Exhibition - Vernon 3 Salmon Arm 0

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 2.5 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 today's Vernon Vipers-Salmon Arm Silverbacks pre-season game as Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 3-0 at Kal Tire Place. (No attendance was announced)

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Ethan David

Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Ryan Tamelin

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1st Period: The Silverbacks jumped on the hometown Vipers early and were the better of the two teams in the first half. The Apes with lot's of pressure, zone time also had at least four or five quality chances in the opening period. The Backs were winning the races, forcing the Viper defence into turning over pucks that resulted in opportunities. Salmon Arm was skating, moving their feet, hard in on pucks, played with a lot of jump/energy. SA had the lone power play of the 1st period. The Snakes got off to a slow start, didn't seem to have their legs going, made several defensive mistakes, were turning over pucks, had troubles getting out of their own end, sloppy in their own end and relied on Ethan David to bail them out. Second year forward Julian Facchinelli opened the scoring, seemed to give the Vipers a little life as the Snakes responded and seemed to get their legs going, get some jump in their game and played much better in the second half. Georgios Stavrianeas rang a shot off the far crossbar with about seven minutes remaining in the period as the Vipers picked up the pace and were the better team for a good five minutes or so. Vernon had three good looks/opportunities. Both teams were fairly even towards the end of the period. A physical period with the Gorillas being the more physical team. It was 1-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play as Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 9-8.

2nd Period: Liam Payne gave the hometown Snakes an early 2-0 lead on an early man advantage but it was all Salmon Arm as the S'Backs were the better team, carried the better of the play, were winning the races, puck battles, had a ton of pressure and zone time and created/generated lots of quality opportunities. The Vipers looked very sluggish, weren't skating, were being beat to the puck, struggled defensively, had troubles clearing the zone, didn't defend well and gave up way too many chances. Ethan David was once again solid between the pipes, kept Vernon in the hockey game. The Vipers had trouble generating zone time, pressure and creating opportunities. Vernon didn't get a whole lot of looks or chances in the middle frame. The Vipers didn't look good or play very well. Again both teams were physical. It was 2-0 Vernon after 20 minutes of play. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 12-10.

3rd Period: The Vipers would start the period with three straight power play's. Vernon had some zone time but struggled with all three man advantage's, only mustering two shots on three PP's. The Snakes carried the better of the play in the first half, due to being on three power play's. Vernon played a little better in the final frame, didn't generate a whole lot of opportunities and struggled getting pucks to the net, but played much better defensively. The Vipers went a lengthy period of time with only two shots on goal. The Vipers did a better job at shutting down Salmon Arm's forecheck and offensive attack. Ethan David was also very sharp in goal and was the entire contest. The Silverbacks got into some penalty trouble, took the only three penalties of the 3rd but were very good on the PK limiting the Snakes to only two shots and killing off all three minors. SA didn't control the period like the first two periods, had troubles getting their offence going. The Apes had a good four or five real good looks/opportunities but didn't have the better of the play for long. Matthew Gillard had Ethan David beat but rang his shot off the crossbar late in the period as Vernon product Erik Pastro added some insurance as the Vipers come away with the 3-0 victory. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 10-4.

Vernon Vipers Top Performers:

Georgios Stavrianeas I thought played fairly well and one of the few Vipers that played well.

Ethan David (31 saves/shutout) Making his pre-season debut stopped all thirty one Salmon Arm shots for the win/shutout. David was the difference this evening, kept the Snakes in this contest. The third year veteran netminder was very solid, looked focused, confident and calm between the pipes, made some large saves through out the hockey game. If it wasn't for David, this may have been a different outcome.

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- A fairly big crowd tonight for only the Vipers second exhibition game

- I think the Snakes have looked good and played very well so far in the teams first two games but didn't look so good or play that well this evening

- I spotted several college scouts at tonight's game

- The Vipers went 1-4 with the power play

- The Vipers & Silverbacks will open the 2023-24 regular season September 22nd in Salmon Arm

- Ethan David was the difference in his pre-season debut, made 31 saves keeping the hometown Vipers in tonight's game

- The Snakes looked slow/sluggish tonight, made way too many mistakes in their own end and didn't have a whole lot of jump/energy

- Vernon improves to 3-0 in the pre-season

- The Vipers win back to back games over Salmon Arm by a combined score of 4-0

- Vernon's next pre-season game is Friday in West Kelowna

- Assistant Coach Colton Sparrow wasn't behind the bench tonight

- The Vipers struggled offensively, didn't create or generate a whole lot of good looks or opportunities

- I thought Vernon played well in the second half of the opening frame and that was the best they played all night. The Vipers played a little better in the 3rd but overall weren't very good.

- The Vipers will finish the pre-season with a home & home series next weekend vs the West Kelowna Warriors

- I heard the Vipers will only be going with two goaltenders this season

- I will say even though the Snakes didn't play very well tonight, they have looked pretty good and I have been impressed with what I have seen in the previous games before tonight

- Vernon's defence struggled, turned over way too many pucks in their own end and had troubles clearing the zone

- The Snakes dressed six players tonight from last season

Salmon Arm Silverbacks Top Performers:

Nathaniel Davis I thought was one of if not Salmon Arm's best defenceman. Saw a lot of ice time, played very well at both ends of the rink

Ryan Gillespie Was one of the more noticeable forwards in the loss

Isaac Lambert Was another Silverbacks forward who played well and stood out

Luke Drury Not the biggest kid but I thought was Salmon Arm's hardest worker. This kid didn't take a shift off, was quick on his feet, engaged in the play, finished his checks and playing the body

Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks

- The Silverbacks finish the 2023 pre-season with a home & home series next weekend vs the Merritt Centennials

- The Apes were shutout in back to back games

- Salmon Arm went 0-2 with the PP

- SA played very well and looked very good

- The Silverbacks unveiled their new jerseys this weekend and I don't like either the home or away jerseys

- The Gorillas eliminated the Vipers in 5 games during last years Playoffs

- Tempers heated up on a few occasions as some pushing and shoving occurred during a few plays through out the game

- The Silverbacks with a strong forecheck, forced Vernon's defence into turning over pucks often

- The Silverbacks & Vipers will meet nine times during the 2023-24 regular season

- I thought SA was by far the better team

- The S'Backs played with a lot of jump/energy, were quick on their feet, won a lot of the races/puck battles, created/generated opportunities and carried the better of the play

- I only spotted three or four Silverbacks fans in attendance

- The Backs dressed seven players from last season's team

- The Silverbacks ran into a hot goaltender, didn't get any bounces or puck luck go there way

- This was a physical game with the Backs being the more physical team

Vernon Vipers Roster:

Goaltenders:

Colin Reay 05

Ethan David 03

Defencemen:

Connor Elliott 03

Cooper Cleaves 06

Anthony Cliche 03