In the weeks leading up to the start of the 2021-22 regular season, we will be going team-by-team to profile new players coming in for the upcoming year. This will include recaps of offseason commitments and acquisitions, as well as scouting reports from the coaches.
Next up is the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
The Silverbacks finished second in the Vernon Pod standings last year with a 9-7-2-2, but their season was full of notable performances.
Salmon Arm took home four of the five individual awards in their pod, including Most Valuable Player and leading scorer Simon Tassy, Top Defenceman Hunter Sansbury and Top Rookie Noah Serdachny.
Tassy and Serdachny are back with the ‘Backs for another season, along with a long list of other returnees, including seven of their college-committed players from last year’s squad.
In addition, the team boasts a list of high-quality new recruits and acquisitions via trade. We spoke with the team’s head coach Tyler Shattock who gave us the details on each new player.
New recruits
Jake Lammens (2002, D)
Hometown: Norwalk, Conn.- Previous team: Salisbury School (USHS-Prep)
- College commitment: St. Lawrence University (2022-23)
Lammens only played two games for Salisbury last year due to COVID restrictions, but got into 12 contests with the Mid Fairfield Rangers 18U program and contributed a goal and two assists.
Shattock’s scouting report:
“He’s a good skater and a puck-mover. His dad was an Olympic athlete, so we know we’re getting a good athlete and someone who is highly competitive. He’s also a good defender. He’ll be able to step in for us right away.”
Mathieu Cobetto-Roy (2003, F)
Hometown: Outremont, Que.- Previous team: Bishop’s College School Varsity U17 Prep (CSSHL U17)
Cobetto-Roy missed out on game action last year, but most recently was Bishop’s second-leading scorer during the 2019-20 campaign, racking up 82 points in 67 games played.
Shattock’s scouting report:
“Mathieu is a guy that was put onto us by a few colleges. He’s a highly skilled player. He’s very quick. He reminds us a bit of Sullivan Mack who was a guy we had last year. We’re trying to fill the void that Sullivan left after he moved on. He’s got a good shot and he moves really well. He should be an offensive weapon for us.”
Owen Beckner (2005, F)
Hometown: Victoria, B.C.- Previous team: St. George’s School U17 Prep (CSSHL U17)
Beckner had six goals and one assist in just four games last year for St. George’s before things were shut down. In 2019-20, he played for their U15 team and tied for fourth in scoring with 37 points in 30 games.
Shattock’s scouting report:
“He’s got a big frame. He’s a talented kid. I’m looking forward to him coming in, progressing and being a really good player for us this year and for the years to come.”
Nathan Mackie (2004, F)
Hometown: Prince George, B.C.- Previous team: Okanagan Rockets U18 AAA (BC U18)
Mackie wasn’t able to play any regular-season games with the Rockets last year, but did get himself into his first BCHL game as an affiliate with Salmon Arm when he dressed for the team’s game against the West Kelowna Warriors on Apr. 8. In 2019-20, he played for the Okanagan Hockey Academy’s Elite 15 team, leading them in goals with 14 and finishing fourth in points with 24 in 33 games.
Shattock’s scouting report:
“Nathan is a guy we had come through our spring camp two years ago. He ended up going to OHA and had a couple good years there and really progressed his game. He’s very smart. He’ll be able to play with good players and he’ll be able to play down our lineup. He’ll also be able to play on our penalty kill. He has very a good hockey IQ and a sense for the game.”
Lynden Hanvold (2004, D)
Hometown: Kelowna, B.C.- Previous team: Okanagan Hockey Academy U18 Prep (CSSHL U18)
Hanvold had five assists in eight games for OHA during a shortened 2020-21 season. In 2019-20, he had 12 points in 34 games.
Shattock’s scouting report:
“This has been a theme here with all of our defencemen, but he’s a really good skater. He’s also a very competitive kid. He’s going to be a puck-mover. He’s a 17-year-old player who we’re hoping to get here for a good couple years, get him a scholarship and move him on to college.”
Ethan Ullrick (2003, F)
Hometown: Lakewood, Ill.- North Jersey Avalanche 18U AAA (AYHL 18U)
Ullrick was the Avalanche’s third-leading scorer in 2020-21 with 20 points in 12 games and tied for the team lead in goals with 10.
Shattock’s scouting report:
“He’s a guy who we watched in the nationals last year. He has a really good two-way game with some offensive upside. We’re looking for some right shots here because we lost a few from last year. He’ll be able to fill that void. He can play in all situations for us this year.”
Acquired via trade
Brandon Santa Juana (2002, F)
Hometown: Langley, B.C.- Previous team: Surrey Eagles (BCHL)
- College commitment: University of Connecticut (2022-23)
Santa Juana is a three-year veteran of the BCHL, having played his entire career with Surrey up until this point. He has 35 goals, 49 assists and 84 points in 127 regular-season games so far in his career and was the Eagles’ third-leading scorer in the pod season last year with 22 points in 18 games.
Shattock’s scouting report:
“He’s someone we expect to come in and be an offensive guy for us, but also lead by example and teach our new guys what the league is like. He hasn’t played in the Interior Conference yet since he previously only played for Surrey, so there could be an adjustment period for him. We look for him to come here and produce at over a point-per-game pace for us.”
Isaac Lambert (2003, F)
Hometown: Victoriaville, Que.- Previous team: Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL)
- College commitment: University of Maine (2022-23)
Lambert most recently played for the Trois-Rivières Estacades U18 program in Quebec during the 2019-20 season. He was his team’s second-leading scorer that year with 36 points in 42 games. The Silverbacks acquired his rights in a trade with Ottawa of the Central Canada Hockey League this offseason.
Shattock’s scouting report:
“Isaac actually came to us last year during the extended training camp part of the season. We liked what he did while he was here. He’ll be another guy that’s an offensive weapon for us on the left side. He’ll be able to play up and down our lineup.”
Photo credits: Dan Hickling (Lammens), Garrett James Photography (Santa Juana)
