Salmon Arm, B.C. – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks travelled to Alberta for the first time in franchise history and took on the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
The Silverbacks found themselves trailing after the first period. With five minutes left, Matthew Croxall got his stick on the puck last during a scramble in the crease for the 1-0 Sherwood Park lead. Only 15 seconds later, off the ensuing faceoff, Chris Battaini rocketed one perfectly in the top corner to extend the lead, 2-0.
Salmon Arm was able to get on the board in the second period but not enough to cut into the deficit. A minute in, Payton Nelson taps home the rebound, being in the perfect position at the perfect time, to make it a 2-1 game. That’s all the Silverbacks could muster up on the score clock as ten minutes later, Matthew Croxall would rip home his second of the game to push the lead to two goals once again.
The Crusaders would add in an insurance goal in the third period. Salmon Arm would have one chance on the powerplay early in the final frame, pushing for a comeback but it was unsuccessful. With two minutes left, Tristan Buckley banked the puck off the pads from a sharp angle that hit twine and pushed the game to 4-1.
Despite the loss, Andrew Ballantyne made 34/38 saves.
