Game Recap - "Parents Weekend" Trail Smoke Eaters 4 Vernon Vipers 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 missing only 40 home games. Since 2001 I have missed 10 home games. I started and created this blog in November 2008 and have over 3 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 between the Vernon Vipers & Trail Smoke Eaters as the Smoke Eaters defeated the Vipers 4-2 in front of 2,218 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Marko Bilic

Trail Smoke Eaters: Teagan Kendrick

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Before tonight's game, the Vipers held a pre-game ceremony to introduce all the players parents on the Vipers annual parents weekend.

1st Period: I thought this was a very fast paced opening frame with lots of play going back and fourth with very few whistles. The Vipers looked good early, had the early pressure before Trail stormed back. I thought both teams were evenly matched at times but at other times the Smoke Eaters were the better team, having an edge in play. Both teams had numerous opportunities as both goaltenders played well. It was 1-0 Trail after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 13-12 Smoke Eaters.

2nd Period: The visiting Trail Smoke Eaters were by far the better team and outplayed Vernon for most of this period. The Smokies had a ton of zone time, puck possession, looks/chances couldn't solve Vipers starting goaltender Marko Bilic. Trail had at least two opportunities in close where they looked like they missed an open net. The Snakes didn't look or play good at all. Vernon looked sluggish, out of position, were caught standing around, turning pucks over, had troubles clearing the zone, losing battles, not fighting for pucks or open space. The Vipers had no shots on goal in the first nine minutes of play. Marko Bilic kept Vernon in the hockey game. It was 1-0 Smoke Eaters after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 12-6 Trail. 

3rd Period: The Smoke Eaters capitalized on an early power play to take an early 2-0 lead at 4:06 on a call that was missed by the officials but after video review, the Snakes were given a penalty. Trail was again the better team for most of the period. The Smokies carried the better of the play early, had more puck possession, zone time and the flow of play would have a 3-1 lead at one point. Lucas Brennan would cut Trail's lead to within a goal, which seemed to give some life into the Snakes. Vernon seemed to play with a little more jump/energy, were starting to finish there checks and were much more involved in the contest. After struggling on a late power play, the Smoke Eaters would get there second PP of the night after another video review call. Attila Uppai put the game away with a late goal that sealed the victory. The Smokies would come away with the 4-2 win. Shots were 11-8 Trail. 

Vernon Vipers Top Performers:

Marko Bilic (32 saves) Was the only reason Vernon was in tonight's hockey game. The Vipers starting goaltender kept the Snakes in the game and gave them a chance to win. Bilic was solid in goal was hung out to dry by his defence on numerous occasions.

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- The Vipers are 0-2 vs Trail 

- Even though the Snakes gave up two power play goals, I thought Vernon's PK was good. The Snakes kept Trail's shooters to the outside, limited there opportunities and didn't give up a whole lot of chances

- I didn't think tonight's crowd was as big as last weekends home game vs Salmon Arm but still a pretty big crowd on hand. Tonight's attendance was announced at 2,218

- The Vipers are 1-3-2-0 at Kal Tire Place this season

- It looks like the Vipers are going with two alternate jerseys this season. The Vipers have been wearing last seasons yellow alternate jersey, while also wearing a new baby blue alternate jersey for this season

- I liked Vernon's 1st period and thought the Vipers played very well in the opening period. I thought the Vipers got off to a good start, had the early flow/pressure, were getting pucks to the net, creating/generating chances, were skating, moving the puck and held there own vs a good Trail team. The Vipers had some very good looks/opportunities, couldn't seem to buy a goal that period

- The Vipers next game is Saturday vs the visiting Sherwood Park Crusaders

- The Vipers beat Trail in the preseason, a 6-5 win at home September 13th 2024

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

- The Snakes need to play with more grit, more energy/jump and need to compete/battle and I didn't see that tonight

- The Vipers did get several quality opportunities, couldn't bury there chances

- Cooper Cleaves struggled tonight, didn't have a great game

- Newly acquired forward Noah Grolnic was a healthy scratch tonight

- Vernon looked disorganized at times, sloppy, didn't look sharp, struggled at both ends of the rink

- The Vipers only win at home this season, was a 6-3 victory over the West Kelowna Warriors October 11th

- The Vipers defeated Trail in 5 games in the opening round of last years Playoffs

- The Snakes forgot to show up in the 2nd period as Vernon didn't look good or play good in a period where they were outplayed for most of the period. The Snakes were caught standing around, losing battles, turning over pucks, not making a play, had troubles clearing the zone, couldn't make a pass or a play, made several mistakes, struggled defensively and offensively. The Vipers had one shot in the first nine minutes of play

- The Vipers play three of there next four games at home

- Tonight's game was delayed close to twenty minutes with the pre-game ceremonies

- Vernon had a good 1st period but otherwise looked sluggish, didn't play with a lot of jump/energy, was caught standing around, turned over the puck lots, poor defensive coverage, struggled offensively, made lots of mistakes, didn't compete or win those battles

- Were almost twenty games into the season and it's hard to believe the Vipers only have five wins

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

- Marko Bilic kept Vernon in tonight's game. Bilic was very good between the pipes, was forced to make several big stops. If it wasn't for Bilic's strong play, the Smokies could have easily had six or seven goals

- Vernon took way too many penalties this evening and it cost them, giving up two PP goals in the 3rd

- The Vipers & Smoke Eaters play again January 25th in Vernon

- It seems like the Vipers never play well on parents weekend. Too many distractions going on away from the rink

- The Snakes power play went 0-2

- The Vipers took a double minor early into the 3rd period, cost them a goal to go down 2-0 early into the 3rd. The Vipers didn't have a great 3rd period but after getting to within a goal, seemed to get some life and play a little better for a short period of time. Vernon played with a little more jump/energy before the Smokies took over the play again. The Vipers went lengthy periods of time without a shot on goal, didn't have a great push in the 3rd, ran into penalty trouble

- Since the 2003-04 regular season, the Vipers are 90-29-1-5-1 vs Trail

- The Vipers only had two power plays but struggled with the man advantage

- Vernon went lengthy periods of time in the 2nd and 3rd periods with no shots on goal

- I think the Vipers have improved from the start of the season and been playing much better as of late but tonight I was very disappointed with the effort/performance and thought the Vipers played and looked like the Viper team from the start of the season

- I thought Will Schumacher come to play in the 3rd and stepped up his play in the final period was one of the lone bright spots for the Vipers 

- The Snakes passed instead of shooting, made way too many passes and got too cute with the puck

- Vernon can't score and has struggled scoring most of this season. The Vipers can't put the puck in the net

- The Vipers & Smoke Eaters play each other five times this season

- With the loss, Vernon falls to 5-9-3-0 sits 9th in the Interior Conference

Trail Smoke Eaters Top Performers:

Jack Kennedy (1 assist) I thought played very well on the blueline

Ridge Dawson (1 goal & 2 assists) The Smokies captain lead the way with three points tonight. It seems like Dawson always seems to play well vs the Vipers, played very well in the win this evening

Lucas Lemeiux (1 goal) Was another defender I thought played well for the Smoke Eaters

Jason Stefanek (2 assists) Was hard to defend, skated hard, played hard, chipped in with two helpers

Teagan Kendrick (24 saves) Played well in goal. I thought the Snakes had some quality looks/chances but Trail's netminder was there for the big save. A big goaltender, covers a lot of the net, got some help from his defence

Game Thought's: Trail Smoke Eaters

- The Smokies have outscored Vernon 9-5 in two games this season

- I spotted a small handfull of around ten or so Trail fans in attendance

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

- Trail is 4-3-1-1 on the road this season

- Defenceman Isaac Fecteau played with the 2023-24 Vernon Vipers, was traded to Trail February 10th 2024

- The Smoke Eaters next game is Saturday in Penticton

- The Smokies went 2-6 with the man advantage

- I thought both teams were fairly even in the 1st with Trail being the better team and having a bit of an edge at times. Lots of back and fourth action in a fast paced period with very few whistles. Both goaltenders played good. Both teams had some looks/good opportunities

- I thought the Smoke Eaters played a well disciplined game

- I thought the Smokies looked good at times but also not so good at times. Give Trail credit, they played hard and were the better of the two teams

- Trail looked to miss at least three or so what looked like open nets

- The Smokies could have easily come away with six or seven goals but also could have easily given up five or more goals

- I thought Trail was the better team by far in the 2nd period with the Smoke Eaters having the better of the play, more puck possession, zone time, were winning the battles, races for pucks and just outskated Vernon who was caught standing around

- The Smoke Eaters have won four of there last five games and won six of there last ten games

- The Smokies struggled with the man advantage

- Trail did a good job at forcing Vernon into making mistakes, turning over pucks and wore the Vipers out as the game continued

- Even thought Trail was the better of the two teams in the 2nd period, it was only 1-0 going into the 3rd where the Smokies scored three times to earn the victory. I thought Trail was the better team for most of the period

- The Smoke Eaters defensive coverage was much better then Vernon's, did a good job at keeping the Snakes to the outside and limiting there chances. The Vipers went lengthy periods of time without a shot in the 2nd and 3rd periods

- With the win, Trail improves to 10-5-1-1 sit 4th in the Interior Conference

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Koji Gibson

Noah Grolnic

Keaton Dowhaniuk

Trail Smoke Eaters:

Owen McCarthy

Cash Carter

Josh Evaschesen

Energy Player of the Game:

Will Schumacher

Three Star's:

1st Star: Ridge Dawson (1 goal & 2 assists)

2nd Star: Jason Stefanek (2 assists)

3rd Star: Marko Stojkov (2 assists)

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Trail Smoke Eaters @ Vernon Vipers Friday, November 08, 2024 | BCHL League Site

Game Report,

Game Report

Text Box Score,

Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.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-Trail Smoke Eaters game.