SALMON ARM, SEPTEMBER 30th, 2016 – The Silverbacks (2-5) will visit the Wenatchee Wild (5-0-0-1) tonight (Saturday) at 7pm in Washington state, as each team plays the back half of back-to-back games this weekend. The ‘Backs fell 5-2 at home to the Merritt Centennials (4-2-1-0) on Friday night at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm, while the Wild won 7-5 at home over the Langley Rivermen (2-4-1-0).
The Cents scored the first four goals of the game and lead 4-0 after 20 minutes, and Merritt outshot the home team 14-7. Brandon Kegler started in goal, after returning to the Silverbacks on Thursday from Lethbridge, AB. Elijiah Barriga scored back-to-back power-play goals in the middle period, just over four minutes apart and cut the deficet in half. The second season Silverback of West Covina, California leads the team with six goals and four assists in the first eight regular season games.
The home team outshot the visitors 17-10 in the second but, trailed 4-2 into the third. The only goal of the final frame came into the empty Silverbacks goal with 1:39 remaining.
The Silverbacks outshot the Centennials 9-7 in the third, and 33-31 Salmon Arm total. The ‘Backs finished two-for-five on the power-play, and one-for-two on the PK.
LISTEN TO COACH BRANDON WEST’S THOUGHTS ON THE GAME:
The Silverbacks have yet to win a game on home ice in this regular season, 0-4 in September. Cameron Trott, Max Wutzke, Ben Evanish and Carter Cochrane watched on Friday.
Wenatchee leads the BCHL in goals scored, with 40 goals in the first six games. The Wild have allowed the second fewest goals-against with 19, as the Penticton Vees (6-1) have given up just 13 goals in their first seven games. The Silverbacks have scored the fifth fewest amount of goals, 22 in seven games and are tied for the second highest amount of goals-against at 31.
Each Silverbacks game is webcast PPV at bchl.fasthockey.com Each road game is broadcast live via voiceoftheshuswap.ca CKVS 93.7 FM and each home game is available audio only at mixlr.com/salmon-arm-silverbacks/
