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Salmon Arm Silverbacks score with successful BCHL All-Star Weekend

Forward Roenick Jodoin fastest skater in Skills Competition

It was a big weekend for Salmon Arm Silverbacks players – past and present. 

Some of the province's best young hockey players were in Salmon Arm for the BCHL All-Star Weekend, hosted by the Silverbacks in partnership with the city, Jan. 17-19.

The action began Friday evening with the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) holding a top-prospects game at Rogers Rink. Afterwards, the BCHL's Top Prospects took the ice in a game that pitted Coastal Conference versus Interior Conference players. The latter came out on top with a 7-4 win. Salmon Arm d-man Ben MacBeath and forward Maddux Martin contributed to the Interior Conference win, with Martin scoring an empty netter.  Christian Chouha from the Sherwood Park Crusaders won Top Prospects MVP after scoring a hat-trick. 

Silverbacks not competing in the events were ice-side to support their teammates. 

Saturday, Jan. 18, got underway with the BCHL All Star Community Festival in the downtown. The morning saw Salmon Arm Silvebacks mingling with fans, handing out hockey cards and playing ball hockey. 

Ice hockey resumed at Rogers Rink in the afternoon, beginning with the VIJHL All-Star Game, followed by the BCHL Skills Competition, which saw Silverback Roenick Jodoin clock in as the fastest skater with a time of 13.51 seconds.

Other Skills Competition winners were as follows:

• Hardest shot: Marko Stojkov (Vernon Vipers) - 90.1 MPH;
• Passing/agility: Mateo Mrsic (Chilliwack Chiefs) - 10.51 seconds;
• Accuracy shooting: Parker Lalonde (Brooks Bandits) - 9.67 seconds; and
• Breakaway goalie relay: Colin Winn (Alberni Valley Bulldogs).

The day continued with the Alumni and Friends game, pitching Silverbacks Alumni against BCHL Alumni. The game ended in a shootout, where the Silverbacks Alumni secured the win! 

The weekend concluded with the 3-on-3 All Star tournament. The winner in this contest was team purple, which consisted of Silverbacks' forwards Maddux Martin and Roenick Jodoin, and netminder Andrew Ballantyne, along with Bryce Sookro of the Cranbrook Bucks, Jackson Kyrkostas of the West Kelowna Warriors and the Vernon Vipers' Marko Stojkov took home the trophy. Martin was named tournament MVP. 

Silverbacks operations manager Alexandra Miege called the weekend a success. An indicator of this was the response from BCHL reps. 

"They did ask if we'd be interested in hosting it again, so that's obviously a good sign," said Miege. "They were really happy with everything. We did change the format from what (2024 All-Star host) Penticton had, but it seemed to work very well. We were happy with how everything turned out." 

With the All-Star Weekend come and gone, the Silverbacks return to regular season play. On Friday, Jan. 24, the team heads to Royal LePage Place for the second time this season looking to remain undefeated against the West Kelowna Warriors. Game time is at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, Jan. 25, the 'Backs will be back at Rogers Rink to play the Okotoks Oilers. Puck drop is at 6 p.m. Kids 12 and under get in free thanks to Kristal Burgess Photography.

For more information, visit sasilvebacks.com 

 



Lachlan Labere

About the Author: Lachlan Labere

Editor, Salmon Arm Observer
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