The Silverbacks suffered back-to-back losses this weekend, the opening weekend of the 2016-17 BCHL regular season. The ‘Backs gave up 4 goals in the third period on Saturday night and fell 5-3 on the road to the Vernon Vipers, one night after the Vipers spoiled the Silverbacks home opener with a 6-3 victory at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm.
Vernon opened the scoring on Saturday for the second consecutive night, as Riley Brandt snapped a shot past Michael Botiz for a short-handed goal at 6:47 of the first period.
Carter Cochrane tied the score 1-1 with his first as a Silverback at 9:53 of the opening frame, and 18-year-old first season Grayson Constable of Lethbridge, Alberta scored his first BCHL at 16:42. The ‘Backs took a 2-1 lead into the middle period, outshooting the Vipers 13-10. Salmon Arm’s Carson Bolduc had the lone goal in the second, 3-1 Silverbacks at 8:31 on the power-play. The home team outshot the visitors 13-9 and the ‘Backs took a two goal lead into the third.
The Vipers got within one just 32 seconds into the final frame, tied the score 3-3 at 6:18 and went ahead 4-3 at 12:46. Vernon added an empty net marker in the final minute for the 5-3 come from behind victory. The Vipers outshot the Silverbacks 20-13 in the final frame, and 43-35 Vipers total. Michael Botiz made 38 stops in the loss, the 18-year-old of Oakville, Ontario with his first start in BCHL.
The ‘Backs finished 2-for-4 with the man-advantage on Saturday but allowed a short-handed goal for the second consecutive game, as well as the penalty-kill was 1-for-3.
Silverbacks captain Mitch Skapski missed his second consecutive game with an injury, along with Ben Evanish and Max Wutzke who watched Saturday’s game.
The Silverbacks play 3 of their first 4 regular season games at home, with back-to-back home games set for this coming weekend. The ‘Backs will host the Chilliwack Chiefs (1-0) on Friday, September 16th and the Silverbacks will be at home to the Coquitlam Express (1-1) on Saturday, September 17th. Each game next weekend is set for 7pm at the Shaw Centre.
The ‘Backs will play seven games in total in September, three on the road as they travel to the Bauer BCHL Showcase on Friday, September 23rd. The Silverbacks will meet the Nanaimo Clippers (0-1) on Saturday, September 24th at 10am and face the Surrey Eagles (0-1) on Sunday afternoon, September 25th at 1pm.
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
