Salmon Arm, B.C. – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks looked to keep their win streak alive and sweep the season series against the Spruce Grove Saints.
A lively first period sees both teams find the back of the net a couple of times. In the first seven minutes, the Silverbacks press into the offensive zone with Aidan Willis getting a brief breakaway, he elects to do a beautiful drop pass to Roenick Jodoin for a wide open one-timer, Jodoin’s 19th of the year, making it 1-0. Three minutes later, the Saints have the puck when Gabriel Kenny unleashes a point shot that gets tipped in by Ethan Kronewitt to tie up the game, 1-1. The Silverbacks head to their first penalty kill of the game when Tanner Walos gets called for a cross-checking penalty. On the man advantage, Austin Peters finds the back of the net to give the Saints the 2-1 lead. With four minutes left in the frame, a 2 on 0 rush finds the tape of Easton Walos who puts it into the open net for his 3rd of the season, 2-2.
A physical second period also has the Silverbacks take the lead. To start off the period, a big hit is delivered to Roenick Jodoin that Aidan Willis stands up for and drops the gloves with Luke McCrady. Both get 5 minutes for fighting and a 10 minute fighting misconduct. The Silverbacks would get their first powerplay of the game when Stephen Kirkpatrick was sent to the box for tripping. Unable to take advantage of the extra skater but shortly after Riley Ashe hammers home a rebound to the far side post to take the lead with his 11th of the season.
The Silverbacks add onto their lead in the third period. With five minutes left, Easton Walos slides in behind the defenceman in the slot and rips home a centering feed for his first career BCHL multi-goal game, his 4th goal of the season, extending the lead to 4-2. Spruce Grove would pull their goalie searching for a late comeback before Riley Ashe buries an empty net goal for his second of the game, 12th of the season.
Andrew Ballantyne helps the Silverbacks extend their winning streak to 5 games by making 26/28 saves.
(Photo credit: Kristal Burgess)
