After two straight games being shutout, Salmon Arm rolled out the goals Friday against Alberni Valley in a 5-3 win.
The Bulldogs got off to the hot start though as former Penticton Vee Ryan Miotto came down on a partial breakaway beating Chapman under the blocker. On a power play, Alberni Valley doubled their lead 11 minutes in. Mitch Deelstra danced his way through the defenders, and was able to snap a shot top corner.
Zero goals in the last six periods, Nick Unruh broke the scoring slump with his second goal of the season, and second in a row at home. Coming down the left side he fired a shot, swooped around the net, and was able to pickup his own rebound scoring into the net with Hawthorne sprawled out.
On a carryover power play from the first period, Nick Unruh scored his second of the game taking a feed out front of the net from Akito Hirose who had pinched down. Salmon Arm took their first lead with 5:40 remaining as Olson Werenka did a great job controlling the puck while his teammates changed. The puck was eventually worked out for a 2-on-0 with Noah Wakeford and Tyson Gayfer. A give and go play was finished off by Tyson Gayfer potting his fourth goal of the season.
A quick goal from the Bulldogs tied the game in third as Miotto scored a goal nearly identical to his tally in the first. Coming down this time on a 2-on-1, he released another shot that snuck inside the right post. Alberni Valley would head to another power play, but the PK of the Silverbacks came up strong. Overall they were six for seven on the penalty kill. The power play capitalized shortly after the kill earning themselves a five-on-three.
A great passing play resulted in a tic-tac-toe goal finished off by Trevor Adams. Akito Hirose from the point fed the puck to the right of the net for Matthew Verboon who one timed it across the net for Adams to knock in.
Trailing 4-3, Alberni Valley pulled John Hawthorne for the extra attacker. Noah Wakeford would get the puck eventually for Salmon Arm, and broke out on a 2-on-1. With a chance to score himself, he saw Unruh to his left, passed him the puck, and last year’s rookie of the year fired a shot into the empty net for the hat-trick. It was the second three goal night for the forward, having scored a trio last season against the Langley Rivermen.
FAST FACTS
- Wins by West Kelowna and Salmon Arm moved them into a three way tie for third in the division with the Penticton Vees.
- The Silverbacks will host the Vernon Vipers Sunday afternoon after Vernon plays Saturday night against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. SASCU members receive 2-for-1 tickets, and there will be a public skate following the game.
- The Bulldogs last win in the Shaw Centre came January 17th 2014
Key Performer
With the team struggling to score goals coming into this game, the line of Nick Unruh, Tyson Gayfer, and Noah Wakeford was electric against Alberni Valley. The trio scored four of the five goal for Salmon Arm, and had a number of opportunities throughout the game. In the last two home games, Nick Unruh now has four goals to his name. To see him scoring is a great relief for the team after it took 11 games for the monkey to pop off the back. His lethal shot was noticeable when he missed Wednesday’s game against Merritt.
On defence, Akito Hirose ended a six game point drought adding two assists. He was much more confident in the game jumping into the rush a number of times. It helped his scoring numbers early in the season, and it was good to see that side of his game return. He is tied with Olson Werenka for scoring on the team amongst defencemen. Both players have two goals ans six assists in 14 games this year.
