I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following junior hockey in Vernon most of my life. My family watched senior men's hockey in Vernon in the 1950's and has been watching/following junior hockey in Vernon since getting a team 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. I started and created this blog in 2008 and have over 5 million viewers.
I was at tonight's Vernon Vipers-Trail Smoke Eaters game as the Smoke Eaters defeated the Vipers 4-3 in front of 1,832 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Brendan Gee
Trail Smoke Eaters: Cooper Michaluk
1st Period: This was a pretty even, fast paced opening frame with both teams not getting a whole lot of opportunities or pucks to the net. Trail was ahead in shots 5-1 at one point, but it was the Vipers who hit two posts. Both teams were skating hard, as the play was pretty well back and fourth. I thought Vernon may have had the better opportunities. It was 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 5-5.
2nd Period: A bit of a slow start to the middle frame with several back to back to back whistles before the visiting Smoke Eaters took over the edge in play and were the better team for most of the period. The Smokies were strong on the forecheck, forcing the Snakes into turnovers. Trail had lot's of puck possession, played with pace, were moving the puck, had several quality chances, played very well. The hometown Vipers looked sluggish, weren't skating, had trouble in their own end, coming out of their own end, made several mistakes, couldn't seem to get much going at either end of the rink. Vernon would eventually settle down a bit in the second half and have some good shifts in the second half. Brendan Gee gave his team a chance to stay in the game with three if not four big stops with the game tied. Former Smoke Eaters forward Evan Sundar scored in the dying seconds to give the Vipers the lead. It was 3-2 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 16-12 Trail.
3rd Period: The Snakes couldn't capitalize on an early power play, that seemed to give the Smoke Eaters some life/momentum. Trail was the better team in the 3rd, were stronger on pucks, strong on the forecheck, outskated the Vipers, played with a lot more jump/energy, had lot's of puck possession and zone time for a lot of the 3rd period. Trail would have a goal waived off after video review. Vernon got into some penalty trouble, saw a lot of the 3rd in their own end, had troubles defensively and getting the puck out of their own end as well as defending. The Vipers couldn't keep pace with the Smokies. The Snakes didn't have a ton of time in the offensive zone, had some good looks just didn't get the bounces go their way. Trail comes from behind to win 4-3. Shots were 13-12 Vernon.
Vernon Vipers Top Players:
Samuel Charko (1 goal) I thought played well in the loss. The more I watch this kid play, the more I like him. Charko played hard tonight, was skating, created some offence
Seth Tansem I thought played well on the Vipers blueline. Not the biggest defenceman but a good skater that is shifty
Michael Munroe (1 goal) Was the Vipers best player. I thought played with a ton of jump/energy, was buzzing all evening. Opened the scoring for Vernon, was engaged, played hard and competed
Tyler Chiovetti (1 assist) Made his Vipers debut after being acquired in a trade with the Blackfalds Bulldogs on Wednesday. This kid is quick, shifty, can skate/move the puck up ice in a hurry, played well
Lane Sim I thought played hard through out the game
Evan Sundar (1 goal) I didn't think stood out in his first two games with the Snakes, played well in the loss tonight. Seemed to get his feet going, was hard to defend at times, played with some jump
Oscar Bjork (1 assist) Made his Vipers debut after coming over in a trade on Wednesday with the Blackfalds Bulldogs. Bjork saw a ton of ice time, has some size, played very well on the backend
Brendan Gee (29 saves) The former Wenatchee Wild goaltender was very good between the pipes, kept the Vipers in the game at times. Made three if not four big saves in the 2nd period with the Smokies pressing
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- Tonight is the third game of a four game home stand
- This is the third Friday in a row the Trail Smoke Eaters have played in Vernon
- The Snakes took way too many penalties, need to be more disciplined
- I liked the Vipers 1st period. I thought both teams were pretty even. Vernon hit two goal posts, didn't get a lot of pucks to the net but played hard, were skating. This was a fast pace period with lot's of end to end action. I thought the Vipers had the better of the opportunities
- For the first time this preseason/regular season the Vipers played with a lead
- A small crowd tonight. Tonight's attendance was 1,832
- The Vipers last win vs the Smoke Eaters, was a 3-2 victory on January 6th 2024
- Vernon struggled defensively and in their own end. The Vipers had troubles breaking out of their own end, were turning over pucks, making mistakes, gave up lot's of chances
- Forward Tyler Chiovetti made his Vipers debut
- The Vipers are 0-2-1-0 vs Trail this season (preseason & regular season)
- Vernon went 0-4 with the man advantage
- The Vipers didn't have a great 2nd period. Vernon struggled in their own end/defensively, were caught running around in their own end. The Vipers spent a lot of the first half in their own end. I thought Vernon played a little better in the second half, would get some good shifts, generate some offence before former Smokie Evan Sundar scored late in the dying seconds to give the Vipers the lead heading into the 3rd
- Defenceman Oscar Bjork made his Vipers debut
- Including the preseason, the Vipers are 0-6-1-0
- The Vipers & Smoke Eaters meet seven times this regular season
- The Vipers next game is Saturday vs the visiting Cranbrook Bucks
- One thing I have noticed in the first three games, is the Snakes don't shoot enough. I would like to see them get a shot on goal, drive to the net and look for the rebound
- Vipers fans won't see Trail back in Vernon now until the final regular season home game
- The Snakes got into penalty trouble in the 3rd, struggled defensively and in their own end. The Vipers had trouble keeping pace with Trail, saw a lot of the 3rd in their own end. Vernon didn't have much sustained pressure time in the offensive zone, didn't get the bounces go their way. A long and delayed period with several video reviews. It seemed like when the Vipers did get some pressure, they couldn't get a bounce or buy a goal. Trail was the better of the two teams in the final frame
- The Vipers have lost nine straight games to Trail
- This game had several video reviews that really slowed the game down
- The Vipers need to be more consistent, didn't play close to play sixty minutes
- Vernon's PK was very good, considering the amount of penalties they took
- I don't like the schedule this year. Fans don't want to see the same teams every weekend. This is the third straight weekend Trail has played in Vernon and will be the second straight weekend Cranbrook has played here. Including the preseason, the Vipers first ten games, eight are vs Trail & Cranbrook
- A turning point for myself would be when the Vipers get an early 3rd period PP but can't capitalize. Instead of going up by two, Trail claws back to tie the game then win the game
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 0-2-1-0 sit last in the Interior West Division
Trail Smoke Eaters Top Players:
Cash Carter I thought was one of the more consistent Trail players, played very well through out the game. Always seemed to be involved in the play
George Stavrianeas (1 goal) Scored the game winner vs his former team, played well for the Smokies
Dylan Lariviere (1 goal & 1 assist) This kid has some size, was hard to defend, had a good night
Carter Matthews (1 assist) Saw a lot of ice, played very well on Trail's blueline
Cade De St Hubert (1 assist) Not the biggest kid but shifty, hard to play against, played well
Cooper Michaluk (25 saves) Was lucky at times, had the puck bounce his way a few different times, played well in goal for the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters, especially after taking an elbow to the head on a Vipers scoring play. Michaluk was down for several minutes, but after seeing the team medical staff, stayed in the game and picked up the win
Game Thought's: Trail Smoke Eaters
- Including the preseason, Trail is 3-0 vs the Vipers this season
- Lot's of Trail fans in attendance
- Tonight's the eighth game of an eleven game road trip, as the Cominco Arena is under renovations
- Forward Erik Pastro played with the Vipers from 2023-2025 was traded to Trail September 16th 2025
- The Smokies played very well in the 1st period, a period that was pretty even. The Smoke Eaters didn't get a lot of pucks to the net, played hard in a fast pace period that went back and fourth. Trail catches a few breaks after the Vipers hit two goal posts
- Trail goes 1-8 on the power play
- The Smoke Eaters next game is Saturday in Chilliwack
- The Smokies defence played very well, blocks a lot of shots, closes the shooting lanes and keeps the Vipers to the outside
- Forward George Stavrianeas played with the 2024-25 Vernon Vipers was traded to Victoria February 10th 2025
- Trail played a strong 2nd period, were the better of the two teams. The Smokies carried a lot of the play, had lot's of puck possession and zone time, were aggresive on the forecheck, forced Vernon into turnovers, had several quality chances. The Smoke Eaters didn't give up much but did end up giving up a late goal, were down 3-2 heading into the 3rd
- Trail's PP couldn't capitalize or this may have been a much different final score
- The Smoke Eaters are quick, can skate/move the puck and dangerous in the offensive zone. Trail's speed and skill gave the Vipers difficulties most of the hockey game
- This team never quit skating, hung around and hung around, had some puck luck, bounces go their way and capitalized on some mistakes
- Trail has a very lively bench
- Defenceman Isaac Fecteau played with the 2023-24 Vernon Vipers, was traded to Trail February 10th 2024
- Down 3-2 heading into the 3rd, a strong 3rd period capped off a Trail comeback. The Smokies were the better team in the 3rd, had lot's of puck possession, zone time, were outskating Vernon, had the puck bounce their way a couple of times, played hard, didn't give up a lot, played well at both ends of the rink
- Trail got the bounces and puck luck tonight
- With the win, Trail improves to 3-0-0-0 sit atop the Interior West Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Dome Szongoth
Emils Skeltins
Nathaniel Harvey
Ben Edwards
Alex Edwards
Trail Smoke Eaters:
Trevor Bodie
Caden Stoltz
Ryan Oothoudt
Dylan Danyluk
Energy Player of the Game:
Tyler Chiovetti (1 assist)
3 Star's:
1st Star: Dylan Lariviere (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Evan Sundar (1 goal)
3rd Star: Antoine Demers
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Trail Smoke Eaters @ Vernon Vipers Friday, September 26, 2025 | BCHL League Site
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.com
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
6 comments:
Ya but, the crowd total was higher than last week, it looked way smaller than last week!
Ya but, how did the coaches look, a buddy said they looked like two guys that worked for the mafia, mobsters!
Ya but, ha ha still not winning, they say winning isn’t everything, in this case it is!
Ya but, I think the video scoreboard operators need to workout lots of kinks, others teams do a much better job!
Firstly, I thought the officiating was the worst I have seen lately. Their calls were very inconsistent and the amount of time spent on video reviews was ridiculous. The game was at least 20 minutes longer than usual.
Examples... Munroe was tossed (10 min misconduct) for shooting the puck after the whistle (rightfully so) while Trails reaction to Munroe went unpenalized. When Pastro high sticked a Viper and there was a Viper reaction the zebra's also gave out a roughing penalty to Vernon. It was a nothing retaliation penalty and should have been a PP for Vernon.
The boarding penalty to Trail on Gibson hit was a late call, not going to be called until they saw he was hurt.
What happened when Bjork went down hurt and why did 4 pairs of eyes not see anything?
Officials are an important part of the game but the old adage applies "when you don't notice them they are calling a good game". Last night they were very obvious as if "trying to be the show". Please, just make the call, have confidence in your decision and move on.
Matt Cooke is very passionate and animated behind the bench. I worry that his interaction with the officials will have a lasting negative effect. I think he needs to dial it down before he gets a reputation of being hard on the officials.
Lastly, I think the Vipers had a very good game last night and deserving of at least a point if not the win. They have shown us that they will battle hard and stick up for each other. A lot of players had good games but I was very impressed with newcomers Chiovetti and Bjork. I hear Cooke is not finished building his team but there are certainly some bright spots. It will take time and we must have patience, better results are coming.
Go Vipers Go!!!
Ya Butte we are 3 games into the season with a brand new hi-tech scoreboard. Let's please give them a bit of time to learn how to master it. I hope you recognize there are more replays than in the first game so they are starting to get comfortable with it. It too will take time.
Ya Butte, have a good day.
Comment was edited by Vipersdiehardfan
Ya but, Geezer, I did say they have to work out the kinks of operating the scoreboard!
Trail was the better team but the reffing was picking on the Vipers, Trail was dirty, wasn't getting the calls the Vipers were getting. The Vipers coaches were pissed off with the refs and you can't blame them. If we weren't shorthanded so much I believe the Vipers would have won the game. I liked the two new players.
Comment was deleted by Vipersdiehardfan
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