The Salmon Arm SilverBacks will miss the Playoffs for only the 2nd time in Franchise history, following a Wednesday loss in Merritt, that mathamatically eliminates the 'Backs from Playoff contention, with two games remaining.
Brendan Kennedy had the SilverBacks lone goal in the 5-1 loss, that will allow the Merritt Centennials to clinch 4th spot in the Interior.
The Centennials never looked back, after grabbing a 3-0 advantage in the 2nd Period; and while Kennedy made it 3-1 – Merritt went on to score two power-play goals of its own, in the 3rd Period.
Merritt out-shot Salmon Arm by a margin of 44-38, forcing the 'Backs Angus Redmond to make 38 saves, including 14 in the 1st Period, as the Centennials got off to a hot start on home ice.
The two teams tallied 57 Penalty Minutes in the spirited affair at the Nicola Valley Arena, the same building where the 'Backs clinched a Playoff spot, just one year ago.
The 'Backs now look to the weekend, as they play a Home-and-Home series with Penticton to end the season, starting in Salmon Arm, on Friday.
