Game Recap - Trail Smoke Eaters 5 Vernon Vipers 1

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 November 2008 and have over 6.7 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 some programs and ticket stubs going back to 1988 and have every program and ticket stub from every game since 1990. I worked with the Vipers as colour commentator for a couple of home games during the 2002-03 season and in 2011 helped create/design the Vipers website that I was in charge of running for five seasons.

I was at tonight's Vernon Vipers-Trail Smoke Eaters game as the Smoke Eaters won 5-1 in front of 2,611 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Lane Maarhuis
Trail Smoke Eaters: Chayse Johnson

Before tonight's game the Vipers honored three alumni (Bob Mayer - Vernon Essos, Danny Todosychuk - Vernon Vipers and Jim Inglis - Vernon Essos) as well as having a moment of silence for former Vernon Lakers owner Mel Lis who recently passed away.

1st Period: The Trail Smoke Eaters were the better team for most of the opening frame. Trail jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead just over four minutes and chased Vipers starting goaltender Lane Maarhuis after scoring three goals on four shots. The Smokies come ready to play, had a good transition game, were flying up and down the ice most of the period, really using their speed and capitalized on their opportunities. The Smoke Eaters had more puck possession, more zone time, looked good. The hometown Vipers didn't look so good in the teams final regular season home game. Vernon was getting pucks to the net but not a whole lot of quality chances. The Vipers didn't have a whole lot of zone time, didn't look very sharp. Goaltending let them down. It was 4-1 Trail after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 11-10 Vipers.

2nd Period: I don't know if the Snakes were the better team this period, but they did have a bit more edge in play and mostly due to several power plays. The Vipers carried the better of the play, had more puck possession and zone time and that's because they would get four power plays. Vernon struggled with the PP had troubles getting shots on goal and struggled generating or creating any real quality chances with the man advantage. The Vipers needed a goal or two with the PP to get back in the hockey game. Trail saw a lot of time on the PK and in their own end. The Smokies PK was very good, kept Vernon to the outside, limited their time and space, were blocking shots as well as generated a couple of shorthanded looks. Other then getting into penalty trouble, the Smoke Eaters PK and defence was very good. It was 4-1 Trail after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 14-6 Vernon.

To continue reading, please click the "read more" button below,

3rd Period: I thought both teams were pretty even with the visiting Smoke Eaters having a slight edge in play from time to time. At one point it was like neither team wanted a goal as the play went back and fourth for several minutes with neither team getting anywhere near close a shot on goal or scoring chance. The Snakes had three real good looks early in the period, couldn't capitalize while Trail had a couple of quality opportunities in the second half. The Smoke Eaters would come away with the 5-1 victory. Shots were 18-6 Trail.

The Vipers held their annual year end awards banquet after tonight's hockey game.

Vernon Vipers Top Performers:

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- Defenceman Keegan Shirley who recently signed with the Vipers for the 2026-27 season, made his Vipers home debut after making his Vipers debut Saturday in Brooks

- The Vipers are 0-6 vs Trail

- Goaltending let the Vipers down, especially in the 1st period. Lane Maarhuis gave up three goals on four shots. It was 4-1 Trail after one period. If you take away two of those first three goals and it's 2-1 heading into the 3rd

- The Vipers have lost five straight games and lost seven of their last ten games

- The Snakes didn't look very good or play that good in the 1st period. Trail was the better of the two teams and carried and controlled the better of the opening period. Lane Maarhuis didn't have a good game, was pulled after giving up three goals on four shots. Vernon was able to get eleven shots on goal but didn't get a whole lot of quality opportunities

- I was very disappointed in Dimitrii Kubantsev's poor attitude tonight, slamming his stick on the ice, into the boards and then sulking on the bench

- For a team that hasn't won many games last season and again this season, give credit to the fans that keep coming out to the games and to support the team! The games and atmosphere are so much better with bigger crowds

- Not many players stood out for me this evening

- Forward Luke Assi who recently signed with the Vipers for the 2026-27 season, made his Vipers debut tonight

- Vernon went 0-5 with the man advantage

- The Vipers are 6-16-5-0 at home

- The Snakes final regular season game is Saturday in Trail

- The hometown Vipers played a much better 2nd period in a period where they had a bit of an edge in play, due to four powerplays. The Snakes had more puck posession, zone time and carried a bit of the play but struggled with the PP. The Vipers had troubles getting pucks to the net, didn't generate any kind of opportunities with the man advantage. 

- The Vipers have six wins in their last twenty five games

- Tonight's attendance 2,611

- Forward Garrett Trench recently signed with the Vipers for the 2026-27 season, made his Vipers debut tonight

- The Vipers last regular season win vs Trail was a 3-2 victory January 6th 2024

- Vernon's PP struggled. The Vipers would get four powerplays in the 2nd period and a chance to get back in the hockey game and I don't think had more then a couple of good looks. The Vipers waist more of the powerplay passing the puck around then actually shooting and getting pucks to the net

- The Snakes have three wins in their last sixteen home games

- Vernon would get three quality chances early in the 3rd period but unable to capitalize in a period where I thought both teams were pretty even, giving a slight edge in play to the Smokies from time to time. Both goaltenders played well in the final frame 

- The Vipers have lost thirteen straight games vs Trail

- For a second straight home game, the Snakes had several of their more skilled players out of the lineup

- Vernon struggled offensively tonight, especially with the PP

- With the loss, Vernon falls to 14-32-7-0 sit 5th in the Interior West Division won't be in the playoffs for a second straight season

Trail Smoke Eaters Top Performers:

Matthew Keller I thought was one of the better Trail d-men this evening, saw a lot of minutes, played very well

Max Hense (2 assists) Was another defenceman that played well

David Greene (1 goal) Was involved in the play, stood out, played well in the win

Jace Harder (1 assist) Was another kid who I thought stood out and played well. Was involved in the play, played well at both ends of the rink

Christian Kim (2 goals & 1 assist) Leads the Smokies in scoring, was by far the best player on the ice tonight. Kim was flying up and down the wing, was hard to defend/hard to contain. This kid has wheels and is hard to catch. A very good skater, can get up ice in a hurry and gave the Vipers defenders troubles all evening

Chayse Johnson (30 saves) Played well between the pipes for Trail, made a highlight reel save in the 2nd period and three big stops early in the 3rd

Game Thought's: Trail Smoke Eaters

- Trail went 0-2 on the powerplay

- Defenceman Isaac Fecteau played with the 2023-24 Vernon Vipers was traded to Trail February 10th 2024

- Lots of Trail fans in attendance this evening

- The Smokies were ready to play and were the better of the two teams in the 1st period. Trail jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead just over four minutes in and chased Vipers starting goaltender Lane Maarhuis, who gave up three goals on four shots. The Smoke Eaters with a good transition game, were skating, moving the puck up ice, capitalized on their opportunities

- Trail is 13-13-1-0 on the road

- The Smoke Eaters are 3-0 in Vernon

- Forward Erik Pastro played with the Vernon Vipers from 2023-2025 was traded to Trail September 16th 2025

- The Smokies PK was very good this evening. Trail kept Vernon to the outside, limited their time and space, blocked shots, closed the shooting lanes, limited their opportunities as well as had a couple of shorthanded chances

- Trail got into penalty trouble in the 2nd period, had to kill off four minors, saw a lot of time in their own end, played well shorthanded, didn't see a whole lot of time in the offensive zone 

- The Smoke Eaters have lost four of their last five games and lost six of their last ten games

- Tonight's the first game of a home & home series

- Trail has a good transition game, moves the puck quickly up ice and in a hurry

- The Smokies had a bit of an edge in play from time to time in the 3rd period, in a period where I thought both teams were fairly even. Both goaltenders had to be sharp, made some big stops. The Vipers with three early quality chances, couldn't capitalize, while the Smoke Eaters would get a couple of good looks in the second half, couldn't pat their lead

- With the win, Trail improves to 30-22-1-0 sits 2nd in the Interior West Division

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Seth Tansem
Dario Laas
Christian Maro (Injured)
Brayden Pankey (Injured)
Jack Bousquet (Injured)
Evan Sundar (Injured)
Cole Bieksa (Suspended)
Artyon Khaydarov
Jesse Sanche

Trail Smoke Eaters:

Colton Whitfield
Caden Stoltz
Zach Coutu
Brayden Rotach
Lyam Leblanc

Boxscore-Game Summary,

Trail Smoke Eaters @ Vernon Vipers Friday, March 27, 2026 | BCHL League Site

Game Report,

Game Report

Text Box Score,

Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.com

Vernon Junior Hockey History,

VernonJrAHockey.CA