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 today's Vipers game, here are my thoughts and views from today'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 today's Vernon Vipers-Penticton Vees game as the Vees defeated the Vipers 3-0 in front of 2,642 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Ethan David
Penticton Vees: Andrew Ness
2nd Period: The hometown Vipers were the better team in the middle frame but unable to capitalize on their opportunities. The Snakes went 0-2 with the power play, struggled with the man advantage as the Vees capitalized on some sloppy play and created/generated some quality chances shorthaned. Vernon with several quality looks/chances, couldn't solve Penticton Vees starting goaltender Andrew Ness. The Vipers had trouble hitting the net, either fired high and over the goal or missed the net completely on a good ten or so tries. The Vees didn't see a whole lot of time in the offensive zone but when they did. they made the best of it, getting some good looks/opportunities shorthanded as well as opening the scoring on a goal from Callum Arnott at 2:59 Penticton seemed to come on late in the final three or four minutes, were able to outplay the Snakes in the final few minutes to end the period. It was 1-0 Penticton after 40 minutes of play. The Vipers outshot the Vees 11-10.
3rd Period: I thought the Snakes had the early edge in play, were the better team in the first six or seven minutes. Vernon couldn't capitalize on an early PP struggled offensively and struggled to get pucks through traffic and towards the net. The Snakes were outshot 7-1 at the midway mark but yet had the better of the play, more zone time and puck possession. The Vipers would take back to back minors and Zack Stringer added some insurance with a power play marker at 12:48 giving Penticton a 2-0 lead. The Vees were the better team down the stretch, played very well defensively, took away time and space from Vernon's forwards, kept the Snakes to the outside and along the wall and limited the Vipers opportunities. Vernon would get Ethan David to the bench for the extra attacker and with a late power play struggled before Zach Stringer put the game away with a shorthanded empty netter to seal the victory. Penticton would win 3-0. The Vees outshot the Vipers 13-4.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Adam Csabi I thought was one of the more dangerous Viper forwards this afternoon. Saw a ton of ice time, was making plays happen.
Lukas McCloskey I thought played well on Friday in the win over Salmon Arm and played another solid game on the backend today.
Luke Pakulak didn't stand out but played very well at different times in the hockey game. Had two quality opportunities, one in the 1st period and a second look/chance in the 3rd both stopped by Andrew Ness.
Ethan David (29 saves) I didn't think was nearly tested as much as Andrew Ness but still was forced to make some key saves at different times in the hockey game. David was a little deep in his net on the Vees opening goal, may want that one back but otherwise was good between the pipes.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- This afternoon was the Vipers second game of a four game home stand. The Snakes play three of their next four games at home
- I didn't think the Vipers were going to win either of their two games this weekend. Going by how poorly the team had been playing the past month or so, I thought Salmon Arm & Penticton would win both of these games. The boys proved me wrong and played two good games this weekend
- Another big crowd on hand this afternoon as tonight's attendance was announced at 2,642 The second biggest crowd of the season
- Vernon was going with their top two lines often as the third and fourth line didn't see as much ice
- The Snakes had several quality looks/chances missed on their opportunities
- Vernon's power play went 0-4
- Former Vipers Assistant Coach/Stanley Cup Champion Eric Godard was in attendance. Godard was an Assistant Coach with the 2014-15 Vernon Vipers
- Your not going to win many hockey games when you get four shots in the 1st period and four shots in the 3rd period
- The Vipers next game is Friday vs the visiting Cranbrook Bucks
- The Snakes are 1-2-0-0 vs Penticton this year
- The Viper power play struggled. Vernon had some good looks/opportunities early in the first two power plays but then got a little sloppy and went to sleep, giving up several chances shorthanded on both first two power plays
- The Vipers are 9-4-1-0 at Kal Tire Place
- The Vipers & Vees will play again January 12th in Penticton
- Isaac Fecteau, Hank Cleaves and Luke Pakulak returned to the Viper lineup on Friday and what a difference the three have made to the team. The Snakes played some of their best hockey of the season this weekend and are a completely different team with these kids back in the lineup
- Former Vipers defenceman/captain Lennie Rampone was in attendance
- The Vipers have lost sixteen of their last seventeen games vs Penticton
- The Vipers host Trail & Cranbrook next weekend. Two big games with the Bucks & Smoke Eaters not far behind the Vipers in the standings
- I thought Vernon held their own this afternoon and played a hard fought game, didn't get the bounces, or capitalize on their opportunities
- The Snakes have lost five of their last six games and lost seven of their last ten games
- The Vipers missed the net at least ten or more times, either fired high and over the goal or missed the net completely
- This was a very good hockey game. Both teams battled, played hard, competed and for the first time in a long time the Vees didn't dominate the game
- Former Viper Assistant Coach Kevin Pederson was in attendance. Pederson is a Scout with the Arizona Coyotes. Pederson was an Assistant Coach/Scout with the Vipers from 2009-2011 & 2015-2019
- The Snakes needed to cash in on at least one if not two power plays
- I thought the Vipers were the better team in the 2nd period and early to start the 3rd
- Vernon played well defensively, didn't give up a ton of quality chances, limited the Vees through out the contest
- With the Vees playing last night and Vernon having the evening off, the Snakes needed to jump on Penticton, open the scoring and try to play with the lead
- The Vipers & Vees play twice more this season with both games being played in Penticton
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 17-11-1-0 sit 4th in the Interior Conference
Penticton Vees Top Performers:
Larry Keenan (1 assist) I thought played very well on Penticton's backend
Billy Renfrew (1 assist) Was one of the Vees more dangerous forwards, played with lots of speed, was involved in the play and made plays happen
Callum Arnott (1 goal) Is the nephew of former Stanley Cup Champion Jason Arnott, Opened the scoring for the Vees, I thought was the Vees best player this afternoon. Played hard at both ends of the rink, was dangerous five on five but also gave the Vipers trouble shorthanded
Zach Stringer (2 goals) Was acquired earlier in the season from the Western Hockey League's Regina Pats, played hard all afternoon. Scored the insurance marker on the Vees PP in the 3rd before putting the hockey game away with a shorthanded empty netter
Andrew Ness (19 saves-Shutout) Facing the Vipers for the first time this season, stopped all nineteen Vernon shots, picking up his second shutout of the season, improving to 8-1-1 Was the busier of the two goaltenders, at least looking at opportunities. Ness wasn't tested really at all in the 1st period and only faced four Vernon shots in the 3rd but was solid stopping all eleven shots in the middle frame with the Vipers pressing.
Game Thought's: Penticton Vees
- The Vees went 1-3 with the man advantage
- Prior to this afternoon, Penticton had lost three straight road games and lost five of their last six road games
- The Vees made their second and final regular season visit to Vernon
- A fair amount of Penticton fans made the trip today with around twenty five or more Vees fans in attendance
- This was a very tight defensive game in the 1st period with both teams not generating much for offence. Both teams went six or seven minutes with only one shot each
- Today was the Vees third game of a five game road trip
- The Vees were wearing what I would guess is their third or alternate jerseys today. A beige jersey with the Hudson Bay company colors in stripes through the centre of the team logo. I didn't like these jerseys at all
- The Vees were playing their second game in as many days as Penticton lost 4-3 in Salmon Arm on Saturday
- The Vees have lost three of their last five games and won six of their last ten games
- Penticton played very well defensively. The Vees did a good job at taking away time and space, limiting the Vipers offensive chances and kept Vernon to the outside or along the wall. The Vees blocked some shots or got their sticks in the way, did a good job at clogging the middle of the ice and allowing Andrew Ness to see all pucks with very little traffic in front
- The Vees next game is Friday in Prince George
- Fred Harbinson was very vocal today as Penticton had a very vocal bench
- I spotted lots of scouts at today's game
- The Vees have won sixteen of the last seventeen games over the Vipers
- Penticton's penalty kill was very good not only defensively but was involved in the play offensively, getting several quality looks/opportunities, especially on Vernon's first two PPs
- With the win, Penticton improves to 21-5-2-2 sit atop the BCHL standings
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Jordin Palmer (Injured)
Noah Dorey (Injured)
Julian Facchinelli (Injured)
Owen King (Out for the season)
Maks Percic (Injured)
Penticton Vees:
Jack Bakker
Nate McIsaac
Conyr Hellyer
Simon Meier
Sharky Nowek
Energy Player of the Game:
Isaac Fecteau
Three Star's:
1st Star: Andrew Ness (19 saves-Shutout)
2nd Star: Zach Stringer (2 goals)
3rd Star: Callum Arnott (1 goal)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
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