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 during 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 have had season tickets since 1990 missing 46 home games since. I worked with the Vipers as colour commentator for a few games during the 2002-03 season. In 2011 I helped create and design the Vipers website and was in charge of running the website for five seasons. I started and created this blog in 2008 and have over 5.9 million viewers.
I was at tonight's Vernon Vipers-Blackfalds Bulldogs game as the Vipers won 5-4 in overtime in front of 1,872 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Colton Jugnauth
Blackfalds Bulldogs: Oliver Kiraly
1st Period: This was a pretty even period with both teams had a bit of edge in play at times. I thought the Snakes had a little more puck possession, didn't generate or create a ton of chances. The Bulldogs had a ton of looks/opportunities as Colton Jugnauth was forced to make some big stops. It was 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 10-8 Vernon.
2nd Period: The Blackfalds Bulldogs were by far the better team, outplayed the Vipers for a lot of the middle frame. Blackfalds used their speed, skill and forecheck to hem the hometown Vipers in their own end at times as Vernon saw a lot of time in their own end. The Bulldogs had the puck on their sticks often, had lots of zone time, were skating, making plays, had the Vipers running around in circles at times. The Vipers did have a few good shifts and did manage some time with the puck but not often. Lucky for the Snakes, they were able to score three times in the period. Colton Jugnauth once again had to be on his game, kept the Vipers in the hockey game. It was 4-3 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 19-11 Bulldogs.
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3rd Period: The Snakes had a couple of good looks early before the visiting Bulldogs took over the play and were the better team. Blackfalds once again used their speed, skill and forecheck to outskate the Vipers, beating Vernon to the puck and along the wall. The Bulldogs with a strong forecheck forced the Vipers into turning over pucks in their own end. Blackfalds with several quality opportunities couldn't solve the Vipers netminder. Vernon had two shots early to start the period, went the remainder of the period without a shot until the final few minutes of play. With the goaltender heading to the bench, Joey Melo forced overtime at 17:59 on a goal I think Colton Jugnauth wants back. It was 4-4 after 60 minutes of play. Shots were 16-3 Bulldogs.
Overtime: The visiting Bulldogs had more shots and the early chances before Christian Maro gives the hometown Vipers a 5-4 overtime victory at 3:38 Shots were 4-2 Blackfalds.
Vernon Vipers Top Players:
Christian Maro (Overtime winner) I thought played well, was making some plays before scoring the overtime winning goal to give the Snakes the win
Evan Sundar (2 goals) Was another forward who looked good and played well through out the contest. Coughed up the puck twice but otherwise was dangerous with the puck
Colton Jugnauth (43 saves) Was the difference this evening. Last night it was West Kelowna's goaltender who was solid in goal and the difference in a 3-0 Warriors win, tonight it was Colton Jugnauth who was solid between the pipes, was forced to make several large saves through out the hockey game. Judging by the replay, I think Jugnauth would like Blackfalds fourth goal back. The Vipers netminder gave his team a chance to stay in the game and give his team a chance to win
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- Tonight's attendance 1,872
- Tonight was the Vipers final game before the holiday break
- The Snakes have difficulties putting teams away when leading by a goal in the 2nd or 3rd periods. Instead of getting an insurance marker tonight, they hold on to a one goal lead until late, when the Bulldogs force overtime. We have seen this several times before this season, where Vernon is leading by a goal and can't get that two goal lead, end up allowing the other team to tie the game, then later win the game
- The Vipers are 2-6-2-0 vs Alberta teams
- A totally different team from last night's hard fought game vs West Kelowna. A lot of standing around tonight as the Snakes stopped skating, were being outskated, outworked and losing the battles for the puck, especially in the 2nd and 3rd periods
- The Vipers next game is January 2nd vs the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks
- Vernon has won three of their last five games are 5-5 in their last ten games
- Kal Tire Place was very quiet tonight, no atmosphere in the building, only time their was noise was when the Vipers scored or the Vipers PA were trying to get the fans to make some noise
- I thought the Snakes struggled with the man advantage. Vernon waisted a lot of time, passing the puck around and around getting very little to no chances and very few shots to the net
- The Vipers & Bulldogs meet again February 7th in Blackfalds
- The Vipers wore their black 3rd jerseys tonight
- Vernon with way too many passes, not enough shots on goal or towards the net
- Vernon is 2-5 in overtime
- I liked the Snakes 1st period but otherwise they were outplayed for most of the 2nd and 3rd periods
- Tonight's the second game of a five game home stand
- Vernon struggled getting pucks to the net in the 3rd, getting through the neutral zone and out of their own end
- The Vipers are 4-6-4-0 at home
- The Vipers were lucky to get the win
- Vernon went 2-7 with the power play
- The Vipers made too many mistakes tonight, were missing passes, turning over pucks, caught standing still in their own end, gave up too many shots and opportunities
- Former Vernon Vipers Head Coach/GM Troy Mick was in attendance
- Colton Jugnauth kept the Snakes in tonight's game
- The Vipers spent a lot of time chasing the puck, chasing the Bulldogs and a lot of time in their own end
- The Vipers went 2-2-0-0 vs Blackfalds last season
- Even though the Snakes didn't look or play their best hockey tonight, for a team that has struggled to win this season, give them full credit for beating one of the top three teams in the league
- With the overtime victory, Vernon improves to 8-15-5-0 sits 4th in the Interior West Division
Blackfalds Bulldogs Top Players:
Danny Hussa is a big kid, that stood out and played well tonight
Jared Langdon is another big kid that likes to carry the puck often, made some plays, was hard to defend
Thomas Neu (1 assist) Not the biggest kid but quick on his feet, makes plays happen in a hurry. Was all over the rink through out the game
Nikita Ivachenko (1 goal & 2 assists) Was the best player on the ice. This kid can skate, is very skilled offensively, dangerous with the puck, hard to defend/contain, a very good skater
Joey Melo (2 goals) Saw a lot of ice, is shifty, was creating/generating plays, quick on his feet, goes to the net, played well in the OT loss
Noah Mertz (1 assist) Is the quaterback on the PP, had a strong game at both ends of the rink
Nikita Meshcheryakov (1 assist) Was another kid who can skate, move the puck, dangerous with the puck, played well
Game Thought's: Blackfalds Bulldogs
- The Bulldogs are 12-3-1-0 on the road
- Tonight's the third game of a three game road trip
- Blackfalds went 2-5 with the man advantage
- This Bulldogs team is very skilled, very fast, can move the puck up ice in a hurry and dangerous in and around the net
- Blackfalds is 13.5 km north of Red Deer. The Calgary Mustangs relocated to Blackfalds in 2021
- Prior to tonight, the Bulldogs had one loss in their last seven road games
- I was surprised to see a handful of Bulldogs fans in attendance
- The Bulldogs outshot and out chanced the Vipers. Blackfalds generated/created a ton of looks/opportunities, could have easily had eight or more goals tonight
- The Bulldogs were the better team in the 2nd, 3rd and overtime periods.
- Tonight's the Bulldogs final game before the Christmas break
- The Bulldogs have a very strong forecheck and forced Vernon into making mistakes-turning over pucks often
- The Bulldogs and Vipers meet four times this season
- Oliver Kiraly wasn't tested a lot
- Blackfalds has won three of their last five games and won six of their last ten games
- With the overtime loss, the Bulldogs fall to 21-8-1-0 sit 1st in the Interior East Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Dome Szongoth
Koji Gibson (Injured)
Toms Trockis
Oscar Bjork
Blackfalds Bulldogs
Krisjanis Sarts
Rohan Guevarra
Nicholas DiPaolo
Asher Lucas
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Blackfalds Bulldogs @ Vernon Vipers Saturday, December 20, 2025 | BCHL League Site
Game Report,
Text Box Score.
Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.com
Vernon Junior Hockey History website.
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