The Salmon Arm Silverbacks transitioned into March with a loss and a win at Rogers Rink.
On Friday, Feb. 28, the 'Backs were bested by the West Kelowna Warriors who finished the game with a 5-1 win. One of the two goals scored in the first frame was scored by Salmon Arm's Ben MacBeath, assisted by Cole Cooksey and Riley Ashe. The Warriors added another three goals in the second frame – two of them power-play conversions. The final goal of the night was an empty netter scored late in the third.
Despite outshooting their guests, the Silverbacks' offensive was repeatedly repelled by Warriors goalie Edouard Gauthier, who made 37 saves. The 'Backs' Andrew Ballantyne tallied 26 saves.
The following evening, March 1, the Silverbacks faced off against the Prince George Spruce Kings. The home team was first to light the scoreboard with a goal scored by Maddux Martin at 13:28 in the first frame, assisted by Donovan Hamilton and Sawyer Prokopetz. The next goal was delivered at 6:56 in the third frame by Keifer Miller, assisted by Riley Ashe. The Spruce Kings found the back of the net with a power-play conversion late in the frame, though Salmon Arm would have the last word with an empty netter scored by Tucker Shedd, assisted by Martin.
Spruce Kings goalie Charles-Edwards Gravel stopped 34 shots on net, and Salmon Arm's Daniel Dirracolo blocked 23.
Next up for the Silverbacks is a pair of away games, the first against the Cranbrook Bucks on March 7, followed by a March 8 contest versus the Okotoks Oilers. The 'Backs will be back on on March 14 and 15 for games against the Powell River Kings and the Spruce Grove Saints.
