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Backs Prevail In Game 7, Meet Warriors in Round 2

SALMON ARM, BC: The Salmon Arm Silverbacks scored three goals three minutes apart near the end of the first period as they went on to defeat the Wenatchee Wild 6-3 in Game 7 to advance to the Second Round of the Shaw BCHL Playoffs.

Game Seven. It doesn’t get better than this. The Salmon Arm Silverbacks had an opportunity to punch their ticket to the second round of the Shaw BCHL Playoffs. The crowd was electric all night long, and the Silverbacks fed off it. The Backs came out flying to begin with a pair of odd-man rushes within the first couple of minutes. Noah Serdachny had a chance in front of the net but was denied by Tyler Shea. The Silverbacks opened the scoring with over four minutes left in the first period. Ethan Ullrick did some excellent work below the goal-line and worked it up to the top of the point to Lucas Matta, who then got the puck through, and it was tipped home in front by Mat Bourgault sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The Silverbacks were just getting started offensively. Two minutes later, Isaac Lambert jammed home a loose puck in front of Shea for his third of the playoffs and, more importantly, doubling the lead. One minute later, they struck again, Simon Tassy got it to the top of the point, and Mike Ladyman made a move to create himself some space, and his shot beat Shea glove side to give the Backs a 3-0 lead. It was Ladyman’s first of the playoffs.

In the second period, Andy Vlaha took over in goal for the Wild as Shea was relieved of his duties after allowing three goals on 15 shots in the first period. After that, the pace picked up, and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks began to dictate the game. They were quick to retrieve pucks in the offensive zone. Off of an offensive zone faceoff, it went to Jake Lammens, and he skated down the wall and was able to find a wide-open Nathan Mackie in the slot, and he beat Vlaha, making it 4-0 Backs. Moments later, the Silverbacks got the first powerplay of the hockey game as Simon Tassy drew a holding penalty, sending Brett Oberle to the box. The Silverbacks wasted no time in striking on the man advantage. Fifty-nine seconds into the powerplay, Mike Ladyman got a shot through, and it was tipped home by the captain Daniel Panetta to make it 5-0 Backs. It was Panetta’s third of the playoffs. The Wild added a goal late in the third as Cade Littler tipped home a Jakob Karpa point shot cutting the Silverbacks lead to four. Despite outshooting the Backs 13-5 in the middle frame, the Wild saw themselves down 5-1 after forty.

In the third period, Parker Murray quickly beat Say off the post and in, just 2:16 into the final frame. The Wild pushed the Silverbacks hard in the third period outshooting them 13-4, and threw everything but the kitchen sink at Owen Say. Say stood tall for the Silverbacks making numerous saves in tight to preserve the three-goal lead. The Wild pulled the goalie with over six minutes to go in their season, and it worked. Hunter Hastings was able to beat Say after a mad scramble in front of the Silverbacks goal. Cutting the lead to 5-3. The Silverbacks hung on as Panetta iced the game into the empty net. The Silverbacks will meet the West Kelowna Warriors in Round 2 of the Shaw BCHL Playoffs.