Wild Fall in Showcase Opener, 3-2

The Wenatchee Wild opened their BCHL Showcase Schedule on Friday afternoon against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and lost to their Interior Division foes, 3-2.

After a scoreless first period, the Silverbacks took a 1-0 lead when Aidan Curran swatted home a rebound from the low slot at 4:32 of the second. At 16:30, Nick Unruh squeezed a shot through from the right wing circle for a 2-0 Salmon Arm lead. The Wild scored at 6:28 of the third when Luke Ormsby pounced on a turnover and buried it to pull within one. Salmon Arm’s William Poirier converted a power play goal at 9:24 for a 3-1 cushion. Wenatchee pulled the goalie for the extra attacker in the final minute plus, and were able to lift a shot past the Silverbacks goalie but with only 6.9 seconds left to play. Harrison Scott collected his first Wild point, assisted by Hunter Hastings. The Wild had one last chance, after the ensuing faceoff and a slashing call against Salmon Arm gave the Wild an offensive zone draw with 2.9 seconds left, but Wenatchee could not capitalize on the 6-on-4 advantage as the horn sounded and the Wild fell in regulation for just the second time this season.

Daniel Chenard stopped 18 of 21 shots for Wenatchee.

Wenatchee (5-2-2) wraps up the BCHL Showcase Presented by Bauer on Saturday against the Penticton Vees at 7 pm. The game will be broadcast live on NewsRadio 560 KPQ starting at 6:45pm

Arch Ecker-Wenatchee Wild