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Silverbacks Drop Home Opener

The Silverbacks will play their first regular season road game tonight (Saturday) as they meet the Vipers in at Kal Tire Place in Vernon at 6pm, one night after falling 6-3 at home to their rivals as each began the 2016-17 BCHL regular season at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm.

The visitors opened the scoring on Friday, with Hunter Zandee’s goal just 2:29 into the first period and Vernon took that 1-0 lead into the second period. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 10-9 in the opening 20 minutes.

Connor Sundquist scored the first Silverbacks goal of this new season and tied the score 1-1 just 1:27 into the second period, a short-handed marker with Carter Cochrane penalized for cross-checking at the end of the first. The Vipers took the lead back, 2-1 courtesy of Jimmy Lambert at 4:32. Josh Latta fired a shot from a sharp angle at 9:03 to tie the score 2-2.

But the visitors responded less than a minute later, as Steven Jandric beat Silverbacks starter Trevin Kozlowski and put Vernon ahead 3-2 at 9:48. Michael Botiz then relieved Kozlowski after the 19-year-old allowed 3 goals on 18 shots.

Sundquist scored his second of the game and a power-play goal, 3-3 at 11:36. The Vipers outshot the ‘Backs 20-10 in the middle period.

Vernon scored the only 3 goals of the final period. Niko Karamanis gave the Vipers their fourth lead, 4-3 at 9:25and short-handed. Lambert potted his second at 12:06, 5-3 Vipers and a power-play goal as Nathan Iannone was off for slashing. And Derek Osik finished the scoring, 6-3 into the empty Silverbacks net at 18:48.

The ‘Backs outshot the Vipers 15-6 in the third, but Vernon finished ahead 36-34 total. Michael Botiz allowed 2 goals on 17 shots. The Silverbacks power-play was 1-for-7, while the penalty-kill was 2-for-2 with a short-handed goal.

Silverbacks captain Mitch Skapski missed the opener with an injury, along with scratches Spencer Hora and Max Wutzke.

The Silverbacks will play 3 of their first 4 regular season games at home, with back-to-back home games set for next weekend. The ‘Backs will host the Chilliwack Chiefs on Friday, September 16th and at home to the Coquitlam Express on Saturday, September 17th. Each game next weekend is set for 7pm at the Shaw Centre. The ‘Backs will play 7 games in total in September, and 3 on the road beginning tonight(Saturday).

Each Silverbacks game is available via Fast Hockey PPV bit.ly/1LWasN2, while road games will be broadcast live audio only/no charge via the Voice of the Shuswap, Salmon Arm Community Radio 93.7FM bit.ly/1pkztYv