SALMON ARM, BC: Quinn Disher scored his second of the night just past the midway point of the third period, as the Trail Smoke Eaters went on to defeat the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 7-5 in both teams’ season finale
The Silverbacks got off to a great start in this hockey game as they opened the scoring on the powerplay 1:55 into the game. Smoke Eaters forward Coalson Wolford went off for interference, and on the ensuing powerplay, Mat Bourgault was able to jam it home on the doorstep past goaltender Cole Tisdale for a 1-0 lead. The lead didn’t last long, as Zach Michaelis answered moments later as his shot went off a body and past Liam Vanderkooi to tie the game at one. The Smoke Eaters got a chance on the powerplay when Nathan Mackie went off for boarding. However, Trail could not cash in on their man advantage. The road side took the lead just before the midway point of the opening frame as Connor Michaud snapped it glove side on Vanderkooi to give the Smoke Eaters a 2-1 lead. But the Silverbacks tied the game moments later as Nathan Mackie forced a turnover and was able to snap a shot under the arm of Tisdale to tie the game at two. The goal was Mackie’s 6th of the campaign. Just over two minutes later, the Smoke Eaters again took the lead as Quinn Disher beat Vanderkooi, giving the road side a 3-2 lead. The Silverbacks outshot the Smoke Eaters 13-9 in the opening frame.
The middle frame was wild; to say the least, it consisted of five goals, three from the home side. A minute into the second period Bourgault got the gate for high-sticking, giving the Smoke eaters their second powerplay. They were unable to convert. The Silverbacks got a powerplay moments later as Ridge Dawson went off for tripping. They were taken off the powerplay when Liam Vanderkooi was called for tripping behind the net, meaning we needed 4 on 4 hockey. The Smoke Eaters took advantage of the extra space, and Michaud slid his second of the night past Vanderkooi to give the Smoke Eaters a 4-2 lead. The Silverbacks stormed back as they cashed in on yet another powerplay. It was Bourgault again putting a puck in as it just crossed the goal line. It was his second of the night and 12th on the campaign. 1:09 later, the Silverbacks struck again. Noah Serdachny ripped a shot off the pad of Tisdale, and it went right on the tape of Isaac Lambert, and he made no mistake potting home his 10th of the year to tie the game at four. Then just 22 seconds after that, it was Serdachny again getting in on the scoring as he wristed a shot blocker side for his 27th of the year and, more importantly, giving the Silverbacks a 5-4 lead. Again, that lead didn’t last very long, as just 30 seconds after that, Ethan Warrener tied the game, slipping his second of the year past Vanderkooi. In the middle frame, the Silverbacks outshot the Smoke Eaters 14-6 and held a 29-18 advantage through two periods.
The Smoke Eaters took the lead for good on the powerplay in the third period. Charlie Strobel skated the puck around the net and made a cross-crease pass to Quinn Disher, and he beat Vanderkooi blocker side to give the Smoke Eaters a 6-5 lead. Late in the third, Bourgault was assessed a five and game for checking from behind, putting the Silverbacks shorthanded for an eighth time. The Silverbacks pulled the goalie to go 5 on 5 but could not solve Tisdale. The Smoke Eaters would add an empty netter to make it 7-5. The Silverbacks close out the regular season with a 36-12-6 record and will now shift their focus to the Wenatchee Wild for the First Round of the Shaw BCHL Playoffs. Game 1 is at the Shaw Centre next Saturday, April 2nd, at 7:00 PM! Playoff tickets will go on sale Monday, March 28th.
