Another boisterous Western Financial Place crowd was treated to a great showing from the Cranbrook Bucks, who put on a great show to earn a 4-1 victory over the Nanaimo Clippers
The first period was tentative for both sides. The Bucks managed to take the edge of the early shot at 10-8, but both goalies were in good form. Cranbrook did have three power-play opportunities in the opening frame, but a strong Nanaimo PK unit held the Bucks at bay.
It was more of the same in the second period. Neither team could find the net despite multiple power-play opportunities for both clubs. The middle frame ended the same way it began, a 0-0 tie. But that was about to change.
The Bucks managed to get on the board early in the third period thanks to an Andrew King goal on an odd-man rush. Cranbrook needed just 15 seconds to double their lead with a goal from Brendan Rodgers off a breakdown in the Nanaimo zone. Cam Reid made it a 3-0 lead with time dwindling in the final frame. The Clippers did manage to get a goal at the 18:07 mark to halt Bucks goalie Nathan Airey’s bid for a shutout, but the Bucks would reply with an empty-net goal from Cole Assailly to close the game with a 4-1 victory.
The win puts Cranbrook on a winning streak for the first time this season at two games and improves their record to 4-3-0.
The Bucks won’t have as long a layoff between games this week, they’re back in action on November 3 when they host the Merritt Centennials.
Buck Tracks:
- Defenceman Cam Reid earned his first two points of the season, he was named the game’s 1st
- Forward Brendan Rodgers scored his first career BCHL goal.
- The Bucks are on their first winning streak of the season (two games).
- Forward Tyson Dyck scoreless in 2 games after opening season with 5 game point streak.
- Saturday’s game was the first clash between Cranbrook and Nanaimo. The Clippers have won five Fred Page Cups in the franchise’s history (1976, 1977, 1978, 2004, 2007)
