The Silverbacks (12-20-0-3) are back in action tonight (Friday) at 7pm following their holiday break, a home-and-home set with the league leading Vernon Vipers (25-7-4-1). Salmon Arm will visit Vernon tomorrow (Saturday), December 30th for a 6pm start.
Salmon Arm has lost it’s last seven games and has been outscored 33-6 during the skid, the Silverbacks are ranked 14th among the 17 teams in the BCHL.
Silverbacks GM and Head Coach Scott Atkinson announced on Wednesday that the team has traded 19-year-old forward Marcus Mitchell to the Penticton Vees (22-7-2-2) in exchange for defenceman Joseph Leahy who is committed to Cornell University for next fall. Leahy had one goal and 13 points with 30 penalty-minutes in 27 games with the Vees this season.
“It is a bitter-sweet day for the Silverbacks organization in that we are announcing that we have traded Marcus Mitchell to the Penticton Vees for defenceman Joe Leahy. We are very sorry to see Marcus leave the program but felt that our team’s most immediate need was to shore up our defence. We wish Marcus nothing but success with his new team. We are very excited about adding a player of Leahy’s calibre to our roster and at 6’4 210 pounds we see him as a top-end defenceman who can contribute in all situations. The fact that he brings a full skill-set and a championship pedigree will be meaningful to our team’s culture.”
Mitchell had been with the ‘Backs for the past two and a half seasons and in 122 games played he scored 27 goals, 34 assists for 61 points. He also amassed 161 penalty-minutes. Mitchell is off to Michigan Tech next season and we wish him all of the best in his hockey career.
The Silverbacks were shutout 4-0 and lost 10-2 on the road at the Wenatchee Wild (23-9-1-2) on Friday and Saturday, December 15th and 16th.
Salmon Arm’s last victory was 2-1 in Wenatchee on Saturday, November 25th while the Vipers went into the holiday break after a 5-2 win at home over the Trail Smoke Eaters (20-13-0-2) on Saturday, December 16th.
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
