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 6-2 in front of 1000 fans at Rogers Rink.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Samuel DiBlasi
Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Noah Mavin
2nd Period: The Snakes were once again the better of the two teams as Vernon dominated the middle frame for a second straight period. The visiting Vipers carried and controlled most of the play. Vernon had a lot of puck possession, a lot of time in the offensive zone, were again aggressive on the forecheck, were in on the Salmon Arm defence, creating havoc down low. The Vipers created/and generated lots of quality chances could only find the back of the net once. The Snakes looked to score late to take a 4-2 lead on the power play, but the officials gathered to discuss the play and waived the goal off due to the Vipers being offside. Mykolas Skadauskas couldn't capitalize on the penalty shot, while Alexander Eklof was denied on a breakaway. Salmon Arm was again chasing the puck and the Vipers for a lot of the 2nd period, but this time around did manage a little more puck possession and zone time in and around the half way mark. The Apes did have several good hard working shifts, had the Vipers back on their heels for bit but couldn't capitalize. Chase Campbell somehow missed a wide open cage, that would have tied the hockey game. Both goaltenders played well but again Noah Mavin kept Salmon Arm in the period. It was 3-2 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. Shots were 11-11.
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3rd Period: For the first time this evening, this was a little more even played period. With the hometown Silverbacks down 3-2 heading into the final frame, SA pushed back and played their best hockey of the period. The play was fairly even with both teams going back and fourth. Josh Denes with his second of the night, on the man advantage gave Vernon a two goal lead. Samuel DiBlasi who wasn't tested much in the first two periods, was forced to make three large saves shortly after the Vipers took a 4-2 lead. DiBlasi was solid between the pipes down the stretch. The Vipers played well defensively while SA wasn't getting any puck luck or bounces go their way. The Vipers would get two late goals to blow the game wide open. The Vipers come away with the 6-2 victory. Shots were 15-11 Salmon Arm.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Tommy Karmiris (2 assists) I thought played a fiesty/competitive hockey game. Donny Sisson was in the face and under the skin of Karmiris in the 3rd as the two were going back and fourth at each other. A couple of Vipers had to try and settle Karmiris down. I liked his energy and emotion through out the game
Jed Lake (1 assist) Was impressed with his play in the win. Lake played with a ton of jump/energy, was skating hard, carried the play into the offensive zone, was making plays through out the game
Brayden Pankey Played a good game on Vernon's blueline
Ryan Fairbairn (1 goal & 1 assist) Was another defenceman that played very well at both ends of the rink. Blocked a couple of shots, was under the skin of a couple of Silverbacks
Josh Denes (2 goals & 1 assist) Had a strong game for the Vipers on the road. Denes scored the game winner on the PP in the 3rd period and then again on the PP in the 3rd to give the Snakes a 4-2 lead
Will Johnson (2 goals) Has really come on as of late and playing very well and with loads of confidence. Scoring twice, played a strong game up front
Luca Pura (1 assist) Is another kid that has really come along and playing very well. Pura played very well, was strong on the forecheck, played hard along the wall
Samuel DiBlasi (30 saves) Wasn't tested often in the first two periods, was forced to make some big saves in the 3rd with the Apes pressing. DiBlasi didn't impress me during the preseason, has played very well during the regular season. DiBlasi allowed a couple of soft goals in the loss on Tuesday to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, responded tonight with a solid game
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- Including the preseason this is the sixth meeting of the season vs the Silverbacks
- The Vipers have at least a point in nine straight games
- The Snakes are 3-1-0-0 vs Salmon Arm
- Vernon come prepared to play and totally dominated the 1st period. It was all Vipers as the outskated and outplayed the Silverbacks the entire period. The Snakes carried and controlled most of the period, were skating circles around the hometown S'Backs. Vernon looked very very good, had loads of puck possession, a ton of zone time, were generating & creating loads of good looks & quality chances, should have had about four or five goals if it wasn't for the strong goaltending of Noah Mavin
- Tonight was the third and final game of a three game road trip
- The Vipers went 2-3 with the power play
- The Snakes are getting scoring from almost everyone. It seems like when their top players aren't scoring, other players are stepping up
- This was the best and most complete game I have seen the Vipers play this season
- How good are the Snakes? This team is fun to watch and very exciting/entertaining this season
- The Vipers next game is Saturday vs the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks
- The Snakes once again dominated the 2nd period in a period where they were the better team. Vernon again, carried and controlled the play for most of the period. The visiting Vipers had a ton of puck possession, zone time, were generating/creating opportunities, were aggressive on the forecheck
- Mykolas Skadauskas was stopped on a 2nd period penalty shot
- Since the 2003-04 regular season, the Vipers are 81-60-16-1-4 vs Salmon Arm
- The Vipers are very quick, have a strong transition game
- The Vipers have won four of their last five games and eight of their last ten games
- Vernon is 3-1-1-0 on the road
- After dominating the first two periods, both teams were fairly even in the 3rd period as both teams went back and fourth. Samuel DiBlasi had to be sharp, made several big stops in a one goal game. Vernon played well defensively, found the back of the three times to blow the game open
- The Snakes are in 1st place overall in league standings
- Oliver Kiraly has joined the Vipers, was the backup goaltender tonight
- I can't believe how many times we play Salmon Arm so early in the season. If you include the preseason, the Vipers have played fourteen games and have played Salmon Arm & West Kelowna nine times
- I spotted a small group of Vipers fans in attendance
- All four of Vernon's lines competed and contributed in the win tonight. This was a complete team effort
- The Vipers are 7-0 leading after two periods
- This is by far the Vipers best start to a regular season since ownership purchased the team in 2018
- The Snakes could have easily blown this game open in the 1st period but Noah Mavin kept the Silverbacks in the game. Vernon was by far the better team. Salmon Arm had no business being in tonight's game and heavily relied on their goaltender to keep them in the game
- The Vipers did a good job at shutting down Salmon Arm's offence
- With the win, Vernon improves to 8-1-1-0 sit 1st overall in league standings
Salmon Arm Silverbacks Top Performers:
Noah Mavin (34 saves) Was the only player that stood out for the Silverbacks. Mavin was the difference and gave the Gorillas a chance to stay in the hockey game as this game should have been over after one period. Mavin was solid in net, giving his team a chance to hang around and keep the game close until the Vipers blew the game open late in the 3rd
Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks
- The Silverbacks are 4-2-0-0 at home
- The Gorillas have lost three of their last five games and are 5-4-1-0 in their last ten games
- The 1st period was all Vernon as the Snakes outplayed and outskated Salmon Arm the entire period. The S'Backs spent most of the period in their own end, chasing the puck and the Vipers. The Silverbacks struggled offensively only managed six shots on goal, but were able to find the back of the net twice. Noah Mavin kept the Backs in the hockey game or the Vipers could have easily had four or five goals
- Salmon Arm's next game is Saturday in Vernon
- Tonight's attendance was announced at 1000
- The Silverbacks play their next four games on the road
- The 2nd period was once again all Vipers as the Snakes once again dominated the period. Salmon Arm was chasing the puck & the Vipers, struggled offensively, were able to get more shots on goal but unable to find the back of the net. The Apes were finally able to gain some puck possession and had several hard working shifts and gain some zone time for the first time in the hockey game. Chase Campbell somehow missed a wide open net. SA couldn't seem to get much of anything going in the first two periods
- The Silverbacks went 1-3 with the man advantage
- The Silverbacks two losses at home have both been to the Vernon Vipers
- The Apes didn't get the bounces or puck luck go there way this evening
- Down 3-2 heading into the 3rd, Salmon Arm played their best hockey of the night as both teams were pretty even in the 3rd period. The Backs got lots of pucks to the net, couldn't solve Samuel DiBlasi who was solid between the pipes. The Silverbacks generated/created some very good looks/chances, couldn't capitalize
- The Silverbacks & Vipers meet seven times during the regular season
- The score after two periods was way closer then the actually hockey game. The Silverbacks had no business being in tonight's game only because their goaltender kept them in the contest
- With the loss, Salmon Arm falls to 5-4-1-0 sits 3rd in the Interior West Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers
Jude Martin
Aaron Zulinick
Roman Lavery
Salmon Arm Silverbacks:
Logan Keup
Antonio Cazac
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Vernon Junior Hockey History,
1 comment:
I drove to Salmon Arm tonight to watch a real good hockey game between the Vipers & Silverbacks. The Vipers dominated the first two periods and the 3rd period was pretty evenly played but the Vipers had a little better edge of the game still and scored three goals. DiBlasi had a big comeback game after taking the loss at the Showcase vs Alberni Valley.
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