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 2.8 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 Game 2 Playoff game between the Vernon Vipers & Trail Smoke Eaters as the Vipers defeated Trail 5-2 in front of 2,315 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Ethan David
Trail Smoke Eaters: Teagan Kendrick
2nd Period: The Smokies jumped on the Snakes early and often as Trail got off to a strong start. The Smoke Eaters had a ton of pressure, zone time, puck possession were all over Vernon to start the middle frame. Ethan David had to be sharp to keep this a one goal hockey game. The Vipers struggled early to keep the puck on their stick, get out of their own end and gain any kind of puck possession. Vernon with only two shots on goal in the first seven minutes. The Smoke Eaters were by far the better team in the first half before the Snakes would get their game going in the second half. Isaac Tremblay tied the game on a play where the Trail bench thought it was icing. Tremblay's goal stood after a short discussion with the officials. The Snakes played much better in the second half as both teams were fairly even to finish the period. Adam Csabi took a big hit to the head, went to the Vipers dressing room but returned and stayed in the hockey game. It was 1-1 after 40 minutes. The Smoke Eaters went 0-1 with the PP. Shots were 12-11 Vernon.
3rd Period: The Vipers would get an early power play but unable to capitalize. Shortly after the penalty expired, the Vipers would get two quick back to back goals twenty three seconds apart, to take a 3-1 lead. Just past the midway mark, Vernon would get two more quick goals, forty seconds apart to basically put the game away up 5-1. The Vipers were by far the better team, outplayed Trail most of the period. The Snakes with a strong finish, scored four goals, looked good and played good in the final twenty minutes. The Vipers capitalized on their chances. The Smokies took some undisciplined penalties, didn't have a great period, fell behind 3-1 early and couldn't recover. The Vipers would take a 2-0 series lead after a 5-2 victory.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Carson McGinley (1 goal) Has looked good in the series, gave Vernon an early lead to start the 3rd period. This kid can skate, is hard to defend, has some skill and a great shot
Luke Bibby I thought played/battled hard all night, was hard in on the forecheck, had a couple of looks
Erik Pastro (2 assists) Was in and around the Smokies goal through out the night and was rewarded with two smart plays that resulted in goals
Adam Csabi (1 assist) This kid was skating hard, using his speed, making plays happen, was all over the ice this evening, had a strong game for the Snakes
Nick Mikan Was another Vipers forward who I thought played hard/played well
Ethan David (28 saves) Has been the Vipers MVP this season, played another solid game between the pipes. David made some key saves early in the 2nd period with the Smokies up 1-0 and pressing
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- Game 3 goes Tuesday in Trail
- The Vipers have won eleven of their last fourteen home games
- I thought tonight other then the first ten minutes of the 2nd period, Vernon played very very well
- The Vipers went 1-4-0-0 vs Trail during the regular season
- This was a very intense/emotional game
- I don't think many Vipers fans would have predicted the Vipers to have a 2-0 series lead
- The Snakes went 2-6 with the power play
- I really liked Vernon's start to the hockey game and thought they were ready and come to play tonight, unlike last night's 1st period. I really liked the Vipers opening period and thought they had a slight edge in play. The Vipers were getting pucks to the net, generated some offence, were physical, played well defensively and reduced the amount of turn overs
- This is the ninth time the Vipers & Smoke Eaters have played in the playoffs
- Adam Csabi took a high hit to the head in front of the Smoke Eaters bench during the 2nd period, was attended to by the team trainer, went to the dressing room but later returned and stayed in the hockey game
- The Vipers have won four of their last five games and eight of their last ten games
- The Snakes scored twice with the man advantage but I didn't like their power play. I thought the Vipers struggled with the PP. Vernon missed an open net on one 1st period power play, while Hank Cleaves hit the post on another 1st period PP
- Including the pre-season, regular season and playoffs, the Vipers are 4-0-1-0 at home vs Trail this season
- After a great 1st period, the Vipers struggled early to start the 2nd period and didn't look good or play good in the first half of the middle frame. Vernon saw a lot of time in their own end, had troubles clearing their zone, getting puck possession, getting through the neutral zone and any sustained pressure in the offensive zone. The Vipers were back on their heels and very lucky to only be down a goal. Give the Snakes credit, they re-grouped and played much better in the second half and looked good to finish the period
- Assistant Coaches Colton Sparrow and Lukas Lomicky are 9-2-1-0 after the Vipers parted ways with Head Coach/GM Jason McKee
- The Vipers are 20-6-2-0 at home this regular season/playoffs
- For a second straight night, I really liked Vernon's penalty kill. The Vipers PK has been one of their bright spots this season and was on it's game tonight
- How good has Ethan David been this season? David has kept the Vipers in many of their games this season and is doing it again these playoffs
- The last time the Vipers & Smoke Eaters played in the playoffs was during the 2018-19 season
- A big crowd tonight. Tonight's attendance was announced at 2,315
- Good to see fans have some fun before the games, as several tail gate parties were spotted in the parking lot before both playoff games this weekend
- The Vipers have struggled all season with their passing and turn overs in their own end and last night was no different. I thought the Snakes did a much better job tonight with their passing and reduced the number of turn overs
- How big was tonight's win? The Vipers now head to Trail with a 2-0 series lead instead of 1-1 Trail has been very good on home ice, while the Snakes have been around the 500 mark on the road
- Has anyone else noticed the excitement on the Vipers bench when they score? You sure didn't see this much excitement when Jason McKee was behind the bench
- This has been a physical/chippy series and tonight was no different. Both teams were physical, chippy and got away with several penalties
Trail Smoke Eaters Top Performers:
Ethan Warrener (1 goal) Had a strong game in Game 1 played very well again tonight. A big heavy d-man that plays well at both ends of the rink
Ridge Dawson Played with an edge all night, was getting under the skin of the Vipers through out the game
Christian Kim (2 assists) Played well in the loss, was one of the more consistent Smokies
Teagan Kendrick (34 saves) For a second straight night, Kendrick was tested and like Ethan David at the other end of the rink, was forced to make some big saves through out the contest. I'm not sure what happened on Vernon's first goal but I think Kendrick wasn't set-thinking the play was being called for icing. In the 3rd Kendrick gave up four goals but couldn't be blamed
Game Thought's: Trail Smoke Eaters
- With the game tied 1-1 in the 3rd the Smokies took some undisciplined penalties, that cost them the hockey game. Vernon would score twice on the power play, to basically put the game away
- For a second straight game, the Smoke Eaters were wearing their black with orange third jersey. The jersey is all black with orange stripes, numbers and name bars with a giant letter T in the middle of an orange circle as the logo
- Trail has come to play in both games this weekend and played well in the 1st period, opened the scoring, took a 1-0 lead into the 2nd period. The Smokies and Vipers were fairly evenly matched in the opening period with the hometown Snakes having a slight edge in play. I really liked the Smoke Eaters compete level to start the hockey game
- The Smokies went 0-5 with the man advantage
- For a second straight night, some Smoke Eaters fans were in attendance
- I thought Trail missed an opportunity in the 2nd period to get some insurance and a two or three goal lead. The Smokies were ahead 1-0 heading into the middle frame and were all over the Vipers at the start of the period. Trail had a ton of sustained pressure, zone time, puck possession, created/generated some looks/chances couldn't add to their lead. Instead the Vipers re-group, gain some life/momentum and play much better in the second half, end up tying the game
- Defenceman Isaac Fecteau played with the 2023-24 Vernon Vipers, was traded to Trail February 10th 2024
- The Smoke Eaters are 12-14-3-0 during the regular season/playoffs
- I think if Trail is able to get that second goal and go ahead 2-0 do the Vipers have enough to come back or is this a different outcome?
- Trail struggled with the PP couldn't seem to get much of anything going with the man advantage
- This series could have gone either way and the Smoke Eaters could have easily been up 2-0 in the series heading home
- Assistant Coach Dallas Calvin played with the 2013-14 Vernon Vipers
- Heading home for Game 3, the Smoke Eaters are in a must win situation
- The Smokies have won three of their last five games are 5-5 in their last ten games
- One of the turning points tonight for the Smokies was giving up back to back goals early in the 3rd twenty three seconds apart to fall behind 3-1 and then giving up back to back goals forty seconds apart to fall behind 5-1
- The Smoke Eaters have won five of their last eight road games
- I really liked Trails start to the 2nd period, but the Smokies couldn't sustain the pressure. The Smoke Eaters couldn't grab that two goal lead, instead allow Vernon back into the game in the second half, allow the Vipers to tie the game and gain some life/momentum heading into the 3rd
- I noticed a lot of Trail's more skilled forwards who stood out last night, weren't nearly as noticeable tonight
- I don't know what happened in the 3rd but Trail was outplayed most of the period. The Vipers were by far the better team. The Smoke Eaters took some undisciplined penalties that cost them the hockey game but also had trouble defending, gave up four 3rd period goals
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Zhenya Miles
Payton Struck
Owen King (Injured-Out for season)
Simon Binkley (AP)
Ewan McPherson
Linden Burrett
Cooper Cleaves (AP)
Trail Smoke Eaters:
Cameron Johnsen
Callas Pierce
Cash Carter (AP)
Nathan Dominici
Kailus Green
Energy Player of the Game:
Erik Pastro (2 assists)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Isaac Tremblay (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Etienne Lessard (1 goal & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Owen Kim (1 goal & 1 assist)
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.
“I don’t know what happened in the third”. Easy. The Vipers destroyed their opponent. Why are you so hesitant to give full credit when it’s due, dude? Makes you look amateurish
ReplyDeleteIt was a rhetorical question 'dude'. Immediately after that statement he goes on to say, 'Vipers were by far the better team.' Your comment makes you look amateurish.
DeleteProbably the most physically played game the Vipers have played this year. Reminded me the game vs Penticton back in November. The officiating by the Referees is also better than the regular season, not so many nitpicky calls.
ReplyDeleteDoes there not have to be an actual question posed in order for it to be a rhetorical question? Good job there, professor Steve.
ReplyDeleteI would like to know where they came up with 2200+ fans? From where I was sitting behind the Vipers bench, the far side of the arena was not even half full! What, hundreds of season ticket holders never showed up? They always inflate the attendance and I don't know why!
ReplyDeleteDo they really? You personally count every seat? Stop spreading b.s. theories.
DeleteVernon accomplished what they needed to do, go to Trail with a two game lead. Regardless of how the games were played or officiated, we still have two wins.
ReplyDeleteNext two games will be exciting.