The Silverbacks (11-3-2-0) host the West Kelowna Warriors (9-5-0-2) tonight (Friday) at 7p.m. at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm. Tonight will be the second meeting of the season and game one of a back-to-back, home-and-home set as the Warriors will host the ‘Backs tomorrow night (Saturday) at 7p.m. in West Kelowna.
The Silverbacks have won their last five games, after going into Vernon this past Wednesday, October 28th and beating the Vipers 6-2 in the first regular season meeting involving the division rivals. The ‘Backs handed the Vipers their third consecutive loss.
The Silverbacks are 7-1-0-0 in the Interior and 7-2-1-0 in October.
The Warriors have won their last two, coming off of a 4-2 victory at home versus the Victoria Grizzlies on Sunday, October 25th. West Kelowna is 5-3-0-1 in October and 3-4-0-1 in the Interior Division.
The ‘Backs beat the Warriors 4-3 in West Kelowna on Friday, October 16th to begin the Silverbacks current streak. The ‘Backs got out to a 3-0 lead early in the second period before the Warriors scored three of the final four goals. The Warriors outshot the Silverbacks 45-23.
The Silverbacks are 5-2-2-0 at the Shaw Centre this season, while the Warriors are 2-3-0-1 on the road.
The ‘Backs lead the 17 team league with 72 goals scored and have the fourth fewest goals against with 43. The Warriors have scored 55 and allowed 50 in 16 games.
Nick Hutchison leads the Silverbacks in scoring with eight goals and 13 assists, one ahead of Taro Hirose who has two goals and 18 assists in 16 games. Ross Heidt leads the team in goals with 12, and with five assists he is fifth among the Silverbacks in scoring. Hutchison is ranked 12th in BCHL scoring, while Hirose is in 15th and Carson Bolduc rounds out the top 20 scorers with seven goals and 11 assists.
Liam Blackburn is atop the Warriors in scoring with 10 goals and 11 assists in 16 games, good for 10th in BCHL scoring.
The Warriors have the number two ranked power-play in the BCHL at 26.15%, behind the Nanaimo Clippers, and 17 power-play goals. The Silverbacks PP is fourth in the BCHL at 21.18% with 18 power-play markers.
The Silverbacks and Warriors sit fifth and sixth in the BCHL on the penalty-kill, the ‘Backs at 85.57% and the Warriors at 83.54%. The Silverbacks lead the BCHL with six short-handed goals and the Warriors have two.
The Penticton Vees (15-1) still lead the Interior Division and the BCHL with 30 points in 16 games. The Silverbacks have 24 points in 16 games and are atop the Interior, six points behind the Vees. The Warriors sit third and trail the ‘Backs by four, while the Vipers sit in fourth and six behind the Silverbacks. The Centennials are in fifth and nine behind the Silverbacks. The Trail Smoke Eaters (6-9) are in sixth, just two points 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.
