I was at the Vernon Vipers home opener between the Vipers & Grizzlies as Victoria defeated Vernon 5-1 in front of 2,055 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon: Max Palaga
Victoria: Joe Howe
Before tonight's Vipers home opener, the Vipers introduced the 2019-20 Vernon Vipers player by player.
1st Period: The Vipers with a quick jump off the opening puck drop. Just thirty eight seconds into the opening frame, Cameron MacDonald lead Vernon on a two on one with Vipers captain Connor Marritt. MacDonald decided to keep and shoot, forcing Joe Howe into making an early stop off the odd man rush. Less then a minute later, Vernon product Colby Feist lead another odd man rush, went down the right wing on a partial breakaway, forced Joe Howe to make another stop, as the Snakes with a quick 3-0 lead. The Grizzlies would get the games first power play, about a minute and a half into the 1st period. Logan Cash blocked a shot, went down to the ice immediately and looked to be in serious pain. Cash was having all kinds of troubles getting to his feet, looked to have trouble putting any weight on his one knee. With the Grizzlies in control of the play, Cash was actually lying on the ice at one point, before slowly getting up, but struggled to get off the ice with the play in the Vipers zone. Cash and the Vipers finally were able to clear the zone and make a line change. Cash seemed to be ok and stayed in the contest. Victoria struggled with the man advantage, couldn't get a shot on the PP as the Snakes killed off the minor. Shortly after Isack Bandhu with a quick shot from the slot, forced former Western Hockey League goaltender Max Palaga into making a stop on a good chance for the Grizzlies. On a quick turn around, Connor Marritt lead the attack, ripped a laser of a shot from the top of the circle, beating Joe Howe top shelf giving Vernon a 1-0 lead at 5:29 Marritt's goal was unassisted. Less then two minutes later Edward Yan spotted Darwin Lakoduk with a quick pass, ripped a quick shot past Max Palaga tying the game 1-1 at 7:09 Yan & Reid Lindsay collected the assists. Just before the halfway mark, Brendan Bowie left alone at the circle, ripped a quick shot forcing Max Palaga into making a tough save, keeping this game tied. Vernon was outshooting Victoria 6-2 at one point, now it was 7-6 for the visiting Grizzlies. Late in the period the Vipers would get caught standing around in there own end. Bryce Anderson would be stopped in close, before Brendan Bowie buried the rebound, five hole on Max Palaga, giving Victoria a 2-1 lead at 18:07 Anderson & Andrew Amousse picked up the helpers. Twenty three seconds later, Nico Somerville sprung Cody Monds in for the breakaway, while Marty Westhaver also got in behind the Vernon defence. The two were in all alone, Monds setup Westhaver giving Victoria a 3-1 lead at 18:30 on a defensive breakdown for the Snakes. Monds and Somerville drew the assists. Inside the final minute, Ben Helgeson with a quality chance in close couldn't solve Joe Howe with about fourty two seconds left. The Vipers would get there first look with the power play in the dying seconds, but run out of time before the final buzzer. It was 3-1 for Victoria after 20 minutes of play. I like the Vipers start. I thought Vernon was quick off the opening draw, moving the puck quick, had two odd man rushes within the opening minute. The Snakes opened the scoring and looked good for most of the first half. I thought the Vipers had a slight edge in play in the first half. The Grizzlies gave up the opening goal, but returned the favour with a good push back, to tie the game less then two minutes later. Victoria didn't get off to the start they wanted, but got better as the period went on. I thought the Grizz looked good at times but then didn't look that good at other times. Victoria would outshot 6-2 at one point, before rallying back with several strong shifts, to grab a 7-6 lead in shots. The Grizzlies looked good in the second half, had a slight edge in play, were moving the puck quick up ice, catching the Viper defence napping on several plays. The Grizz looking for that long stretch pass, were getting the forwards up and in behind the Snakes defence often. At times the Vipers looked good and at times the Grizzlies looked good. Overall I would say both teams were fairly even. Victoria outshot Vernon 13-12.
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2nd Period: The Snakes started the middle frame on the man advantage, that was carried over from the 1st period. Vernon struggled and had all kinds of troubles getting out of there own end. The Vipers looked very sloppy and disorganized on the PP unable to get through the neutral zone as Victoria killed off the minor. Shortly after killing off the penalty, the Grizzlies tried springing Chase McInnis in for the breakaway who would lose control of the puck, before Vernon's defence quickly got back into play. The visiting Victoria Grizzlies carried a lot of the play but had troubles getting pucks to the net. At one point the Grizzlies went at least seven or eight minutes with no shots. Victoria had just one shot on goal in the first nine minutes. Just before the midway mark, off an offensive zone faceoff, a quick shot off the draw forced Vernon Vipers starting goaltender Max Palaga into making a tough save in close. Palaga was forced to flash the leather, just able to get a piece of the shot with his glove, on a large stop. On the following play/shift the Grizzlies would get their second PP of the evening. The Grizz with just one shot couldn't capitalize with the man advantage. Shortly after Stephen Konroyd was sent in for the breakaway, would be denied by Max Palaga. Shortly after Victoria went back to the power play. Shorthanded Christian Felton was able to find some room, move the puck up ice in a hurry, would come close to getting an odd man rush, before Nico Somerville with a solid defensive play, broke up Felton and the Vipers opportunity. The Snakes were able to escape and kill off the minor. Towards the end of the period the games lone scrum took place, deep in the Vipers zone with everyone getting involved in a little pushing and shoving. Jackson Caller & Connor Eddy both went to the sin bin for roughing. It was 3-1 Victoria after 40 minutes of play. This was not a good period for the Vipers who struggled. Vernon with a great opportunity to get back in the game, started the frame on the PP struggled with the man advantage. The Snakes were outplayed most of the 2nd period, saw a lot of the action inside their own blueline. The Vipers defence struggled, were being caught out of position often. The Vipers turned over the puck way too many times. Victoria carried most of the play, but didn't get many pucks towards the goal. The Grizzlies had lots of zone time, with very little shots and just one or two quality chances. The Grizzlies were by far the better team outplayed the Vipers most of the period. The Grizzlies with a very lively bench this period, lots of chatter coming from Victoria's bench. Shots were 8-7 for Victoria.
3rd Period: Off the opening puck drop, Ben Sanderson with a burst of speed, was able to get in close, drove hard towards the goal ended up being stopped by Victoria Grizzlies starting goaltender Joe Howe. The Vipers with a strong opening shift, had some looks early. Just over three minutes in, on a play where it looked like a Viper defenceman was hauled down, the play continued allowing Stephen Konroyd all the time in the world to beat Max Palaga on the wrap around, giving Victoria a commanding 4-1 lead at 3:02 Konroyd's goal was unassisted. I don't know what Max Palaga was doing, but it looked to me as if he was caught looking for the puck or lost sight of the puck. Palaga also could have been saying something towards the referee on the non call, because Konroyd went behind the Viper goal, wrapped the puck around and into the open cage before Palaga was even close to getting across the blue paint. This was a back breaker, as Vernon was now down three goals. The Vipers responded with a strong push back shift. Connor Marritt took the puck off the following faceoff, would be stopped by Joe Howe who made a big stop and keeping the Snakes within three goals. If Marritt scores here, maybe this changes the momentum. Shortly after the Vipers get an early power play, just there second of the hockey game. The Vipers with all kinds of looks, forced Joe Howe into making some big stops or either just fired wide, missing the net by not much. With about twenty seconds left on the PP Victoria would go down two men, sending Vernon to a shortened two man advantage. The Snakes with a ton of pressure, had some good looks and some chances in close once again couldn't beat Joe Howe as Victoria gets some solid goaltending and manages to kill off both minor's. Shortly after the Vipers come right back on an odd man rush, and once again Joe Howe was able to get across the blue paint, to make a large save, keeping this a three goal game. Into the second half on an odd man rush, Brendan Bowie setup Bryce Anderson on a nice give and go down low, giving Victoria a commanding 5-1 lead at 13:22 Bowie with the lone assist. Viper fans had seen enough, as fans slowly started making there way to the exists. Minutes later Vernon would get a late power play to end the period. The Snakes had some looks also missed the net from in close as the Grizzlies killed off the minor just seconds before the final buzzer. Victoria would spoil the Vipers home opener after a 5-1 victory. The Snakes carried the play and most of the play, had a ton of quality looks/opportunities but either missed the net or couldn't solve Grizzlies goaltender Joe Howe. The Grizzlies played most of the final frame in there own end, heavily relied on there netminder to bail them out. Victoria didn't see much time with the puck or get much offensive zone time. It seemed like when the Grizzlies did manage to get into the offensive zone, they scored. I thought Vernon played hard and well had a big mountain to climb down four goals. The Snakes also didn't get any puck luck or catch any breaks in and around the net. The Vipers were by far the better team but couldn't capitalize on there opportunities. The Snakes needed to capitalize on at least two of there power plays this period, to try and get them back in the hockey game. Give credit to Joe Howe for playing very well down the stretch. Vernon outshot Victoria 22-10.
Top Player's: (Vernon)
Matt Kowalski From Vernon is playing in his sixth BCHL season, second with the Vipers was one of if not the most consistent Viper in the loss. Played with a ton of jump/energy, was buzzing on almost every shift, had several good looks/opportunities, couldn't find the back of the net. Even though he didn't get on the score sheet, I really liked his game tonight.
Ben Sanderson Was another Viper forward who stood out and I thought played fairly well in the loss. Returning for a second season, I thought had some quality chances, was skating, played hard just couldn't capitalize on his opportunities.
Colby Feist Played a heck of a 1st period but as the game went on I didn't see him on the ice for the 2d and 3rd periods, or at least I didn't notice him. The local product showed a ton of speed, was creating/generating chances often in the opening frame.
Connor Marritt (1 goal) Opened the scoring, scoring the Vipers only goal of the evening, I thought looked good at times through out the Vipers home opener. Had some looks/opportunities, played hard in his third season with the Snakes.
Game Thought's: (Vernon)
I liked the Vipers start and at least the first eight or nine minutes of that opening period. I thought the Snakes played well at times in the second half of the 1st period but played/looked there best in the first half. Two major defensive let downs late in the opening frame, cost the Vipers two quick back to back goals, fell behind 3-1 after twenty minutes. A huge blow late in the period and in the home opener. The Vipers never really recovered as Vernon struggled and looked pretty bad in that second period. The Vipers were outplayed most of the middle frame, turned over the puck a lot, had troubles in there own end, struggled defensively, played most of the 2nd period in there own end. The only real good news about the 2nd period was the Snakes didn't give up anymore goals and played well on the penalty kill. I thought Vernon responded in the 3rd with a major push back. The Vipers dominated the final twenty minutes, getting there best looks/opportunities of the evening, in the final frame. The Snakes with a ton of pressure, had a ton of looks and quality chances but couldn't solve the Victoria netminder. Joe Howe was solid between the pipes in the 3rd period, stopping all 22 of Vernon's shots. Another big blow was giving up the fourth goal just over three minutes into the third, in a game where you couldn't surrender a goal, already down two goals. The Grizzlies fourth goal basically put the game away. Vernon really needed at least one if not two goals on the power play, to try and climb back in the game, to try and make things interesting. The Vipers passing wasn't very crisp, they turned over or coughed up the puck many times through out the night, had troubles gaining traction, until the 3rd period, looked good one shift, then not so good the next shift. The Vipers didn't look nearly as quick and sharp as they did when I travelled to West Kelowna on opening night in a 4-2 Vernon victory. Give the Vipers for not backing down in that 3rd period. Where was that effort and performance in the 2nd period? Did the Vipers have opening night jitters? Were the Grizzlies just that much better? Was Vernon over confident after winning two of there three games on the road trip? I noticed assistant coach Larry Draper wasn't on the Vipers bench towards the end of the 3rd period. I wasn't really paying much attention but did see him behind the bench at the start of the game. Things don't get any easier, with a quick turn around the Snakes better forget about tonight and get ready for tomorrow, with the 5-1 Powell River Kings in town tomorrow. The Kings suffered there first loss of the 2019-20 season after a 5-2 loss in Salmon Arm Friday. With the loss Vernon falls to 2-2-0-0 and sit 4th in the Interior Division.
Side Notes:
Where was the Interior Division Championship banner and why wasn't it raised to the rafters along side the rest of the Championship banners? The Vernon Vipers unveiled and wore there new home jerseys tonight. Very very sharp, and one of the best looking Viper jerseys off all-time. These new home uniforms are very clean looking. I love the look, colors and overall design. The team also went with there secondary Vipers logo as the main logo on the new home jerseys. This logo was created/and designed a few years ago for the Vipers third set jerseys. This logo seems to be the new/main logo the Vipers are using as there main logo for advertising, marketing and everything else. The new home jerseys will now match and go very nicely with Vernon's new road uniforms. The Vipers navy blue third set jerseys from the past two seasons, are now there away jerseys this season. Kal Tire Place opened it's new concession/gathering room tonight for the first time. What a major difference this makes for the arena. You now have a much needed third concession stand as well as a large open banquet type room where the concession stand sits inside, where fans can mingle and check out the Vernon Civic Arena history wall. Inside this large bangquet/meeting room there is a large mural on one wall of Vernon's Civic Arena and on the other wall is a wall full of pictures and plaques on the history of the Vernon Civic Arena. Very very cool. I hope they now will add more old photos and history on Vernon junior hockey. Former Vernon Vipers captains David Robinson (2006-07 & 2009-2011) and Lennie Rampone (1997-1999) were in attendance tonight.
Top Player's: (Victoria)
Nico Somerville (1 assist) I thought was one of if not the Grizzlies best d-man in the victory. Played a very steady game on the backend. Made a huge defensive play to break up a Vipers shorthanded rush in the middle frame. Very consistent through out the game.
The line of Andrew Amousse, Bryce Anderson and Brendan Bowie was one of if not Victoria's most dangerous unit. Andrew Amousse (1 assist) Played very well. Played a hard nosed game all night. This kid played with some jam, was hard to knock off the puck, hard to defend against and strong with and without the puck. Added some grit to the lineup, chipping in with one assist. Brendan Bowie (1 goal & 1 assist) Had a strong night, was another forward who looked very strong through out the game. Again, another kid who gave the Snakes troubles. Was hard to knock off the puck, hard to defend against, was always involved in the play, created/and generated chances through out the contest. Bryce Anderson (1 goal & 1 assist) Another kid who caught my attention, Played hard, skated hard, really sees the ice well.
Marty Westhaver (1 goal) Played very well, was always involved in the play, gave the Viper defence troubles all night.
Cody Monds (1 assist) Played along side Marty Westhaver, was another forward who looked/played very well in the Grizzlies victory. Monds is quick, hard to contain, was always in and around the Vernon goal.
Stephen Konroyd (1 goal) Scored on a wrap around in the 3rd period, was denied on a 2nd period breakaway, looked good at times.
Joe Howe (41 saves) Listed as wearing jersey #34 on the lineup sheet, was actually wearing #1 Didn't seen a lot of rubber in the first two periods, before being tested and forced to make some of if not all of his best saves in the 3rd period, stopping all of Vernon's 22 shots in the final twenty minutes. Howe was solid between the pipes, especially in the 3rd, looked very confident, calm and cool. Didn't give up any rebounds or second opportunities, made it look easy.
Game Thought's: (Victoria)
I thought the Vipers may have jumped on the Grizz off the opening faceoff as Victoria didn't seem to have there legs going. Giving up several odd man rushes/scoring chances early into the contest, Victoria fell behind 1-0 just over five minutes in. The Grizzlies responded with a quick push back, tied the game. Outshot 6-2 early seemed to get better as the 1st period went along and continued to play well into the 2nd period. The Grizz move the puck in a hurry, have a quick transition game, were catching Vernon's defence napping often, getting in behind the Viper defence. Victoria didn't really get a lot of quality chances, more so capitalized on there opportunities. It seemed like the Snakes were in control of the play, getting chances and then the Grizzlies come down the other way and scored. The Grizzlies forced Vernon into turning over the puck, making defensive mistakes and ended up making the Snakes pay for there mistakes. What happened in the 3rd period? Did the Grizzlies collapse or once up by three or four goals, did Victoria take there foot off the gas? Either way, Joe Howe was forced to make some large stops in the 3rd period with the Vipers pressing. Victoria relied on there starting netminder to make some big stops. Blake Wood made his Grizzlies debut tonight. Didn't play but was on the bench after the former Vipers tryout goaltender was recently traded from his hometown Nanaimo Clippers to Victoria earlier this week. Wood attended the Vipers Spring camp in May. The Grizzlies started the 2019-20 regular season on a seven game road trip, tonight was the fifth game of that trip. The Grizz play tomorrow in Salmon Arm before finishing the road trip Sunday in Trail. Victoria's home opener isn't until September 28th vs Powell River. This is the one and only time the Grizzlies will be in Vernon, unless these two teams meet in the playoffs. The Grizzlies have now won back to back games in Vernon improve to 3-2-0-0 sit 3rd in the Island Division.
Scratches:
Vernon:
Connor Sleeth (Suspended)
Brett Fudger
Doug Scott
Victoria:
Chace Oliver
Benjamin Biester
Brady Macdonald
Liam Souliere
Energy Player of the Game:
Matt Kowalski
Three Star's:
1st Star: Bryce Anderson (1 goal & 1 assist)
2nd Star: Joe Howe (41 saves)
3rd Star: Connor Marritt (1 goal)
Boxscore/Game Summary,
https://bchl.ca/stats/game-summary/9234
Game Report,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/official-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=9234
Text Boxscore,
https://lscluster.hockeytech.com/game_reports/text-game-report.php?lang_id=1&client_code=bchl&game_id=9234
Please feel free to leave a suggestion or comment below, in the comment box at the bottom of this post. I always enjoy and post all comments. Thank you for the comments and visiting my blog.
Here are some photo's I snapped from the Vipers home opener tonight,
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