A goal and two helpers from Andy Stevens helped the Silverbacks to their second win in as many days at the BCHL Bauer Showcase.
Period 1 wasn’t pretty for Salmon Arm, but they came out leading 1-0 after 20. They were able to kill off the one penalty they took, and a nice play by Andy Stevens sparked the opening goal. Taking the puck from his own blue line, the 20 year old defenceman got the puck deep into Bulldog territory himself. He was able to get the puck out to Hudson Schandor who spotted Akito Hirose at the blueline. Stevens defence partner was able to evade a few forwards, get a shot from the slot, and find twine behind Cole Demers. Shots after one were 14-17 for the Bulldogs, and had a number of good opportunities including one puck slide right along the goal line, but Devin Chapman making his second BCHL start was able to keep them out.
Andy Stevens scored his first goal as a Silverback five minutes into the second. Tyson Gayfer won a faceoff back, and the defenceman had his long wrister find the top corner of the net. Heading to a power play with five minutes to go in the period, Salmon Arm looked to extend their lead but instead saw it reduced to one goal. Austin Spiridakis stole the puck around centre, and went down uncontested beating Devin Chapman with a backhand shot. That would make it 2-1 after 40.
Salmon Arm was able to dominate the shot clock in the second outshooting the Bulldogs 17-7 to lead that category 24-21.
In the third it was a pair of Silverback rookies chipping in to cap the scoring. First it was Chilliwack boy Jonathan Krahn digging a puck in for his first BCHL goal, followed up 22 seconds later by Logan Shaw scoring to make it 4-1. There weren’t any major chances by Alberni Valley to come back in the game, and the Silverbacks won for their seventh straight game at the Showcase.
STAR PERFORMERS
Andy Stevens- Named the first star of the game, Stevens looked dominant on the backend once again. Good timed rushes combined with smart defensive plays seem the be the bread and butter of this 20 year old. He didn’t have a point in Friday’s win over the Grizzlies, but was key in shutting down the top line with Riley Hughes a New York Rangers and Alex Newhook a projected first round pick in this year’s draft.
Devin Chapman – His debut in Trail didn’t go as the rookie would have liked, allowing six goals on 28 shots. Facing 28 shots Saturday against Alberni Valley, he stopped 27. That included a busy first period where he faced 14 shots stopping them all.
Tomorrow the Silverbacks are in Coquitlam to take on the Express in another afternoon tilt. 3pm will be the start time in the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex when the two teams faceoff.
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