Vernon, BC: The weekend didn’t unfold the way the Vernon Vipers had hoped following the trade deadline. Facing the challenge of three games in four days, the team showed flashes of promise, particularly on special teams, but ultimately came away without any points.
Friday Night vs. Blackfalds Bulldogs At home against the Blackfalds Bulldogs, the game was a back-and-forth affair. The Vipers twice took one-goal leads, but late second-period goals from the Bulldogs put Vernon in a deficit they couldn’t recover from. Newcomer Ryan Watt made an immediate impact in his Vipers debut, recording a goal and an assist. Charlie Kresl matched that output, while Tyson Zimmer contributed two assists. Edvin Nilsson and Kyren Gronick also found the back of the net. In goal, Logan Cunningham stopped 17 of 22 shots before Jari Kykkanen took over in the third. A bright spot was the Vipers’ power play, which went 3-for-7, while the penalty kill was perfect at 3-for-3. The Bulldogs skated away with the victory, leaving Vernon frustrated but optimistic about their special teams play.
Saturday Night vs. Penticton Vees The Penticton Vees came to town for game two of the weekend, and the Vipers struggled to find early consistency. The visitors jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first period. However, a pair of undisciplined penalties by the Vees—a butt-ending infraction and an illegal check to the head—gave Vernon an opportunity to claw back. They capitalized twice on the power play, with goals from Tyson Zimmer and Ryan Watt cutting the deficit to 3-2. The Vipers came inches away from tying it in the third, striking the goal post before the Vees regained control and sealed the game with an empty-netter. Special teams continued to shine, as Vernon went 2-for-6 on the power play and successfully killed their lone penalty. Jari Kykkanen was named Fortis BC Energy Player of the Game with a strong 29-save effort. Edvin Nilsson and Talan Blanck each recorded two assists.
Monday Afternoon vs. Salmon Arm Silverbacks Wrapping up the weekend on Family Day, the Vipers squared off against their North Okanagan/Shuswap rivals, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Vernon came out with a much-improved start, trading chances in an even first period. However, they struggled to maintain a full 60-minute effort, as the middle frame proved costly. A string of three straight penalties left the Vipers shorthanded for nearly seven consecutive minutes, allowing Salmon Arm to take the lead on their third power-play opportunity. That lead held for the remainder of the game. Trailing by three heading into the third, Vernon pushed back with an aggressive forecheck but could not close the gap. The teams traded goals in the final frame, with the Silverbacks emerging victorious, 6-3. Talan Blanck and Kyren Gronick each had a goal and an assist, while Kykkanen continued his strong play, making 33 saves on 39 shots.
Looking Ahead The Vipers now shift their focus to a road trip through Southern Alberta, where they will face the Okotoks Oilers on Friday night before taking on the Brooks Bandits on Saturday. With their special teams firing on all cylinders, the team will aim to build on their strengths and get back in the win column.
