The Silverbacks scored three second period goals enroute to a 4-2 win at home over the defending BCHL champion, Penticton Vees last night (Friday) at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm to open the 2015-16 BCHL regular season.
Elijiah Barriga of West Covina, California gave the ‘Backs a 1-0 lead and potted his first BCHL goal with 3:24 remaining in the opening period. Former Vee, Josh Laframboise assisted on the goal that gave the home team a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. 20-year-old starter Angus Redmond stopped all 10 of the Vees first period shots, with the ‘Backs firing 7 shots at Vees starter Brendan Barry.
In the second period, 19-year-old Barriga got back on the scoreboard with a short-handed marker from Nick Hutchison at 7:29 after 18-year-old forward Jared Turcotte of Moorpark, California was penalized for hooking at 5:58.
The visitors finally found the back of the net, as a pair of 19-year-old forwards connected. Easton Brodzinski beat Redmond at 14:03 from Seamus Donahue.
But just 29 seconds later, Josh Blanchard restored the two goal lead. And Laframboise and Hutchison each picked up their second assists of the game.
Ross Heidt and Taro Hirose later connected and increased the lead to 4-1 at 18:41 of the second period. The Silverbacks outshot the Vees 16-12 in the middle period.
The Vees made a goaltending change in the second intermission, as 20-year-old Anthony Brodeur relieved Barry who stopped 19 of 23 shots in the first 40 minutes.
Penticton scored the only goal in the final frame with Hutchison penalized for roughing, Brodzinski potted his second of the night and on the power-play at 4:46. 18-year-old Owen Sillinger picked up the assist.
The Vees outshot the Silverbacks 13-8 in the third, and Penticton finished ahead on the shot clock 35-31 overall.
The ‘Backs power-play finished 1-for-4, while the PK was 6-for-7.
Both teams are not back in action again until this coming week, as the Silverbacks take their 1-0 record on the road into the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena in Merritt on Tuesday at 7p.m.
The Centennials are at home to the West Kelowna Warriors tonight (Saturday) in the back half of a home-and-home set. The Warriors erased at 3-1 deficit in the first period last night (Friday) and came back to win 6-4 at home in the Okanagan. As well in the Interior Division, the Trail Smoke Eaters went into Vernon and beat the Vipers 5-3.
Tuesday’s game time is set for 7p.m. in the Nicola Valley and will be broadcast live via www.fasthockey.com, audio only at http://bit.ly/1s0deO7 as well as CKVS 93.7 FM, the Voice of the Shuswap and www.voiceoftheshuswap.ca Tune in tomorrow night (Monday) for the debut of ‘Backs Talk, live at 7p.m. each Monday night throughout the season featuring the latest on the Silverbacks including interviews with the players and coaches.
