It’s the first meeting of the season between the Smoke Eaters and Silverbacks, as Trail hits the road for another weekend away from Cominco.
Season Series versus Salmon Arm
Feb. 4 Trail at Salmon Arm 7:00 pm PST
Feb. 11Salmon Arm at Trail 7:00 pm PST
Mar. 2 Salmon Arm at Trail 7:00 pm PST
Mar. 11 Trail at Salmon Arm 7:00 pm PST
Mar. 26 Trail at Salmon Arm 6:00 pm PDT
The Smoke Eaters and Silverbacks will face off five times between now and the end of the season. It was the second round match up we never got in March of 2020 and both sides have changed drastically. Now, just shy of two years since these team last played each other in a BCHL regular season game, these two sides face off on Friday night at the Shaw Centre. The Smoke Eaters come in on the back of two losses, most recently on Wednesday at home against the Vipers who held on, despite being outshot 51-19 by the Smoke Eaters. It’s another performance where the Smoke Eaters dominated the play and the chances created but couldn’t find the back of the net to tie the game. The Smoke Eaters will be short handed it appears on Friday night as the list of injuries continues to grow. Cole Tisdale continues to be out, along with Ethan Willoughby. Ridge Dawson and Coalson Wolford are also unknowns going into tonight’s game. The Smoke Eaters have relied on their depth this season but it appears the pressure on their top scores, like Hunter, Michaelis and Lagerback, will have a heightened role.
Smoke Eaters leading scores:
Hunter (17-25-42)
Michaelis (21-14-35)
Lagerback (16-16-32)
Disher (9-19-28)
Cunningham (6-19-25)
The Silverbacks come into Friday’s game off the back of a 2-1 loss to the Penticton Vees on Wednesday night. Like the Smoke Eaters the backs have lost their last two games with a loss last Saturday to the Cranbrook Bucks 6-5 in a shootout. Aside from that the Backs have been consistently in the win column. Lead by league leading scorer Simon Tassy, the third highest scoring defenceman Michael Ladyman and Owen Say between the pipes, who is second in save percentage among goalies who have played 20 games or more. Mix in the leagues best powerplay and penalty kill, the Backs have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with this season. While their is bound to be a feeling out process, the Backs are very comfortable playing with the lead, as they are yet to lose in regulation when leading after the first period.
Silverbacks leading scorer:
Tassy (28-30-58)
Serdachny (21-24-45)
Santa Juana (12-24-36)
Panetta (16-17-33)
Ladyman (4-23-27)
Puck drop from the Shaw Centre is at 7pm as the Smoke Eaters look to get back in the win column against a tough opponent in the Silverbacks. Catch the game on BCHLTV or listen on Mixlr.com with the pregame show starting at 6:50pm with Smoke Eater broadcaster Ben Phillips.
