| The Silverbacks (11-3-2-0) went into Vernon last night (Wednesday) and beat the Vipers 6-2 in the first 2015-16 regular season meeting involving the division rivals. The ‘Backs have won five consecutive games, while the Vipers have now lost their last three.
Nick Hutchison opened the scoring and continues to lead the team in scoring, his eighth of the season just 1:32 into the opening period and on the power-play to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The Vipers thought they had scored at 8:26 of the first, but the play was waved off. Riley Booth was penalized five minutes for a blow to the head, along with a game misconduct at 15:09. And Josh Blanchard then potted his seventh of the season, short-handed and unassisted to give the ‘Backs a 2-0 lead at 17:30. Salmon Arm’s Colton McCarthy is the Vipers captain this season and he scored his ninth at 18:17 to cut the Silverbacks lead to 2-1. The Vipers outshot the ‘Backs 16-13 in the first period. Just 55 seconds into the middle frame, Cam Coutre was called for checking from behind and given a game misconduct along with his two minute minor. Ross Heidt had the lone goal in the middle frame, his 12th at 13:32 put the Silverbacks ahead 3-1. The ‘Backs outshot Vernon 11-9 in the second period. Marcus Mitchell scored the first goal of the third period, his fifth for a 4-1 lead at 15:55. But just 26 seconds later, the Vipers responded and got back within two. The visitors had the final two goals of the game, Colton Thibault’s eighth at 17:32 increased the lead to 5-2. And the sixth and final goal of the game was Chase Zieky’s fifth at 18:23. The Vipers edged the Silverbacks 14-13 on the shot clock in the third, and Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 39-37 with Angus Redmond stopping 37 of 39 shots. The ‘Backs power-play finished two-for-six, while the penalty-kill was six-for-seven. The Silverbacks and Vipers don’t meet again until the end of November, Friday the 27th at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm at 7p.m. before again on Saturday the 28th in Vernon at 6p.m. The ‘Backs begin a home-and-home set with the West Kelowna Warriors (9-5-0-2) tomorrow (Friday) at 7p.m. at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm. The ‘Backs lead the 17 team league with 72 goals scored and have the fourth fewest goals against with 43. 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 West Kelowna Warriors 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. |
