Game Recap: Vernon Vipers 5 Salmon Arm Silverbacks 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 10 million viewers. I have had season tickets since 1990 and missed 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 from every game since 1988. I worked with the Vipers as colour commentator for a few home games during the 2002-03 season and in 2011 I helped create/design the Vipers website that I was in charge of for five seasons.

I was at tonight's Vernon Vipers-Salmon Arm Silverbacks game as the Vipers won 5-1 in front of 874 fans at Rogers Rink.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Kason Kobelka

Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Noah Mavin

1st Period: The hometown Silverbacks jumped on the Vernon Vipers early and often as it was all Salmon Arm in the first half of the opening frame. The Gorillas had a ton of jump/energy come flying out of the gates with a ton of speed, a strong/aggressive forecheck, were hard in on pucks and winning all the early battles. SA was getting pucks to the net and generating some offence. Shots were 9-1 Silverbacks at the midway point. The visiting Vipers didn't get off to a great start, were back on their heels, were chasing the puck and the S'Backs most of the first ten minutes. The Snakes struggled offensively, had trouble getting into the o zone, saw a lot of action early in their own end. Former Trail Smoke Eaters goaltender Kason Kobelka made his Vipers debut tonight, was forced to make a couple of bi stops in the first half, keeping the game scoreless. Boy oh boy did the tables turn in the second half as it was all Vernon as the Vipers pushed back and played a heck of a finish to end the period. In and around the halfway mark, Toms Trockis was denied on a breakaway, before Alexander Eklof was stopped on a penalty shot. Shortly after Cohen Hoening come within inches of giving the Apes the lead but hit the crossbar. The Snakes quickly turned the game around in the second half and were the better team in the second half. Vernon was skating, moving the puck, getting lots of zone time/pressure and started to rack up shots on goal. It was now Salmon Arm who was spending a lot of time in their own end, were the ones now chasing the puck. Both goaltenders played well. It was 1-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 14-13 Silverbacks.

2nd Period: Tommy Karmiris gave the Snakes a 2-0 lead at 0:21 on the first shot of the period. The Vipers had some early jump and were the better team in the opening few minutes, but the Backs had the edge in play in the first half but Vernon's goaltender and defence played very well, taking away time and space and limiting the Silverbacks opportunities. SA had a little more puck possession and were getting pucks to the net but weren't dominating the play. The Vipers were the better team in the second half, didn't get a whole lot of shots on net but overall were the better team in the second half. The Vipers did a lot of the little things right. It was 3-0 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 15-6 Salmon Arm.

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3rd Period: With a 3-0 lead heading into the final frame, Vernon put their foot on the gas and dominated the 3rd period. The Snakes carried and controlled the play for most of the entire period, were very good at both ends of the rink. The visiting Vipers kept things simple but also didn't take their foot off the gas. The Vipers had a ton of zone time, puck possession and were winning a lot of the battles/races. The Vipers were hard in on pucks, aggressive on the forecheck and getting pucks to the net. On the backend, Vernon played very well defensively, didn't allow Salmon Arm's offence to create or generate much. The Gorillas went lengthy periods of time without a shot on goal as the S'Backs couldn't seem to get much of anything going. The Silverbacks broke the shutout with 2:38 remaining as the goal was under review but a good goal. Vernon would win back to back games with a 5-1 victory. Shots were 13-7 Vipers.

Vernon Vipers Top Performers:

Mason Kim (1 goal) Was flying this evening, played with a ton of jump/energy, was hard to defend/contain. I love this kids hard work and compete, never stops skating, one of the hardest working Vipers tonight

Ryan Fairbairn (1 goal & 1 assist) Really struggled in the regular season opener last weekend in Salmon Arm, played a very strong game on the Vipers blueline tonight. Made a heck of a play in the 2nd period to keep the puck onside, before giving Vernon a 3-0 lead on the PP

Toms Trockis (1 goal & 1 assist) Was another forward who stood out, played very well. Was stopped on a 1st period breakaway, missed an open net in the 2nd period, was involved in the play, had several opportunities

Evan Schulha I thought had a very good game on the blueline

Oscar Bjork was another d-man that played well at both ends of the rink

Ben Trebicky (1 assist) Looked good and played very well

Luca Pura (1 goal) Impressed me tonight, showed a lot of hustle and compete, never stopped skating, was engaged in the play and made some plays

Kason Kobelka (35 saves) Making his Vipers debut tonight, played very well between the pipes. With the Silverbacks pressing early in the 1st period, the former Trail Smoke Eaters netminder made a couple of big stops, keeping the game scoreless

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- The Vipers next game is the home opener Saturday vs West Kelowna

- The Vipers & Silverbacks will face each other seven times during the regular season

- After a shaky preseason, the Vipers goaltenders have played very well so far in the regular season

- Vernon went 1-4 with the man advantage

- This was a huge win, especially beating a Salmon Arm team that had beat you three times prior to tonight

- The Vipers play their next five games on home ice

- Spotted a small group of Vipers fans in attendance 

- After going 1-3 in the preseason, the Vipers start the regular season winning two of three on the road

- The Vipers didn't get off to a great start, were badly outplayed in the first half of the 1st period but quickly turned things around in a hurry and were the better team in the second half. Shots were 9-1 Salmon Arm at the midway mark but finished 14-13 Silverbacks. Both goaltenders were good

- Including the preseason, the Snakes are 1-3-0-0 vs Salmon Arm

- Toms Trockis was stopped on a 1st period breakaway

- After the first ten minutes of the 1st period, I really liked the Snakes defence. I thought the defence who was back on their heels and getting beat to the puck early in the hockey game, quickly turned around their game and played much much better for the remainder of the contest

- Including the preseason, the Vipers are 3-4-0-0

- Tommy Karmiris gave Vernon an early 2-0 lead at 0:21 of the 2nd period ended up being the game winning goal in a period where the Apes had a little more edge in play in the first half before the Vipers were the better team in the second half. The Snakes with two goals in the middle frame, took a 3-0 lead into the 3rd

- Since the 2003-04 regular season, the Vipers are 79-60-16-1-4 vs the Silverbacks

- Alexander Eklof was stopped on a 1st period penalty shot

- After getting outplayed for the first half to start the game, give the Vipers credit for battling back and turning the game around 

- No captain this year? 

- The Vipers were the better of the two teams in the final two periods

- With a 3-0 lead heading into the 3rd, Vernon come out strong and never took their foot off the gas as the Vipers dominated the 3rd period. The Snakes were strong on the forecheck, winning a lot of the battles/races, strong defensively, took away time and space, didn't give up a shot on goal for lengthy periods of time, kept the game simple but also never stopped skating or competing 

- These two teams meet again next weekend as the Silverbacks are in Vernon next Saturday

- Kason Kobelka made his Vipers debut in goal tonight

- If you include the preseason, Vernon has won three of their last four games

- The Snakes PK was very good

- I know its early but I like the looks of this years Vipers

- Cole Ellis dropped the gloves with Koen Senft in the 3rd period

- I liked Vernon's compete and strong forecheck as the game went on

- Since the Silverbacks joined the league in 2001 I have been to every Vipers game in Salmon Arm except two games

- Tonight's the third and final game of a three game road trip

- The Snakes couldn't make a pass early to start the game but as the game continued there passing improved and got much better

- The Vipers and Silverbacks have played each other four times in the past three weeks

- With the win, Vernon improves to 2-1-0-0 sit 1st in the Interior West Division

Salmon Arm Silverbacks Top Performers:

Ethan Facchina I thought had a very strong 1st period. This kid can skate and move the puck up ice in a hurry, gave the Vipers all kinds of troubles early to start the hockey game

Chase Campbell (1 assist) A big kid that can also skate, had a strong 1st period as well

Quinn Kipfer Not the biggest kid but quick on his feet, looked good through out the game

Cohen Hoening Played with a lot of jump/energy, rang a shot off the crossbar in the 1st period

Noah Mavin (26 saves) Saw one shot in the first half of the 1st period but would be tested in the second half of the opening frame and again in the 3rd period. You couldn't put the blame on the S'Backs goaltender, kept his team within a couple of goals or the Vipers could have had a couple of more on the scoreboard

Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks

- Tonight's the third game of a three game home stand

- Salmon Arm went 0-3 on the power play

- The S'Backs jumped on Vernon early and often as Salmon Arm was by far the better of the two teams to start tonight's hockey game. The Apes carried and controlled the first half of the opening period. The Silverbacks had a ton of puck possession, zone time, were aggressive on the forecheck, winning the battles/races and getting pucks to the net. SA couldn't find the back of the net before the Snakes quickly turned the game around and were the better team in the second half

- Salmon Arm's next game is Saturday in Prince George

- The Silverbacks come into tonight with a 5-0 record if you include the preseason

- The Gorillas give up an early goal just twenty one seconds into the 2nd period, can't get the offence going in a period where they had the edge in play in the first half. SA falls behind 3-0 and couldn't recover as Vernon was the better team in the second half

- Tonight's attendance was announced at 874

- The Silverbacks have a good transition game but quick skating in the 2nd and 3rd periods

- The Silverbacks play four of their next six games on the road

- I think if the Apes open the scoring or put a couple past Kason Kobelka early in the 1st, this is a different hockey game 

- Cohen Hoening hit the crossbar in the 1st period

- A disappointing crowd tonight, especially with the Silverbacks strong start to the season

- SA played no where near sixty minutes and were a completely different team then the team I saw beat Vernon on opening night last weekend

- Down 3-0 heading into the 3rd, the Backs couldn't get anything going, were badly outplayed as the Vipers dominated the 3rd period. The Snakes carried and controlled the entire period, played very well at both ends of the rink. Salmon Arm was chasing the puck, losing a lot of battles, went lengthy periods of time without a shot on goal, struggled offensively and didn't play well defensively

- Kown Senft dropped the gloves in the 3rd period with Cole Ellis

- With the loss, Salmon Arm falls to 2-1-0-0 sits 2nd in the Interior West Division

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Jude Martin

Aaron Zulinick

Roman Lavery

Salmon Arm Silverbacks:

Tate O'Brien

Ville Oksanen

Matthew Dabrowski

Mikkel Christensen

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Vernon Vipers @ Salmon Arm Silverbacks Friday, September 25, 2026 | BCHL League Site

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