Nothing makes a hockey coach happier than when the message they’re trying to instill in their player is received and acted upon out on the ice.
The Salmon Arm SilverBacks demonstrated this weekend that they’re grasping what it takes to win and applying what they learned in a humbling pair of losses Sept. 20 and 21 to the West Kelowna Warriors.
The Gorillas got four of a possible six points last weekend with victories of 5-2 over the Chilliwack Chiefs and 4-2 over the Victoria Grizzlies after an opening 4-1 defeat to the Nanaimo Clippers.
Pulling into Chilliwack after two dates on Vancouver Island, it was a tired Salmon Arm team but they didn’t let their fatigue become an excuse.
“All the hours traveled, everything involved in a long road trip, we got,” noted Salmon Arm associate head coach Brandon West. “Guys knew we had to go into Chilliwack and keep things simple; we’re starting to figure out here you need to compete every night.”
After a scoreless first, goals from Alex Gillies and Andrew Farny put the ’Backs up 2-0 going into the third. A Ben Butcher goal got the Chiefs within one but Colton Thibault supplied the winner and Landon Smith tacked on a pair as well.
The previous night in Victoria, Smith was key to Salmon Arm earning two points as he potted the opening goal in the first and added another in the second and was named the game’s first star. Taylor Maruya and Thomas Plese had the other Salmon Arm goals.
His production on the ’Backs’ top line along with Gillies and Evan Anderson continues despite the attention being directed their way by the opposition.
“With them, you want your top line being your top line every night,” said West. “Whether they’re playing against the other team’s top line or top checkers, every game we see them up against a top line and they’re still coming through. That’s what you want out of your top players.”
Starting off in Nanaimo on Friday, West said the team’s energy was good from the opening faceoff but despite outshooting the Clippers in the opening frame, they trailed 2-0 and couldn’t recover. Smith had the lone Salmon Arm goal and would end up with five on the weekend.
“We had lots of jump; we were playing the game the right way, the way we want to play,” said West of the start of the game. “Some things just didn’t go our way and Nanaimo checked us hard in the second and third.”
Adam Clark’s play in net on the weekend was a positive as he returned to the crease for all three games.
“I think anytime you can get your number-one goalie healthy and contributing, it’s key,” said West. “He was instrumental on the weekend in our wins.”
This week at practice, West and the coaches will continue to work on defensive-zone responsibilities with the group and touch on the power-play as well as it is currently 12th in the BCHL.
Next up for the squad is a pair of home games with Penticton in town Friday and Vernon Saturday. Both games are 7 p.m. starts.
Trade
The Salmon Arm SilverBacks have announced they have traded D-man Joey Colatarci (95) to Summerside Western Capitals of the Maritime Hockey League for future considerations.
“With the impending return of Brendan Kennedy to the lineup we had to make room for him to come off the 30-day IR and free up a roster spot,” says SilverBacks GM Troy Mick. “Joey is a very good hockey player and we wish him success in the Maritimes.”
