Game Recap - Exhibition - West Kelowna 3 Vernon 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 tonight's Vernon Vipers-West Kelowna Warriors pre-season game as West Kelowna defeated Vernon 3-0 at Royal LePage Place. (No attendance announced)

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Dylan Adams

West Kelowna Warriors: Rorke Applebee

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1st Period: The Vipers got off to a good start and carried the better of the play early and often. Vernon was the better team in the first half of the period with lots of puck possession and zone time. The Snakes started the hockey game with the man advantage and Luke Pakulak with a golden opportunity would be denied on the power play. The Vipers had two or three quality chances in the opening frame. Overall the Snakes were the better team and carried a lot of the play. Vernon goes 0-2 with the man advantage. The Warriors started the game on the penalty kill after three players stayed on the ice after warmup ended. West Kelowna needed eight minutes to record their first shot of the period. The Tribe opened the scoring and played well for about six to seven minutes, had three or four real good looks/opportunities. Just past the midway mark a good scrum/altercation broke out behind the Warriors net, with lots of pushing and shoving and several players throwing punches. Both goaltenders played well. It was 1-0 West Kelowna after 20 minutes of play. Vernon outshot West Kelowna 11-7.

2nd Period: The Warriors got off to a good start and were the better team for most of the middle frame. WK carried the better of the play, had more puck possession, zone time, and generated more offence. The Tribe used their speed to force the Snakes into a few turnovers and penalties. WK was moving the puck well, had their legs going and controlled a lot of the play. On the PK Trent Wilson would be denied on the breakaway on a chance to give the Warriors a 2-0 lead shorthanded. West Kelowna goes 0-2 with the PP. The Vipers didn't look or play very well, were outplayed most of the 2nd period. The Snakes saw a lot of time in their own end, had troubles getting the offence going, gaining the offensive zone, creating/generating chances and clicking on the power play. Vernon goes 0-3 with the man advantage. The Vipers turned over the puck in their own end, had troubles clearing the zone and relied on their goaltenders. Dylan Adams was replaced by Colin Reay just past the halfway mark. Adams allowed one goal on sixteen West Kelowna shots. Reay finished the period with only four shots. With about twenty seconds remaining in the period, Trent Wilson looked to have a sure goal, somehow missed the open cage at the side of the crease as the Warriors failed to take a 2-0 lead heading into the 3rd. It was 1-0 West Kelowna after 40 minutes of play. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 13-10.

3rd Period: The Snakes got off to a good start, had early puck possession and zone time but couldn't get pucks on net. Vernon needed seven minutes to get their first shot of the final frame. The Vipers were the better team in the first half, had more puck possession and zone time but only mustered three shots on goal. Down 2-0 the Vipers couldn't gain puck possession to get the goaltender to the bench for the extra attacker. The Tribe capitalized with two power play goals to put the game away, saw most of the first half in their own end but played well defensively, limiting the Vipers time and space, blocked shots and kept the Vernon shooters to the outside. The Warriors played better in the second half, started to gain some puck possession, zone time, create and generate some opportunities. Both teams were even at times in the second half with the Vipers going a lengthy period of time without a shot on goal. WK had the better of the scoring chances, had several good looks as former Drayton Valley Thunder goaltender Colin Reay was forced to make some difficult saves. This was a chippy period with both teams getting under the skin of one another with several altercations after the whistle as well as some physical play through out the period. West Kelowna come away with the 3-0 victory. West Kelowna outshot Vernon 11-3.

Vernon Vipers Top Performers:

Adam Csabi I thought played very well through out the evening. Csabi was involved in the play, carried the puck often, was making plays and engaged in the play.

Julian Facchinelli Was another Viper forward I thought played well

Luke Pakulak Made his Viper pre-season debut, was physical, involved in the play and played hard

Dylan Adams (15 saves) Started in goal for Vernon before being replaced by Colin Reay just past the midway mark of the 2nd period. I thought Adams played very well in goal.

Colin Reay (13 saves) Finished tonight's exhibition game, didn't see a lot of action but also played well. Was forced to make a couple of big stops in the 3rd period.

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- The Vipers finish the pre-season Saturday at home vs the West Kelowna Warriors

- I really liked the Vipers 1st period and thought they played well and were the better of the two teams

- With the loss, Vernon falls to 3-1-0-0 in the pre-season

- The Snakes go 0-5 with the man advantage

- The Vipers struggled offensively in the 2nd and 3rd periods, didn't create or generate enough looks or opportunities

- I only spotted a small handful of Viper fans at tonight's game

- Vernon didn't look or play well in the 2nd period and were outplayed most of the middle frame

- The Vipers have seven players returning from last season

- The Snakes didn't get enough traffic in and around West Kelowna's net, allowing Rorke Applebee to see most of the Viper shots

- The Vipers went 1-2-0-2 vs West Kelowna last regular season

- I thought the Vipers played well in the 3rd, had some pressure and zone time, but had troubles getting pucks to the net. The Snakes only managed three shots on goal

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

- Vernon needed to go to the grey area and make life a little more difficult for Rorke Applebee

- The Vipers & Warriors meet five times during the regular season

West Kelowna Warriors Top Performers:

Rorke Applebee (24 saves-Shutout) Played well in goal for the Tribe. Looked confident and got help from his defence

Michael Salandra (1 goal) Opened the scoring tonight, looked and played very well in the win over Vernon. Returning for a second season with the Tribe was one of the more dominate forwards this evening

Isaiah Norlin Had a strong game on the Warriors blueline. Returning from last season, looked very good tonight

Jackson Kyrkostas (2 assists) Was another forward who looked good and played very well for West Kelowna. Was involved in the play and was hard to defend against

Trent Wilson Looked good, played well and had a couple of quality chances through out the hockey game

Game Thought's: West Kelowna Warriors

- Tonight was the Warriors one and only pre-season home game

- West Kelowna went 2-5 with the power play

- I thought the Tribe's defence played very well in the 3rd, keeping Vernon to the outside, taking away time and space and limiting the Vipers to only three shots in the 3rd period

- The Warriors were eliminated in five games by the Vernon Vipers in last years opening round of the BCHL playoffs

- Warriors assistant coach Josh Gorges was captain of the Kelowna Rockets Memorial Cup winning team, played 14 seasons in the NHL with San Jose, Buffalo and Montreal

- West Kelowna looked good/played well for about six-seven minutes in the 1st period, outplayed the Vipers in the 2nd period and played very well defensively in the 3rd

- The Warriors have seven players back from last season

- Warriors Head Coach Simon Ferguson played on the Kelowna Rockets Memorial Cup winning team

- The Tribe must have their team/roster picked as the Warriors had their names on their jerseys

- With the win, West Kelowna improves to 3-0-0-0 in the pre-season

- After being outplayed in the 1st period, the Warriors responded with a very strong 2nd period

- Warriors season ticket holders and kids under 12 got in free tonight

- These two teams will meet again Saturday in Vernon

- Tonight was a chippy a fair as tempers heated up on a few occassions

- A smaller crowd on hand tonight but a decent size crowd with the Rockets playing on the same night. I would guess 500 fans at tonight's game

Vernon Vipers Roster:

Goaltenders:

Dylan Adams 06