Salmon Arm, B.C. – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks hit the road for the first time in exhibition to take on the Penticton Vees.
The Vees were able to strike first to take an early lead. With five minutes to go, Jackson Potulny streaked down the left wing and was able to squeeze the puck past the arm of Ryan Grout and the post to make it a 1-0 game. The Silverbacks killed off two penalties in the opening frame along with having a powerplay opportunity. Penticton lead the shots on goal 15-5 after the first.
Penticton added onto their lead in the second period with one early goal and one late goal. Just over a minute in, the Silverbacks have a defensive zone turnover with the puck finding the stick of Eli McKamey alone in the slot and he makes no mistake, extending the lead 2-0. With five minutes left in the middle frame, Payton Nelson catches his man up high with a hit and gets an illegal hit to the head minor penalty which sends the Vees to the powerplay for the fourth time. While being a man up the Vees crash the offensive zone with the puck getting bobbled around the net and it bouncing off of Simon Meier’s foot and into the back of the net. After a video review, the goal stands and it’s a 3-0 game.
The offense wouldn’t stop for the Vees, pilling onto the lead even more in the third. Heading to the box once again in this game the Silverbacks take another penalty when Ryan Philbrick hauls his man down with a trip. The Vees once again strike on the powerplay when McKamey gets his second of the game by collecting the loose puck in a scramble and putting it top shelf. Less than four minutes later, McKamey completes the hat-trick when he finishes off a two-on-one break to push the lead to 5-0. Penticton wasn’t satisfied with five as Ben Merrill slides in another one with 30 seconds left in the game.
Ryan Grout stopped 32/38 in the losing effort.
(Photo credit: Cherie Morgan)
