Salmon Arm stepped into the 2020-21 season with a new plan and a fresh mindset. The team had completely redesigned the Silverbacks during a long off-season by signing rookie players like Noah Serdachny, and trading for skilled forwards such as Sullivan Mack.
The Silverbacks are always a gritty, hard-working team, but this year saw a new wave of players, with more skill. While the team finished second in the Vernon pod, when it comes to player awards, it was a cakewalk for the Silverbacks.
This year the BCHL dispersed the individual end-of-season awards to each pod instead of the entire league. It gave more opportunity for the individual efforts by players in each pod.
This way we can see which players really dominated their pod and had success with the short season. The players recognized in the Vernon pod consisted of three Silverbacks securing four awards.
- Vernon pod top scorer – Simon Tassy
- Vernon pod top rookie – Noah Serdachny
- Vernon pod top defenseman – Hunter Sansbury
- Vernon pod most valuable player – Simon Tassy
Breaking down the awards
Serdachny stepped into the league this year as a 2003-born rookie forward and dominated. He led all under-18 players in points with 24, six ahead of the next closest competitor.
His 18 assists put him third in the apple column for all BCHL skaters. On top of this, Serdachny posted seven multi-point games this season, which justifies why he deserves the top rookie award.
After such an impressive rookie season, Serdachny committed on May 30 to play Division I hockey at Colorado College. To show off his mass amounts of skill, here is one of my favourite goals by this rookie forward this year.
With hands like this, leaving @SASilverbacks forward Noah Serdachny unattended in the slot is a very bad idea#BCHLIsBack | @saveonfoods pic.twitter.com/hFY240YmXc
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) April 16, 2021
The top defenseman of the Vernon pod and captain of Salmon Arm, Sansbury was a key player this year. He was not only a role model in the locker room but also performed when his team needed him most.
Sansbury stepped up in all areas of the ice this year as a key player on both the power play and penalty kill. He also led Silverbacks defensemen in points with 13, proved he was one of the best blueliners this season in the BCHL, and secured it with the top defenseman award.
Tassy led the Vernon pod this year with 27 points, putting him seventh in overall points amongst all skaters in the BCHL. He really flourished this year, showing his full potential.
There is no one clear skill that puts Tassy above the competition, his hands, speed, and skill are exceptional. He posted six multi-goal performances and also committed to Minnesota State University during the pod season.
Silverbacks players ranked by NHL Central Scouting
With the 2021 NHL Draft coming up on July 23-24, it will be exciting to see what unfolds. What’s most exciting is to see BCHL players being drafted in the NHL. Central Scouting recently listed its top 228 North American-born skaters and a pair of Silverbacks made the list.
Serdachny was labelled 208th among North American skaters after his rookie season with the Silverbacks. His impressive play this year definitely turned some heads and he will hopefully see his name next to an NHL team on draft day.
Serdachny wasn’t the only one listed as his 2003-born counterpart on the team Joaquim Lemay was ranked 224th for North American skaters. Lemay had 10 points in 15 games in his rookie season, and will hopefully return to Salmon Arm in 2021-22 as an NHL drafted player.
Congrat @JoaquimLemay !!!!#1stBCHLgoal#AHDFAlum#AHDFskillshockeyprogram@SASilverbacks @OmahaHKY pic.twitter.com/c5QtdzY8ka
— AHDF (@AHDFCMI) October 25, 2020
Salmon Arm’s accomplishments this year were impressive compared to other years, and it shows the organization knows what it’s doing. With all the successes this year, it is exciting to see what the Silverbacks bring to the table next season.
