The Salmon Arm Silverbacks got back in the win column, and Reid Cooper came up with a clutch performance in a big spot, beating his former team.
Cooper, the Silverbacks netminder, stopped 26 of 28 shots as Salmon Arm topped the Coquitlam Express 5-2 at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre in Coquitlam. His Express counterpart, Brock Hamm, didn’t have nearly as nice a time.
Hamm was pulled at the 26:58 mark after giving up four goals on 19 shots.
Salmon Arm led 3-0 through 20 minutes on goals by Tanner Campbell, Justin Wilson and Grayson Constable. The timing is a little off on the scoresheet, which has Riley Hayles scoring at 7:03. That would have been the goal that chased Hamm from the cage.
Clay Stevenson took over, surrendered a quick goal to Hudson Schandor, then shut the door the rest of the way.
The Express got third period goals from Jordan Schulting and Eric Linell.
Salmon Arm is now 13-3-0-1 since Christmas. Their only loss in their last 11 games was a 5-1 defeat vs Penticton last weekend.
