The Silverbacks (18-25-2-3) will visit the Langley Rivermen (25-16-2-5) tonight at 6pm, less than 24 hours after Salmon Arm fell 6-3 to the Chilliwack Chiefs (34-10-0-5) in the Fraser Valley on Friday.
Neither team found the back of the net in the opening period in Chilliwack, and the Chiefs lead 12-5 on the shot clock. Silverbacks affiliate forward Trey Thomas opened the scoring in the second period at 4:04, the 17-year-old of Williams Lake, BC with his first BCHL goal. Spencer Hora then dropped the gloves with Kale Kane at 5:25, and Max Wutzke beat up on Ben Fanjoy at 9:15. The Silverbacks were down to four regulars on the back end, but Jared Turcotte stepped up and finished the game on defense. Elijiah Barriga increased the visitors lead to 2-0 with his 24th at 7:48. Chilliwack then rattled off three straight in just over seven minutes and the Chiefs lead 3-2 into the third. The Silverbacks were outshot 13-6 in the middle period. The Chiefs opened the scoring in the third with their fourth consecutive goal. Austin Chorney got Salmon Arm back within one, the second of the season for the defenseman out of nearby Abbotsford, BC who began this season in Chilliwack. But the Chiefs scored twice in the final nine minutes, including a power-play goal as Jared Turcotte was off for roughing. The Silverbacks were outshot 21-5 in the final frame, and 41-17 Chilliwack total on the shot clock. Nic Tallarico made 35 stops in the loss. The Silverbacks finished 0-for-2 on the power-play, and 1-for-2 on the penalty-kill. Riley Hayles sat on Friday after leaving last Saturday’s game due to injury. Ryley Booth missed his fifth consecutive game with injury, and Connor Sundquist is missing another weekend due to injury. Affiliate forwards Thomas and Daine Dubois, along with defenseman Jesse Pomeroy are into the lineup this weekend. The 17-year-old’s each play with the Caribou Cougars out of Prince George in the BCMML.
The Silverbacks are now 11-12-1-1 on the road, and 3-7-0-1 versus the Mainland division.
The Rivermen lost last night as well, 5-2 at home to the Prince George Spruce Kings (22-21-2-4). Langley won 6-3 in Salmon Arm on January 14th. The Silverbacks next home game is set for Tuesday, February 7th with the Trail Smoke Eaters (23-21-0-4) at 7pm at the Shaw Centre.
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.
