The Silverbacks (23-26-1-3) host the Penticton Vees (38-12-3-2) tonight (Wednesday) at 7pm, the first of five straight games as Salmon Arm completes it’s regular season schedule.
The Silverbacks will visit the Merritt Centennials (23-26-2-4) tomorrow (Thursday) night at 7pm, for the make up game that was cancelled last Saturday due to extreme weather conditions.
Salmon Arm will travel to the Trail Smoke Eaters (31-20-1-4) on Friday at 7pm. The Silverbacks will be at home to the West Kelowna Warriors (27-26-1-1) on Saturday at 7pm. And the Silverbacks will finish the regular season in Penticton on Sunday afternoon at 3pm.
Salmon Arm’s last action was a 3-0 loss at home to the Victoria Grizzlies (30-18-4-4) this past Friday, February 16th.
The home team took the first two penalties on Friday night, Trevor Adams for cross-checking just 29 seconds into the first and Brandon Whistle was called for slashing at 6:37. Each team had a pair of power-play’s in the opening period but neither team found the back of the net. Victoria lead 9-8 on the shot clock.
The Grizzlies opened the scoring at 3:57 of the second, 1-0. Each team had one man-advantage in the second, as Logan Mostat went off for tripping at 10:05. The Silverbacks outshot the Grizzlies 17-14, and 25-23 Salmon Arm after 40 minutes.
Sol Seibel began the third with a roughing penalty at 1:53. Salmon Arm had back-to-back power-play’s twice in the final frame, including a 5-on-3 for 19 seconds. The Grizzlies Marty Westhaver then potted back-to-back short-handed goals, at 11:17 and at 19:09 into an empty net as well. Westhaver finished with a hat-trick as he also opened the scoring and has 15 goals this season.
The Silverbacks outshot Victoria 16-8 in the third and 41-31 Salmon Arm total. Kyle Dumba made 28 saves in his second consecutive loss. Kurtis Chapman stopped 41 shots for the Grizzlies and earned his second shutout of the season.
Salmon Arm was 0-for-6 on the power-play and 4-on-4 on the penalty-kill on Friday.
The Silverbacks and Grizzlies split the season series after Salmon Arm’s 3-2 double overtime victory in Victoria on Sunday, October 29th. The Silverbacks finished with a regular season record of 6-4-1-0 versus the Island division.
The Silverbacks are now 2-3-0-0 in February, while Penticton has a record of 7-2-0-0 in the final month of the regular season. The Vees lead the season series with three regulation victories and an overtime win. Penticton won 5-1 in Salmon Arm on Saturday, February 3rd. The Silverbacks are 14-11-0-1 at the Shaw Centre, while the Vees have a road record of 19-8-1-1. Salmon Arm is 9-20-0-2 versus the Interior and Penticton is 22-7-3-2 within the division.
The Vees won 5-3 at the Surrey Eagles (25-22-2-6) this past Sunday. The Silverbacks sit seventh in the Interior, two points behind Merritt and Salmon Arm has two games in hand on the Centennials.
Austin Chorney, Logan Mostat, Trey Thomas and Julian Timba each returned to action on Friday after each sat out due to illness. Demetri Kambeitz watched on Friday, as he was suspended by the BCHL for exceeding five fighting majors in a regular season. Grayson Constable took a hit in the second period on Friday and did not return.
Max Wutzke is returning home today (Wednesday) after recovering in hospital in the lower mainland after multiple surgeries on his left leg. The 19-year-old defenseman from Calgary, AB was hit into the boards early in the first period of February 7th’s game in Coquitlam. Lucas Wong of the Express was suspended six games for a match penalty for checking from behind.
Each game is webcast PPV at hockeytv.com Road games are broadcast via voiceoftheshuswap.ca CKVS 93.7 FM and Home games are available, audio only at mixlr.com/salmon-arm-silverbacks
Home game tickets are $14, (Srs $12, Under 12 – $7). A $25 family pack includes includes 2 Adults and 2 Children’s tickets, along with 4 complimentary Silverbacks hats.
Season Tickets and the 1st round of playoffs are currently available for purchase from the box office and during each Backs home games.
