SALMON ARM, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 –
The Silverbacks are in the Fraser Valley this weekend for the annual Bauer BCHL Showcase. The ‘Backs will begin the event on Saturday morning at 10am versus the Nanaimo Clippers. And, the Silverbacks face-off with the Surrey Eagles on Sunday afternoon at 1pm.
Each of the BCHL’s 17 teams will play twice during the four day Showcase which opened Thursday at the Prospera Centre in Chilliwack.
The ‘Backs have lost their first four games of this regular season, including three straight home games and back-to-back at home last weekend.
The Silverbacks fell 4-1 at home to the Chilliwack Chiefs on Friday and dropped a 3-1 decision last Saturday versus the Coquitlam Express at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm.
The ‘Backs have been outscored 18-8 thus far, and 7-2 last weekend as the home team played from behind in each of the two games.
The Silverbacks power-play is running at 14-percent, 0-for-seven last weekend. The penalty-kill was four-for-seven and is at 60-percent. The Silverbacks have scored three power-play goals, but have allowed three short-handed goals against in the first four games. The ‘Backs have scored one short-handed marker, but have given up six short-handed goals against in the first two weeks.
Nanaimo has won three of its first five games, after losing 6-3 to the Vernon Vipers at the Showcase on Friday. The Clippers have outscored their opposition 15-14, and Nanaimo won 3-2 at home over Surrey last Saturday. The Eagles are 0-and-5 and began the Showcase with a 3-2 loss to the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Thursday.
Nanaimo’s power-play is two-for-21, just over nine-percent. The Clippers penalty-kill is just over 78-percent with a pair of short-handed goals.
The Silverbacks Carter Cochrane left Saturday’s game with an upper body injury. The 20-year-old defenseman will be out from four to eight weeks. As well, Josh Blanchard watched last weekend after suffering an injury in practice. And Ben Evanish sat out on Saturday, while Jake Heerspink sat out on Friday.
The Silverbacks next home game in Salmon Arm is set for Friday, September 30th versus the Merritt Centennials at 7pm the Shaw Centre. The ‘Backs will visit the Wenatchee Wild on Saturday, November 1st at 7pm in Washington state.
Each Silverbacks game is webcast PPV at bchl.fasthockey.com, each road game is broadcast live via voiceoftheshuswap.ca CKVS 93.7 FM and each home game is avail audio only at mixlr.com/salmon-arm-silverbacks/
