Alex Gillies and Brett Beauvais scored the only goals, and 20 year-olds Adam Clark and Olivier Mantha turned in stellar performances as the SilverBacks and Vees skated to a 1-1 pre-season saw-off Friday in Salmon Arm.
The two netminders combined for 61 saves, including two breakaway stops by Mantha in the first period alone as shooters from both sides were stymied all evening long.
The 'Backs found the board first on a power-play 7:39 into the game on a goal from Alex Gillies. The Vernon product, making his pre-season debut, snuck down the left side and took advantage of open space in the slot to shovel a back-hander over Mantha's left shoulder.
Both teams enjoyed several chances in the opening frame combining for 25 shots on goal, but perhaps there were no better opportunities to score than a pair of 'Backs breakaways shortly after the midpoint. First, Landon Smith found himself in alone from the redline only to be foiled by Mantha's glove-hand, then, out of the penalty box Zach Urban strode in on a breakaway but his back-hand shot was stopped as well.
The score remained 1-0 Salmon Arm until the 6:57 mark of period two, when Vees defenseman Brett Beauvais unleashed a shot from the right-wing circle that beat Clark. Initially, the goal was disallowed but after a lengthy conversation between the officiating crew (and a fair amount of confusion in the press box), the decision was overturned.
Beauvais' goal rounded out the scoring as despite both clubs' best efforts, neither side was able to find a go-ahead marker. There were few whistles Friday and only five penalties combined (four of which were interference minors).
Up Next: the same two teams wind down the exhibition schedule Saturday in Penticton. Note the earlier-than-usual start time of 6:00 pm.
