(Image Credit: Facebook/Salmon Arm Silverbacks)

By Aaron Schulze

Silverbacks

Silverbacks announce sale of franchise, hiring of new president

Feb 27, 2026 | 7:39 AM

SALMON ARM, B.C. — The top junior hockey franchise in the Shuswap is under new ownership, but similar guidance. 

On Thursday (Feb. 26), the Salmon Arm Silverbacks announced the hockey club has been acquired by Forge Sports Group Inc. (FSG). The British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) announced its board of governors approved the sale of the Silverbacks during the league’s semi-annual governors meeting in January. 

FSG President Dale Unruh, who has been part of the Silverbacks’ previous ownership group for more than a decade, will overlook the strategic direction of the hockey club. 

“Salmon Arm has an incredible hockey culture and community,” Unruh states. “Our focus is long-term — to build on the great foundation that [general manager and head coach Tyler Shattock], the players, and the previous ownership created, and to keep investing in this program for years to come.” 

The Silverbacks say the club’s existing leadership team and staff will remain in place. 

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Additionally, the club announced the hiring of Jamie Storr as its president of hockey operations. The 50-year-old Storr co-owns the Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. He also spent 10 seasons as a goaltender in the National Hockey League (NHL) and won two gold medals at the World Junior Hockey championships with Team Canada. 

“The opportunity in Salmon Arm is to build something special over the long term,” Storr says. “My focus is on developing players the right way — raising standards, creating a high-performance environment, and building a program that consistently competes for championships while preparing players for the next level.” 

In a news release issued Thursday, FSG is described as being backed by investors with experience in developing and operating championship junior hockey programs, professional hockey, youth sports academic programs, media and sports technology businesses across Canada, the U.S., and Europe. 

As of publication, the Silverbacks are 20-19-3-2 in the 2025-26 BCHL season, good for 45 points in 44 games. They’re third in the Interior West Division. 

Last season, the Silverbacks were swept in the first round of the BCHL playoffs. Prior to that, they advanced to the Interior Conference Finals in 2023 and 2024, falling to the Penticton Vees five and seven games, respectively, both years.