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-Trail Smoke Eaters game as the Smoke Eaters defeated the Vipers 3-2 in overtime in front of 2,080 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Colin Reay
Trail Smoke Eaters: Ryan Parker
2nd Period: Just fifty four seconds into the middle frame, the Smoke Eaters would get their second power play of the evening. Seconds before the minor expired, Mathieu Cobetto-Roy beat Colin Reay but not the post. Shortly after Isaac Tremblay opened the scoring, giving Vernon a early 1-0 lead at 3:12 For a second straight period, Trail was the better team. The Smoke Eaters were winning the battles, winning the races, forcing the Vipers into turnovers, were getting pucks to the net, had several quality scoring chances, carried the play, had more puck possession and zone time but unable to beat Vernon Vipers starting netminder Colin Reay. The Smokies went 0-3 with the PP. Vernon played a little better in the second half but were outworked, outplayed, outhit, outshot, outchanced. The Snakes just couldn't get much of anything going through out the night. The Vipers had a couple of looks/opportunities but no pressure in the offensive zone, not a lot of puck possession, were coughing up the puck, making several mistakes, didn't look or play good. The Vipers had a late two man advantage and struggled, couldn't capitalize with the PP. The Snakes went 0-2 with the man advantage. The Vipers were lucky to be ahead. Once again, Colin Reay was solid between the pipes and kept Vernon in the contest. It was 1-0 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. The Smoke Eaters outshot the Vipers 18-5.
3rd Period: 2:36 into the final frame, Ridge Dawson tied the hockey game as it was all Trail. The Smokies work ethic was unstoppable. The Smoke Eaters controlled the play, had more zone time, puck possession, the better of the opportunities, outhit, outshot and outworked Vernon. The Snakes saw a lot of the period in their own end. Vernon struggled offensively, didn't get a lot of pressure in the offensive zone, didn't get a lot of puck possession and were outskated and outworked for a lot of the 3rd period. The Vipers had a couple of looks/chances but not a whole lot. The Vipers would call a late timeout and get Colin Reay to the bench for the extra attacker, that allowed Isaac Tremblay to force overtime with his second goal of the evening at 18:24 It was 2-2 after 60 minutes. Trail outshot Vernon 10-9.
Overtime: The Snakes had early control and the better of the play early and often. Vernon would blow a chance with the power play. The Vipers had lots of puck possession, zone time and created/generated some quality chances but couldn't capitalize. Trail had a couple of looks/opportunities on Viper turnovers but couldn't solve Colin Reay. With the clock winding down. Gryphon Bucci would be denied by Colin Reay before Adam Parsons buried the rebound, giving the Trail Smoke Eaters a 3-2 overtime victory at 9:39 as the Smokies bench erupted onto the ice. Trail outshot Vernon 8-6.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Georgios Stavrianeas I thought looked good/played well this evening. Used his speed to create some opportunities through out the game.
Erik Pastro The local kid, saw lots of ice and played well. Had a couple of looks.
Adam Csabi (1 assist) Rang a shot off the crossbar or post early into the opening frame, was flying, was hard to defend/contain.
Nick Mikan I thought had some good shifts and played well through out the hockey game.
Isaac Tremblay (2 goals) Saw loads of ice time, especially in overtime. Had several opportunities to record the hattrick, was using his wheels and skill to create/generate chances. Was hard to contain/defend against.
Colin Reay (43 saves) Was the difference in goal tonight. Reay kept his team in the hockey game and gave his team a chance to send it to overtime. If it wasn't for Reay, the Smoke Eaters could have easily had seven or more goals.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers went 1-0 vs the Smoke Eaters during the pre-season, after a 5-4 overtime victory on September 3rd
- It's the annual Vernon Vipers Parents weekend, this weekend with most of the Vipers parents in town this weekend
- Vernon went 0-3 with the power play
- Colin Reay made 43 saves and kept his team in the hockey game. Goaltending was the difference tonight. If it wasn't for the solid play from the Viper netminder, this game could have easily become a blowout
- A good size crowd on hand for Parents weekend. Tonight's attendance was announced at 2,080
- The Vipers can't allow a Trail team that was 500 prior to tonight's game and only two wins on the road to come into Kal Tire Place and outwork and outplay them on home ice and in a rink where you had only lost one previous home game
- This was the poorest I have seen the Snakes play this season
- The Vipers didn't look good or play good for most of the hockey game
- Tonight was only the Vipers second loss at Kal Tire Place. The Snakes are 6-1-1-0 at Kal Tire Place this season
- Vernon looked flat, didn't look sharp, were making mistakes through out the game, weren't clicking on their passes, looked and played like some of the poor Viper teams from previous seasons
- The Vipers went 4-0-1-0 vs Trail last season
- Tonight was the first game of a four game home stand
- The Vipers have won three of their last five games and six of their last ten games
- The Snakes were outplayed for most of the contest
- The Vipers struggled offensively, had troubles getting through the neutral zone, getting pucks to the net and creating/generating opportunities
- Did the Snakes look at the standings/Trails record and take this team too lightly?
- Vernon was outworked and outplayed for most of the game
- What was wrong with the score clock tonight? I noticed at least three different occasions where the play started and the clock wasn't going
- The Vipers went 2-0-1-0 at home vs Trail last year
- The Snakes power play struggled
- This was not a very exciting or entertaining game at all. Actually it was pretty boring with not a whole lot of action going on
- The Vipers & Smoke Eaters play each other five times this season
- It seems like every season the Vipers never do well, play well or look very good on Parents weekend
- Someone has to change the music at Vipers home games and start playing some rock/hockey music instead of the terrible play list they have playing at games now
- Give Trail full credit for playing hard, being the better team and earning the win, but the Vipers can't lose to a 500 hockey team below them in the standings
- The Vipers next game is Saturday at home vs Penticton
- I thought the Snakes played well or looked good on the odd shift or for a couple of minutes but overall the Vipers didn't look good and were outplayed most of the evening
- Former Vipers trainer Lon Fraser won tonight's 50/50
- The Vipers & Smokies meet again December 8th in Trail
- How do you give Vernon two out of the three stars? When the Smokies were by far the better team and won?
- Vernon didn't defend well, gave up way too many opportunities & way too many shots
- The Vipers better play much better tomorrow vs Penticton or Viper fans will be in for a long night
- Vernon had a great chance to build on a 1-0 lead on a 2nd period two man advantage and struggled with the power play and then had a chance to win the game in overtime on the power play and struggled
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 14-5-1-0 sit 2nd in the Interior Division
Trail Smoke Eaters Top Performers:
Adam Barone (1 assist) Played very well on the Smokies blueline. Took a puck to the ear late in the 3rd period and needed attention by the trainer on the bench
Mathieu Cobetto-Roy The former Salmon Arm Silverbacks forward played very well for Trail. Rang a shot off the post or crossbar in the 2nd period. Was all over the ice, created/generated opportunities, was hard to defend against
Josh Schenk I thought played a strong game up front for the Smoke Eaters. Was hard on pucks, involved in the play
Maxim Potvin Saw a lot of ice, played hard, was involved in the play, made some things happen
Christian Kim Not the biggest kid but plays hard, saw a lot of ice time, was involved in the play, didn't back down from the altercations after the whistle, was all over the rink
Ryan Parker (25 saves) Wasn't nearly as tested as Colin Reay but played well when needed to be. Didn't see a ton of action but made some big stops when called upon.
Game Thought's: Trail Smoke Eaters
- Tonight is the first of two regular season visits to Vernon
- For a team that had the long travel day, the Smokies did not look rusty in anyway
- Trail went 1-1-0-1 in Vernon last season
- The Smoke Eaters are a much better team then their record shows
- The Smokies have a very strong work ethic, never stop skating, outworked and outskated the Vipers most of the hockey game
- Trail went 0-4 with the man advantage
- The Smoke Eaters are a feisty group and play with a bit of an edge
- Trail picks up just their third win on the road this season. The Smoke Eaters are 3-5-2-0 on the road
- The Smokies have a quick transition game, move the puck well, have a strong forecheck and won most of the races and battles along the boards
- The Smoke Eaters last regular season win in Vernon was a 3-2 overtime victory on February 20th 2023
- This team never quits, plays till the whistle
- Trail didn't get any puck luck or bounces go their way
- Did the Smokies get new jerseys or are these their alternate jerseys? The Smoke Eaters were wearing black jerseys with orange shoulders, numbers and stripes with a Giant letter T in the middle of an orange circle on the front of their chest
- Tonight is the first game of a three game road trip
- I spotted a little kid with a Smoke Eaters jersey on in attendance
- The Smoke Eaters have lost three of their last five games and lost six of their last ten games
- Trail was by far the better team and it showed. The Smokies carried the better of the play in the first three periods, had more zone time, puck possession and opportunities
- Trail created/generated a ton of chances and if it wasn't for Vipers goaltender Colin Reay, this game would have been over after the opening period
- The Smoke Eaters could have easily had seven or more goals tonight
- The Smokies next game is Saturday in Merritt
- For two teams playing each other for the first time this regular season, this was a bit of a feisty/chippy game at times
- Prior to tonight, Trail had one win in their last five road games
- Trail played a fairly undisciplined game, taking only four penalties
- The Smoke Eaters blocked a lot of shots tonight, took away a lot of Vernon's offence with a solid defensive game
- A win like tonight will give this group a ton of confidence
- With the win, Trail improves to 9-8-4-0 sit 5th in the Interior Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Julian Facchinelli (Injured)
Isaac Fecteau (Injured)
Hank Cleaves (Injured)
Luke Pakulak (Injured)
Trail Smoke Eaters:
Patrick Reilly
Callas Pierce
Ethan Mann
Judah Makway
Ty Matonovich
Energy Player of the Game:
Adam Csabi (1 assist)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Colin Reay (43 saves)
2nd Star: Isaac Tremblay (2 goals)
3rd Star: Adam Parsons (overtime winner)
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.
5 comments:
Vipers were lucky tonight even to come out of that game with a point
What a brutal game, I wanted to leave after the first period
Agree with everything you said other than the 3 stars. Hands down Reay deserved 1st star! I believe they should’ve given Tremblay 3rd star however instead of 2nd.
Yea, certainly a terrible game to watch, at least for the first two periods. I think the Smokies were very deserving of the win, it was a lucky bounce that allowed the Vipers to score late to get the one point. They were out shot and out played most of the night. The Vipers should have been able to put the game away with the 4 on 3 in overtime. I can't recall the Vipers ever doing well on parents weekend. They must get their game back for tonight or Penticton will completely embarrass them.
On a broader note, although the vipers have been getting points lately I don't think they have been playing well at all. I suppose wins hide a lot of sins. I don't see them playing the team game, the support game that they showed us earlier in the year. Now we see how good the coaching staff is, they clearly have the talent but the players are not on the same page at all. KcKee was critical in the post game but it is now all on him to "right the ship". The Penticton Vees are the model of consistency and success. Systems, commitment and execution!!!
Sung as Love and Marriage song……
Smoke and mirrors
Smoke and mirrors
This I tell ya, fans
Ya can fool some but not the other
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