The Silverbacks have now won three consecutive games, improving to 14-17-0-1 on Tuesday night with a 4-3 victory on the road at the West Kelowna Warriors (13-16-0-1).
The home team opened the scoring in the opening period, 4-on-4 at 18:23 and the Warriors lead 1-0 after 20 minutes. West Kelowna outshot Salmon Arm 17-9. Jared Turcotte’s 10th of the season tied the game 1-1 just 45 seconds into the second period and with the man-advantage.
Nathan Iannone gave the visitors the lead 2-1 with his first BCHL goal of the season at 13:25.
The Silverbacks lead 2-1 into the third period, outshooting the Warriors 19-10 in the second.
Justin Wilson opened the scoring in the third, with back-to-back goals increasing the lead to 4-1. Wilson’s fifth and sixth at 3:40 and 6:00 respectively.
West Kelowna would score the final two goals of the night to get within one, at 10:36 and at 18:48 and 6-on-4 with the goaltender on the bench and on the power-play with Stephenson off for roughing.
West Kelowna outshot the Silverbacks 16-5 in the third and 43-33 Warriors total.
Nic Tallarico earned his third straight win in goal, making 40 saves on Tuesday.
The Silverbacks finished 1-for-5 with the man-advantage and 4-for-5 on the penalty-kill, including a 68 second 5-on-3 with Hora penalized for roughing and Booth for high-sticking in the back half of the third.
The Silverbacks were without Grayson Constable, Akito Hirose and Julian Timba as each recovers from injury. As well, Marcus Mitchell is away from the team at the World Junior Hockey Challenge camp in Leduc, Alberta. The 18-year-old is one of 60 players looking to earn a spot on Team Canada West.
The Silverbacks will get back to practice on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of Friday night at home to the Vernon Vipers (15-12-0-3) at 7pm at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm.
Fans are encouraged to bring a stuffed animal to Friday’s game as part of the 16th annual Teddy Bear Toss. All donations will go to the Salvation Army in Salmon Arm, and fans are asked to place their stuffed animal in a plastic bag before throwing it onto the ice immediately following the Silverbacks first goal of the game.
Vernon is in action tonight (Wednesday) on the road at the Penticton Vees (25-5-0-1) at 7pm.
Salmon Arm will face the Vees next Friday in Penticton at 7pm in the first of a home-and-home set which will conclude next Saturday, December 17th at the Shaw Centre at 7pm. The Silverbacks will then move into their holiday break, and resume game action on December 29th in Vernon at 7pm before hosting the Vipers on Saturday, December 30th at the Shaw Centre at 7pm.
All nine of the Silverbacks games in December will be with Interior Division opponents.
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.
