I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following junior hockey in Vernon most of 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 Vernon got a team in 1961. I have two family members that played junior hockey in Vernon. I worked with the Vipers as colour commentator for a few games during the 2003-04 season and in 2011 I helped design/create the Vipers website and was in charge of running and updating it for five years. I have had season tickets since 1990 missing 46 home games. I started and created this blog in 2008 and have over 5.8 million viewers.
I was at tonight's Vernon Vipers-West Kelowna Warriors game as the Warriors won 5-0 in front of 893 fans at Royal LePage Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Oliver Kanat
West Kelowna Warriors: Bor Glavic
1st Period: I thought the Warriors were the better team early and through out the period. West Kelowna capitalized on an early power play, carried the better of the play, had more zone time, more puck possession and created/generated lot's of opportunities. The Vipers didn't get a lot of zone time or pressure, did get a couple of good looks/quality chances but couldn't capitalize on their chances. Vernon couldn't seem to get any real pressure in the offensive zone and had troubles defending. Oliver Kanat was solid in goal, making some big stops, keeping this a one goal game. It was 1-0 West Kelowna after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 12-8 Warriors.
2nd Period: The Vipers got off to a good start, had some early puck possession and zone time, even created a couple of quality opportunities but couldn't tie the game. The Warriors would get a couple of big saves early from their goaltender, managed to re-group before taking over most of the remainder of the period. The Tribe were the better team after holding off Vernon in the first five minutes. WK carried the better of the play, had more puck possession, zone time but didn't get a lot of pucks to the net or generate a lot of chances. The Warriors did manage to get the all important second goal to take a two goal lead. The Snakes got off to a good start, were the better team in the first three to four minutes but couldn't sustain that same pressure for the whole period. The visiting Vipers saw a lot of play in their own end in the second half. It was 2-0 Warriors after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 7-6 Vernon.
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3rd Period: Down two goals heading into the 3rd, Vernon would get off to a good start, have early control of the game, would get some pressure in the offensive zone for the first time this hockey game but couldn't convert on their opportunities. The Vipers with several good looks/quality chances couldn't solve Bor Glavic. Vernon was the better team in the first half, had more puck possession, zone time and carried the better of the play before Deagan McMillan took a costly penalty, sending the Tribe to a five minute PP while the Vipers captain was given a game misconduct for a check to the head. Ian Alonso was attended to by both team trainers, needed help off the ice, didn't return to the hockey game. West Kelowna took advantage of the major, making McMillan and the Snakes pay. The Warriors would score three PP goals in just over three minutes to blow the game open and put the game away. It was all WK for the remainder of the contest who controlled the play, played most of the remainder of the period in the offensive zone, capitalized on the man advantage. The Warriors would come away with the 5-0 victory. Shots were 14-3 West Kelowna.
Vernon Vipers Top Players:
Seth Tansem I thought was one of Vernon's better players. I thought Tansem played well at both ends of the rink, was moving the puck, bringing the puck up ice and played well defensively
Dmitrii Kubantsev Was another one of the Vipers lone bright spots. I have been very impressed with this kid. Very skilled, is hard to defend/contain but can't seem to finish. Kubantsev seems to make lots of plays happen but can't finish the play/put the puck in the net
Oliver Kanat (27 saves) Was the busier of the two goaltenders, kept the Snakes in tonight's contest with several big stops, especially in the 1st period
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- Including the preseason, the Vipers are 1-3 vs West Kelowna
- Only Powell Rive and Surrey have fewer wins then the Vipers
- The Vipers played no where near sixty minutes, were inconsistent, took some undisciplined penalties, played too much in their own end, weren't shooting enough, didn't get enough pressure in the offensive zone and didn't play with enough jump/energy
- I'm hearing defenceman Oscar Bjork is out for the season
- I watched the Vipers game on FloHockey last night and Vernon didn't seem to have the same jump/energy they played with Friday in Trail
- Saw a small group of Vipers fans in attendance
- The Vipers next game is Friday in Trail
- Not a great start as the Snakes take an early penalty, give up an early PP goal were down 1-0 less then two minutes into the hockey game. I thought Vernon had two-maybe three good looks/quality chances but otherwise didn't have any real sustained pressure in the offensive zone. The Vipers gave up too many opportunities, allowed the Warriors to move all over the ice. Oliver Kanat kept the Snakes in the hockey game, making some big saves or West Kelowna could have been up by two or three goals after one period. The Vipers had a couple of good shifts just couldn't seem to get much going
- The Vipers have lost eight straight road games
- Vernon needs to shoot more. The Vipers (especially on the power play) passed the puck around and around, one power play, not even getting a shot on goal. The Vipers seemed to miss too many opportunities to get a shot on goal and hope for a rebound, instead decided not to shoot
- The Snakes have played eleven of their last fourteen games on the road
- The Vipers last regular season win in West Kelowna was a 6-1 victory on November 2nd 2024
- Vernon went 0-6 with the man advantage
- The Vipers got off to a good start in the 2nd period, had some early looks/opportunities but again couldn't capitalize on those opportunities. Shortly after the Tribe take a 2-0 lead and this goal seems to turn the tables and change the momentum of the period as West Kelowna takes over the edge in play and is the better team for most of the remainder of the period. The Snakes spend a lot of time in their own end defending, don't give up a lot of shots but can't seem to get back on the offence
- The Vipers have one win in their last eleven games
- Vernon is 2-8-1-0 on the road
- In both games this weekend, the Vipers take some undisciplined penalties and tonight Deagan McMillan takes two of them, one a five minute major that the home team scores three goals on and puts the game away. Will McMillan get suspended?
- Even though the Vipers didn't play their best, they were only down 2-0 heading into the 3rd. One shot/One goal away from making it a one goal game. If the Vipers capitalize on some of their opportunities, and don’t take that five minute major, maybe the Vipers can steal a point or even a win
- Defenceman Jack Bousquet made his Vipers debut tonight
- Down 2-0 heading into the 3rd I thought the Vipers got off to a good start and looked very good early. Vernon had early puck possession, was finally able to get some sustained pressure in the offensive zone, would get several quality chances but again couldn't capitalize on those chances. The Vipers looked their best tonight in the 3rd, were the better team in the first half before Deagan McMillan's five minute major changed the momentum of the hockey game, West Kelowna would score three PP goals in just over three minutes, putting the game away
- The Vipers & Warriors will meet again January 10th in West Kelowna
- Were now three months into the season and after twenty one games, the Vipers have only four wins. This team plays hard, competes, never quits, has been in most games this season but at the end of the day only has four wins. Is this team just not good enough? You have to wonder why this team only has four wins?
- Assistant Coach Ryan Hollweg wasn't behind the bench tonight
- The Viper power play had a couple of good looks/chances but other wise struggled offensively. Going 0-6 with the man advantage isn't going to help you win hockey games. I didn't think the Snakes shot the puck enough on the PP, moved the puck around and around, taking time off the clock, waiting for the perfect setup or play
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 4-12-5-0 sit 4th in the Interior West Division
West Kelowna Warriors Top Players:
Natan Ethier (2 goals) Was one of the more dangerous forwards with the puck this evening
Dylan Krayer (3 assists) Was another forward who gave Vernon trouble, was hard to defend/hard to contain, used his speed to create some open ice, was involved in the play
Kelsen Podworny (2 assists) Not the biggest kid but played well, always seemed to be involved in the play
Ian Alonso (1 assist) Was another forward who stood out, was hard to contain, involved in the play. Took a check to the head in the 3rd period, didn't get up from the ice before being helped off the ice and didn't return
Carson Pavlowich (1 assist) Played very well on the Warriors blueline
Liam Nilsson (1 assist) Was another d-man that played well for the Tribe
Bor Glavic (18 saves-shutout) Improves to 5-2 on the season, wasn't tested often but was forced to make some big stops at different times in the hockey game. Glavic got some help from his defence as the Warriors blocked some shots but also kept Vernon to the outside, limiting their chances
Game Thought's: West Kelowna Warriors
- The Warriors are 11-1-1-0 at home
- The Warriors are 2-0 at home vs the Vipers
- West Kelowna's next game is Friday vs the visiting Alberni Valley Bulldogs
- The Warriors were the better team in the 1st period. Both teams were even at times but overall WK carried the play more, had more puck possession, generate more opportunities, were getting more pucks to the net, had a lot more zone time and sustained pressure. The Tribe could have easily had a couple more goals but Oliver Kanat was good in goal for the visiting Vipers
- Tonight's attendance was announced at 893
- West Kelowna looked like a much different team tonight, compared to the team I watched lose 4-2 in Vernon last weekend
- Tonight's the second game of a five game homestand
- The Warriors have won four of their last five games and won eight of their last ten games
- West Kelowna went 4-5 with the PP
- The Warriors defence was very good, keeping the Snakes to the outside often, blocking shots, taking away time and space and limiting the Vipers chances
- West Kelowna was back on their heels for a bit to start the middle frame as the visiting Vipers got off to a good start. Vernon would get some early looks/chances early but Bor Glavic made a couple of big stops before the Tribe would come back the other way, take a 2-0 lead early and change the momentum of the period. The Warriors took over the edge in play and were the better team for the remainder of the period. The Vipers couldn't re-group as WK carried the better of the play for most of the remainder of the period, had more puck possession, zone time, didn't get a lot of shots on goal, but held Vernon in their own end more then in the offensive zone
- Forward Ethan Merner played with the 2022-23 Vernon Vipers
- The Warriors have won six straight home games
- The Tribe used their speed, carried the better of the play for most of the hockey game. The Warriors had lots of quality chances through out the contest, were hard on pucks, played well at both ends of the rink, didn't give up a lot but played with pace
- With a 2-0 lead heading into the 3rd the Warriors were forced to defend with the Vipers coming on early and often. The Tribe got some big saves early from their goaltender as well as some big defensive plays. A five minute major turned the tables and changed the momentum of the period as the Warriors PP put the Snakes away with three PP goals in just over three minutes. West Kelowna never looked back, were the better team in the second half and saw most of the remainder of the period in the attacking zone
- The Warriors power play was very good, made the Vipers pay on some of their undisciplined penalties
- With the win, West Kelowna improves to 17-3-2-0 sit 1st in the Interior West Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers
Tyler Chiovetti
Koji Gibson (Injured)
Oscar Bjork (Injured)
West Kelowna Warriors:
Quinlan Parry
Carter Oakenfold
Ethan Merner
Anthony Dontigny
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Vernon Vipers @ West Kelowna Warriors Saturday, November 29, 2025 | BCHL League Site
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.com
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
4 comments:
Game was kind of boring and I wanted your Vipers to get a goal when it was 2-0 as that would have made it more interesting. I got thinking how good the Vipers looked when I saw them in Vernon as they weren’t the same last night, but they did have some bad puck luck and our goalie was on his game. Was actually a close game until that 5 minute penalty
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I was at the game last night The vipers didn’t get off to a good start with a penalty a few seconds in . I think the boys don’t give up in their games but last night just couldn’t get anything going, there shots on goal when having the play were weak just lobbing them in WK carried the play all night kanat was good in net but in the last 10mins or so of the 3rd vipers got into big penalty trouble again to seal the game up for WK . Vipers PK just hasn’t been there the last couple of games. Very frustrating
I was at the game last night. I was impressed with Kubantsev's movement on the ice but he really needs help for someone to give him the tools to learn how to finish the skill of putting the puck in the net. He really tries but is clearly frustrated with himself. I hope over time in his development as a player it will come to him and that part of his game works itself out. I was disappointed with our captain Mcmillan last night. Normally leadership leads by example and clearly this was not the case. Should he give a game suspension or two it would be justified as his actions on the ice are not one of leadership. In watching the game I felt our defense was not what we have shown in the past. I am also with hope that our powerplay improves with the ability of learning how to finish the art of putting the puck in the net gets better. Watching the vipers with its powerplay is frustrating as its a pass here and a pass there all with a distance from the net. The vipers need to get closer to the net with a player in front of the goalie as to make his job harder rather than allowing the goalie to see every shot and make his job easy. GO,VIPERS,GO.
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