The Silverbacks (14-22-0-3) host the Prince George Spruce Kings (21-12-4-3) this afternoon (Sunday) at 3pm. Salmon Arm lost 4-2 at the Merritt Centennials (16-18-1-2) last night (Saturday), and the Silverbacks began the weekend by shutting out the Wenatchee Wild (25-12-1-2) 3-0 on Friday night at the Shaw Centre.
The Silverbacks were blanked 3-0 in Prince George on Saturday, December 2nd. The Spruce Kings won 3-2 on the road last night (Saturday) at the Vernon Vipers (27-9-4-1), and PG began the weekend with a 2-1 double OT loss at the Penticton Vees (24-9-2-2) on Friday.
Merritt opened the scoring on Saturday with first period goals at 6:06 and a power-play marker at 17:10, Trevor Longo was called for hooking at 15:49. The Cents outshot the Silverbacks 19-10 and lead 2-0 into the second.
Grayson Constable was penalized for elbowing just 18 seconds into the middle frame, and Merritt capitalized on the man-advantage at 1:23 and went ahead 3-0. Salmon Arm then scored back-to-back to finish the middle period, Justin Wilson’s fourth at 5:07 and Tanner Campbell on the power-play at 13:04 with his seventh of the season and second of the weekend. The Silverbacks cut the Centennials lead to 3-2 into the third. Salmon Arm outshot the home team 19-15 in the second but 34-29 Merritt overall.
Silverbacks affiliate defenseman Braydon Clark began the third with an interference penalty at 6:44. And the Cents finished the scoring at 18:30, 4-2 Salmon Arm lead 12-7 on the shot clock in the final period and 41-41 total, Kyle Dumba suffered the loss in goal.
The Silverbacks finished 1-for-4 on the power-play and 3-for-5 on the penalty-kill on Saturday. Merritt now leads the season series 3-2 and the final regular season meeting is set for Saturday, February 17th at 7pm in the Nicola Valley.
Salmon Arm began the weekend at home and with it’s second consecutive win after shutting out Wenatchee on Friday night.
Neither team found the back of the net in the first period. The Silverbacks took two of the three first period penalties, Wilson was called for slashing at 7:10 and Trevor Adams for tripping at 16:11. The Wild outshot the Silverbacks 12-6.
Julian Timba opened the scoring in the second period, his second of the season at 1:22. Salmon Arm lead 9-7 on the shot clock in the second, but 19-15 Wenatchee overall.
Campbell was penalized for slashing 1:42 into the third. Campbell then potted his sixth of the season at 14:06, 2-0 Silverbacks. Rhett Kingston finished the scoring at 16:44, 3-0 with his team leading 16th. Silverbacks 15-year-old affiliate Wyatt Marlow of the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton finished the game with a hooking penalty at 19:29.
Wenatchee outshot Salmon Arm 11-6 in the third and 30-21 Wild total, Reid Cooper made 30 saves for his first shutout of the season in his second consecutive start. The Silverbacks were 0-for-1 on the power-play and 4-for-4 on the penalty-kill on Friday.
Nick Unruh and Joe Leahy sat out on Friday and Saturday due to illness. Logan Mostat remains scratched due to injury. And the newest Silverback Brandon Whistle is also listed as a scratch. 18-year-old Trevor Gulenchyn of Winfield, BC and the Yale Hockey Academy Prep affiliated with the Silverbacks on Friday and Saturday. Braydon Clark affiliated on Saturday in Merritt, the 16-year-old defenseman of Langley, BC is with the Valley West Hawks in the BC Major Midget League.
Salmon Arm and Wenatchee split the season series, each winning three of the six games.
SASCU Skate with the ‘Backs is set for this afternoon (Sunday) following the game.
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
