vipersdiehardfan blog: Game Recap - Vernon 4 West Kelowna 3 Overtime

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 2.6 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 as the Vipers defeated the Warriors 4-3 in overtime in front of 757 fans at Royal Le Page Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Ethan David

West Kelowna Warriors: Rorke Applebee

1st Period: The Vipers would get the early jump on the hometown Warriors but unable to get much of anything going other then some early zone time and puck possession before Isaiah Norlin opened the scoring at 4:12 giving West Kelowna an early 1-0 lead at 4:12 The play seemed to go back and fourth for a while but it was the Snakes that had the edge in play, had more puck possession, zone time and shots on goal. Vernon didn't generate or create many chances, recorded two quality opportunities at best through the entire opening frame. The Tribe jumped out to a 2-0 lead on just five shots on goal, didn't get a whole lot of zone time, did score on their opportunities. WK played well defensively, keeping Vernon's shooters to the outside and boxing out the front of the net. The Vipers go 0-3 with the man advantage, while WK went 1-1 on the power play. It was 2-1 West Kelowna after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 10-5.

2nd Period: The Warriors jumped on the visiting Vernon Vipers early, before jumping out to an early 3-1 lead at 4:10 on a goal from Frederic Deschienes. About a minute later we saw the first Viper fight of the 2023-24 season as Adam Csabi and Dylan Brooks dropped the gloves. Shortly after the Snakes thought they had got to within a goal on a two man advantage but the referee blew the whistle seconds before the puck went in. Vernon was the better team, and for a second straight period, carried the better of the play, had more puck possession, zone time and shots on goal. Luke Buss rang a shot off the post on a shorthanded breakaway. The only time the Warriors seemed to get any kind of zone time would be on the two man advantage. West Kelowna struggled offensively, played well defensively, keeping the Snakes to the outside, closing the shooting lanes, and allowing Rorke Applebee to see all shots with very little to no traffic in front. Viggo Nordstrom took a hit into the end boards and didn't get up for sometime before slowly making his way to the Warriors bench, holding his arm/wrist. Nordstrom seemed to be ok as he stayed in the hockey game. The Vipers were the better team, went 0-3 with the PP. The Tribe went 0-2 on the man advantage. It was 3-2 West Kelowna after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 17-13.

3rd Period: Early into the period, Isaiah Norlin rang a shot off the post and a chance at putting West Kelowna ahead 4-2. The Vipers were the better team for a third straight period. Vernon once again carried the better of the play, had more puck possession, zone time and shots on goal. The Snakes with only a couple of quality chances, struggled offensively. The Vipers went 0-1 with the man advantage. The Warriors for a third straight period, were very good defensively, kept the Snakes to the outside, blocked several shots, allowed Rorke Applebee to see most shots and boxed out all bodies from the front of the crease. The Tribe struggled offensively, saw a lot of the play in their own end or inside centre ice. West Kelowna had troubles generating offence and gaining zone time/sustained pressure in the offensive zone. The turning point come late in the hockey game when Erik Pastro was called for goaltender interference at 17:17 putting the Warriors on a late power play, instead Isaiah Norlin crosschecked Pastro, taking an undisciplined minor, sending the play to four on four before the Vipers would call a timeout and get Ethan David to the bench for the extra attacker with around two minutes remaining. Gerogios Stavrianeas tied the game at 18:36 It was 3-3 after 60 minutes of play. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 9-6.

Overtime: The Warriors would get the first two quality chances in the extra frame and none better then Isaiah Norlin who rang a shot off the post before Julian Facchinelli took the puck up ice, come very close to ending the hockey game on a wrap around before Viper captain Connor Elliott buried the rebound for the game winner, as the Viper bench erupted onto the ice. The Vipers have won seven straight. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 2-0.

Vernon Vipers Top Performers:

Luke Buss (2 assists) I thought played his best game of the season. I haven't been too impressed with the second year Viper but tonight he stood out, skated hard, carried the puck, made plays happen and was involved in the play.

Owen Kim Has really impressed me this season and on most nights. Kim played hard and was one of the better Vipers tonight. This kid isn't the biggest but plays big, plays hard, fast, can skate and makes plays happen. Was flying all over the rink this evening.

Ethan David (21 saves) Wasn't overly tested but made a few key saves when needed too.

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- Tonight's the first game of a home & home series vs West Kelowna

- The Vipers have won seven straight games after losing 3-2 in Salmon Arm opening night September 22nd

- Vernon went 1-7 with the man advantage

- The Vipers went 0-2 vs West Kelowna during the pre-season

- The Snakes were the better team tonight as Vernon carried the better of the play, had more shots on goal in all four periods, had more zone time and puck possession

- Vernon struggled with the power play

- I spotted a small handful of Viper fans at tonight's game

- Adam Csabi was involved in the Vipers first fight of the 2023-24 season

- Instead of just shooting the puck with an open lane, the Vipers hesitated at times and tried to make a play that didn't work out and ended up with no shot on goal

- The Vipers struggled offensively, didn't create/or generate a whole lot of quality opportunities

- The Vipers hesitated on a lot of their shots/chances

- Tonight was the second game of a two game road trip

- I don't think Vernon played their best game but trailing 2-0 and 3-1 on the road vs one of the top teams in the Interior, give the Snakes credit for battling back and winning their seventh straight

- The Vipers went 1-2-0-2 vs West Kelowna last season

- If I can remember, I think the last time the Vipers won seven straight games was to start the 2013-14 season

- Vernon played well defensively, limiting the Warriors chances

- The Snakes play four of their next five games on the road

- Vernon didn't get enough bodies or traffic in front of the blue paint as Rorke Applebee was seeing almost everything

- Luke Buss hit the post on a 2nd period shorthanded breakaway

- Give Vernon credit for falling behind 2-0 and 3-1 but not giving up, battling back to force overtime and then get the extra two points with the victory in overtime

- The Snakes went winless in three games in West Kelowna last season

- Penticton Vees Head Coach/GM/President Fred Harbinson and the Penticton Vees coaching staff were at tonight's game. The Vipers & Vees play in Penticton October 27th

- If the Snakes power play was clicking, Vernon could have put this game away early with the amount of penalties the Warriors took

- With the win, Vernon improves to 7-1-0-0 and sit 1st place in the Interior Division

West Kelowna Warriors Top Performers:

Brennan Nelson (2 assists) The Warriors captain with two helpers, was involved in the play and played well in the loss

Isaiah Norlin (1 goal & 2 assists) Was by far the Tribes best player this evening. Norlin did take an undisciplined penalty late in the hockey game, taking away a Warriors power play that even the play four on four, that eventually allowed Vernon to tie the game and force overtime

Rorke Applebee (34 saves) Was the busier of the two netminders and kept West Kelowna in the contest at times. Applebee played very well vs Vernon during the pre-season, was very good in goal tonight.

Game Thought's: West Kelowna Warriors

- I wasn't overly impressed with the Warriors as the Vipers were the better team

- A good sized crowd on hand for a mid-week game and also playing on the same night as the Kelowna Rockets. Tonight's attendance was announced at 757

- The Warriors went 1-3 with the power play

- West Kelowna played very well defensively, boxed Vernon out from the front of the net as well as kept the Viper forwards to the outside, limiting time and space

- The Warriors coaching staff was very upset or argued almost every call or non call against the Warriors

- These two teams will meet again Friday in Vernon

- Isaiah Norlin hit the post early in the 3rd and early into overtime

- The Tribe not only took way too many penalties, were very undisciplined

- Warriors Assistant Coach Josh was captain of the Kelowna Rockets Memorial Cup winning team, also played fourteen seasons in the NHL with Buffalo, Montreal and San Jose

- West Kelowna struggled offensively, didn't generate or create a whole lot of quality opportunities

- Warriors Head Coach/GM Simon Ferguson played on the Kelowna Rockets Memorial Cup winning team

- With the loss, West Kelowna falls to 4-1-1-0 at home this season

- The Warriors blew 2-0 and 3-1 leads, couldn't put this game away when having the opportunity

- I didn't think the Tribe played or looked that good and were outplayed often through out the hockey game

- West Kelowna didn't generate a whole lot of offence, managed to score on their opportunities

- The Warriors were eliminated by the Vipers in five games during last year's opening round BCHL playoffs

- Prior to tonight, the Tribe had won four of their last five games

- The Warriors play their next five games away from home

- With the loss, West Kelowna falls to 6-2-1-0 sit 3rd in the Interior Division

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers: