Game Recap - Regular Season Opener - Salmon Arm 3 Vernon 2

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-Salmon Arm Silverbacks game as the Silverbacks defeated the Vipers 3-2 in front of 1,503 fans at the Shaw Centre.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon Vipers: Ethan David

Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Ryan Grout

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1st Period: The Silverbacks were the better team and carried the better of the play for the first four or so minutes before the Vipers took over and had the better of the play for the next eight to nine minutes. Both teams didn't generate a whole lot of shots but Vernon had more puck possession, zone time and carried a lot of the play. The Snakes had at least three quality chances were unable to get on the scoreboard. Vernon struggled with the power play, going 0-2 with the man advantage. The Silverbacks were outplayed at times and couldn't get much of anything going offensively as the Vipers carried the play. Salmon Arm had at least two good looks/opportunities, also blocked three or four shots. The Apes seemed to get their legs going and played better in the second half as the Backs were able to gain some zone time/pressure, had Vernon on their heels for a few shifts, were able to get some pucks to the net and get some play in the offensive zone. The Gorillas with a good finish were the better team in the final six to seven minutes of the period. The Silverbacks went 0-1 with the power play. It was 0-0 after 20 minutes of play. Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 8-6.

2nd Period: The S'Backs were the better team early and carried the better of the play for the first five minutes. Isaac Lambert on a two on one rush, opened the scoring for SA 2:02 into the middle frame. The period shifted shortly after, Vernon would get a two man advantage and capitalize. The Snakes with back to back goals minutes apart, took their first lead of the hockey game and took over the period. The Vipers carried the play, were getting lots of pucks to the net and generating some opportunities. The Snakes went 1-2 with the man advantage. The Gorillas would finish the period with a better effort and had an edge in play the final five minutes. The Silverbacks took a 10-8 lead in shots early into the period before going well over four to five minutes without a single shot. It was 2-1 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 15-7.

3rd Period: Salmon Arm with a strong push in the final frame, dominated the period and were the better of the two teams. The Apes carried all the play, had a ton of puck possession, zone time but didn't get a lot of shots on goal. The S'Backs with back to back goals forty seven seconds apart was the difference. SA was skating hard, had a good transition game and had the Snakes on their heels. Ethan David had to be sharp with a lot of pressure from the hometown Gorillas. The Vipers needed eight minutes to record their first shot of the period, didn't have their legs going, saw most of the period in their own end. Vernon was either standing around or chasing the puck and saw very little puck possession or zone time. Poor passing and several turnovers as Salmon Arm was the better team by far. The Snakes with a few good shifts towards the end of the period would almost finish the game on the power play with a late penalty. With Ethan David on the bench, the Vipers either waited too long to shoot or passed the puck. Vernon would get a couple of looks but Ryan Grout played well to finish the game. When it looked like the game had ended, and over half of the Shaw Centre had emptied out the Vipers were arguing the final play of the hockey game. I think Vernon figured they deserved an icing call on the final shift of the game. After a brief delay, the officials put five seconds back on the clock and the Vipers a faceoff in the offensive zone. The Silverbacks would win the draw and come away with the 3-2 victory. Both teams went 0-1 with the PP. Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 8-7.

Vernon Vipers Top Performers:

Adam Csabi (1 goal) Got the Vipers on the scoreboard, on a 2nd period power play. Looked very good and played very well in the first game of the 2023-24 regular season. This kid is quick and was hard to defend tonight.

Ethan David (19 saves) Both goaltenders played well as David made a couple of big stops in the loss.

Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers

- This was an up and down hockey game as both teams took turns having control of the game

- The Vipers went 2-0 vs Salmon Arm during the pre-season

- Vernon went 1-5 with the power play

- A decent turnout of Viper fans in attendance this evening

- The Snakes struggled with the man advantage

- I really liked Vernon's 1st & 2nd periods. I thought the Vipers were the better of the two teams in the first two periods.

- The Snakes had the better of the scoring chances but unable to capitalize on their opportunities

- The Vipers went 4-3 vs Salmon Arm during the 2022-23 regular season

- After going into the 3rd with a 2-1 lead, the Vipers are outplayed and don't look good in the 3rd. Vernon gives up two quick back to back goals forty seven seconds apart and plays most of the 3rd in their own end

- The Snakes next game is the teams home opener Saturday vs Cranbrook

- Vernon has seven players returning from last season

- The Snakes need to shoot more. On several chances through out the night, they opted to either pass or wait to long and miss that opportunity for a quick shot and a rebound

- Vernon was disciplined, only took three penalties

- These two teams will meet again October 13th in Vernon

- I didn't think many Vipers stood out tonight

- With the loss, Vernon falls to 0-1-0-0

Salmon Arm Silverbacks Top Performers:

Lian Gayfer Played very well, was involved in the play often. Was one of the more consistent Silverbacks forwards

Reid Varkonyi (1 goal) Scored the game winner, played well this evening

Ryan Gillespie (1 goal & 1 assist) Was hard to defend, hard to contain and dangerous all game

Isaac Lambert (1 goal & 1 assist) Playing on a line with Ryan Gillespie was another forward that gave the Snakes troubles. Was hard to contain, defend against and dangerous with and without the puck

Ryan Grout (27 saves) Was the busier of the two netminders. Played well between the pipes. Made some big stops in the 2nd period with Vernon pressing. Stopped Shea Busch on an odd man rush with about five minutes remaining, to keep it a 3-2 hockey game.

Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks

- A great crowd on hand for the Silverbacks home opener. Tonight's attendance was announced at 1,503

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

- Both teams looked good at times, both teams struggled at times. The flow seemed to change from period to period

- The Apes went 0-2 with the man advantage

- I thought Vernon was the better team in the first two periods, with the Silverbacks dominating the 3rd

- The Gorillas really stepped up their play in the 3rd, scoring two goals in forty seven seconds, played very well

- The Silverbacks eliminated the Vipers in five games in the second round of last season's playoffs

- Both teams had troubles getting pucks to the net

- The S'Backs next game is Saturday at home vs Prince George

- The Silverbacks play three out of four games at home in the month of September

- Salmon Arm has eight players returning from last season

- I like Salmon Arm's new home jerseys but don't like the front. Silverbacks is across the front of the sweater with the players number below. I wish they would have gone with the teams logo on the front of the jersey

- With the win, Salmon Arm improves to 1-0-0-0

- The Shaw Centre needs new speakers as they are very distorted and it's very difficult to hear and understand the PA announcer

- A weird ending to finish the hockey game. The game ended but as the Silverbacks were celebrating the win, the Vipers argued about the non-icing call at the end of the game. After a brief discussion with the officials, five seconds was added to the score clock and a faceoff in the Salmon Arm zone. If the linesmen didn't call icing to end the hockey game, how can they call it when the game is over?

- Tonight's game could have gone either way and either team could have come away with the victory

- The Silverbacks were outshot and outchanced

Scratches:

Vernon Vipers:

Cooper Cleaves

Owen King

Walker Gelbard

Bronson Ross

Salmon Arm Silverbacks:

Eli Pulver

Ryan DeAngelis

Adam Boatter