The Silverbacks (18-6-2-1) are back in action tonight (Saturday) at home to the Langley Rivermen (17-12-0-0) at 7p.m., and will host the Cowichan Valley Capitals tomorrow afternoon (Sunday) at 3p.m. at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm.
Tomorrow’s game will mark the return of Logan Mick and Matty Saharchuk to the Shaw Centre. The ‘Backs dealt the 19-year-old and 20-year-old forwards to the Rivermen early in October in exchange for forwards, 19-year-old Chase Zieky and 18-year-old Mitch Newsome.
The ‘Backs 22 player roster stayed intact through the December 1st CJHL card deadline, which requires each team to adjust from 35 to 25 cards. The Silverbacks now have three available player cards going into the January 10th, 2016 trade deadline.
The ‘Backs began this week ranked 14th in the country in the CJHL’s Top 20. The Silverbacks moved up from 17th last week, the Penticton Vees remain number one in the rankings and the Chilliwack Chiefs are 15th.
Forward Josh Laframboise was given a BCHL Player of the Week Honourable Mention. The 19-year-old had one goal, and four assists in the ‘Backs weekend wins over the Vernon Vipers. Laframboise now has eight goals and 19 assists in 26 games in his second season in Salmon Arm. Laframboise and 20-year-old Colton Thibault each have goals in their last three games, as well as Laframboise has points in his last five games.
The Silverbacks finished November’s schedule with back-to-back victories last weekend over their division rivals the Vipers. The ‘Backs won 5-1 at home on Friday, November 27th and 4-3 in Vernon on Saturday, November 28th. The Silverbacks now lead the season series 3-0 after a 6-2 win in Vernon on Wednesday, October 28th. The ‘Backs will be back in Vernon this coming Wednesday, December 9th at 7p.m.
Ross Heidt scored a pair of goals on Friday night and leads the team with 19 goals in 27 games. Heidt and Salmon Arm’s Carson Bolduc each have 31 points, one behind Taro Hirose who leads the ‘Backs with 32 points in 27 games.
Tomorrow will be the final regular season meeting, after the Rivermen opened the season series with a 3-2 win at the end of September at the Bauer BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack. And the ‘Backs won 3-2 in Langley on Saturday, November 7th.
Mathew Graham leads the Rivermen in scoring with 14 goals and 22 assists in 29 games.
The Silverbacks have scored 116 goals and have allowed 73 in 27 games. The Rivermen have potted 111, with 89 goals against in 29 games.
The ‘Backs power-play is running over 23-percent, with 36 power-play goals and 5 short-handed goals against. The Silverbacks penalty-kill is at over 82-percent, allowing 26 power-play goals against but leading the BCHL with 10 short-handed goals. Langley’s power-play is working at over 18-percent, with 27 power-play goals and 0 short-handed goals against. The Rivermen’s PK is over 76-percent, scoring a pair of short-handed goals and allowing 32 power-play goals against.
The Silverbacks finished November’s schedule with seven wins and two regulation losses. The ‘Backs are 3-4-2-0 versus the Mainland Division and 7-2-0-0 on Saturday’s this season. The ‘Backs are 9-2-2-1 in their first 15 games at the Shaw Centre.
The Rivermen finished 7-6-0-0 in November, which included handing the Vees their second loss of the season by a score of 4-2 in Langley on Friday, November 20th. The Rivermen are 5-4-0-0 versus the Interior Division and 6-6-0-0 in their 12 road games.
Tomorrow’s game is the annual Teddy Bear Toss with the Salvation Army, everyone who brings a bear to the game is asked to toss the teddy onto the ice when the Silverbacks score their first goal. Sunday’s 3p.m. start will mark Silverbacks Faith night, as local churches and groups will entertain fans.
The Silverbacks will play seven games in the final month of 2015, finishing at home to the Powell River Kings at 7p.m. on Saturday, December 19th. The ‘Backs will begin 2016 at home to the Surrey Eagles on Friday, January 1st at 7p.m. at the Shaw Centre, the first of 12 games in January.
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.
