The Silverbacks (9-11-0-2) will host the Merritt Centennials (8-10-1-2) tonight (Friday) at 7pm at the Shaw Centre, and Salmon Arm will make it’s first trip of the season to the Trail Smoke Eaters (16-4-0-1) on Sunday.
The Silverbacks have lost three straight, including 5-2 at the West Kelowna Warriors (13-8-0-0) on Wednesday of this week.
Salmon Arm took the first penalty of the game on Wednesday, as Ryan Hogg was called for boarding just 3:39 into the first followed by the Warriors captain Jared Marino off for slashing at 6:26. The home team got out to a 2-0 lead with back-to-back power-play goals in the opening period. Noah Wakeford was penalized for tripping at 8:50 followed by the Warriors 1-0 goal at 9:33. And West-K went ahead 2-0 at 11:45 after Grayson Constable’s boarding penalty at 10:16. The Silverbacks second power-play came at 15:47 of the first with Michael Ryan off for interference. Logan Mostat and Jake Harrison finished the period with roughing after the whistle penalties at 19:10.
West Kelowna outshot Salmon Arm 15-9 in the first and lead 2-0.
The Warriors scored the only goal of the second, 3-0 at 3:41. Tanner Campbell returned to the Silverbacks lineup on Wednesday and was penalized for tripping at 14:25. Campbell later got into it with Stephen Kleyson and each went off for roughing after the whistle at 16:41. As well, West-K gave the Silverbacks their third and final man-advantage of the night with Jake Harrison’s cross-checking penalty and also at 16:41.
The Warriors lead 15-6 on the shot clock in the second, 30-15 overall and 3-0 into the third.
West Kelowna went ahead 4-0 at 5:15 of the final frame and 5-0 at 7:41. Kyle Dumba started the game in goal for the Silverbacks but after five goals and 35 shots was relieved by affiliate Ethan Langenegger. Riley Hayles got the visitors on the board with his second of the season at 10:39 which cut the deficit to 5-1. Demetri Kambeitz then dropped the gloves with Harrison at 10:51. Austin Chorney went off for interference at 14:15. And Hayles finished the scoring with his second of the game and third of the season at 19:56, 5-2 Warriors.
The Silverbacks outshot the Warriors 22-8 in the third but 38-37 West-K total. Salmon Arm finished 0-for-3 with the man-advantage and 3-for-5 on the penalty-kill.
Langenegger stopped the three shots that he faced in relief, the 17-year-old is with the BCMML’s Thompson Blazers in Kamloops. 16-year-old defenseman Timber Lewis was also back in the lineup on Wednesday and is with the T-Blazers. And 15-year-old Wyatt Marlow of the Okanagan Hockey Academy affiliated up front.
West Kelowna now leads the season series 2-1 and the division rivals will meet again on Saturday, November 25th in the Okanagan.
Spencer Hora has been suspended four games by the BCHL following a five minute major penalty for head contact last Sunday, Hora’s suspension started on Wednesday in West-K. Josh Latta, Justin Wilson and Marcus Mitchell were each listed out of the lineup with injuries in West-K. Campbell and Julian Timba returned to the lineup on Wednesday. Mitch Stapley and Bo Didur were also scratched.
Stapley was moved to the Calgary Canucks in the AJHL on Thursday. The 20-year-old defenseman of North Vancouver, BC had two goals and 10 points in 21 games with the Silverbacks this season.
The Silverbacks have been outscored 69-90, while the Centennials have outscored their opponents 69-66.
The Cents won 5-4 in double overtime in Salmon Arm on Saturday, October 21st and the season series began with the Silverbacks winning 7-4 at home over Merritt on Friday, October 6th.
Merritt began November on the road and is 2-0-1-0, coming off of a 5-4 victory at the Surrey Eagles (9-9-1-2) last Sunday, November 5th.
Salmon Arm fell 4-1 at home to the Powell River Kings (12-4-1-1) last Sunday, and this current skid began with a 6-3 loss at the Vernon Vipers (15-4-3-0) last Friday, November 3rd.
Silverbacks home game tickets are available at the Box Office at the Shaw Centre. Adults $14, Seniors $12, $7 for Children under 12-years-old. Also, a family pack for $25 includes 2 Adult tickets, 2 Children’s tickets, along with 4 complimentary Silverbacks hats. Contact the Silverbacks at (250) 832-3856 and www.sasilverbacks.com
Each Silverbacks game is webcast PPV at hockeytv.com Each home game is broadcast, audio only at mixlr.com/salmon_arm_silverbacks/ Each road game is broadcast live via voiceoftheshuswap.ca CKVS 93.7 FM
