SALMON ARM, BC- The Salmon arm Silverbacks open up the second half of the season tonight on the road in Merritt. This is the third meeting of the season between these two teams. The Backs opened up the season in Merritt with a 3-1 win on October 9th. Then Salmon Arm defeated them 7-2 November 5th at the Shaw Centre. This is the Silverbacks first game since December 17th, when they had a 4-3 come-from-behind victory at home against the Prince George Spruce Kings. They sit second in the Interior division with a 19-4-1 record, one win behind the Penticton Vees.
Players to Watch:
Simon Tassy: Coming off a dominant first half of the season. Leading the league in points (41), short-handed goals (4), and sits second in goals with 22. The Minnesota State commit has been the motor for the Silverbacks offence all season; he has racked up six goals and 11 assists in his last ten games. In that span, he has five multiple-point games. He will be looking to build off an impressive first half.
Brandon Santa Juana: Santa Juana is in his first season with the Silverbacks after coming over in an off-season trade with the Surrey Eagles. He’s been a staple on the Backs second line with captain Daniel Panetta. Santa Juana sits third in team scoring with ten goals and 15 assists. He has been productive the last ten games with four goals and six assists over that span.
Mike Ladyman: Ladyman is in his final junior season and first with the Backs after coming over in a trade at the beginning of the season. He is 5th in team scoring with four goals and 13 assists.
A Look At The Opposition
It’s been a disastrous season for the Centennials, as they sit in the division’s cellar with a 1-20-1 record. Over the Christmas break, the Centennials dismissed Head Coach and General Manager Dave Chyzowski from his duties and replaced him with Curtis Toneff. Toneff comes over from the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, where he served as the assistant coach.
Jerzy Orchard leads the Cents offensively with 15 points in 22 games. The Cents have lost seven games in a row.
