Raring to go with just one game on their weekend agenda, the Salmon Arm SilverBacks charged out to a three-goal lead Saturday against the visiting Surrey Eagles but needed a late Taylor Maruya goal to earn a 5-4 victory.
Jeff Kennedy and Michael Roberts put the ’Backs up a pair after the first and Thomas Plese made it 3-0 early in the second but that seemed to wake up the Eagles. Twins Nathan and Jonah Renouf scored goals with Anthony Conti chipping one in as well to even it up heading into the third.
Maruya was the hero in the final 20 minutes, scoring twice as part of a four-point, first-star night to seal the win.
“He’s a very talented hockey player, very good on both sides of the puck,” said SilverBacks associate head coach Brandon West. “Taylor really stepped up; for him to break out for a big four-point night was a big confidence boost for him.”
A sloppy middle frame made Maruya’s late efforts necessary. After surrendering the game’s first three goals, Surrey surprised the Gorillas.
“I thought they (Jonah and Nathan Renouf) were very hard to handle,” said West. “They play a 200-foot game and they actually reminded us a lot of (former Vernon Vipers stars) the Jones twins.
“(The Renoufs) are committed to Quinnipiac University, where the Joneses are now. We knew that Quinnipiac (scouts) were in the crowd that night and they definitely put on a good show.”
And they got to tangle with future Quinnipiac teammate Landon Smith, who was limited to just an assist on the game. West said overall the Eagles presented a tough test in that they showed few tendencies with their unpredictability and skill amongst their forward group.
“We take pride in our structure but they’re very tough to defend at times,” said West of the Eagles, who are coached by former NHL player Peter Schaefer. “They have very talented top lines. We won a few battles in the third and were able to seal the deal.”
Also making that possible was the stellar effort of the game’s third star, ’Backs goalie Angus Redmond who wound up with 30 saves.
“We thought he was good all game,” said West. “All the breakdowns we had in the second, they were not his fault. Early in the game he was clutch for us; he was sensational in the third period in giving us the win.”
Despite giving back a three-goal lead, the SilverBacks again showed they can make adjustments to momentum swings within the game and didn’t panic themselves into a loss. Previous incarnations of the team may have done so.
The ’Backs visit Penticton Friday at 7 before hosting the Vees Saturday, Hockey Day in the city, also at 7.