Salmon Arm, B.C. – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks hosted the West Kelowna Warriors at Rogers Rink.
Both teams find the back of the net for a tied first period. An early opportunity for the Silverbacks with a powerplay in the first two minutes of the game as Philip Monnich Hagen gets a holding penalty. A second powerplay chance at the 14:00 minute mark when Kelsen Podworny is sent to the box with a hooking penalty. Shortly after the penalty expired, Elias Callgren forces an offensive turnover and finds the back of the net to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead. Answering back quickly when Ben MacBeath jumps up from the blueline and snuck back door to finish off a beautiful passing play. It was MacBeath’s 3rd goal of the season.
West Kelowna explodes offensively in the second period to take a big lead. In the first 6 minutes, Kelsen Podworny forces the turnover in the neutral zone and heads in on a breakaway and makes no mistake to regain the lead for the Warriors, 1-0. The Silverbacks then run into some penalty troubles and it costs them. First, Ryan Philbrick gets a mandatory double minor penalty for kneeing. On the powerplay, Ian Alonso sets up in the slot and rips one top corner to extend the lead, 3-1. With four minutes left in the period, another penalty kill for the Silverbacks with Tanner Walos in the box for a holding penalty as he tries to defend the rush. On the man advantage, Joey Macrina taps in a back door feed for his first career BCHL goal, making it 4-1.
The third period sees the Warriors put the game away. Halfway through, the Silverbacks have a golden opportunity to start the comeback when Avel Lofgren takes a tripping penalty, but the Silverbacks were unable to capitalize. With two minutes left, the Silverbacks make one last push for a comeback by pulling the goalie but Elias Callgren finds the empty net for his second goal of the game, 5-1 Warriors.
Despite the loss, Andrew Ballantyne made 26/30 saves.
(Photo credit: Kristal Burgess)
