After the long offseason, fans of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks are able to watch their favourite team once more.
The ’Backs began their pre-season games on the road against Merritt on Aug. 23. The contest at the Nicola Valley Memorial arena went to the home team 7-4.
“It was all first year players and we released most of them after that game. It was basically an opportunity for some young guys to play at the junior A level and it really wasn’t too representative of our team,” said Silverbacks head coach Scott Atkinson.
Atkinson said a couple first-year players, Johnathon Krahn and Hudson Schandor, are still in camp vying for a spot on the regular season roster.
The ’Backs were on the road again Aug. 25 to face the Vernon Vipers. Salmon Arm’s 2-1 double-overtime win was largely thanks to goaltender Bo Didur who the ’Backs picked up from the Langley Rivermen during the offseason.
“That was the Bo Didur show,”Atkinson said.
The team was out-shot and did not play their best against Vernon, Atkinson explained, but still managed to pull off the overtime win.
“I’d say that they, for the greater portion of the game, were in control of the game, but we found a way,” he said.
The ’Backs played their exhibition home opener at the Shaw Centre on Aug. 26 against Vernon. The first home game didn’t go their way, ending 4-3 for Vernon, but Atkinson praised the home-team’s play.
“The team played great, we out-shot them. In the first period, I think the shots were something like 21 to five for us.”
The home-opener game against Vernon was a scrappy affair with frequent scrums in front of the net and lots of hard checks in the corners.
“I think that there’s a natural rivalry there and I do think that’s young players showing their energy and wanting to show that they’re capable of playing in this league and wanting to deal with the physicality of it,” Atkinson said.
Fans will have another chance to see the Silverbacks take on Merritt Aug. 30, 7 p.m. at the Shaw Centre.
The Silverbacks announced a re-division of responsibilities in the coach and general manager’s office on Aug. 28.
Troy Mick, the team’s president and general manager, will now be president and general manager of business operations of Salmon Arm Sports Inc. Meanwhile, Atkinson will add general manager and director of player personnel to his title.
Atkinson said the move is mostly about freeing up Mick to oversee the business operation of the Silverbacks, the Steamboat Wranglers in the RMJHL, the Salmon Arm Elite Hockey and Power Skating School and the Maximum Edge Hockey Shop.
“I will still rely heavily on Troy’s opinion with regard to player decisions and I’m still learning from him,” Atkinson said.
Atkinson said Mick has been a great mentor to him as he learns the off-ice part of his job, particularly business and player transactions matters.