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 & Okotoks Oilers as the Vipers defeated the Oilers 7-4 in front of 2,441 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Marko Bilic
Okotoks Oilers: Olivier Ciarlo
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2nd Period: The Oilers jumped on the hometown Vipers early and often as Vernon looked sloppy to start the middle frame. It was all Okotoks as the Oilers were by far the better team, carried the better of the play, had more puck possession, zone time, shots on goal, more opportunities. The Vipers looked sloppy, disorganized, were turning pucks over, making mistakes, caught out of position and didn't see a whole lot of time with the puck. The Snakes were losing a lot of races, battles along the wall, were losing faceoffs, gave up way too many opportunities. The Vipers PK was good as Vernon did manage to end the period on a strong note, playing better in the final few minutes. It was 6-2 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 17-7 Okotoks.
3rd Period: The Snakes got into penalty trouble early as the Oilers played most of the first half with the man advantage. The visiting Okotoks Oilers were by far the better team for a second straight period. The Oilers couldn't capitalize with the PP did get to within two goals. The Oilers played with pace, had more puck possession, zone time, created/generated several quality chances, saw a lot of time in the offensive zone. Vernon took too many penalties, saw a lot of time in there own end, looked good on the PK but other wise were bailed out by there goaltender, didn't see much time in the offensive zone, were losing the races/battles, losing faceoffs, didn't play with much intensity. The Oilers would get a late PP to make things interesting before Luke Bibby put the game away with a shorthanded empty netter to give the hometown Vipers a 7-4 win. Shots were 22-10 Okotoks.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Landon MacDonald (3 goals) Was one of a select few players that come to play and played well in the victory. MacDonald in my mind has been a great pick up this season and been one of the more consistent forwards for the Snakes.
Luke Bibby (2 goals & 1 assist) Played hard, was in on the forecheck, added a big insurance goal late into the empty net
Will Schumacher Was another one of the select few players that played well/stood out this evening. Schumacher is another good signing by the Vipers early in the season, has played well and lead the team in scoring for most of the season. Schumacher didn't get any points tonight but did play well through out the hockey game
Sam Ward (1 assist) The former Merritt Centennials defenceman made his Vipers debut tonight after recently signing with the Snakes on Wednesday. I thought played fairly well in his Vipers debut. Not the biggest kid by any means but looked to fit into the lineup without any flaws. Made a nice pass on Vernon's opening goal.
Marko Bilic (54 saves) Picking up just his second win this season was by far the difference and the only reason why the Snakes won tonight. Bilic kept the Vipers in the contest often, making several highlight reel saves, was forced to bail out his team mates often.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers are 1-1 vs the Okotoks Oilers this season
- Tonight was the third game of a three game home stand
- Defenceman Jordan Gudridge made his Vipers debut this evening, after coming over in a trade with the Sherwood Park Crusaders on Thursday
- Hard to believe were nineteen games into the season and tonight was only win #6
- The Snakes next game is November 23rd in Penticton
- Vernon went 0-2 on the power play
- I really liked Vernon's opening period. The Vipers gave up the games first goal just over two minutes into the hockey game but I thought the Vipers responded and played much better following the Oilers goal. Vernon would push back with the next five goals in the first half, to chase Oilers starting netminder Olivier Ciarlo, after giving up five goals on twelve Viper shots. The Vipers were flying, played with a lot of jump/energy, were skating, buzzing in and around the net, got some bounces, were finally able to capitalize on there chances. After jumping out to a 5-1 lead, the Snakes allowed Okotoks to creep back into the hockey game as the Oilers pushed back with a much better effort in the second half and were the better team in the second half.
- The Vipers have lost three of there last five games and lost six of there last ten games
- The Snakes penalty kill was very strong tonight. I thought the PK was one of Vernon's bright spots this evening. The Vipers would get into some penalty trouble early into the 3rd, were forced to kill off three straight penalties, one of those was a double minor.
- The Vipers & Oilers play four times during the regular season
- Tonight's attendance was announced at 2,441
- The Vipers play four of there next five games on the road
- After a great first half of the 1st period, the remainder of the game was a major letdown. Jumping out to a 5-1 lead and then taking your foot off the gas and allowing Okotoks back into the game and have them be the better team for the remainder of the game was very disappointing
- Tonight was just the Vipers second win on home ice this season
- Marko Bilic was by far the difference. The Vipers netminder bailed out his team mates on several occasions with some highlight reel saves. Bilic was solid in goal, the main reason the Snakes held onto the victory
- The Vipers & Oilers play again January 24th in Vernon
- Defenceman Sam Ward made his Vipers debut tonight. The Vipers signed Ward on Wednesday
- Up 5-1 heading into the 2nd period, the Snakes got off to a rough start as Vernon was outplayed for most of the middle frame. The Vipers looked sloppy, were losing faceoffs, losing battles/races, played most of the period in there own end, didn't see much time in the offensive zone, were turning over pucks, giving up way too many chances/shots, didn't play well or look good. The Vipers did respond with a late push, played better to end the period in the final few minutes
- The Vipers are 2-3-3-0 at Kal Tire Place this season
- Defenceman Zhenya Miles wasn't on the lineup sheet tonight, wasn't announced as a scratch and newly acquired defenceman Jordan Gudridge is wearing his jersey #6
- For a team that has struggled scoring this season, how good was it to see seven goals on the scoreboard tonight?
- Vipers were outshot 54-32
- If it wasn't for some strong goaltending from Marko Bilic and the Oilers going 0-7 with the man advantage, the Vipers could have easily lost tonight
- The Vipers have now not played very well or looked that good in two of the last three home games. The Vipers didn't play good or look good in a 4-2 loss last Friday at home to Trail
- Thank you to the music crew who turned down the music tonight. I'm all about loud music and making noise at the games but the music has been way too loud at home games not only this season but over the last few years. Thank you for turning down the music, so fans can talk to the person sitting next to them
- Forward Corban Almen made his Vipers debut tonight after signing with the team on Tuesday
- Did anyone else notice the new goal lights at Kal Tire Place? I spotted them out last weekend vs Trail
- With a 6-2 lead heading into the 3rd Vernon figured they had the game wrapped up, so they didn't think they would have to play. The visiting Oilers for a second straight period were the better team in the 3rd as the Vipers didn't look good or play good. I thought the Snakes PK was very good after having to kill off three straight penalties, one being a double minor. Vernon saw a lot of action in there own end, were bailed out by Marko Bilic, didn't see much time with the puck, didn't see much time in the offensive zone, were losing faceoffs, battles/races, taking penalties, didn't get many pucks to the net, which resulted in very little to no opportunities. The Vipers allowed the Oilers back into the game before Luke Bibby was forced to add an empty netter to ensure the win
- The Vipers lost a lot of draws, didn't win many faceoffs tonight
- Vernon gave up way too many shots and opportunities
- The Vipers are 2-2 vs teams from Alberta this season
- Vernon needs to work on there discipline. It seems like were taking six, seven or more penalties a game
- Goaltending was the major difference in tonight's game
- When you score five or more goals, you should win the hockey game. The Vipers were leading 5-1 and 6-2 before the Oilers get to within two goals. Vernon took there foot off the gas and allowed Okotoks back in the hockey game
- With the win, Vernon improves to 6-9-4-0 sit 7th in the Interior Conference
Okotoks Oilers Top Performers:
Brock Souch Not the biggest kid but played with speed, I thought played well/looked good in the Oilers loss
Hunter Sawka Was another forward I thought looked good/played well for the Okotoks Oilers
Nathan Tobey Played well on the Oilers blueline. Can skate, move the puck, carry the puck, makes a good first pass, played well at both ends of the rink
Simon Westling (18 saves) Replaced starting goaltender Olivier Ciarlo close to midway through the 1st period. Westling played well in relief, only allowing a single goal. Westling wasn't tested much in the 2nd and 3rd periods did make the saves when needed, giving the Oilers a chance
Game Thought's: Okotoks Oilers
- The Okotoks Oilers made there first ever visit to Vernon/Kal Tire Place
- Tonight's the first game of a two game road trip
- I'm pretty sure the Oilers are the only team in the league with a different logo on the home/road jerseys. The Oilers have there main logo on the home jersey but an alternate/second logo on there road jerseys
- The Oilers went 0-7 with the man advantage
- Okotoks is 2-7-0-0 on the road this season
- The Oilers have lost three of there last five games are 5-5 in there last ten games
- Michael Kowalski opened the scoring at 2:37 of the 1st period, gave up the next five goals
- Great to see a handful of at least ten or so Oilers fans in attendance
- It looked like the Oilers were off to a great start. Okotoks opened the scoring just over two minutes into the hockey game, would then give up the next five goals to trail 5-1 after the 1st period. Give the Oilers credit, they didn't pack it in, instead continued to plug away and play much better in the second half of the opening period, were the better team in the second half of that 1st period. Okotoks had a couple of grade A looks/chances after falling behind 5-1 could have easily gotten to within two goals before the end of the 1st period
- In 2004 the Alberta Junior Hockey League approved the sale of the Crowsnest Past Timberwolves franchise to Okotoks for the 2005-06 season. The Oilers joined the BC Hockey League in February 2024
- The Oilers didn't get any help from there goaltender early. Olivier Ciarlo allowed five goals on twelve Vernon shots as the Oilers were down 5-1 close to halfway through the opening frame. Imagine if the Oilers get better goaltending to start the hockey game and it's not 5-1 Vipers, the Oilers would have probably been leaving Vernon with a win
- The Oilers defeated the Vipers 4-3 in Okotoks October 20th
- The Oilers power play struggled. I mean they had some looks/chances but I didn't think generated a ton of quality opportunities. Okotoks went 0-7 with the man advantage, could have easily used a few goals which may have helped in a win instead of a loss
- The Oilers are quick, can skate, move the puck, never stop skating, were the better team in the 2nd and 3rd periods, were very good on the draw, won most of the battles, races and got lots of pucks to the net, generated/created a ton of opportunities
- The Oilers next game is Saturday in West Kelowna
- Okotoks plays five of there next eight games at home
- The Oilers have five players returning from the 2023-24 season
- I liked Okotoks 3rd period. Down 6-2 this team never packed it in, instead would get three power plays within the first half, carried the better of the play for most of the 3rd. The Oilers saw a lot of time with the puck, had lots of time in the offensive zone, were getting pucks to the net, creating/generating loads of chances, didn't catch a break/or get any bounces
- The Oilers couldn't solve Vipers starting goaltender Marko Bilic
- Give this team credit, the Oilers never once stopped skating, never gave up, worked hard, skated hard, played hard, were by far the better of the two teams other then maybe the first half of the opening frame
- With the loss, Okotoks falls to 7-10-0-0 sit 10th in the Interior Conference
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Koji Gibson
Joey Mugaas
Keeghan Dunn
Okotoks Oilers:
Brennan Hocher
Jackson Rowland
Logan Broten
Rylan Oster
Energy Player of the Game:
Erik Pastro (3 assists)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Landon MacDonald (3 goals)
2nd Star: Marko Bilic (50 saves)
3rd Star: Luke Bibby (2 goals & 1 assist)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
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1 comment:
What did you think of tonight's Vipers/Oilers game? What are your comments/opinion on the game?
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