The Silverbacks won their 10th game of the season yesterday (Sunday), 5-4 over the Merritt Centennials (6-11-0-1) at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena in Merritt.
The ‘Backs allowed the first goal at 6:54 of the first period and played from behind throughout the game.
Marcus Mitchell’s fourth of the season, a power-play marker from Josh Blanchard and Phil Middleton tied the score 1-1 at 9:22.
The Cents took the lead back in less than 60 seconds, 2-1 as Zak Bowles beat Angus Redmond unassisted at 10:20.
Carson Bolduc scored the final goal of the first frame and with the man-advantage, 2-2 for Bolduc’s seventh at 17:10 from Josh Laframboise and Chase Zieky.
The Silverbacks outshot the Cents 20-8 in the opening 20 minutes.
Merritt took the lead back 2:35 into the second period, but Ross Heidt finished the period with his 10th to tie the score 3-3 with 1:49 remaining as Taro Hirose and Laframboise assisted.
The ‘Backs outshot the home team 16-6 in the middle period.
And Merritt regained the lead just 1:19 into the third, 4-3.
Cameron Trott’s second BCHL goal and second in as many weekends tied the game 4-4 at 3:02, as Trott blasted a shot from the line past Cents starter Colten Lancaster. Hirose and Blanchard assisted on the Silverbacks third power-play goal of the game.
Heidt’s second of the game and 11th of the season gave the Silverbacks their only lead, 5-4 from Trott and Hirose at 8:42 of the third period.
The ‘Backs killed off another penalty, late in the period as Colton Thibault was off for charging at 17:06.
The Silverbacks outshot the Centennials 14-7 in the third and 50-21 total.
The Silverbacks killed off all six Centennials power-plays and finished three-for-six with the man-advantage.
The ‘Backs penalty-kill is now ranked third in the BCHL at 85.71%, while their power-play is fifth at 20.78%.
Heidt’s two goals keep him atop the team in goals scored with 11. Hirose finished with three assists, Blanchard two helpers. Blanchard is now second in team scoring, with six goals and 12 assists in 15 games. Nick Hutchison leads with seven goals and 12 assists in his first 15, and the 20-year-old second season Silverback of Hicksville, New York announced on Sunday his commitment to the NCAA Div 1 Canisius College Golden Griffins of the Atlantic Hockey Conference. Hirose leads the team in assists with 15 and two goals for 17 points in 15 games.
The Silverbacks improved to 6-1-0-0 versus Interior Division opponents and 10-3-2-0 overall with 22 points in 15 games. The ‘Backs now lead the season series with the Centennials two games to one. The fourth meeting of the season is set for Friday, November 13th at 7p.m. at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm.
The Silverbacks are 6-2-1-0 in October ahead of their first meeting with the Vernon Vipers (8-8-0-1) on Wednesday of this week, October 28th at 7 p.m. in Vernon.
The ‘Backs also picked up their first Sunday victory of the season, now 1-1-1-0 to begin each week.
In the other Interior Division action on Sunday, the West Kelowna Warriors (9-5-0-2) came from behind to win 4-2 at home over the Victoria Grizzlies (3-11-0-2). The Grizzlies shutout the Vipers in Vernon 2-0 on Saturday, after Victoria began it’s Interior Division trip by losing 5-1 to the Silverbacks on Friday in Salmon Arm.
The Penticton Vees (15-1) still lead the division and BCHL with 30 points in 16 games. The Silverbacks remain second with 22 points in 15 games. The Warriors trail the ‘Backs by two, the Vipers are five behind and in fourth while the Centennials sit fifth and nine behind with the Silverbacks. The Trail Smoke Eaters (6-9) are in sixth, just two points behind the Cents.
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 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
