Warriors lose to Salmon Arm

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks scored two goals in the final 1:07 of the second period to take control of a tight game and eventually beat a depleted Westside Warriors 5-2 in B.C. Hockey League action Friday night.

With the score 2-1 for Salmon Arm Matt Cassidy and Bobby Lipsett scored about one minute apart late in the second to give the Silverbacks a 4-1 lead heading into the final frame.

Cole Wilson scored on the power play early in the third to make it interesting, but league-leading scorer Mark Zengerle scored into an empty net to seal the deal with just under two minutes remaining in the game.

With the win, Salmon Arm moves four points ahead of the Warriors for third place in the Interior Conference. The Warriors have two games in hand. These teams will face each other again Saturday night in Salmon Arm (7 p.m. start).

The Warriors were playing without top forwards Cam Reid and Grayson Downing, who are playing for Team Canada West in the World Junior A Challenge in PEI. Scott MacDonald, another top line forward for the Warriors, has joined the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League and top defenceman Michael Quinn was out with injury.

If that wasn’t bad enough for the Warriors, co-captain and leading scorer Trevor Bailey didn’t play in the third period (suspected concussion) and is not expected to play Saturday in Salmon Arm.

Call-ups Dylan Tappe (Spokane Braves) and Kelowna’s Shawn Hochhausen (Nelson Leafs) hustled all night and gave the Warriors some quality shifts.

Salmon Arm outshot the Warriors 26-24. Tony Ierfino got the win in goal for the ‘Backs, and Kevin Jebson took the loss in the Warriors’ net.

Max French also scored for the Warriors, while Rick Soo had the other goal for Salmon Arm.

The Warriors play in Salmon Arm Saturday night (7 p.m. start) and in Merritt Wednesday before returning home Friday Nov. 6 for a game against the Burnaby Express (7 p.m. Royal LePage Place). For tickets call Select Your Tickets at 250-762-5050 or go to westsidewarriors.ca. You can also purchase tickets at the Select Your Ticket outlets, at the Warriors office and at the box office starting one hour prior to game time.