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 Warriors defeated the Vipers 4-1 in front of 1,672 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Ethan David
West Kelowna Warriors: Rorke Applebee
2nd Period: It was basically all West Kelowna Warriors from start to finish. The Tribe were the better team and outplayed the Vipers most of the 2nd period. WK had a ton of zone time, puck possession, were winning the battles, puck races and beating Vernon to the puck almost everytime with a strong relentless forecheck. The Warriors speed, compete level and hard work was the difference. WK was physical and played with an edge at times. The visiting Warriors with a very solid effort and performance in the middle frame. The Snakes were sloppy, disorganized, out of position, running around, missing passes, turning pucks over, couldn't clear the zone, struggled offensively and defensively. Vernon went a long period without a single shot on goal. This wasn't a good period for the hometown Vipers. It was 3-0 West Kelowna after 40 minutes of play. The Warriors outshot the Vipers 13-5.
3rd Period: The Vipers started the final period on the PP that was carried over from the 2nd period. Vernon needed only twenty seven seconds to get on the scoreboard and get back in the hockey game. Eight seconds later the Snakes went back to the man advantage but struggled as West Kelowna killed off the minor. Shortly after Jack Farrell gave the Tribe a 4-1 lead on a Viper turnover and put the game away. The Vipers with a much better effort and period and the only period they really played well in. I thought both teams were even at times but the Vipers showed a little push back at times, created/generated some scoring chances and plenty of them for the first time this evening. Warriors starting netminder Rorke Applebee made some key stops, not allowing the Snakes to creep back into the contest and make things interesting. The Vipers had some good looks/chances and played better but too little too late. Vipers & Warriors both go 0-1 with the PP. West Kelowna wins 4-1. The Snakes outshoot the Tribe 11-9.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
The line of Jiri Duda, Luke Bibby & Bronson Ross I thought was the only line/only players that stood out for myself. I really liked Jiri Duda's play, I thought he showed up, come to play and played with a lot of jump/energy, was skating, hard in on the forecheck and competed all night. Bronson Ross was another forward that competed, played hard, had a couple of looks/chances and laid out a couple of checks as well as took a couple.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers are 1-2-0-0 vs the Warriors this season
- The Snakes have been outshot in four straight games and in six of their last seven games
- The Vipers didn't look good tonight, were sloppy, made a ton of mistakes, couldn't make a pass, couldn't clear the zone, couldn't get out of their own end, struggled offensively and defensively, didn't have a whole lot of jump/energy in their game
- The Vipers have lost three games at Kal Tire Place, two of those losses have come to West Kelowna
- Vernon went 1-2 with the power play
- A very disappointing effort, performance and outcome from the Vipers tonight
- A smaller crowd on hand this evening. Tonight's attendance was announced at 1,672
- The Vipers went 1-1-0-0 at home last season vs the Warriors
- Tonight was the third game of a four game home stand
- The Vipers eliminated the Warriors in six games in last years BCHL playoffs
- You can't play like you did tonight and expect to beat a good West Kelowna hockey club
- With a Penticton win over Trail tonight, the Vipers are five points back of the Vees for 1st in the Division
- Vernon has lost two of their last three home games
- The Snakes haven't played well or looked good in their last seven games and this is concerning to me
- The Vipers & Warriors will meet again December 10th in West Kelowna
- The Vipers have won three of their last five games and seven of their last ten games
- Whoever is in charge of the music, please change up your play list and stop playing the same music/songs game after game after game
- The Vipers went 0-2 vs the Warriors in the pre-season
- Vernon's next game is Saturday at home vs the Prince George Spruce Kings
- The Vipers defence struggled tonight, coughing up pucks, turning pucks over, making poor decisions with and without the puck, couldn't clear the front of the net, get the puck out of their own end and lost most of the races/puck battles
- The Vipers are the third highest scoring team in the league with 90 goals
- The Vipers were outplayed and outworked for the first two periods, until playing a little better with a bit of a push back in the 3rd
- Tonight was a huge four point game and I would have thought the Snakes would have been willing and ready to play and give the Warriors a good run instead of playing so poorly tonight
- The Vipers are 7-2-1-0 at Kal Tire Place this season
- It took Vernon until the 3rd period to generate/create some offence and get some quality opportunities
- Vernon didn't get the bounces or puck go their way tonight
- Tonight was the Snakes third game in six days
- The Vipers are missing five players due to injury and four of those five players are key veteran players that the Snakes desperately miss
- The Vipers have five games remaining before the Holiday break
- To the PA announcer, can you please tell us how many goals each player has on the season when announcing the goals after each goal
- Goaltender Ethan David has started in nine of the last ten games
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 15-6-1-0 sit 2nd place in the Interior Division
West Kelowna Warriors Top Performers:
Trey Ausmus I thought played with a bit of an edge and was under the skin of several Vernon players this evening. Not the biggest kid but was physical, played the body and was involved in the play often
Dylan Brooks (1 assist) I thought was another Warriors defender who played well, played well at both ends of the rink. This kid can skate, move the puck and sees/reads the ice well
Felix Caron Is shifty, can skate, has some skill and was involved with the play a lot, played well
Jackson Kyrkostas (1 goal & 2 assists) Opened the scoring and lead the way with three points. Played very well
Johannes Lokkeberg (2 goals & 1 assist) Lead the Tribe's offence with three points. Was hard to contain/defend.
Jack Farrell (1 goal & 1 assist) Was another forward who played well, picked up two points
Viggo Nordstrom (1 assist) I liked his game, thought he was involved in the play, made some plays and played well at both ends of the rink
Rorke Applebee (26 saves) Wasn't tested much in the first two periods but was put to the test in the 3rd with Vernon pressing. Applebee made some key saves, not allowing the Vipers to gain any momentum and get back in the hockey game, shut the door in the final twenty minutes
Game Thought's: West Kelowna Warriors
- The Warriors are 2-0 in Vernon this season
- I didn't see a single Warriors fan in attendance tonight
- Warriors Head Coach/GM Simon Ferguson played with the Memorial Cup winning Kelowna Rockets
- West Kelowna played a very strong yet almost complete road game
- The Tribe went 0-2 with the man advantage
- The Warriors are only three points behind the Vipers in the standings
- This team competes, plays hard, has a strong yet aggressive forecheck, won most of the battles/puck races, plays well at both ends of the rink, played with a bit of an edge at times during the game
- The Warriors are 7-3-0-0 on the road this season
- The Tribe's defence played very well, boxed out Vernon's shooters, keeping the Snakes to the outside, taking away time and space and limiting the Vipers opportunities
- West Kelowna's next game is Friday in Merritt
- The Vipers & Warriors play each other five times this regular season
- WK's forecheck forced Vernon's defence into a panic, forcing the Vipers d-men into coughing up the puck, turning over the puck which resulted into either a goal or opportunity
- The Warriors scored twice on two Vernon turnovers
- West Kelowna have won three straight, four of their last five games are 5-5 in their last ten games
- The Tribe played with a lot of jump/energy and were ready to play from the drop of the puck. West Kelowna played hard, competed and outplayed/outworked the Vipers for the first two periods. WK opened the scoring, played with the lead all night and fully deserved the victory
- The last time the Warriors were in Vernon, West Kelowna won 4-1 October 20th
- The Warriors last and final regular season visit to Vernon is March 2nd 2024
- Warriors Assistant Coach Josh Gorges attended the Vernon Vipers training camp before leaving for his hometown Kelowna Rockets. Gorges was captain of the Kelowna Rockets Memorial Cup winning team. Gorges played fourteen seasons in the NHL with Montreal, Buffalo and San Jose
- With the win, West Kelowna improves to 13-6-2-0 sit 3rd in the Interior Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Noah Dorey (Injured)
Julian Facchinelli (Injured)
Isaac Fecteau (Injured)
Hank Cleaves (Injured)
Luke Pakulak (Injured)
West Kelowna Warriors:
Simon Houge
Isaiah Norlin
Mikka Kelechian
Matthew DellaRusso
Energy Player of the Game:
Jiri Duda
Three Star's:
1st Star: Johannes Lokkeberg (2 goals & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Jackson Kyrkostas (2 assists)
3rd Star: Shea Busch (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.
The Vipers got out played for 40 minutes tonight
ReplyDeleteSO, your saying the act of “Smoke and Mirrors” is falling apart?
ReplyDeleteThe ice has been tilted for a number of games now and we were lucky against the Vees. Probably the worst effort we have seen in a long time.
ReplyDeletePost game Graham used the "fatigue" excuse, playing too many games in too short a time span. I do not buy that excuse, it has been 4 days since the Penticton game and more than enough time for the Vipers to recharge. The effort was seriously lacking, the Vipers were being beaten to the puck all night. I also don't want to hear the excuse that 4 or 5 regulars are out of the line up, that is an insult to the fill ins. They all have the talent and skills to be here, have the same coaching and systems to follow. If anything these players should have a higher motivation to play well to stay in the line up. The Vipers were clearly a team not prepared or ready to compete tonight and that falls on the coaching staff. The Vipers had a great start to the season but are starting to relapse into their old habits... being out hustled, not ready to compete, not supporting each other and being horribly inconsistent. All of those things fall under the responsibility of the coach, same as we have endured the past 5 years.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, Vernon must lead the league in fair weather fans. So they had an off game…it happens. Quit nitpicking and get behind your team!
ReplyDeleteAnd they were missing key players. Pakulak, Facchinelli, and Cleaves at forward and all with scholarships and veterans. And 20 year old ex-WHLer Dorey from defense.
ReplyDeleteVernon has HOCKEY fans, not just VIPER fans. We KNOW when the team plays well or not!
ReplyDeleteWe have seen the LAKERS win two and the VIPERS win four, NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. We know what it takes to not only win but, PLAY THE GAME!
Are we spoiled, damn rights we are. We expect nothing less than a winning team but, above all WE EXPECT GOOD HOCKEY!
It’s just last nights game was very reminiscent of the last five years of the this team playing hockey within the MCKEE SYSTEM. The last five years has been to most of us, overall, below par and very disappointing.
With the Vipers start this year, it was a revitalization of teams of the past, of maybe a hint that we, after five years of boring, no heart, no effort, no play as a team hockey, finally have a team that plays hockey they way we expect.
Complaining about last nights game was not nitpicking, last nights game was an absolute disgrace to the game of hockey being played by the Vipers. They reverted to the type of game we have seen from the MCKEE SYSTEM. IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR MOST OF US FANS.
I am posting this as ANONYMOUS(to avoid the enevitable repercussions this forum allows) but, let me tell you I have been a hockey fan for well over 60 years and a Vernon fan for over 35 years. Since my time in Vernon, besides the Oliver and Williamson eras, the Mckee era is the worst type of hockey I have seen. Over and above all I am a HOCKEY FAN not a VIPER FAN.
Well said!!! I am also a long tome fan. Are we fair weather fans, certainly not or we wouldn't even be attending the games. Win or loss I want to see a well played game but mostly I want to see a good effort from the Vipers. We have been out shot 121 to 69 in the past 3 games and that is just not good enough. To be out hustled to the puck most of the game is inexcusable, it is all about consistent EFFORT and that is sadly lacking. David and Reay have saved us and kept games respectable far too often this year. I will continue to support the Vipers players but think it is long overdue for a new voice in the locker room.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous #3 I'm sure we'll get a victory against the last place Spruce Kings and then we'll all go home happy and not have to criticize how mediocre this team really is. I said it before the only thing that counts is how we play against Penticton, Salmon Arm and West Kelowna. They are the COMPETITION that determines who's the best of best.
ReplyDeleteI love how the comment section lights up as soon as the Vipers have a bad game. Some of y'alls expectations are so freaking high your just waiting for any opportunity to pounce on the coach or owner you dont like.
ReplyDeleteThey can't win every game, they are second in the division.
Relax, enjoy the games. They've sucked the past few years and now that they have a better record it's still not good enough. Things could be worse and we all know it.
They're kids, not professionals.
Way to much negativity. Where have most of you been when they're winning? Why no comments then?
Bunch of grumpy old men here.
Go Vipers go!
That was a boring and crappy game last night, everything about it sucked! We sure need our hurt players back
ReplyDeleteHockey is no different than a real life job. You do your job well every day for years yet, get no praise for how well you do. The one time you screw up, all hell breaks loose!
ReplyDelete