I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following junior hockey in Vernon my entire life. I started and created this blog in 2008 and have over 6 million viewers. I have had season tickets since 1990 missing 46 home games since. My family watched senior men's hockey in Vernon in the 1950's and has been watching junior hockey in Vernon since Vernon got a team in 1961. I have two family members that played junior hockey in Vernon. I have programs and ticket stubs going back to 1988 and have every program and ticket stub from every game going back to 1989. I worked with the Vipers as colour commentator for a few home games during the 2002-03 season & in 2011 I helped create and design the Vipers website that I was in charge of running for five seasons.
I was at tonight's Vernon Vipers-West Kelowna Warriors game as the Warriors won 5-2 in front of 2,240 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Jesse Sanche
West Kelowna Warriors: Bor Glavic
1st Period: The Vipers got into penalty trouble early and often, which allowed the visiting West Kelowna Warriors plenty of time on the man advantage. Due to all of the penalties, West Kelowna carried the better of the play as the hometown Vipers were shorthanded a lot of the period. The Warriors carried the better of the play, had more puck possession, zone time and were getting lot's of pucks towards the net. The only problem was the Tribe was unable to capitalize with all these PP's. Vernon's PK was very good. Jesse Sanche also played very well between the pipes, keeping the Snakes in the hockey game. The Vipers needed almost seven minutes to get their first shot on goal and were very limited when it come to five on five and getting any kind of pressure in the offensive zone. The Vipers were very lucky the Warriors PP wasn't clicking as WK could have easily been up three or four goals. It was 1-0 West Kelowna after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 20-5 Warriors.
2nd Period: The Snakes were the better team in the middle frame, were the better team in the first half, had the edge in play. The Vipers had lot's of good looks and quality opportunities early but were unable to get the puck to the net and missed on a couple of what looked to be open nets. The Warriors played better in the second half, were able to get some zone time and a little more puck possession. Tempers heated up with a couple of scrums/fights. The Vipers missed on a couple of real good opportunities, while the Warriors capitalized on a defensive breakdown from the Vipers. It was 3-0 West Kelowna after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 14-12 Warriors.
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3rd Period: The Vipers were the better team to start, had the early edge in play and would get back in the hockey game with two power play goals. Vernon had more puck possession and zone time in the first half but struggled getting pucks to the net. In the second half the Vipers took a costly penalty, and the Tribe made them pay on the power play. The Vipers couldn't recover as both teams were fairly even in the second half. With the goaltender out, Natan Ethier put the game away with his third of the evening into the empty cage, giving the Warriors a 5-2 victory. Shots were 7-7.
Vernon Vipers Top Players:
Dario Lass I thought played one of his best games since coming to Vernon. I haven't thought he has stood out much since joining the Vipers but had a strong game in the loss this evening. Played hard, played with a lot of jump, was very good on the PK
Christian Maro I thought was another Viper who stood out, played hard, was involved in the play often
Jesse Sanche (33 saves) The former Western Hockey League goaltender making just his third start with the Snakes, was very solid in goal, keeping the Vipers in the contest at times while shorthanded. Sanche made some big stops in the 1st period with the Warriors on the man advantage
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- For a second time this season, the Vipers have lost seven straight games
- Tonight's the first game of a two game home stand
- With only 8 wins this season and the amount of losses piling up, do the Vipers have a shot at making the playoffs?
- You can't fall behind 3-0 vs the top team in the division and expect to win
- Including the preseason, the Vipers are 1-6 vs West Kelowna
- The Vipers got into penalty trouble early into the 1st period and played a lot of the period shorthanded. Vernon's PK was very good but the Vipers played a lot of the period in their own end. The Vipers needed almost seven minutes to record their first shot on goal and never really saw a lot of time in the offensive zone. Your not going to score many goals when you don't play in the offensive zone or only get five shots on goal. The Snakes were lucky to be down only one goal after the period as West Kelowna could have had three or four goals if the PP was clicking
- Vernon went 2-4 with the power play
- The Snakes need to be more consistent and play almost close to a complete game if they have any chance of beating the Warriors
- The Vipers have lost seven straight games and lost eight of their last ten games
- This was a chippy-feisty game with tempers heating up a couple of times. Good job on the officials for clamping down and not letting this game get out of control
- A costly too many men penalty in the 3rd cost the team the game. Vipers were down 3-2 and playing well but now down 4-2 and the games basically over
- The Vipers next game is Friday vs the visiting Okotoks Oilers
- The Snakes played very well in the 2nd period in a period where they controlled and carried a lot of the play early, were the better team in the first half but had no goals to show for their hard work. The hometown Vipers had lots of good looks/quality opportunities but couldn't capitalize and also missed at least what looked like two open nets. To play so well but then also give up two goals doesn't help. West Kelowna played better in the second half in a period where the Vipers didn't get any bounces or puck luck go there way. This was a chippy period as tempers heated up with a couple of scrums/fights
- Tonight's attendance was 2,240
- Your not going to win many hockey games when your in the penalty box a lot and tonight the Vipers took way too many penalties
- The Vipers are 4-10-5-0 at home
- The Vipers & Warriors will play once more February 27th in West Kelowna
- Vernon got off to a good start in the 3rd with two power play goals, were the better team early, had the early edge in play before both teams were fairly even in the second half. Two early PP goals got the Snakes back into the game, got the crowd into the game before a too many men penalty cost the Vipers as WK regained a two goal lead before adding an empty netter for the 5-3 win
- The Vipers have one win in their last ten regular season games vs the Warriors
- Vernon's penalty kill was very very good tonight. If it wasn't for the Viper PK this game could have been over way sooner and by a handful of goals
- When did the backup goaltenders no longer have to wear a mask? I noticed both backup goaltenders are wearing hats like the backup goaltenders in the NHL
- Since the Langley Hornets relocated to West Kelowna in 2006 the Vipers are 52-49-7-3-2 vs the Warriors
- The Vipers had their chances with several good looks/quality opportunities but couldn't capitalize
- It has to be difficult for these kids to come to the rink every night and have a new or couple of new players in the lineup game after game. With all the players coming and going, how does this team gel or get to know one another in such a short period of time?
- Playing most of the 1st period shorthanded, didn't do Vernon any help. The Snakes were forced to play shorthanded most of the period, which limited their time with the puck and limited play in the offensive zone
- The Vipers are missing some key players out due to injuries
- If the Vipers make the playoffs, Vernon would face West Kelowna in the 1st round
- If Vernon stays out of the penalty box, the Vipers may have given themselves a better chance to win the hockey game
- Overall this was a pretty entertaining hockey game
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 8-21-6-0 sit 5th in the Interior West Division are two points back of Cranbrook for the final playoff spot
West Kelowna Warriors Top Players:
Ian Crowley I thought played a steady game on West Kelowna's blueline
Natan Ethier (3 goals & 1 assist) Had a heck of a game, was hard to contain, hard to defend and dangerous almost every time on the ice
Dylan Krayer (1 goal & 1 assist) Has played very well vs the Vipers this season, had a strong game. This kid is a good hockey player, can skate, is dangerous with and without the puck, has a wicked shot and is hard to defend
Alexandre Lallier (1 assist) Seemed to get under the skin of the Vipers through out tonight's contest, sees and reads the ice well, played well for the Warriors
Carson Pavlowhich is a big steady d-man that played well in the win
Bor Glavic (22 saves) Improves to 3-0 vs Vernon, played well in goal. Wasn't tested much at all in the 1st but was at his best in the 2nd period with the Snakes pressing
Game Thought's: West Kelowna Warriors
- The Warriors have won twenty of their last twenty seven regular season games over the Vipers
- West Kelowna went 1-7 with the man advantage
- The Warriors were by far the better team in the 1st period. The Tribe carried and controlled most of the period, played a lot of the period in the offensive zone, had a ton of puck possession, were firing every thing towards the net, but struggled with the power play. WK could have easily had three or four goals if the PP was clicking
- A small hand of Warriors fans were at tonight's game
- The Warriors got some timely goals at key times in the hockey game
- The Warriors next game is Wednesday vs the visiting Okotoks Oilers
- The Warriors bench/coaching staff is very vocal, always yelling or screaming through out the hockey game
- West Kelowna has a good transition game, moving the puck up ice quickly and effectively
- The Warriors are 10-4-1-0 on the road
- The Warriors have some very skilled forwards
- The Snakes were the better team in the first half of the 2nd period, having more of the edge in play but it was West Kelowna who got some timely saves, some defensive plays and a couple of big goals to take a 3-0 lead into the 3rd period
- The Warriors are 2nd overall in league standings, one point back of the league leading Cowichan Capitals
- West Kelowna has won five straight games and won seven of their last ten games
- Forward Ethan Merner played with the 2022-23 Vernon Vipers
- The Warriors could have blown this game wide open if the PP was clicking
- The Warriors only loss to the Vipers was a 4-2 loss November 22nd in Vernon
- With a 3-0 lead heading into the 3rd, the Tribe get into penalty trouble, give up two early PP goals as Vernon is the better team to start the period. The Warriors don't seem to panic, would finally capitalize on the man advantage to take a two goal lead before adding an empty netter
- The Warriors play four of their next six games on the road
- With the win, West Kelowna improves to 26-6-2-0 sit 1st in the Interior West Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Sebastian Bradshaw (Injured)
Seth Tansem
Koji Gibson (Injured)
Taylor Curits
Deagan McMillan (Injured)
Oscar Bjork (Injured)
West Kelowna Warriors:
Daxton Endicott
Kelsen Podworny
Ethan Merner (Injured)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
West Kelowna Warriors @ Vernon Vipers Saturday, January 24, 2026 | BCHL League Site
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.com
Vernon Junior Hockey History,
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