Salmon Arm, B.C. – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks kicked off the final weekend of the regular season at home against the Cranbrook Bucks, looking to remain perfect in the season series.
The Silverbacks jump out to the lead in the first period. Starting the frame with back-to-back powerplays, the Silverbacks were not able to take advantage. After the BCHL media timeout, Jonah Aegerter won a clean offensive faceoff back to Adam Boatter who ripped one home for his first career BCHL goal. Both teams had the opportunity on the powerplay to end the first period.
The second period was back-and-forth with neither team scoring. Riley Ashe took the lone penalty for roughing to end the period. Eli Pulver made 8 saves in the middle frame to keep it a 1-0 Silverbacks lead.
The Silverbacks put the game away in the third period with the offense finding the back of the net a couple of more times. Three minutes in, on the powerplay with Sam Belanger in the penalty box for tripping, Reid Varkonyi collects his own rebound and finds the top corner to push the lead, 2-0. With five minutes left, with the Bucks on the powerplay, Donovan Frias finds himself with space in the slot and snaps one by to make it a 2-1 game. 13 seconds later, the Silverbacks had a huge answer, Patrick Raftery collected the puck in the offensive zone and stormed the net, popping it over the glove of the goalie.
Eli Pulver got his 23rd win of the season.
