Silverbacks Comes Up Short:

Silverbacks comes up short

by Don Klepp - Sep 13, 2009

In their home opener on Saturday, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks mounted a feverish comeback, but Adam Thompson's goal at 2.37 of the first overtime gave the Vipers a 4-3 win over the Silverbacks. In that overtime session, Coach Mark Ferner went for the jugular, sending out combinations of three forwards and one defenceman in the first overtime period's 4 on 4 hockey. Salmon Arm played more conservatively, sending out two forwards and two defence-men on each shift. As a result, the Vipers dominated the overtime session, shooting the Silverbacks 5-0. Thompson's goal resulted from sustained pressure from the Jones brothers and Cory Kane. Connor and Kane fed the point Thompson stepped into a slapshot that hit goalie Tony Ierfino in the shoulder the puck came again to Thompson, who wired another blast that beat Ierfino high glove side. The overtime was necessitated by Salmon Arm's rousing third period comeback. In the final period of regulation, the line of Travis Statchuk, Mark Zengerle, and Matt Cassidy. Statchuk scored twice in the period, while Zengerle had a goal and an assist. In that period, each team had six scoring chances as the action went end to end for much of the period. Fifty seconds into the third, while on a power play, Statchuk scored an unassisted marker from a wild scramble in front of Vernon goalie, Graeme Gordon. The two teams exchanged chances for the next seven minutes but the two goaltenders barred the door. Vernon then went ahead 3-1 after a good line rush by the Walchuk line broke down in the offensive zone. After Adam Thompson controlled the puck at the blue line, Drew George fed Dylan Walchuk for Walchuk's first BCHL goal at 7.32. At that point, it seemed likely that the Vipers could cruise to victory, but Statchuk and Zengerle had other ideas. At 12.37, Zengerle threaded a long wrist shot through a crowd in front of Graeme Gordon for a second Silverback power play goal. The comeback was complete when Zengerle and Corey Chakeen drew assists on Statchuk's second goal from a scramble, at 14.08. Back in the first period, Mike Collins opened the scoring for the Vipers when he took a perfect drop pass from Braden Pimm and fired a low wrist shot from just inside the blue line. In the period, Vernon out shot Salmon Arm, 10 to 6, in a repeat of the previous evening's strong opening frame. In the second period, a series of Viper penalties gave Salmon Arm six straight power plays, including a five on three advantage that lasted for one minute, 15 seconds. However, some determined penalty killing and Gordon's goalkeeping kept the 'Backs off the score sheet. In a lull when the teams played five on five Jonathon Milhouse made the score 2-0. He rushed down the right side and scored on a quick low shot through Ierfino's pads. The Vipers faced more adversity in the third period when they had to kill off a five-minute boarding penalty issued to rookie Brendan Perseley. On the night, they allowed two power play goals on 12 Salmon Arm opportunities. Meanwhile, the Vipers were shut out on their seven power plays.