Salmon Arm, B.C. – The 2024/25 BCHL season got underway with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on the island to take on the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
The Capitals got on the board early in the first period to kick off their home opener. Three minutes in, the Silverbacks found themselves on the penalty kill when Carson Olsen took the first penalty on the year for interference. It only took eight seconds of powerplay time for Frederic Deschenes to find the back of the net with a point shot. The Silverbacks had two chances on the powerplay in the opening frame but could not take advantage. Despite trailing 1-0, the Silverbacks outshot the Capitals 17-7.
The second period got started with a bang for the Silverbacks as this game gets evened up. In the first three and a half minutes, Patrick Raftery streaks up ice on a two-on-one but decides to finish it himself, finding the bottom corner to get the first goal of the 2024/25 season. A minute later, it was Liam Bursaw’s turn to finish off an odd man rush when he sniped the top corner. Coming out of the media timeout, the Capitals tie up the game when Ben Portner deflects a puck in front. The Silverbacks add onto their shot on goal total after two periods, 35-15.
Grabbing control of this game in the third period, the offense of the Silverbacks continues to roll. Another early start, 90 seconds in, Scott Miner takes the puck at the blueline and throws it on net which slides underneath the pads of Capitals goalie Alexi Noskov to take the lead, 3-2. Falling into a bit of penalty trouble, the Silverbacks take two high sticking penalties in the third. With Maddux Martin in the penalty box and the Silverbacks a man down, they jump on an opportunity shorthanded. Liam Beamish pokes the puck free at the blueline and goes on a shorthanded breakaway and snaps one home to extend the lead 4-2.
The Silverbacks put up 49 shots in a 4-2 win over the Capitals. Andrew Ballantyne makes 28/30 saves to earn his first win as a Silverback.
(Photo credit: Kristal Burgess)
