Salmon Arm, B.C. – The Salmon Arm Silverbacks started off the 2023-24 regular season at home against the Vernon Vipers.
After an introduction of the Silverbacks roster and a ceremonial puck drop, the hometown team tried to keep rolling with the momentum early in the first applying the offensive pressure early. Five and a half minutes in, the Silverbacks faced their first challenge of the season as Nicholas Wolfenberg was sent to the box for roughing. A successful penalty kill to start off the season for the Silverbacks. Right back to the shorthanded unit for the ‘Backs as Adam Boatter got called for boarding, but once against the penalty kill standing strong and not allowing the Vipers to take advantage. The first chance on the powerplay came for the Silverbacks with six minutes left when Anthony Cliche got caught cross-checking. Even though the powerplay unit sent waves of scoring chances, Vipers goalie Ethan David stood his ground and kept the game scoreless.
It was a back-and-forth second period as both teams were able to find the back of the net. Starting early for the Silverbacks, Ryan Gillespie leads a two-on-one down the ice and sauces the puck over to Isaac Lambert who finishes off the rush, shoveling the puck in for his first of the season, giving the Silverbacks an early 1-0 lead. The Silverbacks then ran into penalty trouble. Chris Kobelka got caught hooking trying to defend the rush. A minute later, Lambert joined him in the box for a slashing call, giving the Vipers a five-on-three advantage which they took full control of. Adam Csabi takes the puck in the slot and rips it by Ryan Grout to tie up the game with a powerplay goal. The Silverbacks were able to kill off the remaining Lambert penalty. Coming right out of the BCHL media timeout, on the ensuing faceoff, Julian Facchinelli took control of the puck during the tie-up and ripped it through the arm of Grout to give the Vipers a 2-1 lead.
The Silverbacks stormed into the third period hungry for a comeback and found twine early. Ryan Gillespie stormed into the offensive zone with a head of steam and broke across the crease leaving the puck right on the goal line where the Silverbacks caught a lucky break when the Vipers defensemen knocked the puck into his own net. Gillespie got his first of the season, tying the game up at one. Less than a minute later, still on the attack, Kobelka launched a shot from the point which was deflected in by Reid Varkoyni cutting across the crease to give the Silverbacks back the lead 3-2. With a one goal lead, and the final minutes of the clocking ticking off, Lian Gayfer found his stick up high and got sent off for two minutes. Expanding their man advantage even wider, the Vipers pulled their goalie for a six-on-four attack but the penalty killers stood their ground as Gayfer stepped out of the box and the clock initially hit zero. It was celebration and head towards the dressing time for the Silverbacks but the Vipers weren’t convinced the game was over, pointing out a missed icing with five seconds left. The referees called back all of the players and added five seconds onto the clock which meant a six-on-five in the defensive zone for the Silverbacks. A clean faceoff win by Gillespie and the game was over for the second time.
Despite getting outshot 29-22, the Silverbacks came away with a 3-2 win.
