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 2.3 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 Vernon Vipers-Penticton Vees game as Penticton defeated Vernon 5-1 in front of 3,192 fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke
Penticton Vees: Luca Di Pasquo
2nd Period: Luke Pakulak with a big hit early to start the period. Just over four minutes into the middle frame, the visiting Vernon Vipers would get the games first power play. The Snakes struggled with the man advantage, as the Vipers would get three shots on goal but no real quality chances as Penticton killed off the minor. Just as the penalty expired, Isaac Tremblay would get behind the Vees defender and get a quick release from the top of the crease, forcing Penticton Vees starting goaltender Luca Di Pasquo into making a difficult save. Ryan Hopkins on a wrap around, forced Roan Clarke into making a difficult save on the Vees first shot thirteen minutes into the 2nd period. One minute later, the Vipers allowed the Vees to walk in before spotting Bradly Nadeau at the side of the dot, would be robbed by Roan Clarke who was forced to come across the blue paint and make a big stop off Nadeau. On the same play Penticton would jump on their first PP of the evening. Seconds into the man advantage, Roan Clarke made a big stop off Bradly Nadeau and before the power play expired, Roan Clarke stopped Josh Nadeau in close. The Vees with lots of pressure, would get five shots on the PP but un able to beat Roan Clarke, as Vernon kills off the minor. With about a minute and a half remaining, Josh Nadeau forced Roan Clarke to make a big stop with his catching arm, keeping this game scoreless. It was 0-0 after 40 minutes of play. The Snakes had a slight edge in play/puck possession in the first half before the hometown Vees come on strong late in the period and finished off the 2nd period with a good push. Vernon looked good and had some early pressure/zone time but didn't generate a whole lot of chances. The Vipers had all four of their shots in the first half. Penticton seemed to get their legs going late in the second half. The Vees needed thirteen minutes to get their first shot of the period, but once they did, they gained some life and momentum and took over the remainder of the period. The Vees had four or five good looks/opportunities but Roan Clarke was very good in goal for the visiting Vipers. Penticton outshot Vernon 9-4.
3rd Period: Off the opening faceoff, Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Roan Clarke was forced to make a difficult save at the top of the crease, before scrambling back into position. It wasn't long after and still inside the opening minute, Roan Clarke had to be sharp was forced to make another big stop early, keeping the Vees off the scoreboard. Not long after and still inside the opening minute of play, former Salmon Arm Silverbacks forward Connor Welsh spotted Julian Facchinelli. Fachinneli beat his defender before leaning in for the partial breakaway, ripped his shot glove side past Luca Di Pasquo, giving Vernon an early 1-0 lead at 0:52 Connor Welsh and Ayden Third drew the assists. 1:20 later, Max Borovinskiy turned over the puck at the blueline, allowing a few passes before Josh Nadeau beat Roan Clarke, tying the game 1-1 at 2:12 Frank Djurasevic & Bradly Nadeau picking up the helpers. Thirty one seconds later, the Vipers defence blows coverage in front of the goal, allowing Spencer Smith to score, giving Penticton a 2-1 lead at 2:43 Owen Simpson and Hiroki Gojsic with the assists. The Snakes left Spencer Smith all alone in front, for the easy goal, giving Penticton their first lead of the hockey game. About a minute and a half later, it looked like the Vipers were going on an early PP that only lasted thirty five seconds after taking a penalty of their own and sending both teams to four on four. While four on four, another poor defensive letdown in front of Vernon's goal. The Vipers left Josh Nadeau all alone in front, giving Penticton a 3-1 lead at 5:04 Dovar Tinling collected the assist. This was Nadeau's second of the evening. Forty two seconds later, Vernon would get just their second man advantage of the contest. The Snakes with just one shot, couldn't get anything setup or generated as Penticton killed off the minor. Just as the penalty expired, the son of former NHLer Joe Nieuwendyk, Jackson Nieuwendyk forced Roan Clarke into flashing the leather, making a quick glove save. With just over eight minutes remaining, three Viper forwards skated over the loose puck in front of the Vees net, missing a great scoring chance. On the following play, the Penticton Vees would get just their second PP of the night. Dovar Tinling would be robbed by Roan Clarke, who had to sprawl out and reach back to stop the puck from crossing the goal line. The officials went to video review to look at the play and there was no goal as Roan Clarke made the save before the puck got near the goal line. Bradly Nadeau would wire one home past Roan Clarke on the power play, giving Penticton a 4-1 lead at 12:57 Josh Nadeau and Ryan Hopkins picking up the helpers. Just over four minutes later, the Vees went back to the man advantage. Penticton moved the puck around, getting several quality looks as Roan Clarke was busy between the pipes in the 3rd. Vernon was able to get some big saves from their netminder and kill off the penalty. Four seconds after killing off the penalty, the Snakes went back to the sin bin. Spencer Smith capitalized with his second of the night, on the man advantage, giving Penticton a 5-1 lead at 19:27 Callum Arnott with the assist. The Vees would come away with the 5-1 victory. The Vipers opened the scoring fifty two seconds into the final frame, before the hometown Vees would score the next five goals. The Vees really elevated their game in the 3rd and took over the play as Penticton was the better team. The Vees carried the play the entire period, had a ton of puck possession, zone time, were creating/generating chances as well as capitalizing on their opportunities. Vernon couldn't get out of their own end, turned over the puck which lead to Penticton's first goal and then some poor defensive coverage, cost the Snakes two more goals and the game was basically over. The Vipers with only three shots on goal, had troubles gaining traction, getting zone time, puck possession and through the neutral zone. I didn't see Luke Pakulak on the ice or on the bench in the 3rd period. The Vees looked very good and outplayed the Vipers in the final frame. Penticton outshot Vernon 19-3.
Vernon Vipers Top Player's:
Roan Clarke 34 saves) Falls to 0-3 vs the Vees this season. Clarke was very good between the pipes and kept the game/score from getting out of control
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- Give the Vipers full credit for holding their own until the Vees blew the doors open and run away with the game in the 3rd period
- I spotted just a few Vipers fans in attendance tonight
- The Snakes went 0-2 in Penticton this season
- The Vipers next game is Saturday in Merritt
- The Vipers had troubles getting pucks to the net all night. Your not going to win many hockey games with 5 shots in the 1st, 4 shots in the 2nd and 3 shots in the 3rd
- Tonight is the first of a two game road trip and the final two games of the regular season
- The Vipers last win over the Vees was a 2-0 victory on December 13th 2019
- Vernon went 0-2 with the power play
- The Vipers had troubles creating/generating chances through out the game, only mustered a few quality opportunities
- This was a tough loss as both West Kelowna & Prince George won tonight. The Vipers catch a huge break with Wenatchee losing as the race in the Interior Division comes down to the wire
- Former Vernon Vipers Scout & Assistant Coach Kevin Pederson was at tonight's game
- The officials called a great game and other then two penalties in the 2nd period, the remainder were all in the 3rd
- This was a very quick hockey game with very few stoppages in play
- Vernon is one point ahead of Wenatchee, two points back of Prince George, West Kelowna & Salmon Arm
- Julian Facchinnelli opens the scoring fifty two seconds into the 3rd period but then a bad turn over allows the Vees to tie the game before two poor defensive coverages, costs you two goals, your now down 3-1 just over five minutes into the final frame
- The Vipers played hard, held their own for two periods but couldn't hold off a power house Vees team in the 3rd that erupted for five goals
- The Vipers five game winning streak comes to an end
- Tonight was a game where the Snakes needed to make zero mistakes vs a very good and strong Penticton hockey club. Several mistakes in the 3rd and the pucks in the back of your net
- Vernon's last regular season win in Penticton was a 2-1 overtime victory on October 18th 2019
- The Snakes have only six wins in their last twenty two road games
- I didn't notice Luke Pakulak on the ice or on the bench in the 3rd period
- The Vipers have won four of their last five games and six of their last ten games
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 26-21-2-4 sit 6th in the Interior Division
Penticton Vees Top Player's:
Ryan Hopkins (1 assist) Played well on the Vees backend
Josh Nadeau (2 goals & 1 assist) I thought was Penticton's best forward/player this evening. This kid played very well, had several looks/chances, was involved in the play and in and around the net
Bradly Nadeau (1 goal & 1 assist) Took two minor penalties but was another forward that had some very good looks and chances in and around the Vernon goal
Spencer Smith (2 goals) Looked good, played a hard nosed game
Game Thought's: Penticton Vees
- The Vees are 26-0-0-0 at home this season
- Penticton went 5-0 vs the Vipers this season
- The Vees went 2-4 with the man advantage
- Penticton didn't get a whole lot of chances in the 1st period, struggled offensively to start the 2nd period. The Vees didn't seem to really get their game going until late in the middle frame
- A large crowd of 3,192 was tonight's attendance
- Tonight's the first game of a two game home stand
- The Vees didn't outplay or dominate the game until the 3rd period
- The Vees needed thirteen minutes in the 2nd period to record their first shot of the period
- I was talking to a good friend of mine who lives in Penticton and has season tickets. He said a lot of fans are getting tired of watching the Vees win every game and dominate most games and several by large outcomes. Fans want to be entertained and not come and watch a 10-0 game or the Vees dominate from game to game to game
- Penticton has won fourteen straight games
- The Vees are quick, can move the puck, are hard to defend and contain
- The Vees will face the Trail Smoke Eaters in the 1st round of the BCHL playoffs starting Friday in Penticton
- Will anyone be able to stop the Vees?
- The Vees next game is Sunday afternoon vs Salmon Arm
- Penticton has won thirteen straight games over the Vipers dating back to the 2019-20 season
- With the win, Penticton improves to 49-3-0-1 sit atop the league standings
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Thomas Tien
Ethan Merner
Ethan Sundar (Injured)
Penticton Vees:
Billy Norcross
Josh Niedermayer
Derek Sparks
Energy Player of the Game:
Nic DeGraves
Three Star's:
1st Star: Spencer Smith (2 goals)
2nd Star: Josh Nadeau (2 goals & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Julian Facchinelli (1 goal)
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.
"The fans are tired of Penticton wining every game" what a joke, you can do better than that. I bet the Centenials fans are tired of them losing every game. If you can't find something good to say about a bad loss say something negative about the wining team.
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