PHOTO: Guy Bertrand
The Trail Smoke Eaters aim for back-to-back wins as they host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks for the first time in the new season on Saturday night at the Trail Memorial Centre.
Smoke Eaters vs. Silverbacks 2018/19 Regular Season Schedule:
Friday, September 14th @ Trail Memorial Centre (7:00 PM)
Saturday, October 27th @ Shaw Centre (7:00 PM)
Friday, January 25th @ Trail Memorial Centre (7:00 PM)
Saturday, January 26th @ Trail Memorial Centre (7:00 PM)
Friday, February 8th @ Shaw Centre (7:00 PM)
Saturday, February 9th @ Shaw Centre (7:00 PM)
The Smoke Eaters come into the weekend set of games after taking three of a possible four points from the West Kelowna Warriors in a home-and-home series. The Smoke Eaters fell in the season opener in Trail on Friday night as West Kelowna came from behind for a 4-3 overtime victory before the Smokies earned their revenge with a 6-4 victory at Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna.
Trail has had their fair share of success against their rivals from the Shuswap over the past season, having won each and every matchup between the two teams during the 2017/18 season. The Smoke Eaters outscored the ‘Backs 20-8 in their three victories on home ice in their season series a year ago while outscoring Salmon Arm 14-10 in the three wins on the road at the Shaw Centre.
Smoke Eaters Leading Scorers:
Michael Hodge (1-4-5)
Braeden Tuck (2-1-3)
Trevor Zins (1-2-3)
Hayden Rowan (2-0-2)
Kent Johnson (1-1-2)
The Smoke Eaters have had some of their best success against the Silverbacks over the last two season, having swept the ‘Backs during the 2017/18 season series and have not lost to Salmon Arm in their last seven meetings. Games at the Trail Memorial Centre have been especially good for the Smoke Eaters, having won 9 of their last 10 games against Salmon Arm on home ice.
A pair of Smoke Eaters were recognized for their strong weekend against the Warriors as honourable mentions for the BCHL’s Player of the Week award. Michael Hodge had a terrific opening weekend in his debut with the Smoke Eaters, compiling a goal and four assists for five points while Hayden Rowan also had a strong pair of games against West Kelowna, earning two goals and three assists for five points in his opening weekend with Trail.
Special teams played a big part in the Smoke Eaters first two games of the season after collecting four power play goals in their 6-4 win in West Kelowna on Saturday. Trail’s power play had a large presence in the season series against Salmon Arm a year ago, going 10/24 (42%) and scoring in five of their six head-to-head matchups. That percentage helped the Smoke Eaters to the 4th best man advantage in the BCHL during the 2017/18 season.
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks enter play on Friday night after just one game being played a week ago as the ‘Backs earned their first victory of the season in the way of a 4-2 defeat over the Merritt Centennials. Akito Hirose (1-1-2), Hudson Schandor (1-1-2) and Trevor Adams (0-2-2) each had multi-point games while Matthew Verboon and Justin Wilson each scored in the victory. Ethan Langenegger made 27 saves on 29 shots for the win in goal.
Silverbacks Leading Scorers:
Akito Hirose (1-1-2)
Hudson Schandor (1-1-2)
Trevor Adams (0-2-2)
Matthew Verboon (1-0-1)
Justin Wilson (1-0-1)
Salmon Arm brings seven players back from a season ago including forwards Nick Unruh, Hudson Schandor, Noah Wakeford, Justin Wilson and Trevor Adams along with defenders Akito Hirose and captain Sol Seibel. Some BCHL experience was added over the summer for the ‘Backs with three-year blue liner Andy Stevens coming from Powell River and former Nanaimo Clippers rearguard Sam McBean.
It’s been a good week for third-year defender Akito Hirose, who played in his 100th BCHL game last Friday against the Centennials. The Calgary, Alberta native has registered 8 goals and 36 assists for 44 points over his Junior ‘A’ career and recently earned a commitment to the University of Minnesota Mankato.
The Silverbacks have a relatively young group of players entering the 2018/19 season including in goal with 18-year-old Ethan Langenegger and 17-year-old Devin Chapman. Langenegger spent his 2017/18 campaign with the Thompson Blazers, playing in 31 games with a 3.26 GAA while making 37 saves on 38 shots in his BCHL debut with the ‘Backs against the Warriors. Chapman comes to Salmon Arm from the Omaha Lancers U-16 AAA team, getting into 38 games last season with a 2.89 GAA and a .917 SV%.
The Smoke Eaters and Silverbacks are slated to drop the puck at 7:00 PM from the Trail Memorial Centre with the first 750 fans receiving a pack of four Smoke Eater hockey cards. Tickets are available at the Smoke Eaters Main Office or at the door ahead of the opening face-off.
