‘Backs drop 1 goal game at home to Merritt.

The Silverbacks fell 2-1 at home to the Merritt Centennials on Wednesday night at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm.

The ‘Backs opened the scoring just 5:36 into the opening period with Carson Bolduc penalized for slashing, Colton Thibault potted his third of the season with Josh Blanchard assisting on the short-handed marker. The Silverbacks outshot the Centennials 8-5 in the first frame.

The second period was scoreless, and Cam Coutre was called for boarding for the lone penalty in the period. The Centennials outshot the home team 14-13 but the Silverbacks lead 1-0 into the third.

The first goal of the final frame didn’t come until the final five minutes, as the Cents Ryan Forbes scored his second of the season to tie the game 1-1 at 15:28. Josh Blanchard was then called for high-sticking at 17:21, giving the Cents their fifth power-play of the night. And in the final seconds of the man-advantage and 42 seconds remaining in regulation, Nick Jermain scored his eighth to give the visitors their first and only lead.

The Centennials outshot the Silverbacks 13-10 in the third and 32-31 Cents total.

Brandon Kegler stopped 30 of 32 shots in his first game in the BCHL game and with the Silverbacks. The 18-year-old of Leduc, Alberta was acquired last week from the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes. Angus Redmond played in the first eight games to start this season.

The season series with the Centennials is now tied 1-1, after the Silverbacks opened with a 7-5 victory in the Nicola Valley on Tuesday, September 15th. The two teams will meet next on Sunday, October 25th at 2p.m. in Merritt.

The loss is also the first for the ‘Backs versus an Interior division opponent this season, now 3-1-0-0.

The Silverbacks are now preparing for back-to-back home games this weekend, beginning Saturday night, October 10th and again Sunday afternoon, October 11th at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm, as the ‘Backs wrap up their longest home stand of the season at five games.

The Silverbacks (5-2-2-0) sit second in the Interior Division with 12 points, four behind the first place Penticton Vees (8-1). The West Kelowna Warriors (5-3-0-1) are one point behind the Silverbacks, in third.

The Nanaimo Clippers (6-3) will visit the Shaw Centre Saturday night at 7p.m. and the Prince George Spruce Kings (1-6-0-1) are set to visit Sunday afternoon at 3p.m.

Each Silverbacks and BCHL game is webcast live, PPV http://bchl.fasthockey.com as well as audio only http://bit.ly/1s0deO7 and, each ‘Backs road game is live at CKVS 93.7 FM http://voiceoftheshuswap.ca

Tune into CKVS each Monday night throughout the season beginning at 7p.m. for 30 minutes or more of Silverbacks talk, including interviews and news from around the BCHL.’Backs