Photo Credit: Tim Matwey
The Cranbrook Bucks and Trail Smoke Eaters left nothing on the table in an entertaining encounter to end their season series, with the Bucks taking a hard-fought 5-3 win.
The first period belonged to Cranbrook. The Bucks exploded for four goals in the opening frame from four different players. Johnny Johnson, Cam Kungle, Bauer Morrissey and Kellan Hjartarson all lit the lamp. Trail pulled goalie Evan Fradette after Cranbrook’s fourth goal, giving way for Josh Tisdale’s first BCHL appearance in the Smoke Eaters’ crease. The Bucks sat comfortably after 20 minutes, leading Trail 4-0.
The Smoke Eaters made a game of it in the second period. Trail got on the board early in the middle frame via a net-drive from Quinn Disher at 2:16. The Smoke Eaters struck again just under two minutes after Disher’s marker, this time Josh Schenk tallied at 3:49 to pull his team within two goals at a 4-2 score. The Smokies struck more fear into the home crowd when they pulled within one goal of the Bucks after a Brady Hunter power play blast made it a 4-3 game. Cranbrook did find a little bit of reprieve in the dying minutes of the second period. Hayden Gelbard had a couple of chances off an odd-man rush but couldn’t beat Tisdale, Tyson Dyck was able to find a third rebound with the goaltender down and out and hit paydirt on the empty Trail cage. Bucks led 5-3 after two periods.
The third period was played evenly, with both teams getting their share of chances. The Smoke Eaters appeared to build momentum after killing a five-minute Cranbrook power play following a major penalty to Cory Cunningham. However, neither team was able to push the envelope any further, and the Cranbrook Bucks preserved a 5-3 victory.
Saturday’s win improves Cranbrook’s record to 17-11-2 while Trail falls to 13-13-1. Trail managed to outshoot Cranbrook 39-30 in the losing effort, the Bucks tallied on 1 of 4 power play attempts while Trail finished 1 for 2.
The win also gives the Bucks a 6-3 season series victory, and it was Cranbrook’s fifth consecutive win versus the Smoke Eaters.
The Bucks will shift their focus to the road, with a pair of games coming up versus the Wenatchee Wild starting January 20.
Buck Tracks:
- Tyson Dyck busts out of 3 game point drought with 4-point game (1g,3a)
- Carter Schmidt makes debut for Cranbrook Bucks.
- First goal for Bauer Morrissey since December 4 (vs Vernon Vipers).
- Bucks win season series vs Trail 6-3 (5 consecutive wins vs Smoke Eaters)
