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 2.7 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-Cranbrook Bucks game as the Bucks defeated Vernon 9-1 in front of 2,827 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Ethan David
Cranbrook Bucks: Carter Capton
2nd Period: The Snakes would re-group between periods. Hank Cleaves would hit the post early and the Vipers would get two very good chances early to start the period but couldn't capitalize with the puck loose in the blue paint before Julian Frias scored a questionable goal, giving Cranbrook a commanding 4-0 lead 4:15 into the middle frame. A Bucks player looked to take out Colin Reay before Frias's goal but the goal stood with the Vipers arguing the call. The officials had a brief discussion but the goal stood and it was 4-0 Bucks. Vernon looked and played a lot better, was the better team, had more of an edge in play, were starting to get pucks to the net, create and generate some chances and had the better of the play. The Vipers seemed to get their legs going, were moving the puck well and had some quality looks/chances but couldn't solve Bucks starting goaltender Carter Capton. Adam Csabi would eventually get the Snakes on the board. The Bucks with a four goal lead, I think maybe took their foot off the gas? As Cranbrook saw a lot of time in their own end, had to rely on some puck luck and big saves from their netminder. It was 4-1 Cranbrook after 40 minutes of play. The Bucks went 0-2 with the power play. Shots were 18-8 Vernon.
3rd Period: The Bucks put the game away early after Blake Cotton gave Cranbrook a commanding 5-1 lead 2:19 into the final frame. With the score-game out of reach, this wasn't much of a period with the Bucks blowing the game/period wide open with five 3rd period goals as the Viper faithful started making their way to the exits at the midway point of the period. Cranbrook was the better team in a long dragged out period with lots of whistles. The Bucks had the better of the play, more zone time and seemed like whatever they put towards the net, went in. Cranbrook come away with the 9-1 victory. The Bucks went 2-3 with the man advantage, while the Vipers went 0-1. Shots were 12-8 Bucks.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Snakes five game home winning streak comes to an end
- The Vipers are 3-1-0-0 at home vs Cranbrook
- Vernon's next game is Friday in Prince George
- The Snakes didn't show up and it cost them as Cranbrook scored three 1st period goals, chased Ethan David from the net as the Bucks dominated the opening frame
- The Vipers struggled, didn't look good or play good in periods 1 and 3 I thought Vernon played much better in the 2nd period but didn't get the bounces or capitalize on their opportunities. The Vipers had at least three or four real good chances early into the period, before allowing Cranbrook to come back and go ahead by four goals and basically put the game away
- The Vipers went 0-2 with the power play
- Vernon has won three of their last five games and won six of their last ten games
- One thing I noticed that is concerning is the Vipers start to the hockey game. The Snakes haven't showed up and have been outplayed for at least the first half or more in the last three games
- Vernon is five points ahead of 5th place Trail
- Watching the 1st period it was obvious what team hasn't played all week/weekend and what team was playing their third game in four days
- Another large crowd this afternoon. Today's attendance was 2,827
- The Vipers are 4-3-0-0 vs Cranbrook this season
- This was not the same Viper team I saw play Saturday vs Salmon Arm
- I think Ethan David & Colin Reay would like a couple of goals back
- Nobody claimed the 50/50 after three draws
- This afternoon was Vernon's third game in four days
- At this time of the year, you can not afford to lose to teams below you in the standings when your trying to catch Salmon Arm & West Kelowna. This afternoon's game was very important and the Vipers threw it away
- Hank Cleaves hit the post in the 2nd period
- The Vipers are 14-5-1-0 at Kal Tire Place this season
- The Snakes didn't get any puck luck or bounces go there way or capitalize on their opportunities
- Vernon played much better in the 2nd period but overall didn't look good today. Missed passes, players out of position, getting beat to pucks, took way too many penalties, struggled to get pucks to the net, struggled offensively, struggled defensively, weren't getting bodies or traffic to the front of the net, didn't have that same intensity/emotion they played with and showed on Saturday vs Salmon Arm
- Does anyone know how long Owen Kim is out? The Vipers sure miss his energy/jump
- Today was the seventh and final regular season meeting vs the Bucks
- Ethan David was pulled in the 1st period, giving up three goals on fifteen shots
- I know Vernon was playing their third game in four days, but this late in the season and trying to catch teams ahead of you in the standings, this was not only a very disappointing game but disappointing effort/loss
- The Snakes next three games are vs Prince George
- The Vipers are three points back of 3rd place Salmon Arm
- I think if the Vipers could get a goal or two in the 2nd period, maybe the momentum/game changes and we have a different outcome? But the Snakes only found the back of the net once and couldn't keep the puck out of theirs
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 25-16-1-0 sit 4th in the Interior Conference
Cranbrook Bucks Top Performers:
Joseph Blackley (1 goal) I thought played very well at both ends of the rink
Loke Sodergren (2 goals) Scored Cranbrook's first two goals, rang a shot off the post, played well on the Bucks blueline
Jack Silich Didn't record a single point but played with a lot of jump/energy
Jacob Fletcher (3 assists) Chipped in with three helpers this afternoon. Not the biggest kid but quick on his feet, makes plays happen, sees the ice well
Patrick Murphy (1 goal & 3 assists) Picked up all four points in the 3rd period, was a Bucks forward that gave the Snakes trouble in the final twenty minutes of play
Blake Cotton (3 goals) Scored twice on the power play, had a good game this afternoon
Bryce Sookro (1 assist) I thought was another Cranbrook d-man that looked good/played well
Carter Capton (30 saves) Wasn't tested a whole lot but was forced to make some big stops and key saves in the 2nd period with the Vipers pressing. Capton had a couple of bounces go his way but also made some nice saves
Game Thought's: Cranbrook Bucks
- After losing the first three games of the regular season to the Vipers, Cranbrook has won back to back games over the Snakes and three of the last four
- The Bucks next game is Friday vs the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters
- Cranbrook jumped on the Vipers early and often and were by far the better team in the 1st period. The Bucks dominated the opening frame, took a 3-0 lead into the 2nd period. The Bucks with a very good looking 1st period, had some good looks, quality chances, were getting pucks to the net, had the better of the play, more zone time & more puck possession
- The last time these two teams met, the Bucks won 2-1 January 28th in Cranbrook
- The Bucks are four points ahead of 7th place Merritt
- Assistant Coach Roman Vopat was drafted by the St. Louis Blues 172nd overall in 1994 played six seasons in the NHL with St. Louis, Los Angeles, Chicago & Philadelphia
- Prior to today, the Bucks had two wins in their last eight road games
- Cranbrook went 3-7 with the man advantage
- Give the Bucks credit for coming into Kal Tire Place where the Vipers had lost only four games on home ice, completely dominated the Snakes this afternoon
- Loke Sodergren hit the post in the 1st period
- The Bucks play their next five games on home ice
- The Bucks were well rested, haven't played in nine days
- The Bucks top players, outplayed and out performed Vernon's top players this afternoon
- Cranbrook is 10-12-1-0 on the road this season
- I thought the Bucks did a good job at getting bodies/traffic in front of the Vipers two netminders, went to the grey area, were getting pucks to the net, not only had some of the bounces go their way but capitalized on their opportunities. It seemed like whatever was put on net, went in
- Cranbrook is six points back of 5th place Trail
- The Bucks have won four of their last five games are 5-5 in their last ten games
- Give this hockey club a ton of credit for not only winning this afternoon in Vernon but beating the Vipers two of the past three games
- This team plays hard, plays with an edge, goes to the net, is physical, doesn't back down, can move the puck, played well defensively and got some big saves from their goaltender
- With the win, Cranbrook improves to 19-23-2-0 sit 6th in the Interior Conference
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Noah Dorey
Owen King (Injured-Out for season)
Nick Mikan (Suspended)
Owen Kim (Injured)
Bronson Ross
Cranbrook Bucks:
Malachi Freh
Jarrod Smith
Bobby Bartell
Energy Player of the Game:
Isaac Tremblay
Three Star's:
1st Star: Blake Cotton (3 goals)
2nd Star: Patrick Murphy (1 goal & 3 assists)
3rd Star: Loke Sodergren (2 goals)
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.
5 comments:
Let me see vipers 8 penalties and the bucks 2 penalties. Sounds like the vipers played a very disciplined game. The vernon vipers effort just was not there. It certainly was not a team playing a full 60 minutes. The vipers better clue in and start playing with more effort in every game or it will be a short playoff exit for the season. The bucks had a game plan coming into the game and did it to perfection. The vipers I if they had a plan the wheels fell of. Disappointing for the fans. I do not think we should use family day as an excuse.
When you announce the starting lineup onto the the ice, From Vancouver BC "Ethan BIG SAVE David" Karma is going to bite you in the ass.
50/50 was claimed after 3rd draw. Do your homework before making a false claim
The third draw was announced very late in the hockey game. When the game ended and I left, no winner for the 50/50 was announced.
Of all the things to nitpick, this is what you choose to call him out on? Get a life.
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