For the second time this season, the Silverbacks embark on the three games in two and a half days stretch.
Sunday afternoon they host the Prince George Spruce Kings, tomorrow they will return to the Shaw Centre taking on the Trail Smoke Eaters, and tonight they take the trip south to West Kelowna.
The two sides have played three times already this season with the home side taking the victory in all contests. In West Kelowna the Warriors won 5-3 thanks to a three goal outburst in the third. The next night at home Salmon Arm shut the door winning 4-1 on the back of a two goal performance from Tyson Gayfer. The next week Aiden Jenner and John Little scored the first goals of their BCHL careers, and Hudson Schandor scored twice enroute to a 5-2 win.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams since a cross check to the face of Justin Wilson sent the Silverbacks leading scorer into the back boards. There was no penalty or suspension from the play, and the Silverbacks third year forward remains out with an upper body injury.
After being shutout in two straight games, the Silverbacks are coming off a pair of home wins beating the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 5-3 Friday night, and a 4-3 overtime win Sunday afternoon against the Vernon Vipers ending a two year home winning drought against their Interior rivals.
Deadlocked in the standings with 17 points, this is a key game for West Kelowna as the Silverbacks do have a game in hand. After losing three straight games, the Warriors rebounded nicely last weekend with two big wins. First they beat the Penticton Vees 3-2 at home, and followed that up in Trail winning 4-3 in a tough building.
Players to Watch:
Silverbacks: The overtime winner against the Vipers ended a five game scoring drought for sophomore forward Hudson Schandor. Of the now sixteen goals he has scored in the BCHL career, Sunday’s was the first game winner for the North Van forward. His last goal(s) came in that two goal effort against the Warriors. Playing in his second game with the team, look out for Jarrod Semchuk tonight. One of the leading scorers in the BCMML with the Thompson Blazers, Semchuk made his debut with the Silverbacks last week in the Sunday afternoon game.
Warriors: Last times these two teams met, it was the veteran line of Cavin Tilsley (20), Bennett Norlin (turns 20 today), and Lucas Cullen (19) combining to score both goals for the Warriors. Combined this season the trio have scored just six goals, but they sure looked good in their last trip to Salmon Arm.
TUNE IN
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