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 Silverbacks won 8-4 in front of a small crowd at Rogers Rink. (No attendance announced)
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Lane Maarhuis
Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Kasey Fuson
1st Period: I thought both teams were pretty even for most of the opening frame. The Vipers got off to a good start, with some early forecheck and pressure in the offensive zone. I thought Salmon Arm was the better team in the first half, had a little more edge in play, had a little more zone time, more puck possession and had the better of the opportunities. The Apes looked to even the score at 2-2 but the goal was waived off with no explanation. Richard Wonyeneh was stopped on a penalty shot. The Snakes were the better team in the second half, had more puck possession, more time in the offensive zone and the better of the scoring chances. Both goaltenders played well, both made a couple of strong saves. It was 2-1 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. Shots were 15-9 Silverbacks.
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2nd Period: The hometown Silverbacks were by far the better team as the Gorillas carried and controlled most of the play for most of the period. SA was skating hard, moving the puck, had loads of puck possession and sustained pressure in the offensive zone. The Backs created/generated a ton of chances in the middle frame. The Vipers looked like a different team, compred to the team I saw play in the 1st. Vernon was back on their heels, struggled defensively, were sluggish, had trouble moving the puck and getting out of their own end. The Snakes also struggled offensively, generating little to no opportunities with no real offensive pressure. Lane Maarhuis played well in goal before Jack Carter replaced Maarhuis who allowed two goals on twenty one shots. Tate O'Brien and Van Martin dropped the gloves late in the period. The S'Backs potted two late goals to grab their first lead of the evening. It was 4-2 Salmon Arm after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 10-6 Silverbacks.
3rd Period: The Apes basically put the game away with two early goals as it was all SA for a second straight period. The Silverbacks once again were by far the better of the two teams, carried and controlled the period. The S'Backs scored four goals to blow the game wide open. Salmon Arm was just much better overall and it showed in their play. The Silverbacks were really flying, moving the puck, creating & generating a ton of chances, getting pucks to the net but also capitalizing on those opportunities. The Gorillas were going hard to the net, fighting/looking for pucks and come up with them, some resulting in goals. SA played with a lot of jump/energy and just outworked the Snakes for most of the period. Vernon for a second straight period looked slow, had troubles getting the puck out of their own end and keeping the puck out of their goal. The visiting Vipers were being beat to pucks, beat along the boards and losing most battles along the wall or in front of the goal. Jack Carter was hung out to dry on a couple of 3rd period goals. Not a great period for a team that was ahead 2-1 after one period. The Silverbacks would come away with the 8-4 victory. Shots were 9-7 Salmon Arm.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Lane Maarhuis (19 saves) I thought struggled a bit early but settled down as the game went on. Maarhuis started in goal before being replaced by Jack Carter with about 8 minutes remaining in the 2nd period.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- The Vipers & Silverbacks will play again Friday in Vernon
- The Vipers dressed three returning players (Oscar Bjork, Lane Maarhuis & Toms Trockis)
- Vernon went 0-6 with the power play
- I really liked the Snakes 1st period. I thought both teams were fairly even but Vernon was the better team in the second half, played with a lot of jump & energy, were getting in on the forecheck, winning battles, getting some pressure in the attacking zone, opened the scoring and held a 2-1 lead heading into the 2nd period
- Spotted a few Vipers fans in attendance
- The Snakes look to have six players returning from last season
- I noticed the Vipers released three players and added two players to their roster today
- Was disappointed in the Silverbacks for not having any lineup sheets available tonight
- Lane Maarhuis stopped Richard Wonyeneh on a 1st period penalty shot
- The Vipers wore their 3rd jerseys from last season
- I don't know what happened between periods but after a great 1st period, Vernon didn't look so good in the 2nd period. The Vipers were outworked, outskated and outplayed for most of the middle frame. Lane Maarhuis made a couple of saves, keeping the score close as the Vipers couldn't do much of anything. Looked slow/sluggish, had trouble moving the puck, coming out of their own end and generating any kind of offence
- The Vipers are 0-2-0-0 on the road this preseason
- Toms Trockis I thought looked good and played very well in the 1st period stood out at different times through out the hockey game
- Vernon's PP struggled, had lots of opportunities but couldn't capitalize with the man advantage
- The Vipers have two exhibition games remaining before opening the 2026-27 regular season in Salmon Arm September 18th
- Lane Maarhuis played well in goal but otherwise the three other goaltenders I saw play haven't impressed me so far. I get they have each only played half a game and it's the preseason but should the Snakes be worried and start looking for another goaltender?
- Down 4-2 heading into the 3rd no pushback what so ever. The Snakes gave up two quick early goals to start the 3rd were now down 6-2 and the games basically over. Another poor period. Again the Vipers were just outworked, outskated and outplayed for most of the 3rd period, almost a carbon copy of the 2nd period. Again Vernon looked slow, had trouble moving the puck, were losing the battles and didn't get many saves in the 3rd
- The Vipers next game is Friday vs the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks
- The Vipers looked to dress seven players who played in Monday's loss in West Kelowna
- Other then a couple of players, I haven't been too impressed in the two games I have seen
- With the loss, Vernon falls to 0-2-0-0 in the preseason
Salmon Arm Silverbacks Top Performers:
Kees de Jager (2 assists) I thought played well on the backend. Moves the puck well, plays well at both ends of the rink
Jared Rothman Caught my attention, was one of the more consistent forwards in the lineup. Rothman was all over the ice, involved and engaged with the play, has some wheels, can skate and move the puck up ice, was always involved in and around the net
Alexis Beaulieu (3 goals) Was hard to contain/hard to defend, looked very good
Richard Wonyeneh (1 assist) Was stopped on a 1st period penalty shot, impressed me with his hard work, played with a lot of jump/energy, was engaged, played with an edge, was involved after the whistle
Cash Olson (2 goals) Was another forward who played very well, never stopped skating, always involved in the play, seemed to always be in the right place at the right time
Kasey Fuson (18 saves) Wasn't tested much but did come up with a couple of big saves through out the contest. I thought looked calm, played his position, didn't let out any real big rebounds. The league website got Salmon Arm's starting goaltenders wrong tonight.
Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks
- Tonight was Salmon Arm's first of three exhibition games
- The Silverbacks were by far the better team tonight
- Tonight's attendance wasn't announced but a very small crowd on hand for the teams first preseason game
- Salmon Arm was the better team in the first half of the 1st period in a period where both teams were fairly even. The Silverbacks were getting pucks to the net, generated several opportunities but only managed one goal. Richard Wonyeneh was denied on a penalty shot and the Apes looked to even the score but their second goal was waived off with no explination from the PA announcer. The Backs played with a lot of jump/energy, were skating, moving the puck, looked good this period
- It looks like the Silverbacks have eleven players returning from last season
- The Silverbacks went 3-3 with the man advantage
- Salmon Arm's next game is Wednesday vs the visiting West Kelowna Warriors
- Down 2-1 heading into the 2nd period, the Gorillas scored three 2nd period goals to take a 4-2 lead into the 3rd. SA was by far the better team in the middle frame, outskated, outworked and outplayed Vernon for most of the period. The S'Backs have the Vipers back on their heels, hemmed in their own end on different occassions
- The Apes have a pretty fast team that can move the puck up ice, play with a lot of energy and were consistent for all three periods
- The Silverbacks PK was very good, killing off all six minors, got a couple of big stops from their goaltender
- The Silverbacks went 4-1-2-0 vs Vernon last season
- The Silverbacks didn't have any rosters/lineup sheets available tonight
- The Apes scored two quick early 3rd period goals to basically put the game away in a 3rd period which they carried and controlled most of the play. SA for a second straight period outskated, outworked and outplayed the Snakes for most of the period. The Backs had lots of sustained pressure and generated lots of opportunities but also capitalized on those opportunities
- With the win, Salmon Arm improves to 1-0-0-0 in the preseason
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
No scratches were announced
Salmon Arm Silverbacks:
No scratches were announced
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Vernon Vipers @ Salmon Arm Silverbacks Tuesday, September 08, 2026 | BCHL League Site
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Official statistics powered by LeagueStat.com
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
6 comments:
I went to the Vipers game in Salmon Arm tonight. I was disappointed that they didn't have a line up sheet so I could follow the teams/players. With all new players and no names on the jerseys it's hard to know who's who. I thought it was a very entertaining 1st period, fairly even played but I believe the Vipers had just a little better of the play. Then in the 2nd period SA came out very strong and managed to take the play over and never gave up. Vipers were on their heels in the 2nd and 3rd periods. The Vipers biggest problem I believe is goaltending. It struggled tonight even knowing these players are not on the permanent roster yet, they still need to work on playing better defensively. Go Vipers Go!
Wow 8-4
Mark Ferner a strong believer in defence first had his proof in the pudding winning RBC cups. It’s still early in the season so let’s wait and see what’s Cookin
WTF is with this team? They better get it together real quick or it will be another year of garbage hockey. Maybe the Vipers should try drop down into the old KIJHL league. I realize this is only 2 exhibition games in but it is starting to look the same as the past 5 years.
Hopefullly we can do a little old school and settled on some players and develop improvement on there skills and actually have a team as fans we can get to know and see how they have improved rather than the revolving door of players as of last year. Because if it is no more than a revolving door what is the point of fans showing up as growth of a team for the viper fans will be no more than a joke
Vipers had an opportunity last year
To build a team to carry them into this year. My understanding was he planned on having a “young” team and released several players who likely would have been assets this year if not released so early. Then released the young guys and tried to rebuild the team too late. I think he’ll be able to pick up some late CHL 20 year olds that should strengthen the group. But at some point they need to just rebuild. There should have been more returners this year. He’s basically starting from scratch again.
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