The Atom Rec Leko Precast Samurais opened their season on Saturday with a game against the North Okanagan Knights in Armstrong.
Salmon Arm came charging out of the gate with Kashton Housden popping his first of the season just three minutes into the first period. Although they had many chances for the remainder of the first and the complete second period, the Samurai's were unable to solve the Knight's goaltender until early in the third when Abraxas Sharp would slip it between his pads and into the net, his first of two on the evening. Sebastien Sayers would tap in a rebound with 7 minutes left in the third, and Natasha Kociuba would seal the victory for Salmon Arm, set up by line mate Taylor Sanford.
Sunday's tilt versus Vernon had a different outcome for the Samurais, as they fell to the home team by an 8-7 final. Kociuba returned the favour from the previous game and set up Sanford for Salmon Arm's opening marker less than a minute into the game. That kicked off a seesaw battle with teams trading goals back and forth, but neither going up by more than two. Kurtis Einfeld, Sebastien Sayers, Kashton Housden and Jordan Perepolkin with a hat-trick rounded out the scoring for the Samurais.
Salmon Arm welcomes another Vernon team to the pond this Sunday.