I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following junior hockey in Vernon my entire 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 the Vernon Vipers home opener as the Trail Smoke Eaters defeated the Vernon Vipers 4-3 in overtime in front of 2,041 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Brendan Gee
Trail Smoke Eaters: Cooper Michaluk
1st Period: I thought both teams were pretty even in the first half but the hometown Vipers did get the better of the opportunities. Both teams didn't generate much offence or even get a whole ton of pucks to the net in the first half. The Snakes were the better team in the second half, were able to start to generate a little offence and get some pucks to the net. It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 10-3 Vernon.
2nd Period: I thought the Smoke Eaters were the better team. Trail had more puck possession, zone time, were generating some good looks/chances. The Vipers didn't look as sharp this period, looked a little slower. Vernon struggled to gain puck possession, didn't get a whole lot of time with the puck in the offensive zone. The Vipers defence struggled this period. Brendan Gee made a couple of big saves late in the period. It was 2-2 after 40 minutes of play. Shts were 14-10 Trail.
3rd Period: I thought the Smokies were again the better of the two teams. For a second straight period I thought Trail seemed to have the stick more on their tape, had more zone time, controlled the play better and played well defensively. The Smokies seemed to be skating, moving the puck and just a bit quicker then Vernon. The Snakes didn't have a whole lot of time or pressure in the offensive zone, seemed to get the puck in, one shot and then quickly back out again. The Vipers again struggled defensively. With the goaltender on the bench, former Trail Smoke Eater Evan Sundar tied the game at 19:21 to force overtime. It was 3-3 after 60 minutes of play. Shots were 12-12.
Overtime: The Vipers had two real good looks/opportunities in the extra frame, couldn't put the game away before a defensive breakdown, that allowed Zach Coutu to score on the breakaway, giving the Visiting Trail Smoke Eaters a 4-3 overtime victory. Shots were 2-1 Vernon.
Vernon Vipers Top Players:
Edvin Nilsson (2 assists) Other then one giveaway, I thought the second year Viper defenceman played very well in the OT loss.
Nathaniel Harvey (1 goal) impressed me. I thought he played very well this evening. Played with a ton of jump, was involved in the play often
Antoine Demers Was another Viper that I thought played well. This kid is big, played with a lot of energy
Brendan Gee (26 saves) Played well between the pipes. I thought the first goal he may want to have back but other wise, made some big stops with the Smokies pressing.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- Tonight was the second of back to back games vs the Trail Smoke Eaters
- Tonight's the first game of a four game home stand
- The Vipers played very well at times and not so well at other times. They are lacking scoring and the defence struggled. It's very early, this team needs some practices for improvement but I already like what I see
- Forward Deacon Drummond played with the 2024-25 Trail Smoke Eaters
- Tonight's game got a little chippy at times with several scrums/altercations after the whistle
- I really liked the 1st period. I thought both teams were pretty even in the first half, even thought the Vipers had the better of the scoring chances. Vernon was the better team in the second half, really come on strong in the second half, were getting more pucks to the net, getting some looks/opportunities, had lot's of puck possession and zone time. The Vipers got a little too cute with the puck and instead of shooting, and took away a scoring play
- Vernon went 0-3 on the power play
- I have been at every Vernon home opener since 1989
- Tonight's the first of seven regular season meetings vs the Trail Smoke Eaters
- The Vipers could have easily scored a couple in the opening frame, might have been a different outcome
- The Vipers defence struggled and needs some work. The Vipers d-men were beat one on one or allowed to walk in untouched often
- If you include the preseason, the Vipers are 0-4-1-0
- The Vipers next game is Saturday vs the visiting Cranbrook Bucks
- The Vipers with a bad turnover in their own end and left two Trail forwards to walk in untouched cost them three goals tonight
- After a good 1st period, I thought Vernon wasn't the same team in the 2nd period. The Vipers looked a little slower, didn't have much time with the puck or get any real sustained pressure. The Snakes gave up the games first goal. Trail was the better team this period
- Forward Evan Sundar played with the 2024-25 Trail Smoke Eaters
- Vernon didn't get a lot of puck luck or bounces go their way
- The Snakes are going to have to play a little more disciplined, took eight minor penalties tonight
- I thought the Vipers played as well as they did the 3rd period as they did in the 2nd period. Vernon again didn't get a whole lot of time with the puck, get any real sustained pressure, had several shots blocked or weren't shooting enough. The Vipers looked good at times but Trail was definately the better team in the 3rd. Vernon had only two shots on goal in the first half of the 3rd. The Vipers allowed Cade De St. Hubert to walk right in and score late to take a 3-2 lead. Give Vernon credit, they battled hard late with the goaltender out, to force overtime
- The Vipers went 0-4-1-0 vs Trail last season
- One of Vernon's problems early in the season, they are lacking scoring
- This was a very entertaining and exciting game, especially for the first regular season game
- Tonight's attendance 2,041
- The Snakes need to shoot the puck. Vernon was getting too cute with the puck and instead of shooting, they went for the pass, that took away a scoring chance
- These same two teams will meet again next Friday in Vernon
- Former Smoke Eater Ethan Sundar was denied on a breakaway in overtime
- I thought the Vipers needed to go to the net more. A lot of shots were from well out with no traffic in front. Vernon's forwards needed to go to the grey area a little more
- With the overtime loss, Vernon falls to 0-0-1-0
Trail Smoke Eaters Top Players:
Max Hense Played well on the blueline
Zach Coutu (1 goal) Scored the overtime winning goal, I thought was one of Trail's better players tonight
Christian Kim (1 assist) Not the biggest kid but quick on his feet. Was one of the more dangerous forwards for the Smokies.
Cooper Michaluk (32 saves) Made a couple of big stops in the 1st and again in the 3rd. Played well but also got lucky on a couple of saves
Game Thought's: Trail Smoke Eaters
- The Smokies have won back to back games over the Vipers. Trail won 5-2 in Vernon last Friday in the Vipers final preseason game
- Including the preseason, tonight's the sixth game of an eleven game road trip as Trail starts the season on the road due to renovations at Cominco Arena. The Smoke Eaters first game at home is October 10th vs West Kelowna
- Spotted a few Trail fans in attendance
- Forward George Stavrianeas played with the 2024-25 Vernon Vipers
- Both teams were pretty even in the first half of the 1st period but the Vipers were the better team in the second half. Both teams couldn't seem to get much going offensively in the first half, before the Smokies seemed to fall apart in the second half, giving up several shots/opportunities.
- The Smoke Eaters went 0-5 with the man advantage
- The Smoke Eaters next game is Saturday in Salmon Arm
- Trail's defence played very well, blocked a lot of shots, didn't give Vernon a bunch of time and space and kept the Vipers away from the front of the goal
- I really liked the Smokies 2nd period. I thought Trail was the better team, played with a lot of jump/energy, had more puck possession, zone time and were creating chances. Trail's defence also played well, blocking some shots and didn't give up a whole lot of chances
- The Smoke Eaters opened the scoring in the 2nd period and played with the lead the entire night
- Forward Erik Pastro played two seasons in Vernon from 2023-2025
- I thought the Smoke Eaters were the better team in the 3rd, had a little more jump, played with a little more energy, had more puck possession, zone time and seemed to carry the play more often. Trail played well defensively in the first half, as Vernon only had two shots on goal in the first half. It looked like the Smokies were going to win in regulation but a late goal from a former team mate, forced overtime
- Trail looks like they have a pretty good team this season. It's only the first game but they have some speed, skill, play well defensively and their goaltending was good tonight
- With the overtime win, Trail improves to 1-0-0-0
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Lane Sim
London Taylor
Brendan Russell
Trail Smoke Eaters:
Trevor Bodie
Brayden Sinclair
Ryan Oothoudt
Dylan Danyluk
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Trail Smoke Eaters @ Vernon Vipers Friday, September 19, 2025 | BCHL League Site
Game Report,
Game Report
Text Box Score,
Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.com
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
12 comments:
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Ya but, those pics at the end are old ones why?
Ya but, you said the Vipers lacked scoring why?, they scored three, not too shabby!
Ya but, you did not show or mention, to us, the new scoreboard, why?
Ya but, It was great to have the Vipers back for another season!
Ya but, did you like the coaches, you thrashed them all last year, how were they!
Ya but, it was great to see Pastro playing for someone else, he played like crap for us last year.
Ya but, you just got to love our junior hockey.
Ya but, Go Vipers GO!!!!
The vipers last night provided us fans with a very entertaining game. The goaltender made some very good saves and did a good job for the vipers even thou his defensive game players could have been better and some of the goals he let in where just good goals played by Trail. This team is much better than last year even with it being just the first game of season. go,vipers,go
VDHF... thank you for this excellent BLOG and thank you for your hard work providing a space for us to comment on hockey. It is not any easy job but your dedication is appreciated. It is certainly not a a big ask that people use a name or a nick name so others can reply to that specific comment instead of the numerous anonymous comments. For serious hockey people this should be easy but unfortunately there will be trolls and "very small people" who just want to be annoying. Please stay the course and keep up the good work.
Obviously a win would have been nice but a big come from behind point is very good too. The Vipers showed us that they will be a hard working team and will entertain us. That is all we can ask for. The scoring will come. It looked like quite a few Vipers were squeezing their sticks but settled in quickly. There may still be some lineup tweaking but it appears we are on the right track. Cooke is bringing passion and it is rubbing off on his players, I just hope he can channel it correctly and not get on the wrong side of the officials. Looking forward to tonight's game already.
Go Vipers Go!!!
The agressive play by the vipers and the want to go that extra mile for there coach was very much there. I believe once the vipers who are from all over the country get to known each other better the results will be there as we now have a good coaching staff who will push the vipers for results and the small mistakes you see on the ice will be less. go,vipers,go
Hey Diehard, I thought that was a very good entertaining game
Yabut, it was great seeing pastro play for another team and contribute with a goal in a team win! Easy to take shots at players that played on such a terrible team overall last year. Go vipers go!
Ya but, I said it was great he played for someone else, it was not a shot at a player, it was the truth, just ask some of the. die hard fans that watched him play!
Ya but, did anyone else see the special 30th logo the Vipes had on the Jumbotron, thought it was pretty cool yet, the Vipes haven’t displayed it on their website or social media posts however, it is on my season ticket card!
Yabut not all fans...lol, people who understand hockey know that no players had good seasons on this team last year
Tough season for everyone. I hope all the players move on and find much success and the Vipers organization can turn the corner on last season
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