The Salmon Arm Silverbacks picked up a pair of wins on the weekend, elevating the team to fifth in the BCHL with just four games left in the regular season.
On Friday, March 14, the ‘Backs bested the Powell River Kings 3-2 after the action got off to a slow start, with no scoring and just one penalty assessed (Kings) in the first. The game then moved to a tie in the second, with Powell River lighting up the board first before Silverbacks forward Cole Cooksey rippled the twine just over a minute later. Tucker Shedd and Scott Miner picked up the assists.
On a power play at 2:17 of the final frame, Roenick Jodoin earned his 18th goal of the campaign to put the 'Backs in the lead. Nine seconds later, though, Brendan Giles scored the Kings' second marker of the night to make it 2-2.
Riley Ashe found the back of the net just over four minutes later with the game-winning goal. Despite the Kings pulling their goalie twice in the final minutes of play, they were unable to find the tying goal.
Daniel Dirracolo blocked 19 shots in the win, while the team out-shot the Kings by more than double with 46 tries.
The following night, March 15, the ‘Backs won 5-2 over the Spruce Grove Saints, with Jodoin, Ashe and Easton Walos scoring goals.
The teams split the first frame, with Jodoin opening scoring before the Saints found the back of the net with two. Walos then scored the tying goal, with Jodoin and Ben MacBeath picking up assists.
With his first of two on the night, Ashe pushed the ‘Backs into the lead with the game-winner and lone goal of the second, assisted by Cooksey and Donovan Hamilton. Walos and Jodoin teamed up to add an insurance goal late in the third, before Ashe solidified the win as the clock wound down, scoring on an empty net at 19:27, with Cooksey and Sawyer Prokopetz collecting assists.
The Silverbacks are on the road this weekend, March 21 and 22, as they take on the Trail Smoke Eaters in the Cominco Arena. The puck drops at 7 p.m. on both nights.
