vipersdiehardfan blog: Vernon 4 West Kelowna 3

I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following Junior hockey in Vernon my whole life. My family watched Senior men's 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 Vernon defeated West Kelowna 4-3 in front of 2,304 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke

West Kelowna Warriors: Justin Katz

1st Period: Fourteen seconds into the hockey game, the hometown Vipers would get an early power play to start the contest. Dylan Compton with an early look/opportunity and Julian Facchinelli with two good looks/chances but the Snakes couldn't capitalize with the man advantage. Just as the penalty expired, former Merritt Centennials forward Walker Erickson with a nice goal, opened the scoring, giving Vernon an earl 1-0 lead at 2:18 Lee Parks & Julian Fachinelli with the assists. Just less then three minutes later, the Snakes went back to the PP. Lee Parks and Seiya Tanaka-Campbell with quality chances couldn't solve Justin Katz as the Warriors kill off back to back Vernon power play's. Just as the penalty expired, Lee Parks spotted Reagan Milburn who returned to the Viper lineup tonight, gave Vernon a 2-0 lead at 7:01 Lee Parks and Seiya Tanaka-Campbell drew the helpers. Shortly after the Warriors would eventually get their first shot of the hockey game as shots were 10-1 Snakes at this point. Shortly after the visiting West Kelowna Warriors would get their first PP of the evening. The Tribe unable to really generate much as Vernon killed off the minor. Shortly after the penalty expired, Ethan Merner with a good look/opportunity would be denied by Justin Katz. Shortly after the Warriors went back to the man advantage. WK would not register a shot on goal as the Vipers killed off the minor. With about four and a half minutes remaining, Justin Katz was caught out of his crease, had to scramble back to make a big stop off former Wenatchee Wild forward Jonathan Horn. On the following play, Katz would be forced to stop Julian Facchinelli on a quality chance. Two big stops from the Warriors netminder. Shortly after the Tribe would get their third PP of the period, with about four minutes left in the 1st period. The Snakes with another big PK kill off the penalty. It was 2-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. The Snakes with one of their better opening periods of the season, were skating, moving the puck, creating/generating opportunities, had a lot of zone time, puck possession and some very good looks/chances. Vernon was the better team and carried the better of the period. The Vipers could have easily had four or five goals as Justin Katz was busy in goal for West Kelowna. Seiya Tanaka-Campbell blocked a shot late in the period and was hunched over on the Vernon bench for the final minute or so of the period, needed help into the dressing room. The Tribe went 0-3 with the man advantage, didn't generate much with the power play or through out the period. WK needed just over seven minutes to record their first shot on goal. The Warriors saw a lot of the period in their own end, were chasing the puck and defending, blocked a lot of shots on Vernon's two early power play's. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 14-6.

2nd Period: The Warriors got off to a good start, had the early possession and play. Just over four minutes into the middle frame, Michael Salandra with a nice play, would be denied by Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Roan Clarke before Luke Devlin jumped on the rebound but stoned by Clarke who somehow come across the blue paint to make a large save, keeping the Tribe off the scoreboard. It wasn't long after, when Rylee Hlusiak spotted Aiden Reeves who's point shot managed to get through Roan Clarke, who got a piece of Reeves shot, but not enough cutting Vernon's lead to 2-1 at 4:59 Rylee Hlusiak & Brennan Nelson with the assists. On the following play, Justin Katz had trouble with a dump in shot on goal as Katz had to sprawl out in desperation to make the stop before a scramble in front of the West Kelowna net. It wasn't long after when Griffen Barr's shot would be stopped by Justin Katz before Hank Cleaves burried the rebound, giving Vernon a 3-1 lead at 6:36 Griffen Barr with the lone helper. On the following play on a goal mouth scramble, Justin Katz made the stop to stop the play before some pushing and shoving took place before the officials broke up the scrum. Shortly after WK went to the PP. The Warriors had a few looks but couldn't capitalize as Vernon killed off the minor. Shortly after the penalty expired, Justin Katz made a big stop off Max Borovinskiy on a Viper odd man rush. The Warriors responded shortly after with an odd man rush of their own, setting up Rylee Hlusiak who beat Roan Clarke but not the post. With about six minutes remaining, the Snakes sprung Thomas Tien in for the partial breakaway but Justin Katz closed the five hole, keeping this a two goal game. With about four and a half minutes remaining, Anthony Cliche's point shot would beat Justin Katz but not the crossbar. Late in the period, Nic Porchetta would take a high hit from Jonathan Horn. Horn would be given five minutes for a blow to the head and a game misconduct. Riley Sharun would capitalize on a nice backhand, cutting Vernon's lead to 3-2 at 17:55 Ben MacDonald and Christopher Duclair collecting the assists. The Snakes would kill off the remainder of the period before the major expired. It was 3-2 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. The Warriors with a much better period, had an edge in play. West Kelowna had more zone time and puck possession at times while getting a few looks but not a whole lot of quality chances. The Snakes looked a little sluggish to start the 2nd period, played a little better as the period went on but for a second straight period, took three penalties. Dylan Compton was seen holding a towel over his face on the bench for several minutes. Compton returned to the ice with stuffing in his nose but stayed in the hockey game. Vernon had two real good opportunities, weren't as sharp as the opening frame. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 13-12.

3rd Period: The Tribe started the final frame with the man advantage that was carried over from the 2nd period. The Vipers with a big PK would kill off the remaining 1:17. Less then two minutes later, the Vipers lost the puck in the offensive zone, which allowed a three on one back the other way. Brennan Nelson setup Rylee Hlusiak, tying the game 3-3 at 2:51 Brennan Nelson & Christopher Duclair picking up the helpers. Just over two minutes later, the Warriors with their seventh power play of the hockey game. WK couldn't capitalize as the Snakes kill off an early man advantage. Just past the halfway mark, Lee Parks & Luke Pakulak with very good opportunities, couldn't solve West Kelowna Warriors starting goaltender Justin Katz. Shortly after the Vipers had several scrambles in and around the goal, couldn't get a bounce or a shot off. In the dying seconds Luke Pakulak with a wrap around spotted Seiya Tanaka-Campbell in front, Tanaka-Campbell would be robbed by Justin Katz who sprawled out to make a large right pad save, before Tanaka-Campbell burried the rebound, giving Vernon a 4-3 lead at 19:59 as Kal Tire Place and the Viper bench erupted. The Warrior bench was in disbelief as the Vipers would pull out the 4-3 victory. At the end of the game a stick was thrown from the West Kelowna bench towards centre ice where the officials were gathering. The Snakes gave up the early game tying goal, were the better of the two teams. The Vipers with several good looks/chances, could have easily put this game away before the game winning goal. Vernon had more puck possession and zone time. The Tribe tied the game early on a three on one rush, didn't show much after that as they had troubles defending Vernon's speed. Justin Katz kept his team in tonight's game and gave his team a chance to win or at least force overtime. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 13-1.

Vernon Vipers Top Player's:

Ayden Third played well on the Snakes blueline

Dylan Compton had a very strong night at both ends of the rink. I thought jumped into the play but also played well defensively

Max Borovinskiy Played one of his better games in a long time. I thought played very well through out the contest

Seiya Tanaka-Campbell (1 goal & 1 assist) Blocked a shot late in the opening period, didn't look like he would return for the 2nd period battled through pain and played one heck of a hockey game, was buzzing up and down the ice, played with a ton of energy, ended up scoring the game winner with 1.1 seconds remaining

Lee Parks (2 assists) Had some looks/chances, was in and around the net, played very well in the Viper win

Anthony Cliche Was another Viper defencemen that played well through out the game. Rang a shot off the crossbar towards the end of the 2nd period

Roan Clarke (17 saves) Wasn't tested often but still forced to make a couple of big stops when the game was close

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- The Vipers pick up their first win over West Kelowna this season

- Vernon took way too many penalties tonight

- The Vipers outshoot the Warriors 39-20

- The Snakes have at least a point in twelve of their last fifteen home games

- The Vipers next game is Friday in Powell River

- Vernon's penalty kill was very good

- Tonight was one of the Vipers better and more complete games of the season. Vernon was skating, played with a lot of jump/energy, created/generated a ton of opportunities

- The Vipers go 0-2 with the power play

- Another big crowd this evening. Tonight's attendance was 2,304

- The Snakes go 1-4 vs the Warriors this season

- Give Vernon credit, even though blowing two two goal leads, the Vipers stuck with their game plan, continued to battle and play hard and pull out a gutsy last second win

- The Vipers are 14-6-0-2 at home this season

- Vernon plays six of their next seven games on the road

- The Snakes could have scored eight or nine goals tonight if it wasn't for the solid goaltending from Justin Katz

- Reagan Milburn returned to the lineup after being out with an injury

- A great atmosphere in the arena tonight as fans got to see a very entertaining and exciting hockey game

- The Vipers last regular season home win over the Warriors was a 5-1 victory on December 1st 2021

- With the win, Vernon improves to 19-18-0-4 sit 7th in the Interior Division

West Kelowna Warriors Top Player's:

Rylee Hlusiak (1 goal & 1 assist) Was the Tribe's best forward in the loss. This kid can skate, move the puck, was hard to defend against

Brennan Nelson (2 assists) Played well through out the game from time to time

Michael Salandra I thought played well, has some speed and skill

Justin Katz (35 saves) Was by far the Warriors best player. Katz kept his team in the game, making several large stops. The Vipers could have easily scored eight or nine goals

Game Thought's: West Kelowna Warriors

- Tonight was the second and final regular season visit to Kal Tire Place

- The Warriors struggled with the man advantage, going 1-6 with the power play

- West Kelowna was outplayed and outskated for a lot of tonight's hockey game

- The Warriors go 4-1 vs the Vipers this season

- Tonight's the sixth game of a seven game road trip

- The Tribe didn't generate enough pucks on goal or create enough scoring chances

- The Warriors went 3-0 at home vs the Vipers and 1-1 in Vernon this season

- West Kelowna kind of hung around, mostly relying on their goaltender

- The Warriors next game is Friday in Penticton

- The Warriors missing some key players with injuries

- The Warriors play ten of their next twelve games at home

- I thought West Kelowna played well and had an edge in play in the 2nd period but otherwise Vernon was the better of the two teams

- The Tribe have lost ten of their last thirteen road games

- Spotted a few Warriors fans in attendance

- Warriors forward Christopher Duclair's older brother Anthony Duclair plays with the NHL Florida Panthers

- Warriors Assistant Coach Josh Gorges attended the Vernon Vipers training camp, was captain of the Kelowna Rockets Memorial Cup winning team

- Give West Kelowna credit, in a game where the home team was the better team, the Warriors didn't quit, battled back. West Kelowna was down 2-0 and 3-1 and managed to tie the game in the 3rd only to give up the winning goal with 1.1 seconds left

- With the loss, West Kelowna falls to 22-15-4-0 sit 3rd in the Interior Division

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Connor Welsh

Ethan Sundar

Luke Ashton

West Kelowna Warriors:

Matthew Fusco

Dylan Brooks

Felix Caron

Matthew Lee

Angelo Zol