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-Centennials game as Vernon defeated Merritt 6-3 in front of 2,608 fans at Kal Tire Place. (Biggest crowd of the season)
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke
Merritt Centennials: Conor Sullivan
1st Period: Twenty nine seconds into the hockey game, the Merritt Centennials would get an early power play to start the game. Shorthanded Isaac Tremblay would get behind the Merritt defence but Tristan Allen with a good back check and defensive play took away a scoring chance. The Centennials with one shot with the man advantage as Vernon killed off the early penalty. About two and a half minutes later, the Cents went back to the PP. Merritt with no real scoring opportunities and the Snakes kill off another minor. Minutes later Isaac Tremblay with a partial breakaway would be denied by Conor Sullivan. Shortly after the Vipers would get their first look with the man advantage. Dylan Compton's shot would be redirected in front by Seiya Tanaka-Campbell giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 8:43 Dylan Compton & Reagan Milburn with the helpers. Minutes past the halfway mark, the Centennials would get their third power play of the period. At the start of the man advantage, a quick shot from the point would force Roan Clarke to make a difficult save with bodies in front. Clarke had to make a second save with a shoulder save off Davide Patella as the Vipers kill off the minor. Shortly after Ethan Sundar setup Lee Parks on an odd man advantage, Parks would be denied going to the net by Conor Sullivan. It was 1-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers were the better team, had more puck possession and zone time and the better opportunities. Merritt couldn't capitalize after three power plays didn't get much zone time. Vernon outshot Merritt 11-9.
2nd Period: Early into the middle frame, Isaac Tremblay's shot would be redirected in front by Lee Parks, giving Vernon an early 2-0 lead at 1:17 Isaac Tremblay with the lone assist. Shortly after Mark Thurston and Erik Sollied on a two on one, Thurston decided to keep and shoot, would be stopped by Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Roan Clarke. The Vipers quickly come back the other way, with some nice passing setup Ethan Sundar in front, but would be stopped by Conor Sullivan. Two good scoring chances at both ends of the rink just minutes into the period. Shortly after Walker Erickson would get behind the Snakes defence but be stopped in close by Roan Clarke. Shortly after two Centennials didn't like Ethan Merner in the crease after a save off Conor Sullivan, as both Centennials started to give Merner a few shots. All three players got tangled up in a scrum as tempers heated up. Just before the midway point, the Snakes had a few give and goes that had the crowd going as the Vipers were buzzing with some chances. Jonathan Horn woukd spot Ethan Sundar, giving Vernon a 3-0 lead at 9:09 Jonathan Horn and Hank Cleaves collected the assists. With just over five minutes remaining, Ethan Sundar just missed the net on a backhand from the circle on a good look. Inside the final minute on a scramble in front of Roan Clarke, the Cents actually had Clarke beat as the puck snuck through Clarke's five hole sitting in the blue paint before Griffen Barr cleared the puck from harms way. It was 3-0 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. The Snakes were the better team. Vernon had a ton of quality chances through out the period. Merritt played a little better in the 2nd period, had more puck possession and zone time and created some opportunities. Vernon outshot Merritt 13-12.
3rd Period: Early into the final frame, Griffen Barr's shot was redirected in front from Thomas Tien, giving Vernon an early 4-0 lead at 3:13 Griffen Barr & Ethan Merner picked up the assists. Just before the halfway mark, Christian Lowe snapped home a shot from the high slot, cutting Vernon's lead to 4-1 at 8:38 Jonathan Wong and Aleksy Chichkin drew the assists. One minute later, Tristan Allen's shot beat Roan Clarke, cutting Vernon's lead to 4-2 at 9:39 Connor Farren with the lone helper. About two or so minutes later, Seiya Tanaka-Campbell with a good look/opportunity at the side of the net, couldn't solve Merritt Centennials starting netminder Conor Sullivan. About a minute later, Vernon would get a PP and capitalize. Isaac Tremblay ripped home his shot, giving Vernon a 5-2 lead at 14:27 Lee Parks with the assist. Shortly after the Snakes sprung Lee Parks in for the breakaway but would be stopped by Conor Sullivan. Shortly after Parks would give Vernon a commanding 6-2 lead at 18:00 Anson McMaster with the helper. Twenty seven seconds later, Diego Johnson cut Vernon's lead to 6-3 at 18:27 Jaxson Murray and Erik Sollied with the assists. On the following play, the Snakes would get a late power play just before Anson McMaster and Mark Thurston dropped the gloves. Thurston and McMaster would both get tossed from the game, while Carter Schmidt and Aleksy Chichkin both picked up ten minute misconducts as tempers started to flare up late in the hockey game. Thurston would also pick up a two minute minor for high sticking, sending the Snakes to a two man advantage. Lots of pushing and shoving after the whistle as these teams don't like each other. The Vipers were unable to capitalize with the two man advantage before the final buzzer as Vernon come away with the 6-3 win. With the Vipers up 4-0 early to start the period, Vernon was again the better team. The Snakes scored three goals in the period to put the game away. Give Merritt a little credit as they didn't go away quietly scoring two quick back to back goals to cut the Viper lead to two goals at one point, before the Snakes put the game away. Both teams got a little chippy at times as lots of after the whistle altercations/pushing and shoving going on. Tempers heated up late in the game. Vernon outshot Merritt 17-8.
Vernon Vipers Top Player's:
Griffen Barr (1 assist) I thought played a steady game on the blueline
Ethan Merner (1 assist) I really liked this kids game. Thought he played with a lot of jump/energy and was engaged in the play
The line of Ethan Sundar (1 goal), Isaac Tremblay (1 goal & 1 assist) & Lee Parks (2 goals & 1 assist) was Vernon's best line. This line had numerous opportunities through out the evening
Roan Clarke (26 saves) Was good in goal for the Snakes
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers are 3-1 vs Merritt this season
- Vernon went 2-4 with the power play
- The Snakes with their biggest crowd of the season, announced at 2,608
- The Vipers have won six of their last eight home games and have at least a point in ten of their last twelve home games
- I thought the Vipers were the better team and played fairly well for most of the night
- Vernon had a ton of shots and scoring chances, were creating/generating opportunities all night
- The Vipers have 78 shots on goal combined in both games this weekend
- The Snakes turned over the puck and made some mistakes in their own end more tonight then I have seen the past few home games
- The Vipers have won three of their last five games and six of their past ten games
- A huge rave to who ever cleaned up Kal Tire Place since the last home game. I heard from one of the volunteers that the inside of Kal Tire Place was cleaned and mopped after several complaints from fans the past few home games
- The Snakes with only eight regular season home games remaining
- One of the linesmen took a puck to the face in the 3rd but held his own and stayed in the hockey game
- This was an entertaining and exciting game
- With the win, Vernon improves to 15-14-0-4 sit 6th in the Interior Division
Merritt Centennials Top Player's:
Tristan Allen (1 goal) Played very well on the Cents backend
Walker Erickson was Merritt's best player this evening. Played with a lot of jump/energy, was involved in the play and dangerous with the puck
Conor Sullivan (35 saves) Was the busier of the two goaltenders. If it wasn't for Sullivan the score could have been much worse. Made some big stops through out the game, was hung out to dry on a lot of Vernon odd man rushes
Game Thought's: Merritt Centennials
- The Cents were outplayed for a lot of the game, did have some puck possession and zone time now and again but not enough to win a hockey game
- A fair amount of Centennials fans in attendance
- Merritt went 0-3 with the man advantage
- Merritt's last win in Vernon was a 3-2 overtime victory January 5th 2019
- Merritt's defence had trouble containing the line of Isaac Tremblay, Lee Parks and Ethan Sundar
- These two teams will meet once more, March 25th in Merritt
- The Cents have been outscored 14-8 in four games vs Vernon
- The Centennials have one win in their last fourteen road games
- The Cents started the game with back to back early power play's. I think if Merritt gets an early goal, maybe changes the setting. I don't know if its enough to change the final score, but maybe the game is closer
- The Centennials defence gave up way too many odd man rushes
- The Vipers outshoot Merritt 41-29
- Merritt has one win in their last five games and lost eight of their last ten games
- With the loss, Merritt falls to 9-21-3-1 sit last in the Interior Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Connor Welsh
Connor Elliott
Luke Pakulak (Injured)
Merritt Centennials:
Kyle Armstrong
Michael Shara
Damon Jugnauth
Energy Player of the Game:
Thomas Tien (1 goal)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Lee Parks (2 goals & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Isaac Tremblay (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Ethan Sundar (1 goal)
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.
4 comments:
A good crowd and a fun game to be at! The negative Nelly's are sure quiet lately. I had a great seat tonight, I was probably sitting in the spot of a disgruntled season ticket holder thinking they are teaching the owners a lesson by not showing up hahaha!
Go Vipers Go!
Fool!
4Mayor you are pretty optimistic. Yes the Vipers won last night by defeating the second worst team in the league, the floors and seats were clean for the 2608 fans but the fans still went home hungry because the Concessions ran out of food. The second half of the season only gets tougher because the Vipers have only 4 games in the next 8 weeks at home and only 2 are on the weekend. Vernon has only 3 Wins in 14 road games this year which doesn't look good for the next 2 months.
Not only did the concession run out of many items, one of the concession outlets has been closed for most of the season. The one called The Crease, or as we mockingly call it The Grease. Aren't there some kids out there who want a job in the concession at the rink? The lineups at the game against Merritt were very long.
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