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/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 programs and ticket stubs going back to 1988 and have every program and ticket stub since 1989. I worked with the Vipers as colour commentator for a few home games during the 2002-03 season and 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-Spruce Grove Saints game as the Saints won 3-2 in front of 2,612 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Lane Maarhuis
Spruce Grove Saints: Finn Marshall
1st Period: I thought both teams were fairly even off the start but as the period continued the visiting Spruce Grove Saints had a bit more edge in play. I liked the Saints 1st period. Spruce Grove played with pace, moved the puck up ice, kept the game simple, getting pucks to the net and strong on pucks. The Vipers turned over the puck numerous times, gave up way too many odd man rushes, were sloppy at times and tried making the big play in the offensive zone, instead of getting pucks to the net-looking for rebounds-opportunities. The Snakes somehow missed, what looked to me like an open net. Lane Maarhuis making his home debut, made a couple of big saves with the Saints pressing. It was 1-0 Spruce Grove after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 13-7 Saints.
2nd Period: The Saints jumped on Vernon early and often as it was all Spruce Grove early. A strong forecheck, kept the hometown Snakes hemmed in their own end and forced to turn over the puck. Spruce Grove was by far the better team for most of the middle frame as the Saints controlled and carried the better of the play. A strong forecheck, strong on the puck, were winning the races, winning the battles along the wall and in front of the net, gave the Vipers defence all kinds of difficulties. The Vipers looked flat, weren't skating, were hemmed in their own end early, struggled in their own end and struggled coming out of their own end. Vernon turned over the puck a ton, were sloppy, making mistakes and just not on the same page. Overall Vernon had a couple of good shifts and three or four quality chances but Finn Marshall made some large saves, keeping the Snakes off the scoreboard. Lane Maarhuis kept the Snakes within a goal, making some key saves. Vernon did get their game going and come on to end the period, played much better in the final three or four minutes. It was 1-0 Spruce Grove after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 10-10.
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3rd Period: The Snakes come out with a good effort, looked and played their best in the final twenty minutes. Both teams were fairly even at times but also at times the Vipers had the edge in play. For the first time tonight, Vernon was skating, played with some pace, played with some jump/energy and played more like a team. The Snakes created/generated several quality chances through out the period, had some good looks. The Vipers still turned over the puck and made some mistakes but no where near as many as they did in the first two periods. The Vipers were finally able to find the back of the net but could never get the go ahead goal. The Saints made some mistakes, turned over the puck which they didn't do much in the first two periods. Spruce Grove played a very patient and simple road game, were able to re-take the lead after giving up the game tying goal and twice before Felix Haibock scored the game winner late. I thought the Saints defence played very well in the 3rd, especially late. The Saints as a team played very well down the stretch, not allowing Vernon to get the goaltender out until the final twenty five seconds. A very strong game on the road in a 3-2 victory. Shots were 13-11 Vipers.
Vernon Vipers Top Players:
Oliver Czaja (2 goals) I thought played well through out the hockey game and not just because he scored both goals. I thought Czaja stood out in the first two periods and one of the only Vipers that stood out in the first two periods, finished off his strong night with two 3rd period goals
Lane Maarhuis (31 saves) Made his Vipers home debut after signing with the team today, played very well between the pipes in back to back starts. I thought he looked a little nervous or shaky on a couple of plays but overall kept the Snakes in this game in the first two periods
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers are 0-2-2-0 vs the Saints
- Tonight's attendance was 2,612
- The Vipers last win at home was a 5-4 overtime victory December 20th over the Blackfalds Bulldogs
- I liked the Snakes start to the 1st period as both teams were fairly even but as the period continued the Saints had a bit more edge in play. Vernon turned over the puck a dozen times, weren't very good defensively, tried to make the big play in the offensive zone, instead of shooting, getting a puck to the net and looking for an opportunity/second chance. Lane Maarhuis made a couple of big stops or the Vipers could have been down by a couple
- Vernon went 0-4 with the man advantage
- The Vipers next game is Monday afternoon vs the visiting Nanaimo Clippers
- The Vipers have lost three of their last five games and lost eight of their last ten games
- With Cranbrook's 6-3 win over Trail this evening, the Vipers are 5 points back of the Bucks for the final playoff spot
- It's hard to believe the Vipers have fewer wins then last season
- I didn't like the Snakes 2nd period. Vernon looked flat, turned over the puck a lot, was hemmed in their own end, struggled to get the puck out of their own end, looked sloppy, were making mistakes, couldn't get through the neutral zone, had a couple of good shifts, where they generated some quality chances, overall were outplayed for most of the middle frame. The hometown Vipers did get their game going late to end the period, played their best and looked better in the final few minutes
- The Snakes are 4-12-5-0 at home
- For a team fighting to get into the playoffs, they sure didn't play like it tonight. No where near sixty minutes or a good effort. Consistency has been a big problem for this team. The Vipers best period was the 3rd, a period where they looked their best and played their best
- The Vipers struggled with the powerplay. Very little to no pressure in the offensive zone, had troubles getting pucks to the net, no real opportunities or even looks
- It seemed like the Vipers had troubles keeping the puck on their stick tonight
- The Vipers are 4-9-3-0 vs teams from Alberta this season
- The Snakes have fourteen games remaining in the regular season
- Vernon looked and played their best in the 3rd period. The Snakes finally showed up and decided they wanted to put in the effort and play hockey. The Vipers had lot's of quality chances and good looks, were finally able to find the back of the net but couldn't take the lead. Anytime the Vipers evened the score, the Saints replied right back to re-take the lead. Finn Marshall was very good in goal for Spruce Grove, made some big stops. Vernon seemed to settle down, play more like a team, made less mistakes and turned over the puck less
- The Vipers have just two wins in their last twelve games
- Tonight's the first game of a three game home stand
- I didn't see enough jump/energy or compete in the first two periods. Pretty disappointing for a team fighting for a playoff spot with fourteen games remaining
- The Vipers are 2-4-2-0 all-time vs the Saints
- The Snakes didn't get any puck luck and had the bounces go against them
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 10-23-7-0 sit 5th in the Interior West Division are five points back of Cranbrook for the final playoff spot
Spruce Grove Saints Top Players:
The line of Brett Barnes (1 assist) Declan Waddick (1 goal & 1 assist) and Chris Battaini (1 assist) was the Saints best unit. They stood out to myself, you noticed them every time they were on the ice. I thought Waddick played hard, and competed. Battaini has some wheels, can move and was involved in the play
Felix Haibock (1 goal) Scored the game winning goal at 16:17 of the 3rd period, stood out, played with pace, was involved in the play, had a good game for the Saints
Finn Marshall (29 saves) Wasn't tested much in the 1st period (7 saves) didn't see a lot of action in the 2nd period but was forced to make at least three or four big stops, was very sharp in the 3rd making some big stops in a one goal game.
Game Thought's: Spruce Grove Saints
- The Saints are 2-0-0-0 in Vernon
- Defenceman Carson Lloyd played with the 2024-25 Vernon Vipers was traded to Spruce Grove October 1st 2024
- The Saints had some puck luck and the bounces go their way this evening. Spruce Grove's first two goals went in off a player in front
- The Saints went 0-2 with the powerplay
- The Saints & Vipers were pretty even to start the 1st period but as the period continued Spruce Grove had a bit more edge in play. The Saints played with pace, were skating, moving the puck, played more in the offensive zone, were getting pucks to the net, opened the scoring and looked good
- I spotted a couple of Saints fans in attendace
- The Saints are 12-11-0-0 on the road
- The Saints keep it simple, get pucks to the net, play well defensively, strong on the forecheck and continue to battle
- Tonight's the third game of a four game road trip
- A very strong 2nd period in a period where the visiting Spruce Grove Saints outplayed the Snakes for most of the period. Spruce Grove jumped on Vernon early and often, had the Vipers hemmed in their own end, were strong on the forecheck, winning the battles, winning the races and just outskating and outworking the Vipers. The Saints forced Vernon into turning over the puck, couldn't solve Lane Maarhuis
- The Saints have won five straight games and won seven of their past ten games
- The Saints are just five points back of the 2nd place Brooks Bandits
- Spruce Grove played a very good road game, it wasn't perfect but played hard, competed, didn't make a lot of mistakes, didn't turn over pucks often, got some big saves from their goaltender, defence played well and they kept the game simple
- I have said this before, I really like the Saints jerseys/logo
- The Saints next game is Saturday in Trail
- Spruce Grove gave up the early game tying goal, but never bent. Anytime Vernon evened the score, Spruce Grove re-took the lead and held onto the lead. The Saints played well defensively, managed the puck, did make some mistakes and a few turnovers, something they didn't do in the first two periods but got some timely saves from their goaltender and a huge goal late that ended up being the game winner. A very well played road game
- With the win, Spruce Grove improves to 23-17-1-0 sit 3rd in the Interior East Division are three points ahead of Sherwood Park
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Sebastian Bradshaw (Injured)
Seth Tansem (Injured)
Jack Bousquet
Jesse Sanche (Injured)
Spruce Grove Saints:
Max Holland
Gabriel Kenny
Robert Fedor
Ryan De Kok
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Spruce Grove Saints @ Vernon Vipers Friday, February 13, 2026 | BCHL League Site
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.com
Vernon Junior Hockey History,
2 comments:
I was at the game tonight and felt the spruce grove saints defence was excellent as they would never give the vipers much room to move with the puck. I also liked there passing of the puck as it was most times tape on tape. spruce grove play a simple game just getting pucks to the net without trying to be to fancy and it paid off as two of the goals they scored getting pucks to the net went off one of there players or one of the vipers players. I REST my CASE. Get pucks to the net and anything can happen. I also liked there speed and movement with the puck. I must say at times tonight the vipers played well as a team that looks like there jelling as a team. But there is a problem with the BCHL and that is the feb 10 cutoff trade date as it just doesn't work it should be back to what it used to be Jan 10. Unless the leaque changes this it will overtime give this leaque less credibility. GO,VIPERS,GO.
I was also at the hockey game tonight. That was brutal! I didn't think the Vipers could pass the puck good tonight, were very sloppy and out played most of the game.
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