1st Round - Game 3 West Kelowna 5 Vernon 2

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-West Kelowna Warriors Game 3 of the 1st Round of the playoffs as West Kelowna defeated Vernon 5-2 in front of 1,637 fans at Kal Tire Place. 

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Roan Clarke

West Kelowna Warriors: Cayden Hamming

1st Period: Inside the opening minute of play, Isaiah Norlin took a puck to the face, that allowed Lee Parks to break free down the wing, snapping a shot from the circle beating Vernon product Cayden Hamming, giving Vernon an early 1-0 lead on the first shot of the hockey game at 0:35 Parks goal was unassisted. The Warriors stormed right back of the following faceoff. Roan Clarke had to be alert, was forced to make a save from at the side of the net on a bit of a scrambled play on a good push back shift from West Kelowna. Just over two minutes in, Max Borovinskiy got in behind the Warriors defenders, forced Cayden Hamming to stretch out and make a highlight real right pad save as Borovinskiy couldn't get the puck up and over the pad/toe of Cayden Hamming. The Snakes kept the play going, sending the puck back to the point, allowing Luke Ashton to lean into a shot that beat the Warriors netminder but not the post as Vernon with back to back chances, couldn't grab an early 2-0 lead. About three and a half minutes later, the Tribe would get the games first power play on a suspect call. Walker Erickson hit Landen Hilditch into the end wall, the official that was just a few feet away from the hit didn't raise his arm or look to be making a call until the play continued and the Warriors d-man fell to the ice when the call was made, sending WK to the man advantage. Hilditch went straight to the dressing room but would later return. The Tribe would register just one shot and come up empty handed as the hometown Vipers killed off the minor. About fourty seconds later, the Snakes would get their first PP of the evening. Off the opening play, Dylan Compton's shot from the point, beat Cayden Hamming but not the post as the Vipers come close to grabbing a two goal lead. Griffen Barr would turn over the puck at the blueline, allowing Brennan Nelson in for the breakaway, Nelson would deke out Roan Clarke but miss before crashing into the Snakes goaltender and pulling off his mask. Nelson would get charged with roughing, sending Vernon to a two man advantage. Off the following faceoff, the Snakes would get a flurry of chances in and around the goal on a goal mouth scramble would be denied by Cayden Hamming twice before Reagan Milburn rang a shot off the post as the visiting West Kelowna Warriors would kill off both penalties. Twenty five seconds later, Dylan Brooks beat Roan Clarke, tying the game 1-1 at 13:45 Ben MacDonald & Isaiah Norlin drew the assists. 1:27 later Christopher Duclair on an odd man rush, kept and shot beating Roan Clarke, giving West Kelowna a 2-1 lead at 15:17 Brennan Nelson with the helper. Late in the period, the Tribe jumped on the man advantage and capitalized. Michael Salandra gave West Kelowna a 3-1 lead at 17:42 Isaiah Norlin & Brennan Nelson picking up the assists. I thought a Warrior player was in the crease blocking Roan Clarke from making a save. With just over a minute remaining in the 1st period, Lee Parks and Dylan Compton would get back to back opportunities but would be stopped by Cayden Hamming. Two big saves late as it was 3-1 West Kelowna after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers would get off to a quick start, opening the scoring thirty five seconds into the contest. Vernon played with a lot of jump, energy and was physical, looked very good to start the game was the better team early. The Snakes had several looks/chances to up the score but didn't get the bounces, puck luck or goal when needed. This cost the Vipers as West Kelowna was able to tie the game before quickly taking the lead and the ice tilted and the momentum changed as the Warriors didn't look back and were the better team for the remainder of the period. Shots were 11-7 West Kelowna.

2nd Period: Off the opening faceoff the Snakes were able to get the play into the offensive zone as the puck was loose in the slot as two Vipers skated over the puck, the Tribe come back the other way. Christopher Duclair setup Dylan Brooks who beat Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Roan Clarke at 0:26 giving West Kelowna an early 4-1 lead. Clarke looked a little deep in his net and a goal I think he wants back. This was the end of the night for Roan Clarke who allowed four goals on twelve West Kelowna shots. Ethan David who picked up the win in Game 2 replaced Roan Clarke. Just over three minutes in, the Warriors went on an early power play and capitalized. Jaiden Moriello beat Ethan David at 4:56 giving West Kelowna a commanding 5-1 lead, Rylee Hlusiak and Dylan Brooks collected the helpers. The Warriors with two goals on four 2nd period shots. About two minutes later, Ben MacDonald was hauled down on a breakaway, was awarded a penalty shot. MacDonald tried to deke out Ethan David but missed the net. In and around the midway mark, Walker Erickson with a quick low shot from the slot forced West Kelowna Warriors starting goaltender Cayden Hamming into making a terrific pad save. Shortly after it looked like the Vipers were going on a power play before Anson McMaster took an undisciplined penalty, taking away the man advantage. About four minutes later, Lee Parks with a quick snap shot beat Cayden Hamming, cutting West Kelowna's lead to 5-2 at 15:16 Connor Elliott and Julian Facchinelli picking up the assists. It was 5-2 West Kelowna after 40 minutes of play. The Warriors put the game away early, jumping out to a 5-1 lead and took the crowd and the Snakes out of the hockey game. This wasn't much of a period with the game one sided as the Tribe carried the better of the play, had more puck possession, zone time and were outskating Vernon often. WK on several occassions looked to have the puck on a string passing it around playing keep away like they were on the power play. The Warriors were the better team. Both teams were physical in a chippy period. The Vipers gave up two early goals and didn't have much response in a period where they couldn't gain any kind of traction, momentum or even get control of the puck. The Vipers had two shots in the first half. The Snakes had a few strong shifts late in the period but unable to generate much of anything. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 10-4.

3rd Period: Just over two minutes into the final frame, WK went on an early man advantage. The Tribe had a few looks as Vernon killed off the minor. About five minutes in, Hank Cleaves left all alone come in across the blueline, ripped a shot from the circle but was denied by Cayden Hamming on a big stop. Shortly after Ethan David was forced to make a big save off Felix Caron. Warriors captain Aiden Reeves took a big hit from Ayden Third along the end wall. Reeves looking for a penalty, didn't get it as he made his way to the bench and then dressing room as the Warriors bench was upset with the non-call. Reeves looked to return to the bench later on but I didn't see him step back onto the ice for the remainder of the period. Late in the period Cayden Hamming was forced to make two big stops. In the dying seconds, Walker Erickson hit a Warriors player in the offensive zone, several West Kelowna players skated towards Erickson as the officials stepped between as the buzzer sounded. The Warriors bench was irate as Head Coach/GM Simon Ferguson called over the officials as both benches were chirping one another. For whatever reason, the Snakes stayed on the bench, even though the game was over. As both teams finally made their way to the dressing rooms, the Warriors coaching staff was still on the bench talking with officials as the Vipers coaching staff, stayed on their bench watching. This went on for several minutes before the officials skated away. West Kelowna would take Game 3 5-2 and take a 2-1 series lead with Game 4 tomorrow in Vernon. With the score and game already out of reach, this wasn't much of a period. Both teams had the puck and puck possession at different times with not a whole lot of scoring chances at either ends of the rink. Both teams still played physical and laid the body in a chippy period. Shots were 7-6 West Kelowna.

Vernon Vipers Top Player's:

Ayden Third I thought played a rugged/physical game

Reagan Milburn played with some jump, had the puck often, created/generated some plays

Lee Parks (2 goals) Has been the best Viper forward in these playoffs

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- I have to question Jason McKee for going with Roan Clarke over Ethan David tonight? I understand McKee and the Vipers have rotated goaltenders during last year's regular season and again this season but went with Roan Clarke in last year's playoffs. Clarke got the start in Game 1 and took the loss. Ethan David got the start in Game 2 and got the win. Doesn't he deserve the start in Game 3? No offence to Roan Clarke but you go with the kid who got you the win last game and roll with him. I think Roan Clarke would like back a goal or two tonight. A poor coaching decision 

- The Vipers are 1-2 at home this season (regular season & playoffs vs the West Kelowna Warriors

- The Snakes went 0-3 with the power play

- I really liked Vernon's start to the hockey game. I thought the Vipers not only opened the scoring thirty five seconds in, played with a lot of jump/energy, were physical and had the better of the play/opportunities

- The Vipers didn't get any puck luck or bounces go their way, especially early to start Game 3. Vernon hit three posts and had several quality chances to add to an already 1-0 lead but couldn't. Instead the Warriors were able to tie the game, before taking a one goal lead. This tilted the ice, changed the momentum and the game changed

- A pretty good crowd for a mid-week playoff game. Tonight's attendance was 1,637

- The Snakes power play had some looks/opportunities but couldn't capitalize. Vernon needed to get a goal or two on those early power play's 

- This was a physical/chippy game from start to finish

- Your not going to win many hockey games with only four shots in one period and two shots in the first ten minutes of a period

- The Vipers have won nine of their last thirteen home games

- Vernon's passing was off tonight and struggled through most of the hockey game

- After the Warriors scored two quick goals to start the 2nd period, this was basically the hockey game

- Game 4 goes Wednesday night in Vernon

- Once West Kelowna took a 3-1 lead the Vipers weren't the same team, looked frustrated for the remainder of the game

- Including the regular season and playoffs, the Snakes are 2-3-0-2 vs the Warriors this season

- The Vipers needed to get more pucks to the net

- Down 2-1 in the series the Vipers in a must win situation tomorrow as they don't want to go down 3-1 heading back to West Kelowna for Game 5

West Kelowna Warriors Top Player's:

Dylan Brooks (2 goals & 1 assist) Was one of West Kelowna's better players. This kid is a solid defenceman that joins the rush and plays well at both ends of the rink

Brennan Nelson (2 assists) Has played well vs the Snakes this season, chipped in with two assists tonight, played well in the win

Felix Caron returned to the Tribes lineup, looked good and played well through out the hockey game. Played with some spark and edge through out the game. Not the biggest kid but not afraid to back down from the rough stuff

Isaiah Norlin (2 assists) Another Warrior that has played well vs the Vipers this season. Has been one of better players for West Kelowna in these playoffs, had a strong game this evening

Christopher Duclair (1 goal & 1 assist) Has also played very well vs the Vipers this season. This kid can skate, move the puck and has a wicked release/shot. Is hard to contain/defend against, plays hard, physical, never quits skating and always engaged in the play. One of if not the hardest working players

Cayden Hamming (17 saves) Wasn't tested a whole lot tonight but made some key saves early in the opening frame when the Tribe was down a goal and the Vipers were surging. If Vernon scores on a couple of these opportunities, it's a different hockey game. Hamming also got some help as the Snakes hit three posts, all in the 1st period

Game Thought's: West Kelowna Warriors

- A big win on the road for a West Kelowna team that had been struggling playing away from home. Before tonight's game, the Warriors had four wins in their last sixteen road games

- The last time the Warriors were in Vernon (regular season) The Vipers won 4-3 February 11th 2023

- A fair turnout of West Kelowna fans in attendance

- The Tribe went 2-4 with the man advantage

- Game 5 goes Friday in West Kelowna

- Warriors Assistant Coach Josh Gorges played 14 seasons in the NHL with Montreal, San Jose & Buffalo

- West Kelowna played very well defensively, limiting Vernon to only nineteen shots on goal

- In all three games the Warriors have struggled in the 1st period and haven't played well or been very sharp

- Give WK credit. The Warriors gave up the first goal on the first shot, thirty five seconds into the hockey game, killed off a two man advantage, got some key saves from their goaltender, before scoring two quick back to back goals to take the lead and never look back

- Emotions were running high on both sides tonight and you have to wonder if we see a one sided hockey game tomorrow, will we see those emotions boil over and things get ugly?

- I didn't think West Kelowna had a whole lot of chances/opportunities, instead scored/capitalized on their chances/oppotunities

- Give full credit to Vernon product/goaltender Cayden Hamming, playing in his first season with the Warriors, is making a name for himself

- Warriors Head Coach/GM Simon Ferguson and Warriors Assistant Coach Josh Gorges were teammates with the Kelowna Rockets, winning the 2004 Memorial Cup together

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

- The Warriors took out the Vipers in 5 games in last year's playoffs

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Jonathan Horn
Ethan Merner
Ethan Sundar (Injured)

West Kelowna Warriors:

Jake Bernadet
Matthew Fusco (Injured)

Justin Katz (Injured)

Energy Player of the Game:

Ayden Third

Three Star's:

1st Star: Dylan Brooks (2 goals & 1 assist)

2nd Star: Lee Parks (2 goals)

3rd Star: Christopher Duclair (1 goal & 1 assist)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

West Kelowna Warriors @ Vernon Vipers Tuesday, April 04, 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 Vernon Vipers-West Kelowna Warriors game.