Game Recap - Vernon 5 Salmon Arm 4

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 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 Salmon Arm 5-4 in front of 2,958 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Ethan David

Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Ryan Grout

1st Period: The visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks got the early jump and early play, were the better team in the first half. Salmon Arm carried the better of the play early and often within the first seven to eight minutes. The Apes were getting pucks to the net, zone time, had more puck possession and generated some looks/chances. The Silverbacks were ahead in shots 7-1 at one point. The Vipers started tonight's game kind of similar to Friday's game in Penticton. The Snakes didn't show up and were outplayed early and often before veteran Luke Pakulak opened the scoring at 12:22 Vernon would score two quick back to back goals less then two minutes apart. This changed the momentum and tide of the game as Vernon gained some life, got their game going and were the better team towards the end of the period before the S'Backs responded with two quick goals ten seconds apart to tie the game late 2-2 in the final minute and a half. It was 2-2 after 20 minutes of play. Vipers go 1-1 with the man advantage. Shots were 12-9 Salmon Arm. 

2nd Period: This was a fairly even yet very entertaining/exciting period with both teams going back and fourth. The Snakes took a 3-2 and 4-3 lead but the Gorillas didn't quit, pushed back to tie the game 3-3 and 4-4 Salmon Arm's game tying fourth goal was scored on a Viper turnover on an odd man rush at 19:59 Filip Krajcik scored his first career BCHL goal, giving Vernon a 3-2 lead. Both teams were physical, chippy, battled/competed and created/generated opportunities. Both goaltenders were good between the pipes with several big saves. It was 4-4 after 40 minutes of play. The Silverbacks go 1-1 with the power play. Shots were 20-11 Vernon. 

3rd Period: About a minute and a half into the final frame, Nick Mikan and Maddux Martin dropped the gloves as the two come out of the penalty box. Both players were ejected from the hockey game. Another period where both teams were even. Both teams had their own times where they were the better team at this point of the period but both teams once again battled/competed, were physical, chippy, created/generated chances. Both goaltenders again had to be sharp, making some key saves with the game tied. Around the midway mark, SA with their only PP of the 3rd couldn't capitalize and then Vernon would get a late power play and unable to take the lead. Twenty seconds after the man advantage, Julian Facchinelli gave the hometown Snakes a 5-4 lead at 19:16 The Apes would get Ryan Grout to the bench for the extra attacker and press hard, had a couple of real good looks late. Ethan David decided to keep the play going, through the puck back into play, instead of holding for a whistle with about six or seven seconds left, just about cost him as the Backs had a late look but missed the net and the Vipers would hang on for a big 5-4 win. At the buzzer Luke Pakulak and Isaac Lambert got into a shoving match before Pakulak dropped his gloves as a melay broke loose. Ethan David was getting involved with a couple of Salmon Arm players as everyone on the ice was involved before the altercation was broken up with the Snakes celebrating the victory. Both teams went 0-1 with the PP. Shots were 11-8 Vernon.

Vernon Vipers Top Performers:

Carson McGinley is slowly starting to get comfortable with his new team and has been slowly starting to flash his speed, quickness and skill now and again. Tonight I thought he had several shifts where he was hard to contain, defend and with his speed and skill created/generated some offensive chances for Vernon

Luke Bibby (3 assists) played hard, with an edge and played well in the loss last night in Penticton, I thought had another strong game in the win over Salmon Arm this evening. Bibby is another player that has been coming on as of late and playing better late in the season

Connor Elliott (1 goal) Played well Friday in Penticton, had another strong game tonight

Luke Pakulak (1 goal & 1 assist) Had a heck of a game. Was physical, battled/competed, worked hard, was in the face of several Silverbacks, played well at both ends of the rink

Ethan David (25 saves) Made some key saves at different times in the game with the S'Backs pressing

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- The Vipers have seven regular season home games remaining

- The Snakes are 4-1-0-0 at home vs Salmon Arm

- With the win, the Vipers are five points ahead of the 5th place Trail Smoke Eaters

- How great have the crowds been this season? Not only is the hockey/Vipers better this season but the crowds/atmosphere have been great! The games just seem to be more exciting with more people/fans in the arena. This is so great to see! With the size of Vernon I always wondered why the crowds were never like this game after game from day 1 when the arena was first built

- Vernon went 1-2 with the power play

- Similar to Friday in Penticton, the Vipers didn't show up and were outplayed early and often. Vernon was outshot 7-1 at one point as Salmon Arm was the better team in the first half. The Snakes would eventually open the scoring and score two quick goals less then two minutes apart, that seemed to change the momentum as the Vipers took over the play for most of the remainder of the period. The Vipers fell asleep in the final minute and a half, allowing the Apes to tie the game with two goals in ten seconds

- The Vipers are 6-3-0-0 vs Salmon Arm this season

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

- Defenceman Filip Krajcik playing in just his second game with the Vipers, scored his first career BCHL goal tonight

- I wish when announcing goals, the PA announcer would announce how many goals the player has. I think Vernon is the only arena that doesn't tell you how many goals the goal scorer has

- The Vipers have won five straight home games

- Both teams were fairly even in the 2nd period, in a very entertaining/exciting period. Both teams were physical, chippy, created/generated chances. Vernon had period leads of 3-2 and 4-3 but the Gorillas pushed back to tie the game 3-3 and 4-4 Salmon Arm's fourth goal was on a Viper turnover on an odd man rush, scored at 19:59 

- The Vipers next game is Monday vs the visiting Cranbrook Bucks

- Tonight was the second straight home game vs Salmon Arm

- I thought Vernon's fourth goal was offside

- This was an emotional game for both teams. It had that playoff like atmosphere and felt like a playoff game

- The officials let both teams play tonight, where several obvious penalties were either missed or not called in my opinion

- The Vipers and Silverbacks play each other nine times this season. Tonight was the ninth and final meeting between these two teams

- With the game tied 4-4 I thought both teams were once again fairly even in the 3rd in another entertaining period. Both teams were once again physical, chippy, and had some good looks/opportunities

- How great have the crowds been this season? Another large crowd this evening. Tonight's attendance was announced at 2,958

- I have mentioned this before but will say it again. Thank you to whoever does the music at the home games for finally playing some different music lately

- Will we see any suspensions after the altercation at the final buzzer?

- The Vipers are 14-4-1-0 at Kal Tire Place this season

- With the win, the Snakes are one point back of 3rd place Salmon Arm

- Give Vernon credit, for not losing their confidence after blowing three different leads tonight. The Vipers made some mistakes, didn't look good or play well at different times through out the hockey game, but hung in their, battled/competed, never quit and gutted out a physical/chippy 5-4 win

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

- Incase some fans were wondering why the giant Team Canada jersey was hanging from the catwalk, is because it's for the Women's Esso Cup that's coming to Vernon in April

- I'm not a big fan of seeing one team like Salmon Arm nine times in one season, while only getting to see other teams once, twice or five times in a season

- The Snakes have won nine of their last thirteen home games vs the Silverbacks

- With the win, Vernon improves to 25-15-1-0 sits 4th in the Interior Conference

Salmon Arm Silverbacks Top Performers:

Tristan Allen (1 goal) Scored a highlight reel goal to tie the game late in the opening frame, seems to play very well vs the Snakes this year. Played very well and was one of Salmon Arm's better d-men in the loss

Cole Longacre was another defencemen I thought played well

Cole Cooksey (2 goals & 1 assist) Had himself a heck of a hockey game picking up three points

Maddux Martin (2 assists) I thought played very well, was involved in the play, played with an edge, chipped in with two helpers, didn't back down from the chippy play/altercations in and around the whistles. Was involved in a play with Viper forward Nick Mikan. Both players were given minors and were exchanging words in the penalty box. As both penalties expired, the two dropped the gloves

Nathan Mackie The Backs captain had a strong game, was dangerous with and without the puck, hard to defend and created some plays. Saw a lot of ice and gave the Viper defenders trouble through out the game

Isaac Lambert (1 assist) Had a couple of real nice shifts, played well in the loss. 

Ryan Grout (35 saves) Was the busier of the two netminders, made some key saves at different times during tonight's contest. Grout is facing the Snakes for just the second time this season

Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks

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

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

- I really liked Salmon Arm's start as the Apes jumped on Vernon early and often. The Silverbacks could have easily opened the scoring and maybe we have a different 1st period or outcome to the hockey game? But the Silverbacks end up falling behind 2-0 before rallying late with two goals ten seconds apart to knot the game at two just before the end of the opening frame

- The Silverbacks have eight regular season home games remaining and five regular season road games left

- The Gorillas go 1-2 with the man advantage

- Salmon Arm is 10-11-0-1 on the road this season

- The Silverbacks were wearing their third set or alternate jersey tonight. A black jersey with purple stripes and numbers and a Gorillas head on the front

- A good turnout of Silverbacks fans in attendance tonight

- The Silverbacks have lost four straight games to the Vipers

- Give this SA team credit. In a 2nd period that was fairly even, the Silverbacks fell behind 3-2 and 4-3 but didnt quit. The Apes continued to battle/compete and tied the game 3-3 and 4-4 in a gutsy performance on the road in a tough rink to play in

- The Silverbacks are one point ahead of 4th place Vernon and five points back of 2nd place West Kelowna

- Salmon Arm has lost three straight road games and five of their last eight games on the road

- The S'Backs are quick, have a good transition game and move the puck up ice in a hurry

- The Silverbacks and Vipers are two fairly evenly matched teams

- The Silverbacks have lost four of their last five games are 5-5 in their last ten games

- With the loss, Salmon Arm falls to 25-14-0-2

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Payton Struck

Owen King (Injured/Out for season)

Ewan McPherson

Linden Burrett

Owen Kim (Injured)

Salmon Arm Silverbacks:

Nathaniel Davis

Jonah Aegerter

Tysen Smith

Energy Player of the Game:

Luke Bibby (3 assists)

Three Star's:

1st Star: Julian Facchinelli (2 goals)

2nd Star: Cole Cooksey (2 goals & 1 assist)

3rd Star: Luke Pakulak (1 goal & 1 assist)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Salmon Arm Silverbacks @ Vernon Vipers Saturday, February 17, 2024 | 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.