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’Backs break losing streak

Home stand: Silverbacks gear up for three games at Shaw Centre.
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Spin-o-rama: Silverbacks’ forward Taro Hirose spins off the sidewall

This past week the Silverbacks earned three points from a possible six, in three games against Coquitlam and a home-and-home with Vernon.

Salmon Arm got off on the front foot while on the power play last Wednesday in Coquitlam.

The in-form Karl El-Mir scored his first power-play goal and third of the season, assisted by Josh Blanchard and captain Bryden Marsh.

After going up by two goals in the first period the ’Backs then gave up four unanswered goals throughout the first and second periods to the defending Fred Page Cup champions.

Coquitlam would hold on to their lead despite a strong push back by Salmon Arm, winning the game 5-4.

Last year in 43 games, captain Bryden Marsh scored 12 points. This year he has scored 11 points in 18 games and is on pace for 33.

Taylor Maruya also returned to action after suffering a mild concussion on Oct. 24 in a game against Trail.

The Silverbacks played host to the Vipers at the Shaw Centre on Friday evening for the first time this season, trailing Vernon by three points in the Interior Division.

Salmon Arm’s newest acquisition, Ryley Booth, an 18-year-old Armstrong native, played his first game against his former team.

“I’m starting to settle in here and feeling more comfortable, I’m really excited to play these guys (Vernon),” said Booth, now a Silverbacks defenceman before Friday night’s game.

For the second game in a row Salmon Arm opened up the scoring on the power play.

Taro Hirose scored his seventh of the season on Vipers goaltender, Jarrod Schammerhorn, off of a rink-wide pass from Shane Danyluk.

The Silverbacks started the third period still up by one goal, killing off four Vernon man advantages in the first two-thirds of the game.

Carson Bolduc doubled the lead for Salmon Arm snapping a shot past Schammerhorn from the high slot with six minutes remaining in the game.

Vernon pulled Schammerhorn for an extra attacker with two minutes remaining in the game, and with 24 seconds left on the clock scored a consolation goal – the final score was 2-1 for Salmon Arm.

The win snapped a four game losing streak for the Silverbacks, and is their fourth win at the Shaw Centre this season.

“I haven’t complained about our game in a long time, just our goal production and tonight we got one more than the bad guys,” said ’Backs assistant coach Misko Antisin.

“Finally everyone is smiling, we can relax for five minutes until we reset for tomorrow (Saturday).”

Saturday night the Silverbacks made the 60 kilometre trip south to Vernon for the second half of their home-and-home series, and third meeting of the season.

The Vipers leading goal scorer, Anthony Latina, opened up the scoring just 1:17 into the game on the man advantage thanks to a too many men penalty for Salmon Arm.

Two minutes after trailing, ex-Viper, Logan Mick, scored the equalizer set up by Taylor Maruya.

The ’Backs El-Mir tied up the game in the second period, then Bolduc scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season, giving the Silverbacks a 3-2 lead heading into the final frame.

A couple minutes into the third period Vernon tied up the game forcing overtime.

Both teams combined for a total of 12 shots in overtime, but could not find a winner.

The Interior Division rivals settled for a point each, and have split the season series, at 1-1-1-0.

Salmon Arm head into the weekend with a 7-7-1-4 record with 19 points from as many games, and are currently sitting fourth in the Interior Division.

The ‘Backs will start a three-game home stand at the Shaw Centre against Prince George on Friday night, Merritt on Saturday and Coquitlam for a Sunday afternoon matinee.