Salmon Arm/Penticton Preview

Salmon Arm won the season series against Penticton going 3-2-1 with all six games taking place in the team's first 34 and 36 contests respectively: September 23rd (6-5 SA), October 29th (4-2 Pen), November 16th & 19th (5-4 SA/2-1 Pen), and December 10th & 11th (2-2/5-4 SA). Five of the battles were one-goal games with the other contest being a two-goal spread. The Silverbacks went 2-1 at home and 1-1-1 on the road. Both teams scored 21 goals against each other with the Apes scoring first in five of the six games and outscoring the Vees 12-4 in the first period while Penticton responded outscoring their oppenent 10-4 in the second frame. The Peaches outshot Salmon Arm 34.2 to 29.5 on average and also won the special teams battle at 31.25% on the powerplay compared to the Silverbacks going 20% on the man-advantage. The Apes led for 2:50:02 while Penticton held a lead for 50:03 and the games were tied for 2:29:55. Both teams squandered a pair of leads that lead to two losses each during the season series.

Players-wise Bryce Gervais led the way for Salmon Arm with five goals and nine points, Josh Manson had eight points, Dave Killip posted six points, Brett Knowles played in five of the games and picked up five points, Jarryd Ten Vaanholt collected five points, Devin Muller posted four points in five games, Morgan Zulinick had a goal in only one contest played while Mike Hammond and Brad Reid did not face the Vees with their new team.

For Penticton Brendan O'Donnell led the way with nine points, Joey Laleggia had seven assists, Mark MacMillan & Joey Holka both collected six points in five games, Joey Benik posted six points, Steven Iacobellis had four points in four games, and Myles McCauley potted two goals in two contests.

In goal Kris Moore led the way for the Apes going 2-0-1 with a 3.47 goals against average and .904 save percentage. Billy Faust went 1-1 with a 2.92 and .904 for the Vees while Joel Rumpel went 1-2-1 with a 3.78 and .865. Kurt Williams meanwhile went 1-1 for SA with a 3.03 and .898 while Chase Martin started and finished one game as well.

During the regular season Salmon Arm finished with the third most goals and ninth fewest against in the BCHL while Penticton scored the seventh most and allowed the third fewest. Special teams wise the two teams are seperated by .06% on the powerplay and .7 on the penalty kill with the Silverbacks holding the slight edge in both categories finishing first and third respectively in the league. The Vees also gave up ten shorthanded goals against compared to the five surrendered by the Apes. Like the season series Salmon Arm's best period is their first outscoring their oppenent 82-47 while likewise the Vees best frame is the second outscoring the competetion 81-58. The Silverbacks scored first in 38 of their games while the Peaches did so in 27 of theirs. Salmon Arm features seven 20 goal scorers and 11 players in double-digits in ginos while the Vees boast four 20 goal marksmen and 10 players with double-digits in goals.

The Vees have the Interior Conference's MVP and league point-leading defenceman in Joey Laleggia who has 12 points on a seven-game point streaks while the Silverbacks have the Brett Hull Trophy winner and league point-leading player in Mike Hammond who has 14 points in his last seven contests. Brett Knowles has 16 points during an eight-game streak, Devin Gannon has 13 points in a seven-game streak, Morgan Zulinick & Dave Killip are on four-game streaks, Devin Muller has 13 points in his last 14 games, Paul de Jersey has 13 points in his last 15 contests, and Jayson Reardon has 27 points in his last 30 games. Meanwhile O'Donnell & Benik are on four-game streaks, James Polk has six points in his last seven games, and Curtis Loik has eight points in his last ten games.

Specials teams should be even, goaltending should be even, the teams top players should cancel each other out, and what this series should come down to is whose third and fourth line players score the most. Guys like Gervais, Ten Vaanholt, de Jersey, Muller, and Cody Michelle for Salmon Arm and Logan Johnston, James Polk, Kyle Mountain, Curtis Loik, and Cater Rigby for Penticton.

These two franchises have met twice before in the playoffs back in 2006-2007 when the Vees swept the Silverbacks in the second round, and in 2005-2006 when Penticton beat Salmon Arm in five games in the Interior Conference Finals.

Salmon Arm 6 @ Merritt 5 (GAME 4)

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.

de Jersey/Kehler/Pierce Game 4 Audio

Salmon Arm Silverbacks' forward Paul de Jersey discusses his overtime winner, cracking his top five in goals, and the possibility of rest.



Salmon Arm Silverbacks' General Manager & Head Coach Tim Kehler discusses Kris Moore getting better game by game, Brett Knowles & Devin Gannon's best games of the season, still needing more discipline, Clinton Atkinson as a forward, and responding well to squandered leads.



Merritt Centennials' General Manager & Head Coach Luke Pierce discusses getting over the hump, falling behind early, needing a goaltender to steal a game, a clear goal called off, and Jeff Jones' best game.

Salmon Arm @ Merritt Lines (GAME 4)

Salmon Arm:

Knowles - Gannon - Michelle
Atkinson - Hammond - Reid
Ten Vaanholt - Gervais - de Jersey
Cave - McKissock - Muller

Reardon - Vasaturo
Friedel - Manson
Elliott - Mills

Moore
Williams

Killip/Mistal/Zulinick

Merritt:

Soquila - Jones - Stack
Harper - Wall - Bokenfohr
Vallis - Brears - Reichert
Playfair - Fletcher - Sabey

Marshall - Tresierra
Witkop - Crawford
Willcox - Pfeil

Steel
Chimienti

Lebrun/Maktaak/Sabourin

Salmon Arm 4 @ Merritt 3 (OT) (GAME 3)

Game 3

In Merritt at the Nicola Valley Arena the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (3-0) scored nine minutes into overtime to defeat the Centennials (0-3) 4-3. Paul de Jersey played hero for the 'Backs finishing off a great pass from Brett Knowles who got the puck after some strong work by Devin Gannon. The two second-year Apes had career nights playing together with four points a piece. With the victory the Silverbacks lead the best of seven Interior Conference Quarter-Final Series three games to nothing.

Salmon Arm led the game 2-0 after two goals from Gannon, one in the first off the rush and one shorthanded 28 seconds into the second period to chase Lino Chimienti from the goal. After having a goal waved off the Cents scored twice on the powerplay 30 seconds apart to tie the game. Two minutes later and with three minutes left in the middle frame Knowles restored the lead when he scored four-on-four. Salmon Arm kept the lead until 6:20 remaining when Merritt scored their first even strength goal of the game.

The Centennials won the special teams battle going two-for-seven on the powerplay while the Silverbacks went zero-for-five but did score shorthanded. Merritt had to kill off a penalty with three minutes left in the third period while the 'Backs killed off a powerplay in overtime three minutes prior to scoring the winner.

Kris Moore was once again sharp in net with 35 saves while also playing the puck exceptionally.