Vernon, BC: The Vernon Vipers return home tonight in hopes of evening their record as they host the West Kelowna Warriors for game 2 of the Okanagan Cup Tournament.
The Vipers fell in the opener last night by a 4-1 score. Ryan Shostak had the lone goal and Kobe Grant stopped 30 of 33.
It was a learning lesson and those lessons can be learned in the rematch less than 24 hours later.
“We have to be more tenacious and intense and it can’t be for limited segments of the game,” says Head Coach and GM of the Vipers Jason McKee. “The effort has to be there from start to finish and that will continue to be a focus when it comes to player evaluation.”
The Vipers will have to continue their work on the forecheck. They had a handful of grade A opportunities come from the forecheck and will need to up the intensity to finish those plays off.
The Warriors had a pair of goals from Felix Trudeau while also getting markers from Elan Bar-lev-Wise and Deegan Mofford. Johnny Derrick was very strong in the Tribe’s goal crease stopping 29 of 30.
In other action in the Okanagan Cup, Penticton knocked off Salmon Arm 7-0.
You can catch all the action of tonight’s game starting at 5:45 with the pregame show on HockeyTV, 107.5 Beach Radio or stream on Vernon Matters.com if you’re outside of the Vernon listening area.
