Despite just a point earned in two games at the Bauer BCHL Showcase, the Salmon Arm SilverBacks opened their season with enough positives to feel good about their club with Friday’s home-opener against Vernon approaching.
The ’Backs came up short in a 5-4 overtime decision Saturday against the Victoria Grizzlies and then lost 5-1 Sunday to the Powell River Kings.
Alex Gillies scored two of the Gorilla goals in the first period, including the opener just 2:04 in. They built a two-goal lead on Thomas Plese’s first of two but let the lead slip away. They needed Plese’s second, with 2:34 left in regulation, to force overtime. A bad break was their undoing when Victoria’s Rory McGuire let go a point shot that deflected off Harlan Orr’s stick and over Adam Clark’s shoulder into the net.
“Anytime you give up a two-goal lead, that’s not part of the game plan,” said Salmon Arm assistant coach Kevin Kraus. “I thought for most of the game, the (defensive) zone was our weak point.”
Kraus did like the spirit the team showed in digging deep for the tying goal late.
“We could have shut down and quit but we battled back and it’s a positive we can pull from that.”
Salmon Arm generated offensive chances against Powell River but netminder Jonah Imoo was there with several larcenous saves. Kraus also believes his players were not at their sharpest, given the 10:30 a.m. faceoff time.
“I can’t remember the last time I had a 10:30 game; it’s something that throws a wrench in but that’s an excuse as well,” said Kraus. “You’ve got to be ready to play.”
Salmon Arm fell behind 3-0 before Andrew Farny got them on the board late in the second. They were given eight power-play opportunities in the game but converted just the lone goal.
“It (the power play) is going to be a focus,” said Kraus of the team’s practice plans this week. “With training camp being so early, we didn’t get a ton of chances to work on it.”
Last season, Salmon Arm scored just once in their two Showcase games, so the offence already appears in better shape. Kraus said Gillies will be counted on for points again and he says Plese’s pair of goals could be a sign of things to come.
“That’s what we’re hoping for; he’s a kid coming out of midget hockey in California,” said Kraus. “We’re looking at him to create chances and create offence.”
Both Clark and Angus Redmond got starts at the Showcase. With five goals against in each game, defensive-zone structure to help the goalies out will be emphasized this week.
Showcase weekend proved a learning experience for some of the new players.
“A lot of the kids were shocked to see how many scouts were there and how many of them want to speak to you after the game,” said Kraus. “It was an eye-opener for a lot of the guys.”
Salmon Arm opens a home-and-home set Friday at 7 p.m. at Shaw Centre against Kraus’ former team in the Vipers. They visit Vernon Saturday, also a 7 p.m. start.
