The Salmon Arm Silverbacks begin the BCHL regular season tonight, at home to the defending BCHL champion Penticton Vees at 7p.m., at the Shaw Centre.
23 players are on the ‘Backs roster, with Logan Mick still injured but Carson Bolduc returned to practice on Tuesday. 17-year-old goaltender Daniel Toews of Chase, BC along with 18-year-old import forward Aaron Aragon and 20-year-old defenseman Brody Valette were taken off of the active roster last weekend as each team is limited to 6, 20-year-old and 6 import players. 19-year-old returning goalie Zach Dyment is set to backup 20-year-old Angus Redmond.
The captain and assistants were chosen on Tuesday, as 20-year-old returning import defenseman Philip Middleton will wear the ‘C’. 20-year-old Colton Thibault, along with 19-year-old’s Carson Bolduc and Taro Hirose are the assistant captains.
The Vees have five returnees from last season’s team (Brendan Barry, Gabe Bast, Dante Fabbro, Demico Hannoun, Tyson Jost) who won the BCHL title and lost in double-overtime in the RBC Cup National Championship semi-final. Also in goal, 20-year-old Anthony Brodeur, a New Jersey Devils draft pick and son of NHL hall of fame netminder and former Devil, Martin Brodeur.
The Silverbacks lost 2-1 in overtime in Penticton on the final night of regulation play this past February, as the ‘Backs finished one point shy of an Interior Division playoff spot.
The ‘Backs finished the pre-season with a record of 3-2. The Silverbacks lost 10-3 at home to the West Kelowna Warriors this past Friday at the Shaw Centre. But, responded last Saturday with a 3-1 victory over the Warriors in the Okanagan. The Vees played three pre-season games, winning 3-2 at home over the Warriors last Wednesday before hosting the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior League over the weekend. The Vees scored a 6-5 overtime win Friday before a 5-5 tie Saturday.
The Silverbacks second game of the regular season is set for Tuesday, September 15th at Merritt versus the Centennials at 7p.m. The ‘Backs will be back at the Shaw Centre on Saturday, September 19th at 7p.m. versus the Coquitlam Express.
Tickets for tonights game are on sale now by calling the box office at 250-832-3856.
IT’S GO TIME!
