Salmon Arm Silverbacks fans have seen better from their home team.
Following the 'Backs' home game versus the Brooks Bandits on Friday, Jan. 31, several of those fans commented on the team's Facebook page – most of them critical. One commenter suggested the players looked tired, while two others blamed recent trades. In the Silverbacks' defence, one person noted Brooks has a great team and said the 'Backs are doing fine: "They are kids, working their asses off everyday."
The game prompting these comments ended in a 6-1 decision for the Bandits. The first three of the Bandits' goals were delivered in the first period, including a power-play marker three minutes in after Tanner Walos was sent to the sin bin for tripping.
The Bandits' Nathan Free delivered a single-handed goal early in the second frame, with the Silverbacks finally getting on the board at 17:56 with a goal scored by Dakota MacIntosh, one of the team's recent additions, assisted by Roenick Jodoin and Ben MacBeath.
The final frame saw the Bandits add two more goals, along with a flurry of penalties including some roughing calls at the end of the period.
Zach Zahara stayed in the Bandits' net throughout the game, stopping 23 shots, while on Salmon Arm's end Andrew Ballantyne and Daniel Dirracolo split the evening, with the former stopping 8 of 12 shots and the latter 19 of 21.
As of Feb. 3, the Silverbacks were in fifth place in the Interior East division, trailing the Sherwood Park Crusaders, the Bandits, the Trail Smoke Eaters and, in the top spot, the Penticton Vees.
Next up for the Silverbacks is a Feb. 7 game versus the West Kelowna Warriors at Royal LePage Place. The following evening the 'Backs are back home to play the Crusaders.
For more information, visit sasilverbacks.com.
