The Scotiabank Tier 2 Bantam Silvertips played a pair of games against Trail last weekend, dropping a close one Saturday before a big win Sunday.
The ’Tips appeared a bit sluggish on Saturday allowing Trail to take a lead late into the second period. But after a penalty kill with time winding down, Ty Sanford stole the puck from behind the net on a strong forecheck and fed it out to the point for a boomer, which rebounded off the back boards right on the tape of Taylor Howard, who popped the lone goal. A scoreless third period resulted in a 2-1 win for the Smokies.
Sunday was a different story for the ’Tips, who dominated. Trail would get on the board first in one of rare lapses in coverage by Salmon Arm, but Marino Bordin’s slapshot from the point was too much for the Trail goaltender to handle.
Howard would give the ’Tips the lead under two minutes later, tapping in a point shot rebound on the power play. Easton Hunter gave the ’Tips a two-goal lead, burning down the left wing before tucking it in short side on Trail’s netminder. Tyson McCaig ripped a bar-down beauty from the slot a few minutes later to make the score 4-1. Bordin activated beast mode, driving through multiple defenders to pop his own rebound, sending the ’Tips into the first intermission with a four-goal lead. Trail would get one back early in the second, but Sanford scored on a breakaway a short time later.
Bordin completed the hat trick late in the second, jamming the puck into the net after a scramble in front, and Hunter would get his second to seal the deal for the ’Tips at the mid way point of the third. Trail would score towards the end of the game, making it 8 to 3.