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 Silverbacks defeated the Vipers 5-2 in front of 2,235 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Ethan David
Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Eli Pulver
2nd Period: The Snakes would get an early power play and capitalize before the team got into penalty trouble. Vernon would take three straight minors, gave up two PP goals wich took the wind out of their sails and changed the momentum of the hockey game. The S'Backs were the better of the two teams, had a lot of puck possession, zone time, and capitalized on their power play. The Gorillas PP was clicking and looked good. The Snakes due to taking three straight penalties, saw a lot of time in their own end and were caught on a few shifts with overextended shifts, which resulted in Salmon Arm scoring after a full two minutes of zone time. The Silverbacks basically put the game away late on a soft goal, I think Vipers starting netminder Ethan David would like back. The Apes go 2-3 with the man advantage, while the Vipers go 1-1 with a shorthanded tally. It was 5-2 Salmon Arm after 40 minutes of play. The Silverbacks outshot the Vipers 11-9.
3rd Period: Colin Reay replaced Ethan David to start the period. David gave up five goals on eighteen Salmon Arm shots. The Vipers would get back to back power plays in the first half of the 3rd but two lack luster PPs and the Apes kill off both minors. This wasn't much of a period as Salmon Arm sat back holding a 5-2 lead and Vernon struggling to get anything going. Any good looks and the Vipers shots were going right in the crest of Eli Pulver. The Vipers frustration boiled over towards the end of the period as the Snakes took a few shots or jabs at a couple of Silverbacks, trying to stir the pot. Salmon Arm comes away with the 5-2 victory. Vipers go 0-2 with the man advantage, while the Gorillas go 0-1 with the PP. Shots were 12-12.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Luke Bibby (1 goal) Scored shorthanded in the middle frame, I thought was one of if not the Vipers best player this evening. Bibby playing with a ton of jump, was skating, moving the puck, playing hard at both ends of the rink, created/generated a couple of opportunities, played hard.
Nick Mikan Use his size, was physical, dished out a couple of hits, was hard in on battles along the wall, I thought played hard and was one of the more consistent forwards.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers have lost three straight games for the first time this season
- The Snakes played their third game in five days
- Vernon gave up the opening goal early but re-grouped and played very well in the 1st period. A period where both teams were fairly even for most of the period with Salmon Arm having a slight edge in play at times
- The Vipers next and final game before the Holidays is Friday in Cranbrook
- Midweek games normally don't draw very well but tonight saw a big crowd, especially for a Tuesday night less then two weeks before Christmas. Tonight's attendance was announced at 2,235
- Georgios Stavrianeas tied the hockey game on the power play at 4:05 in the 2nd period. Things looked good until the Snakes ended up taking the next three penalties. The Silverbacks capitalized with two power play goals, scored four times, taking the lead again and never looked back. This really changed the momentum and swing of the hockey game and cost the Vipers the game
- The Vipers are 2-3-0-0 vs Salmon Arm this season
- The Viper power play struggled, going 1-4 with the man advantage
- The Snakes have lost two of their last three home games, are 8-3-1-0 at Kal Tire Place
- Your not going to win many hockey games when you give up four goals in a period
- Colin Reay replaced Ethan David to start the 3rd period. David allowed five goals on eighteen Salmon Arm shots
- The Vipers & Silverbacks meet again December 29th in Vernon
- Since starting the season 7-1-0-0 the Vipers are 9-8-0-1
- The Vipers struggled with their passing, which resulted in several offsides and turnovers in their own end
- Vernon had troubles clearing the zone and getting out of their own end
- The Vipers are struggling, not playing well the past month or so and starting to drop in the standings
- The Snakes have lost four of their last five games and six of their last ten games
- Things don't get any easier for the Vipers as they have a long bus ride to Cranbrook on Friday before hosting Salmon Arm & Penticton at the end of December.
- The Vipers next home game is December 29th vs Salmon Arm
- The Vipers were the more physical team, were finishing checks and laying out some good hits
- Vernon is missing some key veteran players that have been out with injuries
- After starting the season 7-1-0-0 the Vipers haven't been the same team since mid November and yet to play anywhere close to sixty minutes
- Vernon never held the lead, played from behind the entire night, was chasing the game
- The Snakes play five of their next seven games at home
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 16-9-1-0 sit 4th in the Interior Conference
Salmon Arm Silverbacks Top Performers:
Tristan Allen (1 goal & 1 assist) The former Merritt Centennials defenceman collected two points in the win, played well at both ends of the rink
Cole Longacre Ate a lot of minutes on the Gorillas blueline, was steady for the Silverbacks most of the hockey game
Casy Laylin (1 goal & 1 assist) Didn't stand out or dominate but played well and made some key plays at different times in the contest. One of the more consistent forwards
Maddux Martin (1 assist) I thought played very well. Took a boarding penalty on a dangerous hit in the 2nd period, otherwise stood out
Nathan Mackie (1 goal) Scored on the man advantage, was another forward who played well
Isaac Lambert (1 goal & 1 assist) Opened the scoring 2:07 into the 1st period, always seems to play well vs the Snakes. A very skilled/talented player, reads and sees the ice well, hard to contain and defend
Eli Pulver (28 saves) Wasn't overly busy but was tested but mostly in the opening frame. Has played well vs the Vipers this season, made a couple of big stops in the 1st period. I can't remember who it was but come across the crease to rob a Vernon player with a highlight reel glove save.
Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks
- Tonight was the Silverbacks third game in five days
- The Silverbacks have won three straight, four of their last five and seven of their last ten games
- The Apes went 2-5 with the man advantage
- Salmon Arm played very well and earned the win
- Not a whole lot of Silverbacks fans in attendance tonight
- I liked the Gorillas power play this evening. I thought even though they only scored twice with the man advantage, I thought they move the puck around well, quickly, make plays happen in a hurry and create/generate opportunities
- The Backs are 1-1-0-0 in Vernon this season
- Salmon Arm's next game is Wednesday at home vs West Kelowna
- With the win, the S'Backs improve to 6-6-0-1 on the road
- The Silverbacks PK was very good, blocked several shots, kept Vernon to the outside, limited their time and space and gave up very little to none opportunities
- The Silverbacks & Vipers play each other nine times this season
- The last time these two teams met, the Vipers won 4-0 in Salmon Arm November 18th
- The Gorillas played with the lead the entire night
- I thought the 2nd period was the difference for Salmon Arm. The S'Backs give up an early PP goal, allowing the Snakes to tie the game but rattle off two PP goals and add an insurance marker late to take a 5-2 lead into the 3rd period
- Salmon Arm was wearing their black with purple trim alternate jerseys tonight. All black with purple stripes, numbers and namebars and the gorilla head on the front. Very sharp and much better then the teams new home & away jerseys they unveiled this season
- Tonight was the second and final game of a two game road trip
- The Silverbacks have two games remaining before the Christmas break
- The Apes play four of their next six games on the road
- With the win, Salmon Arm improves to 17-7-0-1 sit 3rd in the Interior Conference
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Noah Dorey (Injured)
Julian Facchinelli (Injured)
Owen King (Injured-Out for season)
Isaac Fecteau (Injured)
Maks Percic (Attending World Juniors)
Hank Cleaves (Injured)
Luke Pakulak (Injured)
Salmon Arm Silverbacks:
Matthew Gillard
Nicholas Wolfenberg
Lian Gayfer
Aidan Souligny
Tysen Smith
Energy Player of the Game:
Nick Mikan
Three Star's:
1st Star: Tristan Allen (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Isaac Lambert (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Luke Bibby (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.
7 comments:
I had never left a game after the second period in my 25 plus years as a season holder until this year and last night was the 3rd time this year. You can say what you want about missing players or whatever excuse you want to come up with but this team is a complete disaster. Totally outclassed by the Silverbacks last night, that's how a real team is built just like the Mel Lis and Duncan Wray days. The soft schedule to start the season had everyone fooled and now reality has set in. Jason Mckee's dump and chase game hasn't worked for 5 years and his message to the players is obviously being tuned out. Probably the biggest mid week crowd ever to watch a Vipers game and we were treated to a complete dud. After all that I say it's time for a coaching change.
LOL, Will not happen as these guys are long time Alberta buddies.
Interesting comment season ticket holder. I am not in the vipers locker room with the coaching staff but if true and rumour has it that Jason is still yelling and shouting at his young players, old school rather than having a more kind fatherly approach like mark ferner and duncan wray then yes I agree the young players will tune you out and start doing there own thing because they think the coach is an asshole and not someone they can respect. Lets see what happens in the new year with this team regards progression in learning or will it be like other years. Time will tell. Go vipers Go.
I agree with all of these comments, we are long overdue for a new voice & new approach. I am not one of the crazies who must win every night, I can go home happy if I see a well played competitive game. I also see a Viper team that shows no improvement.
This team has played the same helter skelter style of game for 5 years under McKee's direction. They have never seemed able to play a structured/team game, nor give a full 60 minute effort. Injuries are a factor but more importantly is the effect of the coaching staff. Old time hockey people will remember when the European style of hockey came to North America. It is a system of skill, mobility and most importantly playing as a 5 man unit. You see short passes, lots of give & go's, & players always in a position of support for teammates. It is a game of control & possession. All successful teams now use a form of this game. I cringe when I see dump & chase hockey, giving up control at the blue line and opting for a 50/50 chance of regaining possession.
For years Fred Harbinson has coached a high paced, high support, control game and has been very successful. Lately we were just beaten by two teams, West Kelowna & Salmon Arm, who played with a lot of those characteristics. Clearly our coach does not believe in that model of hockey. To play a high tempo/structured game takes good teaching, good practices, a full player buy in and holding players accountable, expecting nothing less. The Vipers have talented players but never seem to be prepared or on the same page. Unfortunately that responsibility points to the coach.
Completely agree with Geezer . The problem is the owner and coach are buddies terrible recipe for success . Attendance has been super good this year . Owner is making good money . 35,000 in ticket sales per game . Until the attendance takes a big hit coach change will not happen.
35,000. Curious how you are sure of that number, given all the variables.
It also takes a healthy lineup. You kinda missed THAT one, genius
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