Trail, BC – For the third time this season, it was the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (14-11-2-1) travelling into Trail to take on the Smoke Eaters (13-11-1-2). The two teams had met twice already in the first half of the season, with each squad coming away with one victory. The Smoke Eaters came into the game on a roll, as they had won five straight games, while the Silverbacks were looking to end a three game losing streak. There was just two points separating the Smokies’ and ‘Backs between fifth and sixth place in the interior division standings heading into the Saturday night clash.
It was Carter Richardson (4-1-1-0, 2.70 GAA, .908 S%) getting the nod between the pipes for the Silverbacks, and Keegan Maddocks (2-2-0-0, 4.57 GAA, .877) getting the start for the Smoke Eaters.
The game came out to a furious pace as the Smoke Eaters looked to impose their strong play on the Silverbacks. They jumped out to a quick two goal lead as Adam Parsons (10), and Ridge Dawson (5) got on the board within the first three and a half minutes. Just over three minutes later it was Lynden Hanvold (1) getting his first BCHL Goal to pull the Silverbacks within one. Trail responded quickly, as just five seconds following the ‘Backs goal it was Rhett Hamilton (2) restoring the Smokies two goal late. Late in the period it was Jules Boilard (2) getting his first as a Silverback to pull the Silverbacks within one. Shots in the first favored Trail 15-6.
Period two started off with Salmon Arm looking to weather the storm as they came out flying out of the gates. They were able to draw their first penalty of the game as they went to work on the man advantage. While they weren’t able to capitalize on the powerplay, they picked up some much needed momentum. Just a few moments later it was Hayden Stavroff (2) picking up the puck from the blueline and squeezing one past Maddocks to get things knotted up at three a piece. The teams traded penalties in the period following the goal, and the Smoke Eaters were able to capitalize. It was Nick Remissong (11) getting the powerplay marker to restore the Smokies’ lead. Shots in the middle frame were 12-7 for Salmon Arm.
The final frame was a much different looking period to which we saw in the first two as it was filled with back-and-fourth opportunities. The Silverbacks came close to beating Maddocks as they searched for an equalizer, but he was able to shut the door in the final period of play. Brady Hunter (8), and Ethan Mann (5) added singles in the third which helped catapult the Smoke Eaters to a 6-3 victory of the Silverbacks. Shots ended up 30-26 for Trail.
Next up for the Silverbacks will be their holiday break! The ‘Backs will have two weeks off of the game schedule before they return to action on New Years Eve Day when they travel into Merritt to take on the Centennials. Puck drop will be at 2:00PM on December 31st.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Small
