GM #5: Silverbacks vs Vees
Venue: SOEC
Game Time: 7pm
Radio: EZ Rock AM 800
Watch: Fasthockey PPV
- Talk About Good First Impressions: Tonight is the Vees 2014-2015 home opener sponsored by London Drugs. This is the sixth home opener in the history of the South Okanagan Events Centres. The Vees have won the previous five, including last year’s 4-1 win over Merritt. The last time they played Salmon Arm in a home opener was back in the 2008-2009 season and they posted a 4-2 win.
- Welcome Back, Cam: Cam Amantea will make his season debut tonight after missing the first month of the regular season. Amantea had been recovering from off-season shoulder surgery and he recovered well ahead of schedule. This is Cam’s first game since game two of the Interior Conference Final against Vernon last spring.
- Oh Canada! Thursday Dante Fabbro and Tyson Jost were among 66 players named to the three Team Canada teams for the upcoming 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (WU17HC). Fabbro was named to “Team Red” and Jost was named to “Team White.” The WU17HC takes places November 2nd-8th in Sarnia, Ontario. The tournament has eight teams comprised in two groups. Joining the three Canadian teams are Finland, Russia, Sweden, Slovakia and the United States.
- Familiar Face in a New Place: Former Penticton Vee Josh Blanchard makes his Silverbacks debut against his former club. Earlier this week the Silverbacks acquired Blanchard from the Surrey Eagles for future considerations. Blanchard started with the Vees last year before being dealt this past off-season to Surrey as part of the Nic Pierog trade last season. Oddly enough, Blanchard made his BCHL debut two years ago, as an AP, against the Silverbacks at the SOEC.
- What’s on Tap: These two teams square-off again tomorrow in Salmon Arm in the back half of this weekend home-and-home set. Tomorrow marks the first trip to the Shaw Centre for the Vees; puck-drop is 7pm Saturday.
