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Goals an Issue in Merritt

For the second game in a row, Salmon Arm was on the wrong end of a 5-0 loss.

Coming off a nine hour day on the bus to get to Prince George, at least they had a bit more of an excuse Saturday night.

Starting to feel the injury bug, the Silverbacks had four regulars scratched from the loss Wednesday night against Merritt. Yewta Plamondon, Nick Unruh, and Justin Wilson were all out with injury, while Sol Seibel served his first game of a four game suspension after a major penalty for a hit to the head in Prince George.

A pair of plays went against Salmon Arm in the first period allowing Merritt to jump out to a 2-0 lead. While on a power play, a Silverback was cross checked from behind in front of the crease and sent to the ice. A scrum ensued, and the only team coming away with a penalty was a Silverbacks. While playing four-on-four, Vincent Guy came down on a two-on-one picking the top left corner for what stood as the eventual game winner. Three minutes later, an icing was called against the Centennials, when it was obvious the Merritt player was ahead of the Silverback defenceman. The two teams met at centre ice, and shortly after Nick Granowicz worked his way down for a breakaway beating Ethan Langenegger.

The calls went the other way for Salmon Arm in the second, and they earned a pair of five-on-three power plays, but were unable to capitalize. Merritt would take advantage of a late power play for themselves, and with five seconds on the clock, Mathieu Gosselin walked out from the corner and scored to make it 3-0 Cents.

With a 7-0 record when leading after two period, Merritt was going to be tough to take down for Salmon Arm. The Merritt high flying offence would score twice more in the third with both goals coming from the slot. Ben Ward was left all alone there, and taking a pass was able to score his first BCHL goal. With three minutes left in the game, Cents Captain Nicholas Wicks took advantage of a Silverbacks turnover, and scored to cap the game at 5-0.

Salmon Arm returns home for two games this upcoming weekend in the Shaw Centre. Friday night they play the Alberni Valley Bulldogs who they took down 4-1 at the BCHL Bauer Showcase, and Sunday afternoon at 3pm they have their first meeting of the season with the Vernon Vipers. On Friday, two lucky fans will have the chance to shoot for a car courtesy of Braby Motors. On Sunday, three shooters will look to win a $500 gas card to Co-op.