Luck was not on the side of the Cranbrook Bucks through Friday’s 6-3 loss to the West Kelowna Warriors.
The Bucks got off to a strong start in Friday’s game, opening the scoring 3:54 into the first period via a Cam Kungle goal. Cranbrook fired 20 first period shots on Warriors goalie Justin Katz, but it was West Kelowna leading 2-1 after the opening frame following a power play goal from Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero and a late marker from Felix Trudeau.
Cranbrook forward Luke Pfoh scored ninety-seconds into the second period to vault the Bucks into a 2-2 tie, but the seesaw battle would continue. The Warriors restored their one-goal lead at 13:39 with a goal from Elan Bar-Lev-Wise. It seemed like West Kelowna would carry their lead into the final frame, but a goal from Brendan Rodgers with just three-seconds remaining in the period to tie the game 3-3.
The Warriors were able to fend off Cranbrook in the third period and tallied three goals of their own to secure the 6-3 win, ending the Bucks’ winning streak at three games. Cranbrook’s record falls to 5-4, West Kelowna improves to 7-2
Cranbrook outshot the Warriors 37-27 in the losing effort, they finished the game 0/3 on the power play.
The Bucks continue their road trip Saturday night in Langley for their first ever encounter with the Rivermen. Langley will be coming into Saturday’s game hot after beating the Coquitlam Express 4-2 on Friday, pushing their Coastal Conference-leading record to 7-1-1-1.
Buck Tracks:
- Warriors lead Bucks 2-1 in season series.
- Forward Johnny Johnson’s point streak ends at 4 games (6g, 3a).
- Defenceman Cam Kungle scores his first goal of the season.
- Forward Brendan Rodgers (1g) extends point streak to 4 games.
- Friday’s game marked the first ever visit to West Kelowna for the Cranbrook Bucks.
