In a weekend doubleheader, the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks felt home cooking, as they were able to wrangle two victories to push their win streak to four.
Coming off back-to-back road wins, Salmon Arm hosted the Trail Smoke Eaters on Friday, March 15 and the Coquitlam Express the following day.
Against Trail, the ‘Backs would showcase their offensive firepower early and often, scoring three time, twice on the power play, in the first two periods.
Cole Cooksey, Nathan Mackie and Cole Longacre each scored as the team outshot Trail 26-11 heading into the third.
Smoke Eaters forward Christian Kim found the back of net eight minutes into the frame to breathe life into a comeback, but Cooksey’s second of the night later in the period put to bed any hope of a Trail win. Salmon Arm would emerge victorious, 4-1.
Eli Pulver made 24 saves for his 21st victory of the season for Salmon Arm.
In game two on Saturday, the Coquitlam Express from the Coastal Conference came to town, as they were coming off a 3-2 victory over Cranbrook.
The ‘Backs would again start strong, with three straight goals in the opening two periods, this time from JJ Monteiro, Ryan Gillespie and Isaac Lambert.
Coquitlam would get on the board with Jake Manfre’s 21st of the year, however, Lambert would nab his second of the night just three minutes into the third to restore the three-goal advantage.
Kasper Walther-Sneve and Riley Ashe traded goals later in the frame as Salmon Arm would win, 5-2.
Ryan Grout made the start for the Silverbacks in goal, and he would turn aside 27 of 29 shots for his 10th victory of the season.
Salmon Arm (31-16-0-3) at 65 points, are just four back of the West Kelowna Warriors for seconds in the Interior Conference. The ‘Backs have just four games left in their season, as they head to Penticton to face the vaunted Vees on Saturday, March 23.
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