Justin Seward
Silverbacks Communications
The 500-plus fans that took in the annual Salmon Arm Hockey School/Salmon Arm Silverbacks’ Pro-Am Scholarship game on Wednesday night at the Shaw Centre were treated to a fast-paced, skilled affair and were left astonished by the end.
Team Blue ended up beating Team Red 8-5 but it was not the score that mattered at all.
Former Vancouver Canuck and current Carolina Hurricanes goalie Eddie Lack traded his blocker and catching mitt for a player’s stick and gloves and after a face-off win by Team Red, he found himself all alone in the slot and sniped it top shelf on his Team Blue counterpart Leland Irving, which got the crowd hopping.
“I’ve been practising a lot by myself and it really came in handy today,” said Lack. “It’s a fun game and I feel like the fans had fun as well. I’d like to come back if it’s the same thing next year.”
The highlight of Lack’s goal has made it to both TSN and Sportsnet’s websites.
Lack said it was surreal to him to be at the game and to see the young hockey fans here looking up to him. It was not only exciting for him but them as well.
Vernon’s Curtis Lazar of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, who grew up and played minor hockey in Salmon Arm before moving with his family to the North Okanagan, said putting on a show for the fans was what mattered because they were having as much fun as the players.
He was also acting as a guest instructor with the hockey school’s elite prep rep program.
“I would like to personally thank all the players, fans, volunteers and our sponsors for making this happen,” said Silverbacks GM Troy Mick, a Vernon native.
“We are looking forward already to making this bigger and better next year for all involved.”
Silverback alumni such as Ryley Booth of Armstrong and Colton Thibault of Vernon took part in the game, as did fellow former Silverback Riley Nash, now a member of the NHL’s Boston Bruins.