Friday, December 5, 2025

Game Recap: Trail Smoke Eaters 3 Vernon Vipers 2

The 18-5-0-0 Trail Smoke Eaters defeated the 4-13-5-0 Vernon Vipers 3-2 in front of 1,362 fans at the Cominco Arena.

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Vernon Vipers @ Trail Smoke Eaters Friday, December 05, 2025 | BCHL League Site

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Vernon Junior Hockey History website,

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3 comments:

vipersdiehardfan said...

I watched the tonight's Vipers game on FloHockey. This was a very entertaining and close game. So far this season Vernon & Trail have played each other very close but the Smoke Eaters are now 4-0 vs the Vipers. The Vipers were the better team in the 1st and played a great 1st period on the road. Vernon carried the better of the play, had lots of puck possession and zone time and several chances. Trail come on late and played better towards the end of the period. I thought both teams were pretty even in the 2nd period. The Snakes had a 2-1 lead but a turnover and bad line change, cost them a goal. The Smokies were the better team in the 3rd, had the better of the play, seemed to have the puck on their sticks most of the period, didn't give up much. Vernon couldn't seem to get control of the puck and keep puck possession. The Vipers with only five shots on goal, didn't have much puck possession, had some looks late with the empty net, but couldn't force overtime.

The Vipers have just two wins on the road this season, have lost nine straight road games. The Vipers have just one win in their last twelve games.

I have said this many times this season. This Viper team plays hard, competes, never quits and has been in most games this season but for whatever reason, just aren't getting any luck or winning hockey games. I don't recall a season like this ever before. I mean last season the team was terrible, players wanted out and were poorly coached, this year the team has been entertaining, fun to watch and been in most of the games, just aren't coming away with wins. I feel for these kids who have tried so hard this season, just aren't getting the results.

Steve said...

A few thoughts...

This team is performing worse than last year. Seems like just as many players coming and going. I'm curious why Matt Cooke is getting such a long leash with the fans? I understand that he may not have recruited this team himself to start the season, but he's made plenty of trades (similar to last year) and nothing appears to be improving.

Most of the comments here seem to imply that this season is a write off but are giving Cooke grace simply because he didn't pick this team to start.
When does he start becoming accountable?

Just because he was a recognizable professional doesn't mean he's fit to be a coach. He doesn't have much of a coaching history that I can find, and what I could find wasn't very succesful.
I'm curious if we had hired someone relatively unknown if he would be getting the same treatment?

Ya the kids are competing better and playing hard, but that doesn't equate to a playoff team.

Thoughts?

Karl said...

I listened to the game on radio. I think vipers played very well considering more injuries and a roster change, the new guys seem to fit in well for first game with the team, And I was happy our pk seemed to get back on track. Unfortunately vipers just can’t buy a win