The first official BCHL regular season in the young history of the Cranbrook Bucks has come to an end, and the Bucks are going out with a bang after a 4-0 win over the Wenatchee Wild in Saturday’s season finale.
The Bucks started with a bang. They scored two goals in the first fifty-six seconds of the game. Cranbrook was able to extend their lead to 3-0 by the three-minute mark of the first period. Goals came from Brendan Rogers, Johnny Johnson and Carter Schmidt. After a timeout, the Wild seemed to find their footing, but were unable to beat Nathan Airey. The Bucks maintained their 3-0 lead through the first twenty-minutes.
The second period was a much more tame twenty-minutes than what was on display through the first. Neither side had many quality chances, as the Bucks’ focus seemed to shift toward maintaining their comfortable lead. Wenatchee could muster only five shots on Cranbrook’s Nathan Airey through the second period, and the Bucks were able to hold on to their 3-0 lead to head into the final frame.
The Bucks were outshot 17-7 in the third period, but Wenatchee was not able bridge the gap thanks to Nathan Airey’s perfect game in the Cranbrook crease. Bucks forward Tyson Dyck picked up the lone goal of the final frame, when he tipped a Declan Ride point shot at 7:06. The Bucks were able to keep the Wild at bay for the remainder of the game, and they close the book on their first official BCHL regular season with an impressive 4-0 win.
With Saturday’s win, the Bucks finish the season with a 29-20-2-3 record. Cranbrook outshot Wenatchee 30-29, both teams finished 0/4 on the power play.
Cranbrook begins their first ever BCHL playoff run Friday in Prince George for game one of round one versus the Spruce Kings.
Buck Tracks:
- Bucks goalie Nathan Airey earns 20th win of the season, 4th
- Tyson Dyck scores one goal, ends season with 75 points.
- Final regular season game for Evan Gartner, Liam Hansson, Brendan Rogers, Johnny Johnson and Quaid Anderson.
Photo Credit: Tim Matwey
