I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following Junior hockey in Vernon my whole life. My family watched Senior men's hockey in Vernon in the 1950's and has been watching Junior hockey in Vernon since it started in 1961. I have two family members that played Junior hockey in Vernon. I have had season tickets since 1990 and missed 5 home games since 2004 and 46 home games since 1990. I started and created this blog in November 2008 and have over 2.6 million viewers. For anyone who couldn't watch or attend tonight's Vipers game, here are my thoughts and views from tonight's hockey game. You may agree or disagree, but we all have our own opinion on the hockey game and see things differently. I try to be professional and give a fare game recap from both sides. Thank you for visiting my blog.
I was at tonight's Vernon Vipers-Prince George Spruce Kings game as the Vipers defeated the Spruce Kings 6-2 in front of 2,492 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Colin Reay
Prince George Spruce Kings: Ryan Sanborn
2nd Period: The Vipers re-grouped and played a much better 2nd period, were the better team. Vernon carried the better of the play, had more zone time and more chances. The Snakes got their legs going and saw a lot more time in the offensive zone. A penalty filled period with the Vipers scoring twice on the man advantage. Owen Kim rang a shot off the post on the PP. The Spruce Kings got into penalty trouble and it cost them, giving up two power play goals. Prince George wasn't the same team we saw in the opening frame, didn't generate a whole lot of offence, saw more time in their own end and forced on the penalty kill often. Linden Makow rang a shot off the crossbar on the man advantage. It was 4-1 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. The Spruce Kings outshot the Vipers 11-9.
3rd Period: The Snakes would put the game away early, grabbing a 5-1 lead 0:54 into the final frame. Another good period by the hometown Vipers who were the better of the two teams. Vernon carried the better of the play, had more time in the offensive zone, created/generated chances. Just before the halfway mark PG switched goaltenders. Ryan Sanborn stopped fifteen of twenty Vernon shots was replaced by Marcus Ouellet who finished the hockey game. The Spruce Kings down 5-1 early into the period, didn't have much left in the tank, went several minutes without a shot on goal and then again several minutes with only one shot on goal. Prince George was chasing pucks and didn't see much time in the offensive zone. After a 4-0 loss in Penticton Friday, the Spruce Kings looked tired. Another penalty filled period. Vipers won 6-2. Prince George outshot Vernon 12-7.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Georgios Stavrianeas (4 assists) Played a heck of a hockey game, collecting four points. This kid has really impressed me in his first season with the Snakes. Always ready and willing to play, always skating, plays hard/competes every shift and plays with a lot of jump/energy, hard in on forechecks, hard in on backchecks and battles everyshift. One of the hardest working kids.
Payton Struck (1 assist) I thought played fairly well for most of the evening. Almost scored a highlight reel goal in the 2nd period but was denied in close on a big stop from Ryan Sanborn.
Connor Elliott (1 goal & 1 assist) The Coldstream product and Viper captain played very well in the victory.
Colin Reay (28 saves) Making just his second start in the last eleven games, Reay was forced to make some big/key saves in the 1st period with the Spruce Kings pressing. If Reay isn't on his game or gives up a couple of goals in that opening period, PG has a lead heading into the 2nd period and maybe this is a different hockey game? Reay didn't see a ton of action in the 2nd and 3rd periods.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- Tonight was the Vipers fourth game of a four game home stand
- The Vipers got off to a slow start, didn't play or look good in the 1st period
- The Snakes are 2-0-0-0 vs the Spruce Kings this season
- The Vipers are seven points behind Division leading Penticton Vees
- Vernon's next game is Friday in Trail
- After a slow start and not a great 1st period, the Vipers re-grouped and played much better in the 2nd and 3rd periods
- The Snakes went 3-6 on the power play
- Vipers forward Luke Pakulak returned to the lineup after being out with an injury
- Vernon got some of the bounces and puck luck tonight
- The Vipers & Spruce Kings will meet again February 23rd in Prince George
- A large crowd tonight. Tonight's attendance was announced at 2,492
- Lots of penalties tonight as both teams took lots of penalties
- The Vipers are 8-2-1-0 at Kal Tire Place this season
- Vernon has outscored Prince George 14-2 in two games this season
- Vipers Assistant Coach Colton Sparrow wasn't behind the bench this evening
- Vipers attendance has been great this year! Lots of big crowds
- The Snakes went 3-3-0-1 vs Prince George last season
- I thought the Viper power play was much better tonight, scored three times with the man advantage
- The Snakes were wearing their yellow alternate jerseys tonight
- Problems with the goal lights behind one of the nets forced the remainder of the game to be played with no goal lights at one end of the rink
- Vernon is one point ahead of 3rd place West Kelowna
- The Vipers went 1-1-0-1 at home vs Prince George last season
- Vernon has won three of their last five games and seven of their last ten games
- The Snakes are the third highest scoring team with 96 goals
- Vernon has won four straight games vs PG
- The Vipers play three of their next four games on the road
- Vipers forward Owen Kim hit the post on a Vernon power play in the 2nd period
- Vipers Assistant Coach Lukas Lomicky was an Assistant Coach with the Spruce Kings from 2020-2022 before joining the Vipers last season
- With the win, Vernon improves to 16-6-1-0 sit 2nd in the Interior Division
Prince George Spruce Kings Top Performers:
Max Ranstrom (1 goal) Played very well on the Spruce Kings blueline. This kid can skate, move the puck and has a heck of a shot
Kai Greaves (2 assists) Was another Prince George defender that played well/looked good on the backend
Game Thought's: Prince George Spruce Kings
- The Spruce Kings went 0-4 with the man advantage
- Prince George is playing back to back nights, while Vernon didn't play on Friday
- The Spruce Kings got off to a good start, played a good opening 1st period
- Tonight was the second of four regular season visits to Vernon
- For a team that played last night, the Spruce Kings played very well and looked good in the 1st period. If PG was able to capitalize on a couple of their opportunities in that opening frame, this could have been a different hockey game
- The last time PG was in Vernon, the Vipers won 8-0 November 3rd
- Tonight's the second game of a four game road trip
- Prince George took way too many penalties, gave up two 2nd period power play goals and one more in the 3rd
- The Spruce Kings next game is Friday in Cranbrook
- The Spruce Kings weren't the same team after the 1st period, were outplayed in the 2nd and 3rd periods
- The Spruce Kings were wearing their black with red stripes alternate jerseys tonight
- PG has only one win away from home are 1-10-1-0 on the road this season
- The Spruce Kings & Vipers play eight times this season
- The Spruce Kings switched goaltenders in the 3rd period. Ryan Sanborn stopped fifteen of twenty Viper shots was replaced by Marcus Ouellet
- Tonight's game got a little chippy/scrappy at times through out the contest
- The Spruce Kings have lost three of their last five games and six of their last ten games
- Prince George has lost seven straight road games
- I thought PG was the more physical team
- Spruce Kings forward Linden Makow rang a shot off the crossbar on a 2nd period power play
- With the loss, Prince George falls to 7-13-3-0 sit last in the Interior Division
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Noah Dorey (Injured)
Julian Facchinelli (Injured)
Owen King (Injured)
Isaac Fecteau (Injured)
Hank Cleaves (Injured)
Prince George Spruce Kings:
Markus Yim
Trent Ballentyne
Ben LeFranc
Kazumo Sasaki
Markus Lam
Energy Player of the Game:
Shea Busch (1 goal & 1 assist)
Three Star's:
1st Star: Georgios Stavrianeas (4 assists)
2nd Star: Isaac Tremblay (2 goals & 1 assist)
3rd Star: Connor Elliott (1 goal & 1 assist)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
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