The Silverbacks have now won three straight games, after a 5-1 victory at home over the Victoria Grizzlies (2-10-0-2) last night (Friday) at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm.
Jared Turcotte opened the scoring just 36 seconds into the first period, Turcotte’s third of the season from Mike Winnitoy and Josh Blanchard.
And after having a goal waved off, Taro Hirose scored his second of the season with 7 seconds remaining in the opening period. Brett Stewart assisted as the home team took a 2-0 lead into the middle frame. The Silverbacks outshot the Grizzlies 15-12, and Brandon Kelger got the start for his third game in goal with the ‘Backs.
The Silverbacks scored both of the goals in the second period and went ahead 4-0 after 40 minutes. Ross Heidt potted his ninth from Hirose and Colton Thibault at 6:50, and Thibault scored his seventh from Nick Hutchison and Carson Bolduc at 9:06.
The Grizzlies outshot the Silverbacks 12-11 in the second frame.
And Victoria got on the board early in the final period, ending the shutout bid at 1:30 as the ‘Backs lead 4-1.
Jared Turcotte scored his second of the game and fourth of the season at 5:57 from Thibault and Josh Laframboise, 5-1 Silverbacks.
The only penalties of the game came in the third, the ‘Backs failed to score on their lone power-play at 3:50. The Silverbacks penalty-kill then killed off the minors to Stewart for slashing and Cameron Trott for cross-checking.
The Grizzlies outshot the Silverbacks 14-8 in the third and 38-34 Grizzlies overall. 18-year-old Kegler stopped 37 of 38 for his first win with the Silverbacks.
The Silverbacks improve to 9-3-2-0 with 20 points in 14 games and still second in the Interior Division. The ‘Backs are now 5-2-1-0 in October with four games remaining.
The Silverbacks are tied for second in the BCHL with 61 goals scored, along with the Nanaimo Clippers. The Penticton Vees lead with 62 goals, but both the Vees and Clippers have played 15 games to the Silverbacks 14 games.
The Silverbacks are not in action today (Saturday) and will finish the weekend tomorrow (Sunday) versus the Merritt Centennials in a 2p.m. start in the Nicola Valley.
Elsewhere in the division on Friday night, the West Kelowna Warriors won 3-2 over the Vipers in Vernon. The Penticton Vees won their 14th consecutive game, 3-0 versus the Kings in Powell River. And the Trail Smoke Eaters scored three goals in the third to come from behind and eventually win 5-4 in overtime at home over the Centennials.
The Vees lead the Interior with 28 points, eight ahead of the Silverbacks in second. The Warriors sit third, two behind the ‘Backs while the Vipers are just three behind in fourth. The Centennials are fifth with 13 points and the Smoke Eaters are now just one back with 12.
The Silverbacks lost 2-1 to the Centennials earlier this month on Wednesday, October 7th at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm. And the ‘Backs opened the season series with a 7-5 win in Merritt on Tuesday, September 15th.
The Silverbacks final four games of October will be with Interior Division rivals. The ‘Backs visit Vernon on Wednesday, September 28th for their first regular season meeting with the Vipers. The Silverbacks will host the Warriors on Friday, October 30th at 7p.m. at the Shaw Centre in the first of a home-and-home set as the Warriors host on Saturday, October 31st at 7p.m. in West Kelowna.
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 audio only as well 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.
