A former Silverback stole the show in Victoria.
Stopping 43 shots, Kyle Dumba was able to shutout his former team 2-0 in a game that the Silverbacks dominated.
On Victoria’s Teddy Bear night, things looked bleak for the team heading in with their top six scorers and top two goalies out with either injury or at the World Junior A Championships.
A breakaway goal from 20 year old Ryan Noble sent the teddy bears flying six minutes into the game, and an insurance marker from Edward Yan with eight minutes left in the first sealed the score. Salmon Arm outshot Victoria 43-25, and 27-12 in the final two periods.
Salmon Arm had their fair share of chances through the game. Justin Wilson rang a shot off the crossbar with 25 seconds left in the first. In the second shortly after a Silverbacks power play, Noah Wakeford received a cross ice pass but was robbed by the stretching glove of Dumba. In the dying seconds of the second period Hudson Schandor came down on a partial breakaway but was stopped by the Grizzlies netminder.
In the third, Salmon Arm had their best chance on a five minute power play with nine minutes left. Ryan Nolan hit Ethan McLaughlin into the boards, and received five minutes and a game misconduct for the play. McLaughlin remained on the ice for a few moments and was helped to the dressing room but would come back to the bench to finish the game.
Unfortunately for Salmon Arm they were unable to capitalize, and took two late penalties themselves to give Victoria a late five-on-three power play. The Grizzlies were unable to score, but it helped kill off a good chunk of the time left on the clock.
With the 2-0 loss, Salmon Arm will now head to Surrey tomorrow looking to pickup four of six points this weekend. Playing at home to Coquitlam Saturday night, the Eagles had a 3-0 lead, but wound up losing 8-4. The game starts at 4pm with pre-game show on 91.5 EZ Rock kicking off at 3:45.
