Salmon Arm, B.C. – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks make their final trip to Alberta during the regular season to take on the Okotoks Oilers.
The Silverbacks grab the slim lead in the first period. With under two minutes left in the period, Donovan Hamilton jumps up with the puck and leads a rush offensively before sliding it back door to Payton Nelson for the easy tip in goal, it was Nelson’s 11th of the season. The Silverbacks out-shot the Oilers 11-6 in the first period. There was no penalties to either side in the opening frame.
Goals came fast and furious with both teams in the second period. Three minutes in, the Silverbacks win an offensive zone faceoff with the puck finding Ryan Philbrick’s stick for a one timer from the point, Philbrick’s 4th of the year. Three minutes later, the Silverbacks are pushing again with a mad scramble in front of the net, Maddux Martin gets his stick on it last to tap it in, his 19th of the year, making it 3-0. Another quick goal as within a minute, Aidan Willis is in the perfect place to hammer home a rebound into the empty net, his 6th of the season, 4-0. After the goal was scored, the goalie, Olivier Ciarlo, slashes Willis resulting in the only penalty of the game. The Silverbacks were not able to convert on the powerplay. In the final 5 minutes, the Oilers are pushing, when Ryan Boyce sneaks behind the defenceman and tap in the puck to get on the board, 4-1. 30 seconds later, Spencer Rheaume finds himself in the slot alone and scores again for the Oilers, 4-2.
Silverbacks add two more in the third period to take the big win. Just over a minute into the game, Scott Miner picks up the loose puck at the blueline and hammers a slap shot into the net, his 4th of the season. At the halfway mark, Easton Walos takes the puck down the left wing and snipes a sharp angle shot into the top corner, his 2nd of the year, making it 6-2.
Andrew Ballantyne gets the win, stopping 24/26 shots.
(Photo credit: Chad Goddard Photography)
