Game 4

In Merritt at the Nicola Valley Arena the Salmon Arm Silverbacks defeated the Centennials 6-5 to sweep the Interior Conference Best of Seven Quarterfinal Series and move onto the second round. With the game tied at five Paul de Jersey took matters into his own hands and undressed two defenceman to score and give his team the lead four minutes into the third period.

Salmon Arm developed a three goal lead in the second period thanks to three points from Mike Hammond and two points each from Devin Gannon, Brett Knowles, Josh Manson, and Jayson Reardon. For a third straight game though the Cents erased a multi-goal deficit with three goals in a four minute span late in the middle stanza after pulling their goalie for the third time in the series. Merritt never did lead in the series though and it was the Silverbacks who retook the lead each time with the game tied after squandering the advantages for three consecutive one-goal victories.

With the win the Apes will now take on the second seeded Penticton Vees in a best of seven Interior Conference Semi-Final series starting Tuesday March 8th at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Salmon Arm will return home to the Sunwave Centre for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Saturday March 11th and 12th.