronto Maple Leafs jerseys/logo
- I don't think Penticton played their A game today but managed to come away with the win
- The Vees made several defensive mistakes through out the contest, something you normally don't see from the Vees
- Penticton went 1-2 with the power play
- The last time the Vees were in Vernon, Penticton won 8-2 October 15th
- Penticton has scored 36 goals in their last five games
- The Vees will return to Vernon for the second and final time this regular season, January 25th
- The Vees & Vipers will play twice more this season
- Penticton has won all but two games on the road this season
- The officials let both teams play only calling four penalties
- A good turnout of about 15-20 Vees fans in attendance this afternoon
- Former NHLer & Stanley Cup Champion Joe Nieuwendyk's son Jackson plays for the Vees
- The Vees are the highest scoring team with 175 goals this season
- Vees forwards Josh & Bradley Nadeau are brothers
- The Vees have outscored Vernon 20-7 in three games this season
- The Vees have won twelve of their last fifteen games in Vernon
- Penticton has given up the fewest amount of goals this season with 57
- The Vees next game is Friday in Prince George
- Vees Assistant Coach Cam Barker played in the NHL with Chicago, Minnesota, Edmonton & Vancouver
- In 2022 the Penticton Vees went 70-7-2 during the regular season & playoffs
- It amazes me how the Penticton Vees can continue to put together an elite/strong team year after year after year
- The Vees have won five games in a row and eight of their last ten games
- With the win, Penticton improves to 29-2-0-0 sit 1st in the Interior Division and 1st overall in the league standings
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Ethan Merner
Luke Pakulak (Injured)
Anthony Cliche (Injured)
Penticton Vees:
Thomas Pichette
Jackson Nieuwendyk
Gabriel Guilbault
Derek Sparks
Energy Player of the Game:
Anson McMaster
Three Star's:
1st Star: Aydar Suniev (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Joshua Niedermayer (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Julian Facchinelli (1 goal & 1 assist)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions in the comment box below. Please be respectful when leaving comments.
4 comments:
The kal tire place arena needs someone with soap and water and a mop to clean the main area of the arena as food is all over the floor and has been for sometime. It creates a poor image for the city of vernon and its hockey arena. Also there seating area needs a good clean. Increase the budget for cleanliness please and thankyou
Great first period, probably the Vipers best of the year but the wheels fell off in the second. The Vipers can't make a tape to tape pass and once again their execution around the net is terrible.
That's what happens when you meet a real hockey team, you find out how bad your hockey team is! At least Merrit is on the radar so you can beat up on a Junior B club.
I heard from a reliable source the Vipers were suppose to wear their new third/alternate jerseys yesterday afternoon but didn't
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