The Silverbacks (11-4-2-1) are back in action Friday and on the road versus the Surrey Eagles at 7p.m., as the ‘Backs begin three games in as many days in the BCHL’s Mainland Division.
The Silverbacks and Eagles swapped defensemen earlier this week, as 20-year-old Kodi Schwarz of Langley, BC is now a Salmon Arm Silverback and 19-year-old Brett Stewart of Penticton, BC is now a Surrey Eagle. Stewart was acquired from the Alberni Valley Bulldogs earlier this year and had three goals, two assists along with 23 penalty minutes in 16 games with the ‘Backs. Schwarz racked up 13 assists and four penalty minutes in 18 games with the struggling Eagles, in this his first season in the BCHL.
The Eagles began the week having lost their last five games and at the bottom of the six team division, with four wins and 14 regulation losses in their first 18 games. Surrey had scored 42 goals, the third fewest in the BCHL and had allowed 86 which was the second highest goals against as the Merritt Centennials have allowed 91 goals in 20 games. The ‘Backs have scored 77 goals, the second highest total in the BCHL along with the Wenatchee Wild. The Silverbacks have allowed 51 goals in 18 games, the fifth fewest amongst the 17 teams.
The Silverbacks have six wins and two regulation losses in their first eight regular season road games, and have outscored their opponents 34-27 away from the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm. The Eagles have three wins and five losses in South Surrey, while being outscored 31-19 in eight home games.
The ‘Backs will visit the Langley Rivermen Saturday at 6p.m., for the second of three regular season meetings with the Rivermen. Langley handed the Silverbacks their first loss of the season, 3-2 on Thursday, September 24th at the Bauer BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack. The Rivermen began this week with 11 wins and six regulation losses for 22 points in 17 games and third in the Mainland Division, one point back of the Chilliwack Chiefs (10-5-1-2) and three behind the first place Wenatchee Wild (11-5-2-1). The Silverbacks will conclude the weekend trip on Sunday, November 8th at 5p.m. in the Fraser Valley versus the Chiefs.
The Silverbacks come into the weekend having lost their last two games, after a home-and-home set with the West Kelowna Warriors last weekend. The ‘Backs fell 5-4 in overtime at home to the Warriors on Friday, October 30th and lost 3-1 in West Kelowna on Saturday, October 31st. Both the Warriors and Silverbacks each have three points after three games in the season series. The Silverbacks and Warriors will meet next on Saturday, November 14th at 7p.m. at the Shaw Centre.
And the ‘Backs next home ice action will be on Friday, November 13th when they host the Merritt Centennials at 7p.m. as the Silverbacks begin parents weekend in Salmon Arm.
The Silverbacks played 12 games in 31 days in October, finishing with seven wins, three regulation losses, one tie and an overtime loss during one of their busiest months of the season. The ‘Backs will play 12 games in both January and February of 2016 as well. The ‘Backs have nine games scheduled in November, five on the road and four at home.
Nick Hutchison leads the team in scoring with 10 goals and 14 assists in 18 games. Ross Heidt leads the Silverbacks with 12 goals, along with six assists.
The Penticton Vees (17-1) lead the Interior Division and the BCHL with 34 points in 18 games. The Silverbacks have 25 points in 17 games and are atop the Interior, nine points behind the Vees. The Warriors (11-5-0-2) sit third and trail the ‘Backs by just one point, while the Vernon Vipers (9-9-0-1) sit in fourth and six behind the Silverbacks. The Merritt Centennials (6-13-0-1) are in fifth and 12 points behind the Silverbacks. The Trail Smoke Eaters (6-11) are in sixth, just one point behind the Cents.
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.
