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-Salmon Arm Silverbacks game as the Vipers defeated Salmon Arm 4-0 in front of 1,535 fans at the Shaw Centre.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Ethan David
Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Eli Pulver
2nd Period: The Apes started the middle frame where they left off the 1st period and took it to the visiting Vipers. It was all SA as the S'Backs were by far the better team, dominated the 2nd period. The Silverbacks with a ton of puck possession in the offensive zone, were skating circles all over the Snakes. Salmon Arm had more puck possession, zone time and the better of the scoring chances. If it wasn't for Ethan David, the Apes should have had four or five goals by now. David in his third season with the Vipers made the save of the year robbing a Silverback at the side of the net. The Snakes struggled and couldn't get any kind of traction going at all this period. Vernon needed almost six minutes to record their first shot of the period and only had two shots on goal in the first eleven minutes. The Vipers struggled to get across the neutral zone, played most of the 2nd period in their own end, heavily relying on Ethan David to keep them in the contest. On a good note, I thought the Snakes defence played well at time, allowing Ethan David to see the puck, and blocking some shots. Both teams started to get a little chippy towards the end of the period. It was 1-0 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. The Silverbacks outshot the Vipers 17-5.
3rd Period: Just nine seconds into the final frame, Vernon would jump on an early power play and capitalize. Georgios Stavrianeas at 0:55 gave the Snakes a 2-0 lead. How big was this goal? The Vipers with a quick start, played a much better period and played hard. Vernon turned the tables and was the better team in the 3rd. The Vipers played with pace, had more puck possession, zone time, created/generated some chances and played well defensively. The Snakes shutdown Salmon Arm's forwards, limited their time and space as well as limiting the number of shots on goal and opportunities. A very strong shutdown period by Vernon. The Vipers with three 3rd period goals. The Gorillas entered the period only down a goal but before you knew it were down four. Salmon Arm who was so dominate in the 2nd period, couldn't muster much of anything this period. I also think giving up an early goal to start the period, took the wind out of their sails. The Silverbacks didn't look like the same team, didn't have as much puck possession, zone time, shots on goal or scoring chances. The Vipers would come away with the 4-0 victory and give the S'Backs their first loss at home this season. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 15-10.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Payton Struck (2 assists) Playing in just his second game with his new team, played very well, looked very good, was engaged in the play, involved in the play, created/generated opportunities and was one of the better forwards this evening
Connor Elliott (2 assists) The Vipers captain chipped in with two helpers, played very well on the backend
Isaac Tremblay (1 goal) Opened the scoring, which was the game winner, I thought was skating, involved in the play, made some plays and played well
Ethan David (41 saves-shutout) Stood on his head tonight and carried this Viper team on his back. David has been the Snakes MVP this season and kept his team in the hockey game. Making some large saves but also some highlight reel saves, was solid between the pipes. If it wasn't for the play of David, the the Silverbacks would have been the team celebrating the victory.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- With the win tonight, the Vipers get their first win in Salmon Arm this season
- Tonight was the third game of a three game road trip
- Lots of Viper fans in attendance tonight
- Unlike last weekend in Salmon Arm, I liked Vernon's start tonight. I thought the Snakes looked good/played very well in the first half of the 1st period and the entire 3rd period.
- The Vipers are 2-2-0-0 vs the Silverbacks this season
- Vernon went 1-2 with the man advantage
- Vipers Assistant Coach Colton Sparrow wasn't behind the bench tonight
- Ethan David picked up his second shutout of the season and eighth of his BCHL career was the difference. David stood on his head tonight and was the only reason why the Vipers come away with the win
- The Vipers have won four of their last five and seven of their last ten games
- Vernon obviously gets lucky, catches some breaks/gets the puck luck go their way and pick up a huge road win in a very difficult building to play in this season
- I thought both teams played disciplined and the officials allowed both teams to play
- How big was Georgios Stavrianeas's power play goal fifty five seconds into the 3rd period?
- Prior to tonight, the Vipers last regular season win in Salmon Arm was a 4-3 overtime victory December 10th 2022
- These two teams will meet again December 12th in Vernon
- I thought the Viper defence played well even though giving up forty one shots, blocked several shots, cleared the front of the net, and allowed Ethan David a chance to see the puck
- The Vipers next game is Friday at home vs the Trail Smoke Eaters
- The Vipers are 8-3-0-0 on the road this season
- Vernon is the third highest scoring team in the BCHL with 85 goals
- The Vipers played last Saturday in Salmon Arm and lost 4-0
- The Snakes played a shutdown 3rd period, limiting the Silverbacks opportunities, shots on goal and didn't allow the Backs to get a ton of zone time or scoring chances
- With the win, Vernon improves to 14-5-0-0 sit 2nd in the Interior Division
Salmon Arm Silverbacks Top Performers:
Reid Varkonyi I thought played hard, was involved in the offensive play, created/generated some plays
Maddux Martin Was another Apes forward who played well and looked good in the loss
Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks
- The Silverbacks got off to a slow start, but would eventually get their legs and game going about halfway through the 1st period on the power play. That PP changed the momentum and shifted the game in favor of the Apes as Salmon Arm looked good and was the better team the second half of the opening frame before dominating the 2nd period. The momentum changed in the 3rd and the Backs couldn't gain much traction or get their game going, before giving up three 3rd period goals
- Another big crowd in Salmon Arm this evening. Tonight's attendance was announced at 1,535
- Salmon Arm peppered Ethan David with 41 shots, 17 in the 2nd period but couldn't solve the veteran goaltender
- The Gorillas went 0-4 with the power play
- The S'Backs have a quick transition game, move the puck up ice in a hurry and create/generate chances on the fly
- The Silverbacks are 8-1-0-0 at home this season
- Tonight's the third game of a three game home stand
- The Silverbacks had the better of the scoring chances and a ton more quality chances through out the contest
- SA had several quality looks/opportunities just didn't get the bounces or puck luck
- The Silverbacks next game is Wednesday in West Kelowna
- Salmon Arm could have easily had at least four or five goals if it wasn't for the play of Ethan David
- Down 3-0 and on the power play, Salmon Arm pulled goaltender Eli Pulver for the two man advantage. Erik Pastro hit the empty net for a shorthanded goal and gave Vernon a 4-0 lead at 15:21
- The Silverbacks have won four of their last five games and won seven of their last ten games
- I think if the Apes get a goal in the 2nd period, the momentum changes, the crowds into the game, the Silverbacks have some life and the Vipers eventually bend and break before Salmon Arm pots a couple more and comes away with the win
- With the loss, Salmon Arm falls to 11-6-0-0 sit 3rd in the Interior Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Julian Facchinelli (Injured)
Owen King (Injured-Out for season)
Isaac Fecteau (Injured)
Hank Cleaves (Injured)
Luke Pakulak (Injured)
Salmon Arm Silverbacks:
Ryan DeAngelis
Nicholas Wolfenberg
Lian Gayfer
Aidan Souligny
Lorin Froidevaux
Tysen Smith
Energy Player of the Game:
Ryan Gillespie
Three Star's:
1st Star: Ethan David (41 saves-shutout)
2nd Star: Erik Pastro (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Connor Elliott (2 assists)
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.
4 comments:
Vernon Vipers you are warriors and you do not like the sound of defeat. As a team vipers you will do whatever it takes to bring your team mates to victory. I am very proud of your achievement in salmon arm. You have proved to yourselves that your warriors. GO,VIPERS,GO.
I was at the game. Vernon played a great first and third period. They won puck battles and outplayed Salmon Arm. The heroics of David kept the score at zero for the Backs. David played one of his best games!!
Wow what a win for the Vipers. Graham Turnbull said on the post game show that this was the most complete game he has ever seen played by a Vipers team. The next 3 games will tell us how good this team really is.
That’s a bit of a stretch lol! I was at the game they were outplayed a lot of it which shows by the shots. But all in all very good, exciting game! And we owe it all to Ethan David! Without him it would’ve been a different game.
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