SALMON ARM, B.C. NOVEMBER 25th, 2016
The Silverbacks (10-16-0-1) are on the road this weekend, beginning tonight versus the Merritt Centennials (10-11-1-5) at 8pm in the Nicola Valley. Salmon Arm will visit the Prince George Spruce Kings (12-10-1-2) tomorrow (Saturday) at 7pm.
The Silverbacks are 7-7-0-0 on the road, while the Centennials have a home ice record of 5-4-0-2.
The season series is tied at two wins each. The Silverbacks won back-to-back over the Cents earlier this month, 3-2 in Merritt on November 11th and a 5-4 double overtime victory at home over the Centennials on November 12th.
Salmon Arm lost back-to-back home games last weekend, 5-4 in double OT to the Wenachee Wild (19-5-0-1) last Sunday afternoon after the Silverbacks held a 3-1 lead into the third period. And the home team fell 5-2 to the Cowichan Valley Capitals (13-11-2-2) last Saturday at he Shaw Centre.
Merritt won 6-3 at home over the Surrey Eagles last Sunday, and the Centennials are 2-3-0-3 in November. Salmon Arm is 2-5-0-1 thus far in November.
The Silverbacks have moved defenseman Cameron Trott and future considerations to the Vernon Vipers for 18-year-old defenseman Carter Stephenson. Trott had 3 goals, 6 points and 8 PIM’s in 19 games this season, his second in the BCHL. Trott had 6 goals and 24 points in 62 games with Salmon Arm last season.
Stephenson is from West Vancouver, BC and is a 6’1, 195 pound right shot mobile d-man according to Silverbacks GM Troy Mick. Stephenson has 5 goals 8 assists for 13 points with 15 penalty minutes in 23 games with the Vipers in his rookie season in the BCHL. He had 6 goals 22 assists last year with the North West Giants of the BCMML and played 2 games as an AP last year with the ‘Backs.
The Silverbacks have also moved 18-year-old defenseman Jake Heerspink of Regina, SK to Estevan in SJHL. Heerspink had 2 goals, 5 points and 14 penalty-minutes in 25 games this season, his first in the BCHL.
Hayden Hopkins will be serving games two and three of a four game suspension for receiving a major penalty for a blow to the head on Saturday versus the Capitals. Silverbacks will also be without the services of Akito Hirose, Grayson Constable & Goaltender Brandon Kegler as they are all injured.
The Silverbacks next home action will be Friday, December 3rd at home to the Trail Smoke Eaters (13-12-0-1) 7pm.
Each Silverbacks game is webcast PPV at hockeytv.com Each road game is broadcast live via voiceoftheshuswap.caCKVS 93.7 FM and each home game is available audio only at mixlr.com/salmon-arm-silverbacks/
