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Silverbacks Start Christmas Break With A ‘W’!

SALMON ARM, B.C.  DECEMBER 22nd, 2016

The Silverbacks (15-18-1-2) are into their Christmas break following a weekend split versus the Penticton Vees (28-6-0-1). Salmon Arm outscored the Vees 5-2 last night (Saturday) at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm, ending Penticton’s win streak at five games.

The Vees got by the Silverbacks 3-2 in overtime on Friday in the South Okanagan, Salmon Arm scored both goals in the final 5:12 of regulation.

The visitors opened the scoring in the opening period on Saturday, but Ryley Booth’s fifth of the season and on the power-play tied the game 1-1 after 20 minutes. The Vees outshot the Silverbacks 14-13. Connor Sundquist potted his ninth of the season and gave Salmon Arm its first lead of night at 1:53 of the second period.

Mitch Skapski increased the lead to 3-1 with his 13th, a power-play goal at 10:02. Justin Wilson gave the Silverbacks a 4-1 lead at 16:05, his eighth of the season. Salmon Arm outshot Penticton 16-4 in the second period. Sundquist’s second of the game and 10th gave the Silverbacks a 5-1 lead at 3:16, the third power-play goal of the game for the home team.

The Vees finished the scoring and with the man-advantage at 13:47 of the final frame. The Silverbacks lead 12-10 on the shot clock in the final frame, and outshot the Vees 41-28 total. Nic Tallarico made 26 stops on Saturday and 20 saves on Friday in Penticton.

The game included 70 minutes in penalties, three fights and 10 power-plays with the Silverbacks finishing 3-for-7 on the man-advantage and 2-for-3 on the penalty-kill. Marcus Mitchell dropped the gloves with Ryley Risling at 18:05 of the second period. Spencer Hora and Nic Jones exchanged punches at 19:44. And Carson Bolduc fought with Kenny Johnson at 2:32 of the third after Johnson caught Elijiah Barriga with an elbow.

The season series is now tied 2-2, and the Silverbacks will host Penticton on Sunday, January 22nd at 3pm before finishing the regular season series on Saturday, February 18th in Penticton at 6pm.

Salmon Arm is 4-1-1-1 in December, 5-9-1-0 on home ice, and 10-10-1-1 in the Interior. The Silverbacks will resume game action on Thursday, December 29th on the road at the Vernon Vipers (18-13-2-2) at 7pm. And Salmon Arm will host the Vipers on Friday, December 30th at the Shaw Centre at 7pm.

Each Silverbacks game is webcast PPV at hockeytv.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/ Tune into Salmon Arm community radio each Monday at 7pm, Tuesday at 7am for 30 minutes or more Silverbacks hockey talk.