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-Salmon Arm Silverbacks Game 3 of the Interior Conference Semifinals as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 3-2 in double overtime in front of 2,008 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Ethan David
Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Matthew Tovell
2nd Period: The Gorillas started the middle frame on the power play, that was carried over from the 1st period. Backs captain Nathan Mackie with a look/opportunity in front of the net, couldn't solve Vernon Vipers starting netminder Ethan David. Hayden Stavroff carried the puck along the wall, went behind the goal before beating Ethan David with the wrap around, giving Salmon Arm a power play goal and a 2-0 lead at 1:38 Tristan Allen with the assist. This was a goal Ethan David wants back, as the Vernon goaltender didn't even flinch or move on the play as David looked to be starring out into center ice and didn't even see Stavroff come around the net. About five minutes later, Anson McMaster with open ice, looked to have a clear shot at the net, fired wide on a missed opportunity. Just past the midway mark, the S'Backs would get their second PP of the evening. SA with just a single shot, struggled with the man advantage as Vernon killed off the penalty. About a minute and a half later, the Gorillas went back to the man advantage and had a couple of looks as well as a goal mouth scramble, but couldn't capitalize as the Snakes killed off back to back penalties. It was 2-0 Salmon Arm after 40 minutes of play. The Silverbacks had an edge in play, seemed to generate more puck possession, blocked a lot of shots, got sticks in the way and had more zone time. The Apes didn't get a lot of chances but did generate a few looks/opportunities. The Snakes struggled offensively couldn't generate or create any kind of scoring chances, turned over pucks, made mistakes, poor passing and couldn't get any traction going. Shots were 6-6.
3rd Period: Inside the opening minute of play, Mathieu Bourgault with a quick shot from the slot, forced Ethan David into making a difficult save, squeezing the puck tight between his blocker/arm and holding on had to look behind him to make sure he had the puck. A big stop early to start the 3rd. Just before the halfway mark, Reagan Milburn with a quick shot from the circle, forced Salmon Arm Silverbacks starting goaltender into making a big stop with his glove/arm on a difficult save from a sharp angle. In and around the midway mark, Anson McMaster looked to get the Vipers on the score board, but somehow missed a wide open net, redirected the puck onto the back of the mesh/net as the goal horn sounded as some fans in the building, thought the Snakes had scored. The play continued before Luke Ashton's shot from what looked like the goal line, somehow found it's way though Matthew Tovell and into the back of the net, cutting Salmon Arm's lead to 2-1 at 11:08 Anson McMaster with the helper. With about three and a half minutes remaining, Viper forward/captain Seiya Tanaka-Campbell would be denied in close on a quality opportunity. Not long after Reagan Milburn would be stoned in the slot on a glorious chance in front. Matthew Tovell with back to back large saves, keeping this a one goal game. Vernon would get Ethan David to the bench for the extra attacker with about 1:40ish remaining. Lee Parks would be stopped before Hank Cleaves buried the rebound, tying the game 2-2 at 18:50 as Kal Tire Place went into a frenzy. Lee Parks and Dylan Compton drew the assists. Inside the final ten seconds of play, Liam Steele with a glorious look, would be denied by Ethan David on a large save in the dying seconds. It was 2-2 after 60 minutes of play. Vernon carried the better of the play but wasn't very sharp or look very good. The Snakes may have had the better of the play but once again turnovers, poor passing, missed the net on several shots, made mistakes and had very few scoring chances. SA saw a lot of time in their own end, did play well defensively, blocked several shots, kept Vernon to the outside, took away the shooting lanes and limited the Vipers opportunities. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 13-8.
Overtime: About four and a half minutes into OT Ethan Ullrick looked to have the game won but somehow Ethan David managed to make a game saving save on the goal line, keeping this game going. A massive save from the Viper netminder early into the extra frame. About two and a half minutes later, Seiya Tanaka-Campbell looked to have the game won, would be stopped in close on a large save from Matthew Tovell. On the following shift, Regan Milburn looked to have Matthew Tovell deked out but somehow couldn't get the puck across the goal line on a glorious opportunity. Shortly after CJ Foley with a quality chance in close would be denied by Ethan David. Just before the halfway mark, Anson McMaster's point shot would be stopped by Matthew Tovell before Tovell was forced into making at least two, maybe three big stops on a scramble in and around the top of the crease. Not to long after the Backs would get a PP and a chance to end the hockey game. Salmon Arm didn't really get any good looks or quality chances as the Vipers escape and kill off the minor. Late in the period, the Snakes would get a late PP but unable to capitalize before the buzzer. It was 2-2 after 80 minutes of play. The Vipers were the better team, had several looks/chances but unable to capitalize on their opportunities.Vernon carried the better of the play, had more zone time. Both teams had very good chances to end it as the Silverbacks had a few real good looks/chances as well as missed the net on some open ice but saw a lot of the play in their own end. Both goaltenders were solid in goal in the extra frame. Shots were 10-7 Vernon.
Double Overtime: The Snakes started the extra frame with the man advantage that was carried over from the first overtime. The S'Backs would kill off the final thirty four seconds before Luke Pakulak setup Reagan Milburn going to the front of the net, would be stopped by Matthew Tovell in front. A big stop early in double overtime. Vernon would get an early PP but struggled as Salmon Arm killed off the minor. Shortly after Hank Cleaves with a wide open cage, fired high and over the goal with Matthew Tovell down and out on a missed opportunity. Shortly after the Vipers setup Reagan Milburn on an odd man rush but Milburn couldn't connect on the pass on what looked like a sure goal. Two missed opportunities from the hometown Snakes. Not long after the Vipers would be called for offside before icing the puck. Reid Varkonyi won the draw and William Lavigne's shot beat Ethan David at 11:26 giving Salmon Arm a 3-2 double overtime win and a 2-1 series lead as the Silverbacks fans went into a frenzy. Once again for a second straight period, the Vipers were the better team, carried the play, had some very good looks/opportunities and none better then Hank Cleaves missing on an open net. The Silverbacks didn't see a whole lot of time in the offensive zone and William Lavigne's winning goal was the Gorillas only real opportunity of double overtime. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 8-4.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Seiya Tanaka-Campbell saw a lot of ice, struggled and didn't do much in regulation but was one of the better Viper forwards in overtime. The Viper captain picked up his play and played much better in the two overtimes
Reagan Milburn was another player that didn't do much in the first three periods but had some looks/chances in the two overtimes and one of the more dangerous forwards
Luke Pakulak returned to the Vipers lineup after missing the past three games with an injury. Before this game went to overtime, I thought Pakulak was one of the better and only Vipers that did much of anything. Played well through out the game
Ethan David (28 saves) Wasn't nearly tested as much as Matthew Tovell but still made some big stops, especially some in the first overtime. I think David would like to have back Salmon Arm's second goal after being beat on a wrap around on a goal/play he didn't even move/was watching the play
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers have yet to score a goal in the 1st and 2nd periods in this series, have score all their goals either in the 3rd or overtime periods
- The Vipers didn't look very sharp or played well in the first three periods
- Vernon struggled with the power play, going 0-3 with the man advantage
- The Snakes were making a ton of mistakes and turnovers through out the game
- Vernon has yet to play close to sixty minutes in this series
- A good size crowd for a midweek game. Tonight's attendance was 2,008
- This was a different Viper team and much better Viper team in both overtimes compared to the first three periods
- The Vipers have yet to play with a lead in this series
- Kal Tire Place had very little to no atmosphere in the first three periods until the Vipers tied the game late. Salmon Arm fans were making a lot more noise and chants through out the game over Vernon fans
- The Vipers have won six of their last eight home games and eleven of their last sixteen home games
- The Snakes need to play the first three periods like they did tonight in both overtimes
- Vernon missed the net often through out the game
- Game 4 is a must win for the Snakes as Vernon doesn't want to go back to Salmon Arm down 3-1 in the series
- The Vipers went 0-2 vs Salmon Arm during the preseason and 4-3 vs Salmon Arm during the regular season
- The Vipers have yet to play close to sixty minutes and with much consistency in this series
- Lot's of fans left the hockey game after the 3rd period and after the first overtime as the crowd got smaller as the game went on
- Former Vernon Vipers Assistant Coach & Head Coach Joe Oliver was at tonight's game
- The Vipers shouldn't be making the amount of mistakes and turnovers they are doing in this series at this time of year
- The Snakes struggled offensively in the first three periods, didn't generate or create a whole lot of quality chances
- Game 4 goes Wednesday in Vernon
- Vernon really stepped up their game in overtime and was the better of the two teams in both overtimes. Where was this Viper team in the first two periods?
- How big was Friday's come from behind Vipers win in overtime? If it wasn't for the Silverbacks blowing a 3-0 lead in Game 1 Salmon Arm would be leading this series 3-0
- A very inconsistent Viper team tonight
- The Snakes didn't get a lot of opportunities in the first three periods, had a ton of chances in both overtimes
- Vernon had several good looks/quality chances to end the game in overtime but couldn't bury their opportunities
Salmon Arm Silverbacks Top Performers:
Liam Steele played a solid game on the Apes blueline
Tristan Allen was another Silverbacks defenders that played well
Hayden Stavroff (1 goal) I thought was one of the better forwards for Salmon Arm
Ethan Ullrick played a lot of minutes and played well. This kid is hard to contain, defend and play against
Nathan Mackie wasn't as dangerous with the puck as in Games 1 & 2 but battled, competed and played hard tonight in Game 3
Isaac Lambert (1 goal) Opened the scoring for the Apes, is quick on his feet, another forward that's dangerous with the puck, hard to contain and defend
Matthew Tovell (41 saves) A bigger goaltender, plays with a lot of confidence, covers a lot of net, is quick with the glove wasn't tested much in the first three periods but had to be solid between the pipes in both overtimes with Vernon pressing
Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks
- I thought the Silverbacks were the better team before overtime started
- Salmon Arm's top players have outplayed and outscored Vernon's top players in this series
- The Backs struggled with the power play, went 1-4 with the man advantage
- The Silverbacks played very well defensively in the first three periods, blocked a lot of shots, got sticks in the way, closed the shooting lanes and limited the Snakes chances
- The Apes don't make a lot of mistakes or rarely turn over the puck
- SA has a quick transition game and can quickly turn a play up ice into something in a hurry
- The S'Backs are dangerous with the puck and do much more with the puck compared to the Vipers
- The Silverbacks improve to 6-1 in the playoffs
- I thought the Gorillas were the better team in the first three periods, looked to come away with a win in regulation but it was the Vipers who were the better team in overtime
- A large amount of Silverbacks fans in attendance tonight, made a ton of noise and more noise then Viper fans
- Game 5 will go Friday in Salmon Arm
- The Silverbacks are 3-0 on the road in the playoffs
- Salmon Arm played with a lot of confidence when up 2-0
- Salmon Arm won only one of three games in Vernon during the regular season
- The Silverbacks saw a lot of play in their own end during both overtimes, were chasing the puck and let Matthew Tovell to hang out to dry on some plays
- Salmon Arm's last playoff win in Vernon was a 5-3 victory on March 1st 2019
- Salmon Arm has lost ten of their last sixteen road games
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Thomas Tien
Ethan Merner
Ethan Sundar (Injured)
Salmon Arm Silverbacks:
Ryan Buckley
Jayden Grier
Jules Boilard
Energy Player of the Game:
Anson McMaster
Three Star's:
1st Star: William Lavigne (Overtime winning goal)
2nd Star: Matthew Tovell (41 saves)
3rd Star: Luke Ashton (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.
2 comments:
The silverbacks are better coached offensively and defensively. The silverbacks play a more consistent structured game. Again based on the vipers play over three periods it is again evident that this coach not have his contract renewed. We as fans have been watching and waiting for change on the ice and although it has improved a little it is no where near what it should be for this time of the year. Mark Ferner's team would have shown at this time of year a much improved team and have been more consistent. I am not seeing the improvement with all the turner overs and lack of effort of this years vipers. Let us see what happens tomorrow. GO,viper,GO.
Agree with Bingo they do a great job with playing their younger players for example 2 16 yr Olds and even play 1 in their true position at Center! Go figure! They manage the puck well. Skilled players should play over hard work and manage your players better!
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