It’s been nearly three months, but the Trail Smoke Eaters are back in the Shaw Centre.
Salmon Arm clashed with the Kootenay based team last on October 27th with the Silverbacks coming out on top with a 4-2 win. Trailing 2-0 heading to the third period, Salmon Arm would get an early goal from Logan Shaw. Then with three minutes left the home side scored a trio to complete the comeback. Sam MacBean scored the game winner with 1:41 left in the game off a faceoff win from Aiden Jenner. It was MacBean’s first BCHL goal. In the Silverbacks second game of the season back in September, the team lost 6-3 down in Trail.
Both goals for Trail in that second game game came on the power play, and Matthew Armitage making his BCHL debut stopped 31 of 33 shots for the win.
Special teams have factored heavily into both games this season. Trail is a combined 5 for 14 on the power play while the Silverbacks are 2 for 8. Keeping count there, Trail has scored five of their eight goals this season against Salmon Arm on the power play, while the Silverbacks have two of their six on the man advantage.
On Vancouver Island last weekend for a triple header, Salmon Arm secured one win with a 4-0 shutout over the Nanaimo Clippers on Saturday night. Friday they seemed to play the better game, but couldn’t cash in on their chances and lost to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Sunday the team lost Hudson Schandor and Noah Wakeford to injury in the second period, and fell 7-2. The Smoke Eaters had a doubleheader in Wenatchee losing their third straight game Friday 6-2, but bounced back Saturday night defeating the Wild 4-3 in a shootout. Kent Johnson scored the lone goal for either side, making the 2002 forward a perfect four for four this (plus he’s one for one on penalty shots).
Both teams have very similar records within the division this season. Salmon Arm is 11-12-2 against Interior teams while the Smoke Eaters are 10-11-4-1.
In the Standings:
A Langley win over the West Kelowna Warriors Tuesday night was huge for Salmon Arm. The Warriors remain four points ahead for fourth in the Interior, but Salmon Arm has played two less games so they are able to make up that ground, which sets for an exciting home and home series next weekend with West Kelowna. One point behind Salmon Arm, the Vernon Vipers begin an Island road trip tonight taking on the Nanaimo Clippers.
This is a key weekend for the Trail Smoke Eaters as they look to climb out of seventh in the Interior. They are four points back of the Silverbacks, so a sweep this weekend would tie the two in points, but Salmon Arm has the current tie breaker having played fewer games.
A win tonight would clinch a playoff spot for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
Players to Watch:
Silverbacks: With his first BCHL goal against the Trail Smoke Eaters, defenceman Sam MacBean should have fond memories of his first in the league which stood as the game winner. In 54 games last season, MacBean had five assists on the season, and has already surpassed that in 45 games this season with one goal and seven assists. Since returning from the World Juniors, Matthew Verboon has yet to miss the scoresheet in six games. Playing on a line with Justin Wilson and John Little, Verboon has ten points in those six games. On the island he had one goal and five assists in three games.
Smoke Eaters: In two games against the Silverbacks this season, a pair of players on the Trail Smoke Eaters have three points. Both Kent Johnson and Diarmad DiMurro had three assists. Johnson is a 2002 player who recently committed to play at the University of Michigan where current Canucks prospect Quinton Hughes plays. The Port Moody forward leads all players of his age group in the BCHL with 36 points through 46 games. After a string of five points in five games, DiMurro now has two in the last five. He’s second on the Trail blueline with 27 points this year.
TUNE IN
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