Four goals on the first 13 shots is a good way to start a hockey game.
Salmon Arm scored on their first, fourth, ninth, and thirteenth shots of the games and rode that to a 5-1 win over the West Kelowna Warriors.
It was five minutes before the first of the game overall was taken, but Salmon Arm made it count. Logan Shaw chipped the puck up the left wing for Olson Werenka who then centred it for Aiden Jenner. The Silverbacks rookie deflected the puck into the top right corner for the 1-0 lead.
Exactly five minutes later, the eventual game winning goal was scored by Matthew Verboon. Logan Shaw cut a puck off at the blue line, and put it on goal. In front, Matthew Verboon was able to deflect the puck in for his 20th of the season tying Justin Wilson for the team lead. The point extended Verboon’s streak to nine straight games, while John Little who had the helper made it 11 straight with a goal.
The goal would spark the West Kelowna Warriors, and they poured on the pressure. Chase Dubois on a partial breakaway sent a shot right into the chest of Ethan Langenegger with eight minutes left. A minute later Brandon Dent took the shot on a three-on-one and was denied. With four minutes left, Parm Dhaliwal sent a shot from the left faceoff circle destined for the top right corner, but the glove of Langenegger was able to windmill up. Another minute after that, Max Bulawka knocked down a clearing attempt right in front of the Silverbacks net, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Salmon Arm would push back, and Matthew Verboon driving the net drew a penalty sending Salmon Arm to their first power play of the game.
Going three for three on Saturday against Trail, the perfect streak would continue. Nick Unruh walked in from the left circle and put a backhand shot between the legs of Brock Baier. Salmon Arm would draw another late penalty, which transferred over to the second period.
The Silverbacks wouldn’t score on the man advantage, but moments after Cavin Tilsley stepped out of the box, Nick Unruh would take a drop pass from Aiden Jenner and score his second goal of the game. The best chance for West Kelowna came on a four on two with 11 minutes to go but Darren Rizzolo dropped down was able to break the play up.
In the third, West Kelowna nearly got on the board three minutes in, but Wyatt Head pinching in couldn’t beat Langenegger. They would eventually score just after the halfway mark with the former Silverback Austin Chorney scoring his third of the season. Salmon Arm couldn’t hold the puck at the offensive blue line and Lucas Cullen would turn the play towards the Salmon Arm end. From the right side his shot popped out, and Chorney was there to knock in the rebound.
Key Performer:
In his first BCHL multi-point game, Logan Shaw had possibly his best game in a Silverbacks jersey. He assisted on the first two goals of the game and was trusted with more and more playing time as the game went on. Up front, Nick Unruh had his fourth multi-goal game and made it three straight games with a goal. He now has five points in the last three games.
