The Silverbacks breathed life into their season this weekend as they racked up two wins, ending their four-game losing skid, on one of the league’s biggest stage, the Bauer BCHL Showcase.
“What we have been working on in practices has finally started to payoff and it shows in our results over the weekend,” said Silverbacks head coat Brandon West.
In Chilliwack, Saturday afternoon, Trevin Kozlowski got the start in goal for the ’Backs and picked up his first win in the BCHL as he back stopped the team to a 4-2 win against Nanaimo.
Jared Turcotte notched his first goal of the season on the man advantage, putting the ’Backs up 1-0 after one but the Clippers Adam Pilotte tied just past the midway point of the second.
Two minutes later, captain Mitch Skapski, set up by Elijiah Barriga and Carson Bolduc, restored the Silverbacks lead.
Skapski then repaid the favour and fed Bolduc on the man advantage for the eventual game winner.
The Clippers Spencer Hewson and the Backs’ Josh Latta traded goals in the third.
“We got off to a good start on Saturday morning. It was probably our best full 60 minutes all year,” West said.
Despite giving up six goals Sunday, the ’Backs managed to out gun the Surrey Eagles scoring eight goals.
A pair of power play goals in the first period by Barriga and Connor Sundquist book ended the Eagles lone goal in the frame.
The Silverbacks offence unloaded on Surrey scoring five goals in the middle frame.
Marcus Mitchell scored his first of the season 22 seconds into the period and Barriga got his second of the game and third of the season only 27 seconds after Mitchell’s marker.
The Silverbacks’ leading goal scorer, Sundquist netted his fourth of the season and second of the game, opening up a commanding 5-1 lead.
Turcotte and Skapski also scored in the second, each getting their second of the weekend.
“The first 50 minutes of the game we played well. But we had some lapses in the third that really put us on our heels,” said West.
Surrey’s Darius Davidson scored his second of the game and Paul McAvoy added his first of the season as the Eagles reduced the ’Backs lead by 2, forcing West to pull Michael Botiz.
Defenceman Ryley Booth scored his first of the season on a blast from the point while on the man advantage , before Surrey added a late consolation goal.
Despite the Silverbacks earning all four points, the goalie dilemma continues as West still looks for a number one goaltender.
“Both guys had the opportunity to play this weekend and step up. We are still waiting for one of them to really take the reigns and take that number one role,” said West.
Josh Blanchard and Carter Cochrane remained out of the lineup over the weekend, but Blanchard should return this weekend, while Cochrane will remain out for up to eight weeks with a shoulder injury he sustained against Coquitlam, Sept. 17.
Spencer Hora picked up a groin injury on Saturday and did not play Sunday.
The Silverbacks will host Merritt Friday at the Shaw Centre at 7 p.m. before heading south of the boarder to face Wenatchee on Saturday.
