The Salmon Arm Silverbacks dropped all three of their away games during a recent Alberta road trip, although they didn’t return home empty-handed.
The team plans to hit the ground running with the lessons learned along the way. The ‘Backs were looking for revenge against the Sherwood Park Crusaders on Nov. 26, but fell short 2-5.
After a day of rest, they were back on the ice to face the Blackfalds Bulldogs on Nov. 28. The game was tight, pushing into overtime, but the Silverbacks lost 4-3.
To wrap up the road trip, they played the Okotoks Oilers on Nov. 29 in search of a win, but fell again, 5-2. The third period offered some excitement as the Silverbacks scored two goals.
Zach Stewart, communications manager for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, said the team’s main learning curve was more mental than physical.
“We have a younger team compared to most in the league, so just having like our 19 and 20-year-olds, like the veterans of our team, kind of step up and help guide the younger guys or even just the older guys that are struggling off the ice,” he said.
Stewart added that each game felt like a hit or miss, saying that the players show more strength on some days than others.
“The boys didn’t really look like they played their best game until the final two minutes when we scored two goals, and then on Friday against the Blackfalds, we had a great game that we deserved to win … the guys were flying up and down. It was a great game,” he said.
He said that losing three games in a row while being away from home is tough, but the main message among the team right now is to remain consistent with their routines.
“We are warming up the same, we’re doing cool down the same, and trying to stay in the same routine with pregame meals and postgame meals.”
The Silverbacks return home this weekend, hosting the Cranbrook Bucks on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. at Rogers Rink in Salmon Arm. They will face the Bulldogs again the next night at 6 p.m., also at Rogers Rink.
