For the second consecutive weekend, the Silverbacks (21-23-1-3) will host back-to-back games which begins tonight versus the West Kelowna Warriors (24-22-1-1) at 7pm. Salmon Arm will welcome the Penticton Vees (31-10-3-2) tomorrow (Saturday) at 7pm at the Shaw Centre.
The Silverbacks have won six straight games and finished January with a record of 8-2-1-0.
Salmon Arm won 4-3 in 4-on-4 overtime last Saturday night at home over the Surrey Eagles (24-18-2-5), the Silverbacks second consecutive OT victory after winning 6-5 in 3-on-3 OT at home versus the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (14-26-4-4) last Friday.
The home team fell behind 1-0 at 3:34 of the first period on Saturday. Surrey took two straight penalties at 5:38 and at 9:27, and Salmon Arm capitalized on the power-play. Brandon Whistle potted his first of the season and first as a Silverback at 10:03 of the opening frame, 1-1. Akito Hirose finished the first with a tripping penalty at 18:20. The Silverbacks outshot the Eagles 13-7.
Surrey took the first penalty of the second period at 1:24. Whistle went to the box for interference at 3:06. The Eagles took their second lead of the game at 5:46, 2-1. Silverbacks rookie Hudson Schandor dropped the gloves with Mathew Campese at 11:06, each received five minutes for fighting and a game misconduct. Salmon Arm went back to the power-play at 11:35.
Tanner Campbell was penalized for slashing at 14:21. Campbell then tied the game 2-2 at 16:32 with his 12th of the season. The Silverbacks went back to the man-advantage at 17:10, but Trevor Adams was called for interference at 17:39. The Eagles retook the lead at 19:01 and lead 3-2 after 40 minutes. Salmon Arm outshot Surrey 16-13 in the second and 29-20 overall.
The Silverbacks had the only two power-plays in the third, the first at 4:07 and Whistle tied the game 3-3 with the man-advantage and his second of the game and second of the season at 4:26. Surrey called it’s timeout at 17:54 and went back to the box at 19:44. Salmon Arm outshot the Eagles 13-5 in the third and 42-25 after regulation.
Surrey gave the Silverbacks their eighth power-play of the night at 2:01 of 4-on-4 OT. Whistle then finished the scoring with his hat-trick goal, 4-3 at 2:15 and with the man-advantage. Salmon Arm outshot the Eagles 5-0 in OT and 47-25 Silverbacks total. Reid Cooper stopped 22 of 25 for his seventh win of the season.
The Silverbacks finished 3-for-8 on the power-play and 5-for-5 on the penalty-kill. Salmon Arm now has a record of 6-3-1 in overtime.
Former Silverbacks head coach Brandon West made his return to Salmon Arm behind the Eagles bench, along with former Silverbacks players Connor Sundquist and Cody Schiavon.
The Silverbacks had four regulars out of the line-up last weekend. Joe Leahy with an injury while Riley Hayles, Justin Wilson and Austin Chorney were each ill. Affiliate Erik Evans got back into the line-up on Saturday night.
20-year-old Tanner Campbell earned the honour of the ‘BCHL Player of the Week’ with four goals and four assists in the three victories last week. The Kelowna, BC native is now second in team scoring with 12 goals and 19 assists in 37 games.
The Warriors won 6-2 at home over Alberni Valley last Sunday, January 28th. West Kelowna finished January with a record of 6-5-0-0.
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.
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
