The Silverbacks (22-10-2-2) are back in action tonight and south of the border for the first and only trip in this 2015-16 regular season. The ‘Backs visit the newest edition to the BCHL, the Wenatchee Wild (22-10-3-2) tonight at 7:05p.m.
The Silverbacks and Wild tied 4-4 on October 2nd at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm. The ‘Backs have a record of 4-5-1-0 versus the Mainland Division, while Wenatchee is 2-5-1-0 versus Interior Division opponents. The Wild are 12-4-1-1 on home ice.
The Silverbacks are 10-6-0-1 on the road, and 13-4-0-2 in the Interior after falling 6-1 to the Penticton Vees (33-4-1-0) last Saturday night in Penticton. The Silverbacks will be back in Penticton tomorrow night (Saturday) to take on the Vees at 6p.m. The ‘Backs play a total of 12 games in January, including seven on the road.
The Vees lead 2-0 after 20 minutes and outshot the ‘Backs 17-5 in the first period. Penticton scored three goals in the middle frame, including a pair from Scott Conway who finished with a hat-trick as he now has 37 goals on the season.
The Silverbacks trailed 4-0 after 40 minutes as Angus Redmond started in goal for the ‘Backs but was replaced by 17-year-old call-up Nic Tallarico. Redmond allowed six goals on 22 shots. Tallarico of Surrey, B.C. is with the Valley West Hawks in Langley in the B.C. Major Midget League. Brandon Kegler sat out injured after starting and leaving Friday’s 5-2 victory at home over the Surrey Eagles (5-31-1-0). Penticton outshot the Silverbacks 11-10 in the second frame.
The Silverbacks scored the lone goal in the third, Josh Blanchard’s 12th with 4:17 remaining and on the power-play.The ‘Backs outshot the Vees 13-7 in the third, but the Vees outshot the visitors 35-28 total. Tallarico stopped all seven shots he faced in his first regular season action with the Silverbacks. The ‘Backs power-play finished 1-for-2, while the penalty-kill was 5-for-6.
The Silverbacks still lead the season series with the Vees after two wins, 4-2 in Salmon Arm on September 11th and 5-2 at the Shaw Centre on December 11th. The ‘Backs fell 5-4 in overtime in Penticton on Saturday, December 12th, 2015.
Cam Coutre, Marcus Mitchell and Mitch Newsome each sat out in Penticton and will miss tonight’s game in Wenatchee as they serve two game suspensions for being involved in a multiple fight situation in the third period of Friday’s win at home over the last place team in the BCHL. ‘Backs head coach Brandon West watched Saturday’s game in Penticton after a one game suspension for his players involved that multiple fight situation. Assistant coaches Misko Antisin and Brooks Christensen worked the Silverbacks bench on Saturday night. Michael Winnitoy and Sam De Melo each got back into the line-up, along with 17-year-old forward Justin Wilson of the BCMML’s Vancouver North West Giants.
The Vees remain atop the Interior Division and BCHL with 67 points. The ‘Backs sit second in the Division, and now tied with the West Kelowna Warriors (23-14-0-2). Each have 48 points, but the Silverbacks have three games in hand on the Warriors who won 7-2 at home over Surrey on Sunday.
Wenatchee won back-to-back games at home last weekend, 5-4 and 3-2 over the Chilliwack Chiefs (25-8-0-4) who sit atop the Mainland Division. The Wild trail the Chiefs by four points, each with 38 games played.
The Silverbacks have scored 148 goals in 36 regular season games, while allowing 105. The Wild have 130 goals for in 38 games and have allowed 89.
The BCHL trade and roster deadline is set for this Sunday, January 10th. The Silverbacks dealt 20-year-old defenceman Michael Winnitoy to the Steinbach Pistons of the Manitoba Junior A Hockey League on Wednesday. The Calgary native had one goal, and 10 assists in 24 games with the ‘Backs.
The Silverbacks also affiliated with 16-year-old Colten Gerlib of the Valley West Hawks in the BCMML on Wednesday. The Surrey product has four goals, 12 assists and 20 penalty minutes in 24 games this season.
Silverbacks head coach Brandon West has been selected as the head coach for Team West at the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Prospects game set for January 26th in Surrey. The game will feature the top 40 NHL prospects in Canadian Junior A hockey.
Each Silverbacks and BCHL game is webcast live, PPV http://bchl.fasthockey.com as well as each ‘Backs road game is broadcast live at CKVS 93.7 FM http://voiceoftheshuswap.ca Each home game is broadcast at http://bit.ly/1s0deO7 Tune into CKVS each Monday night throughout the season beginning at 7p.m. for 30 minutes or more of Silverbacks talk, including interviews and news from around the BCHL.
