Interior Conference Semifinals: Game 4 Salmon Arm 7 Vernon 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 2.3 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 4 of the Interior Conference Semifinals as Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 7-3 taking a 3-1 series lead in front of 2,130 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Ethan David

Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Matthew Tovell

1st Period: Just over two minutes into Game 4 Ethan Ullrick off a turnover would get a quality chance in the slot, but denied by Ethan David. Less then a minute later, Maddux Martin's quick shot had Ethan David but went off the post as the Silverbacks with back to back opportunities early into the contest. Just before the midway mark, Casy Laylin with a good look/opportunity couldn't solve Ethan David. Minutes later on another turnover, Tristan Allen gave Salmon Arm a 1-0 lead at 8:59 Ethan Ullrick & Liam Steele drew the helpers. Off the following faceoff, Brandon Santa Juana gave Salmon Arm a 2-0 lead at 9:02 Reid Varkonyi and CJ Foley picked up the assists. This was the end of the night for Ethan David who allowed two goals on six Salmon Arm shots. Roan Clarke would replace David. With about five and a half minutes remaining, Casy Laylin on a scramble at the top of the crease, had two maybe three chances was unable to give the Gorillas a 3-0 lead on some good chances in front. Shortly after the Backs with a big hit behind the net, laid out a Vernon defender, quickly moved the puck out front that allowed Isaac Lambert to beat Roan Clarke, giving Salmon Arm a late 3-0 lead at 16:30 Brandon Santa Juana and Ethan Ullrick collected the assists. With 1:22 left in the opening period, the lights/power went out as fans and the teams on the ice were left in the dark for a good thirty seconds or more before the emergency lights come on. A lengthy delay before the officials sent both teams to the dressing rooms, while the zamboni cleaned the ice in the dark. After about a half hour wait, the lights/power returned as both teams took to the ice. Both teams would finish the final 1:22 remaining in the 1st period before a quick two minute break and then started the 2nd period. It was 3-0 Salmon Arm after 20 minutes of play. The Silverbacks were by far the better team and controlled the 1st period were all over the hometown Snakes. SA with a couple of early looks/opportunities carried most of the play, had a ton of puck possession and zone time and played a lot of the period in the offensive zone. The Apes scored two out of their three goals on Viper turnovers, chased Ethan David from the net in a period where the Vipers were outplayed and not in this hockey game. Vernon played a lot of the period in their own end, were turning over pucks, making mistakes, caught out of position and struggled not only offensively but had troubles getting across the neutral zone. The Snakes didn't get one single scoring chance. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 15-5.

2nd Period: Just over three minutes into the middle frame, Hayden Stavroff would be denied by Roan Clarke. About a minute later, Anson McMaster's point shot would be redirected by Walker Erickson in front forcing Salmon Arm Silverbacks starting netminder Matthew Tovell to make a big save up high on a deflection in front. Shortly after a shot from well out, hit a body in front that looked like it was going into the open net, instead went off the far post as Roan Clarke didn't even see the shot/puck as the Vipers catch a huge break. Shortly after Vernon would get the games first power play. Luke Pakulak would be denied from the high slot on a good read in front on the Snakes one and only chance with the man advantage. SA would kill off the minor. One minute later, the Vipers would head back to the PP and this time capitalize. Julian Facchinelli would get Vernon on the scoreboard, cutting Salmon Arm's lead to 3-1 at 9:30 Griffen Barr and Walker Erickson drew the assists. About five minutes later, it looked like Isaac Tremblay scored on a play in front of the goal. Matthew Tovell was down on his backside, while Tremblay looked to score but as the Snakes were celebrating one official behind the goal through his arms in the air. After a lengthy discussion the officials called it a goal as Vernon cut Salmon Arm's lead to 3-2 at 14:23 Walker Erickson and Anson McMaster picking up the helpers. But just one minute later on another turnover, Raoul Boilard beat Roan Clarke on a scramble in and around Vernon's net as the Vipers were caught standing around/chasing the puck before it ended up in the back of the net. Salmon Arm with a 4-2 lead at 15:22 Maddux Martin with the lone assist. The Vipers responded just over three minutes later, Walker Erickson in front, cut Salmon Arm's lead to 4-3 at 18:40 Hank Cleaves and Anson McMaster with the assists. This getting the crowd back into the hockey game. It was 4-3 Salmon Arm after 40 minutes of play. The S'Backs had a bit of the early edge in play before the Vipers quickly re-grouped and responded with two quick goals five minutes apart to get within a goal. Vernon looked and played much better compared to the 1st period, played with a lot more pace and some energy, were finally able to get through the neutral zone and generate some offence. The Snakes still turned over pucks and making either poor passes or mistakes through out the period. The Vipers with an edge in play in the period. Shots were 20-6 Vernon.

3rd Period: Just over four minutes into the period, CJ Foley stepped over the blueline and ripped a shot that somehow beat Roan Clarke, giving Salmon Arm an early 5-3 lead at 4:40 Clarke didn't even move on a shot I think he has to stop at this point in the hockey game. Ryan Gillespie & Hayden Stavroff with the helpers. Foley's goal took the crowd out of the game. 1:09 later Reagan Milburn took an undisciplined double minor for high sticking Ethan Ullrick along the end wall. Ullrick went straight to the dressing room but later returned. The Silverbacks waisted little time on the man advantage. Tristan Allen's point shot, gave Salmon Arm a 6-3 lead at 5:50 Allen's goal was unassisted. Thirty four seconds later and still on the PP Nathan Mackie gave Salmon Arm a 7-3 lead at 6:24 Owen Beckner and Ethan Ullrick picking up the assists. The Apes with three goals in the 3rd on just four shots put the game away early. With the game way out of reach the Silverbacks basically coasted to a 7-3 victory, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. The Gorillas put the game away early, scoring three quick goals on just four shots. With the game basically over both teams just finished the period with neither team getting any real quality chances. Salmon Arm had the better of the play at times with the Vipers showing very little to no life. Shots were 8-5 Salmon Arm.

Vernon Vipers Top Performers:

Julian Facchinelli (1 goal) I thought played with some jump/energy, created some open ice on a few shifts, was involved in the offence from time to time and one of the more effective forwards in the loss

Thomas Tien returned to the Snakes lineup after not playing in Game 3. Not the biggest kid but plays big and plays hard, competes, never stops skating, works his tail off almost every shift and was one of the hardest skating/working forwards

Walker Erickson (1 goal & 2 assists) Has been very quiet this postseason, was brought in at the trade deadline to add some skill/offence and hasn't found his game in these playoffs until tonight. Erickson recorded three points and played very well up front for the Vipers

Anson McMaster (2 assists) Played very well at both ends of the rink this evening

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- The Vipers played well and looked good in the 2nd period other wise were outplayed, outworked and outscored in the 1st and 3rd periods

- The Vipers have been very inconsistent all series

- Another big crowd on hand for a midweek game. Tonight's attendance was 2,130

- Tonight was the first time Vernon scored a goal in either the 1st or 2nd periods this entire series

- The Snakes went 1-2 on the power play

- Former Vernon Vipers Assistant Coach & Head Coach Joe Oliver was at tonight's game

- The Vipers went 0-2 vs Salmon Arm during the preseason and 4-3 vs Salmon Arm during the regular season

- Was this the Vipers final home game this season?

- I don't think Vernon's goaltenders were on their A game tonight

- The amount of mistakes and turnovers at this time of the season is terrible and comes down to coaching

- Has anyone else noticed Kal Tire Place needs repainting on the outside of the building? The yellow, blue and red trip is faded and dull looking

- Did Jason McKee make the right move by pulling Ethan David after giving up two goals on six shots?

- Tonight was a must win, the Vipers didn't want to be down 3-1 with Game 5 in Salmon Arm

- The Vipers with turnovers or mistakes all game, have made turnovers or coughed up the puck almost every other shift this entire series

- If needed Game 6 would be Sunday in Vernon

- The Vipers are having difficulties shutting down Salmon Arm's top players

- The power/lights went out with 1:22 remaining in the 1st period as fans/teams were left in the dark for about thirty or so seconds before the emergency lights come on. After about a half hour delay, the power/lights returned and the game continued

- The Vipers have trailed in every game this series

- Salmon Arm's top players have outplayed and outscored Vernon's top players

- The Snakes fall to 2-3 at home in these playoffs

- Listening to the broadcast on the radio on the drive home, Graham Turnbull said Reagan Milburn was benched for the remainder of the game after taking a double minor high sticking penalty in the 3rd period

- The Vipers need to be much better, be more consistent and play three periods of hockey. Vernon has yet to play three periods of hockey this entire series

- Not a lot of noise or much of an atmosphere in both Viper home games this week as the Salmon Arm fans made a heck of a lot more noise over the Viper fans in both home games

- The Vipers don't seem to have an answer for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks this entire series

- A very disappointing effort and outcome last night and again tonight. The Vipers get the split in Salmon Arm and come home for Games 3 & 4 and can't play anywhere near sixty minutes is not good

- This isn't the same Viper team I saw play/knock off the West Kelowna Warriors in the 1st round of the playoffs. The Snakes don't like look or have played like the Viper team that beat West Kelowna

- The Silverbacks have outscored the Vipers 11-3 in the 1st and 2nd periods this entire series

- Your not going to win many hockey games with 5 shots in a period, the Vipers had only five shots in the 1st period and five shots in the 3rd period

Salmon Arm Silverbacks Top Performers:

CJ Foley (1 goal & 1 assist) Played very well at both ends of the rink. This kid played very well vs Vernon during the regular season. Foley can skate, move the puck and gets involved in the play

Tristan Allen (2 goals) Another defenceman that played very well through out the hockey game

Casy Laylin Looked very good in the opening frame, had several looks/opportunities, played well in the win tonight

Hayden Stavroff (1 assist) I like this kids game and thought he's played well the entire series

Ethan Ullrick (3 assists) Has been consistent and played well this series. The Vipers don't seem to have an answer for the Backs forward

Isaac Lambert (1 goal) Looked good in both games in Vernon

Matthew Tovell (27 saves) Wasn't tested at all in periods 1 & 3 but faced twenty shots in the 2nd period, played well. I don't think had to make any real large saves but made the saves when called apon. Is playing with a lot of confidence right now

Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks

- The Silverbacks improve to 4-0 on the road in these playoffs

- Salmon Arm doesn't make many mistakes, makes things happen with the puck and plays a very structured game

- A good turnout of Silverbacks fans tonight

- Salmon Arm has a very good hockey team

- The Apes were physical and played physical through out the game

- Salmon Arm went 1-3 in Vernon during the regular season, is 2-0 in Vernon in the playoffs

- The Apes went 2-2 with the man advantage

- Game 5 goes Friday in Salmon Arm

- Salmon Arm has been the better team the entire series and it's showed

- The Backs only issue right now is holding/playing with the lead. The Silverbacks blew a 3-0 lead in Game 1, were up 3-0 in Game before the Vipers made it 3-2 before Salmon Arm won 5-2 and then blew a 2-0 lead in Game 3 before winning 3-2 in double overtime, come close to blowing a 3-0 lead tonight, before blowing the game wide open in the 3rd

- The winner of this series will face the Penticton Vees after Penticton took out the Wenatchee Wild 4-0 tonight

- The Silverbacks have won four of their last six road games

- The S'Backs did a good job at shutting down several of Vernon's top players tonight

- The Silverbacks are in complete control of this series and in the drivers seat

- If it wasn't for a 3rd period collapse in Game 1, the Silverbacks should have ended the series tonight in four straight games

- The Gorillas played very well defensively and were strong on the attack, won almost every puck battle

- The Backs have outscored Vernon 18-11 in this series

- The Silverbacks scored some big goals at key times in the hockey game

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Connor Welsh

Ethan Merner

Ethan Sundar (Injured)

Salmon Arm Silverbacks:

Lynden Hanvold

Jayden Grier

Jules Boilard

Energy Player of the Game:

Walker Erickson (1 goal & 2 assists)

Three Star's:

1st Star: Brandon Santa Juana (1 goal & 1 assist)

2nd Star: Ethan Ullrick (2 assists)

3rd Star: Hayden Satvroff (1 assist)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Salmon Arm Silverbacks @ Vernon Vipers Wednesday, April 19, 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-Salmon Arm Silverbacks game.