PHOTO: TAMI QUAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Salmon Arm, B.C. — The Salmon Arm Silverbacks and West Kelowna Warriors will battle one another on Thursday afternoon at Kal Tire Place.
West Kelowna edged the Backs 2-1 in the first meeting this past Saturday.
Today’s game has a 1 p.m. puck drop.
NOTABLE
Need 60 Minute Effort: The Silverbacks came all the way back from a 5-1 deficit on Wedsneday afternoon, which is surely a positive, but their five and a half minute lull in the second period where Vernon struck four times can’t be repeated again.
Similarly, the first time the Backs and Warriors met, Salmon Arm controlled most of the game, before allowing West Kelowna to score twice in the final six minutes and take the two points from right under their nose.
“Our last two games we’ve given I’d say a 53 minute effort in both,” Backs assistant coach Carter Cochrane said. “We know that we have the talent, the team, the structure, the discipline, all of the above to be the top team in this pod here and that’s our goal right now even with a slow start…As long as we come out and execute and find a way to be able to put that full 60 together, I think we’re right on the cusp of it ”
Goalie Dual Once More? In the first meeting between the two, goaltenders Owen Say and Zach Bennett stopped a combined 77 of 80 shots. All signs point to those same two manning their respective creases, given that Johnny Derrick played for the Warriors in Sunday’s loss to Vernon.
It’s tough to expect such a low scoring affair again, especially after the Silverbacks exploded for five goals on Wednesday, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see either.
Players to Watch
SILVERBACKS: DANIEL PANETTA
Panetta had a hat-trick on Wednesday, so this is kind of an easy choice. The Belleville, Ont. native plays in all situations for the Backs and fought through a hit from behind early in the third, but stayed in the game and scored two huge goals after the hit as part of the comeback.
“I couldn’t have been happier for [him],” assistant coach Carter Cochrane said of Panetta getting a hat-trick. “One of the most vocal guys in our dressing room after that second period and just backed up every word he said with his play.”
WARRIORS: CARTER WILKIE
Wilkie was arguably the most noticeable player on the ice in the first meeting between the two clubs and scored the game-winning-goal with 1:22 left. He skates extremely well and is off to a good start with two goals and three points through two games.
Tune In
As always, all games will be streamed live on BCHL TV, with the Braby Motors pre-game show getting underway at 12:45 p.m. BCHL TV is powered by Hockey TV, so if you have a Hockey TV subscription, you already have one for BCHL TV as well.
