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 & Blackfalds Bulldogs as the Vipers defeated the Bulldogs 7-4 in front of 2,061 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Jari Kykkanen
Blackfalds Bulldogs: Dylan Adams
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2nd Period: The visiting Bulldogs were the better team and outplayed the Snakes for most of the period. Charlie Kresl gave Vernon an early 3-0 lead before the Bulldogs stormed back. It looked like Blackfalds got to within a goal but the play went to video review and they deemed it no goal with no reasoning why it was no goal. Blackfalds would have a ton of time in the offensive zone, were generating some offence and getting sustained pressure in the Vipers zone. I thought Blackfalds played a much better period. The Vipers with a letdown period after playing so well in the opening frame. I thought Vernon struggled defensively, breaking out of there own end and turned over the puck lots. The Snakes didn't get a whole lot of pressure in the offensive zone, did manage to get pucks to the net and create some chances. Vernon looked to score to grab a two goal lead but the play went to video review and the goal didn't stand. It was 4-3 Vipers after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 14-13 Vernon.
3rd Period: Dennis Lominac gave Vernon a big two goal lead early into the period and the Vipers never looked back. It was all Vernon for most of the period as the Snakes had the better of the play, more puck possession, zone time and capitalized on there chances. I thought Vernon played a much better period after a not great 2nd period. The Snakes didn't sit back or take there foot off the gas. Blackfalds didn't back down or quit and didn't stop playing until the final buzzer. The Bulldogs didn't have a lot of time in the offensive zone but did get to within two goals to make things a little interesting down the stretch. The Bulldogs did get some quality chances. Dylan Adams was in some discomfort had to leave the game late in the period and didn't return to the Bulldogs bench. Mikkel Christensen finished the remainder of the contest. The Vipers with a rare win on home ice with a 7-4 victory. Shots were 16-8 Vernon.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Edvin Nilsson I thought was one of the lone bright spots on Vernon's blueline and played well
Dennis Lominac (1 goal & 2 assists) I thought has looked good since recently signing with the Snakes and played very well in the win tonight. Lominac showed his wheels this evening, was hard to contain/defend, was going to the net, creating chances
Jakub Galnor (1 goal & 1 assist) I thought played well
Simon Binkley (1 goal & 1 assist) I thought played one of his better games in some time. I was expecting a little more upside/offensive side this season
Jari Kykkanen (30 saves) Responded after a tough loss/game in his last outing. I thought the Vernon goaltender played well in the 1st making some big stops on a couple of very good looks/opportunities from the Bulldogs
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers are 2-0 vs the Bulldogs this season
- Tonight was the Snakes last game before the Christmas holidays
- Wins have been very hard to come by this season for the Vipers. Hard to believe the Snakes with only fourth win at home this season. When was the last time the Vipers had only four wins at home heading into the Christmas break?
- The Vipers are 4-6-3-0 at home this season
- Vernon's next game is December 28th vs the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks
- I liked Vernon's 1st period. The Vipers were forced to kill off an early penalty, then Corban Almen opened the scoring early on a big goal to get the game going. I thought the Snakes had the edge in play, were the better team for most of the period. The hometown Vipers were getting pucks to the net, going to the net and capitalized on a couple of chances. Vernon had lots of sustained pressure in the offensive zone, got some solid goaltending from Jari Kykkanen.
- The Vipers went 0-1 with the power play
- The Vipers thought they scored in the 2nd period but the goal/play went to video review and the goal didn't count
- One of the smaller crowds this season
- The Vipers & Bulldogs play each other four times this season
- The Snakes defence really struggled. All season Vernon's defence has a been a big letdown. The Vipers struggled to break out of there own end, turn over pucks, poor defensive coverage
- The Vipers have lost four of there last five games and lost six of there last ten games
- The Bulldogs were the better team and outplayed the Vipers in the 2nd period. The Snakes coming off a good opening frame, had a big letdown with a poor 2nd period. Vernon was turning over pucks often, two that resulted in goals, didn't have a whole lot of time with the puck or play in the offensive zone. The Vipers were ahead 3-0 at one point, took a 4-3 lead into the 3rd
- The Vipers & Bulldogs will play again February 14th in Vernon
- There was no atmosphere inside Kal Tire Place tonight, it was very quiet even when the Vipers scored
- I really liked that the Snakes never took there foot off the gas and kept playing until the final buzzer
- The Vipers were wearing there yellow alternate/third jerseys this evening
- I don't recall the Vipers ever having nine or less wins going into the Christmas break. A very very disappointing first half of the season
- The Snakes with a rare win tonight, have lost ten of there last fifteen games
- Tonight was not only a big win but a huge confidence booster for this team that has struggled all season not only in the win/lose column but with the amount of player turnover
- After a poor 2nd period I thought the Snakes responded with a good 3rd and never took there foot off the gas. The Vipers played well in the final twenty minutes, had lots of zone time, puck possession, were getting pucks to the net and creating/generating opportunities
- Tonight's attendance was announced at 2,061
- I don't want to try and take anything away from how the Vipers played and the win but we have to remember who we were playing tonight and try not to get too excited. Lets see how this team does/plays against the better teams in the league
- Vernon is 3-2-1-0 vs the Alberta teams this season
- I have said this before, with five teams from Alberta now in the league, why is it still called the BC Hockey League?
- The Vipers needed to win tonight, no matter how or what the score was they needed to beat the Bulldogs who sit last in the league standings
- I thought Vernon scored some timely goals tonight at key times in the hockey game
- Now that were heading into the Christmas break, I have to say I thought the original roster/team we had to start the season was much better then there record showed
- Tonight's the third game of a four game home stand
- I really liked how Jari Kykkanen responded after a tough game in his last outing, played well in the win tonight. I thought the veteran netminder made a couple of big stops in the 1st period when the Bulldogs had a couple of quality opportunities and again in the 3rd when Blackfalds got to within two goals
- With the win, Vernon improves to 9-14-4-0 sit 10th in the Interior Conference and 18th overall in the league
Blackfalds Bulldogs Top Performers:
Jared Langdon (1 goal & 1 assist) I thought was one of the more skilled forwards that played well in the loss
Thomas Neu (1 assist) I thought stood out, played well and looked good through out the hockey game
Antoine Gauthier (3 assists) Was one of the better Bulldogs, was hard to defend/contain, had a strong game vs the Vipers
Gates Omicioli (2 goals) Was another forward who had a good night offensively, gave the Snakes troubles through out the contest
Tyler Chiovetti (1 goal) I liked this kids game, thought he stood out at times, played well in a losing effort
Game Thought's: Blackfalds Bulldogs
- The Blackfalds Bulldogs made there first ever visit to Kal Tire Place/Vernon
- Tonight's the first game of a four game road trip
- In 2019 the Alberta Junior Hockey League approved the relocation of the Calgary Mustangs franchise to Blackfalds to begin play for the 2021-22 season. The Bulldogs along with four other teams joined the BCHL in February 2024
- The Bulldogs are the lowest scoring team with sixty goals
- Blackfalds went 1-4 with the man advantage
- I thought the Bulldogs had some quality opportunities in the 1st period but couldn't solve Vipers netminder Jari Kykkanen. Blackfalds scores at least one or even two and this may be a different game, instead they give up two goals as the hometown Vipers had the edge in play and were the better team
- For a team at the bottom of the standings, the Bulldogs have some speed and skilled forwards
- The Bulldogs next game is Saturday in Trail
- Blackfalds has lost thirteen straight games
- The Bulldogs never lead at any point in tonight's game
- Goaltender Dylan Adams looked awkward at times through out this game, was slow getting up, looked in some discomfort in the 3rd, pulled himself from the hockey game late in the period after giving up six goals on thirty three Vernon shots. Mikkel Christensen finished the remainder of the hockey game
- The Bulldogs are 1-10-0-0 on the road this season
- The Bulldogs thought they got to within a goal in the 2nd period but the play/goal went to video review and didn't count
- This team never quit, battled back after being down 3-0 in the 2nd period to getting to within two goals in the 3rd period
- I liked Blackfalds 2nd period and thought the Bulldogs were the better team in the middle frame. The Bulldogs carried the better of the play, had a ton of zone time, puck possession, were getting pucks to the net, generating some offence and forcing Vernon's defence into turnovers
- The Bulldogs scored a couple of highlight reel goals tonight
- The Bulldogs last win was a 4-3 win over the visiting Brooks Bandits October 26th
- Tonight was a matchup of the two bottom teams in the Interior Conference
- The Bulldogs have been outscored 24-10 in there last three games
- Tonight was a fairly physical affair at times with both teams laying the body
- It seemed like every time Blackfalds would get to within a goal or two, they seemed to give up the next goal shortly after
- With the loss, Blackfalds falls to 2-22-1-0 sit last in the league standings
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Georgios Stavrianeas
Koji Gibson
Blackfalds Bulldogs:
Braydan Smith
Jonathan Pylpuik
Joey Melo
Lucas McDonald
Wyatt Esche
Energy Player of the Game:
Simon Binkley (1 goal & 1 assist)
Here are some photo's I took before and during tonight's Vernon Vipers-Blackfalds Bulldogs game.
Three Star's:
1st Star: Dennis Lominac (1 goal & 2 assists)
2nd Star: Gates Omicioli (2 goals)
3rd Star: Corban Almen (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.
Were you at tonight's game? What did you think of tonight's Vipers/Bulldogs game? What are your comments/opinion on the game?
ReplyDeleteThat, according to my spreadsheet was the Vernon Vipers 1000th Win!
ReplyDelete1691 Games Played, 646 Losses and 45 Ties.
For the Franchise, 3430GP, 1879W, 1456L & 95T
At least, I think so!
Going into the game Vernon needed the win for many reasons. The team appears to have not given up on this season as they worked together for a win. Being that this is a development league and not a professional league, wins and losses will happen. A team that always wins would be boring to watch especially if they always dominate. I enjoy not knowing if we will win or lose before the game even starts. I also enjoy an evening out with good friends and meeting new fans.
ReplyDeleteIt’s too early to say with certain that the season is over as some have already commented.
A win for the Vipers was very important, the 2 points necessary. It was good to see the Viper scoring spread around with 12 players picking up points. I am happy the team can start their Christmas break on a high point.
ReplyDeleteI think it was a very sloppy game though, lots of scrambling at times. I didn't see a lot of crisp passes where the receiving player could accept the puck with speed. It was more of a pond hockey game, not the speedy control game we see from Penticton, Brooks , Salmon Arm, etc. The elite teams play with control, pace, support & within a coached system. There was little evidence of those qualities from either team.
It is disappointing to see Cleaves leave but I always thought he was overplayed. When 7 D-men were dressed it seemed he was still out there every second shift. Like last night, I prefer to see 6 D-men, 3 pairs, with the extra player dressed as a forward. I believe it builds a better bond & reliability in their partner. I thought the D-main pairs played pretty well last night. Just my opinion.
Merry Christmas & the very best of the season to all. Let's look forward to a big Viper surge in the New Year. Thank you VDHF for all the hard work, you are appreciated for your dedication.
Cleaves was their best d man by a lot. he played those minutes for a reason.
DeleteI enjoyed last night against the blackfalds bulldogs. I thought the game went well for he vipers but but in watching it felt that conditioning is a issue with the vipers. I know Lomicky is the conditioning part of the vipers but maybe he should bring in a skating coach to introduce speed skating skills to the team. This would be helpful as to improving the stamina and speed on the ice. It was evident the brooks bandits have this skill set. Previous coaches like eddy johnstone and mark ferner had always stressed conditioning go vipers go
ReplyDeleteRegards speed skating skills. Vernon vipers should you ever dream of the NHL you need to know you will be judged on your speed on the ice and you will be advised to improve that skill should you wish to enter the world of the NHL. I have a family friend who now plays for the calgary flames and was told just that. I hope Lomicky will listen and perhaps bring in a skating coach to help out in this development as I feel it is needed based on the game I saw against blackfald. At times the vipers looked tired and barely able to skate . This type of conditioning needs to be improved upon. GO,VIPER,GO.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the game was best described as two glorified junior b teams going at it!
ReplyDelete