Game Recap - Vernon 5 Salmon Arm 2

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 the Silverbacks 5-2 in front of 3,053 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Ethan David

Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Eli Pulver

1st Period: I thought the hometown Vipers got off to a great start and were the better team in the first half of the opening period. Vernon with several quality looks/chances only managed one goal but hit the post and crossbar. The Snakes were skating, moving the puck, played with lots of jump/energy, carried the play early, lots of zone time and a good net presence. After Anthony Cliche opened the scoring at 3:48 on the following shift the Vipers hit the post before missing an open net. On the play the goal light come on but the goal judge was waiving his arms as in he made a mistake before the official called it a goal as both the Snakes & Silverbacks were confused. Salmon Arm's bench was up in arms before the officials had a quick chat and waived off the goal. One of the stranger non-goals that was originally counted not a goal. Viper d-man Lukas McCloskey took a puck to the face and left the Viper bench and didn't return. The Silverbacks needed eight minutes to record their first shot of the hockey game and were outshot 7-1 at one point before turning the tables, gaining some momentum and playing a much better second half. The Apes with a good push back in the final ten minutes, were the better team in the second half, had Vernon back on their heels on a few occasions and come up with some good looks/opportunities. Ty Paisley with a shot through traffic, hit the post. SA seemed to get their legs going and looked good to end the period. The Gorillas went 0-1 with the man advantage. It was 1-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 9-9.

2nd Period: Ethan David made a stop on a S'Backs odd man rush before Cole Cooksey tied the contest at 0:47 This period really opened up with both teams going back and fourth but it was the Snakes who were getting the better looks/opportunities and capitalizing on their chances. The hometown Vipers with three 2nd period goals. This was a bit of a chippy period with both teams physical, laying the body, finishing their checks and getting involved in some after the whistle activities. Vernon had a bit of an edge in play at times, had the better of the scoring chances. Lukas McCloskey returned to the Viper bench late in the period with a face shield on. This was a very quick and entertaining period. It was 4-1 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 11-9.

3rd Period: For a team down 4-1 heading into the final frame, I didn't see a whole lot of push back from the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Give credit to the Snakes who didn't sit back, took control of the game and were the better team in the 3rd period. The Vipers would hit a post, carried the better of the play, had more opportunities, were skating and playing hard. The Apes didn't have a whole lot of jump/energy until scoring late in the period to get with two. Jonah Aegerter's goal seemed to spark the Backs as Salmon Arm got some life and for the first time in the period, showed a little hustle, some jump/energy and a little life. The Gorillas pushed hard to finish the hockey game. Tyler Shattock called a timeout with about 2:50 remaining, got Eli Pulver to the bench for the extra attacker. The Snakes thought they put the game away with an empty netter but the goal was waived off, due to being offside. Vipers starting goaltender, Ethan David had to be sharp in the final minute or so with the S'Backs pushing, was forced to make a couple of big stops before Owen Kim put the game away hitting the open cage with his fourth point of the evening. The Snakes would snap their four game losing streak, with the 5-2 victory. Vipers went 0-2 with the power play, while the Silverbacks went 0-1 with the man advantage. Shots were 9-9.

Vernon Vipers Top Performers:

Payton Struck (1 goal) I thought played well through out the hockey game.

Isaac Fecteau (1 assist) Returned to the Snakes lineup after being out with an injury. Fecteau was injured late in a game vs Prince George November 3rd, played very well in the win and didn't show any signs of rust. 

Owen Kim (1 goal & 3 assists) Was the Vipers best player, had a heck of a game with four points. Kim has been one of the more consistent Vipers this season after coming over in an off season trade with Langley.

Maks Percic Played well on the blueline.

Lukas McCloskey Played well considering taking a puck to the face in the 1st period, left the game and didn't return until late in the 2nd period wearing a face shield. 

Anthony Cliche (1 goal) Played well on Vernon's backend.

Ethan David (25 saves) Played well between the pipes, made some big saves in the second half of the 1st period and some big saves late with the Silverbacks pressing.

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- The Vipers are 3-3 vs the Silverbacks this season

- Hank Cleaves, Isaac Fecteau and Luke Pakulak returned to the lineup after being out with injuries

- This was by far the Snakes best game played in at least a month

- Vipers Assistant Coach Colton Sparrow wasn't behind the bench this evening

- Vernon went 0-2 with the power play

- The last time these two teams met, Salmon Arm won 5-2 in Vernon December 12th

- For the first time in a very long time, they played some new/different music at tonight's game

- I really liked Vernon's start and first ten minutes of the hockey game. I thought the Vipers played very well and were the better team

- With the win, the Snakes improve to 9-3-1-0 at Kal Tire Place

- Give Vernon credit for not sitting back in the final frame with a three goal lead, instead the Vipers played with pace, I thought were the better team in the 3rd and played well not allowing Salmon Arm back in the hockey game

- Tonight was the Vipers biggest crowd of the season. Tonight's attendance was announced as standing room only 3,053

- The Vipers next game is Sunday afternoon vs the visiting Penticton Vees

- Tonight's the first game of a four game home stand

- This was a good/entertaining hockey game if your a Viper fan

- Vernon did a good job at shutting down Salmon Arm's top forwards/skilled players

- The Snakes hit two goal posts and one crossbar

- Vernon with a very strong 2nd period, scored three goals in the middle frame to take a 4-1 lead heading into the 3rd period

- With the victory, the Snakes snapped their four game losing streak

- These two teams will meet again, January 24th in Salmon Arm

- The Vipers could have easily been up by a couple of goals after one period. Vernon with several good looks/chances only scored once in the 1st period

- Vernon was physical at times, finished their checks, didn't back down from the altercations after the whistle and played hard most of the contest

- This was a big win, not only vs one of the top teams in the Conference but also it moves the Vipers seven points ahead on Trail and only three points back of Salmon Arm

- The Vipers were wearing their road navy blue jerseys this evening as all teams switch road/home jerseys after the Holidays. For the remainder of the regular season all home teams will wear either their road jerseys or alternate jerseys and the visiting teams will wear their home jerseys

- The Vipers have lost four of their last five games and lost six of their last ten games

- The Snakes haven't played well since about early to mid November and tonight was one of their more complete games in a long time

- With the win, Vernon improves to 17-10-1-0 sit 4th in the Interior Conference

Salmon Arm Silverbacks Top Performers:

Marcus Broberg I thought was one of Salmon Arm's better d-men in the loss

JJ Monteiro Was one of the more dangerous forwards who seemed to give Vernon defenders trouble

Cole Longacre was another forward who was hard to defend against and play against

Ty Paisley played well, ripped a shot through traffic before hitting the post

Eli Pulver (24 saves) Played well in goal for the Apes. Both goaltenders were good this evening. Pulver has played very well vs Vernon this season.

Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks

- Both teams returned to action following the Holidays and it showed for the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks. The Gorillas didn't get off to a good start, were outshot, outchanced, outhit and outplayed early and often and for the first ten minutes before finally getting their legs going, gaining some momentum and turning the tables and playing much better in the second half. The Backs needed eight minutes to record their first shot of the 1st period.

- Tonight's the second game of a two game road trip

- Not a whole lot of Silverbacks fans in attendance tonight

- Silverbacks General Manager once tried out for the Vipers, attending the Vipers training camp back in the early 2000s

- With the loss, the Gorillas fall to 7-7-0-1 on the road 

- The S'Backs went 0-2 with the man advantage

- Ty Paisley hit the post in the 1st period

- Salmon Arm had several wrap arounds where I thought they should have scored but didn't, missed on several quality opportunities tonight

- I think the Silverbacks were lucky only to be down 1-0 after one period in a 1st period where Vernon could have easily been up by a couple of goals

- Your not going to win many hockey games when giving up three goals in a period. The Apes gave up three goals in the 2nd period, where down 4-1 heading into the 3rd

- The Silverbacks next game is Saturday vs the visiting Penticton Vees

- SA has won three of their last five games and won seven of their last ten games

- The Silverbacks announced today they have signed 19 yr old defencemen Winston Frimmel. Frimmel made his Silverbacks debut tonight

Silverbacks add European defenseman | Salmon Arm Silverbacks (sasilverbacks.com)

- For a team that was down 4-1 heading into the 3rd, I didn't see much push back to start the period. The Gorillas didn't show much life, play with a whole lot of jump/energy in the 3rd until scoring shorthanded late in the period. This goal seemed to give the Backs some life/jump and Salmon Arm finally pressed hard to finish the hockey game

- I thought the S'Backs looked good at times but then didn't look good at other times in the hockey game. This wasn't one of their better games

- The Silverbacks were physical at times, finished their checks and laid the body but tonight's game also got a little chippy at times with both teams getting involved in altercations after the whistle

- I thought Salmon Arm gave up way too many quality chances

- The Silverbacks top players, were no where to be seen or at least didn't stand out

- Isaac Lambert was a target all night as the Snakes seemed to be going after him through out the hockey game

- I thought both teams were disciplined and stayed out of the penalty box

- Silverbacks Assistant Coach Angus Redmond played goal for the Silverbacks from 2012-2016

- With the loss, Salmon Arm falls to 18-8-0-2 sit 3rd in the Interior Conference

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Jordin Palmer (Injured)

Noah Dorey (Injured)

Julian Facchinelli (Injured)

Owen King (Out for the season)

Salmon Arm Silverbacks:

Matthew Gillard

Nicholas Wolfenberg

Lian Gayfer

Aidan Souligny

Tysen Smith

Energy Player of the Game:

Lukas McCloskey

Three Star's:

1st Star: Owen Kim (1 goal & 3 assists)

2nd Star: Hank Cleaves (1 goal)

3rd Star: Anthony Cliche (1 goal)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Salmon Arm Silverbacks @ Vernon Vipers Friday, December 29, 2023 | BCHL League Site

Game Report,

Game Report (hockeytech.com)

Text Box Score,

Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.com (hockeytech.com)

Vernon Junior Hockey History website,

VernonJrAHockey.CA

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Here are some photo's I took before and during tonight's Vernon Vipers-Salmon Arm Silverbacks game.