The Cranbrook Bucks have struck first in the 2022-23 edition of the BCHL’s Kootenay rivalry.
The Bucks were able to grit out a 3-1 win in Trail versus the Smoke Eaters Friday night to spoil the party for Trail’s home opener.
Both teams spent the first half of the opening period engaged in a defensive battle. There was a scary moment halfway through the opening frame when Cranbrook’s Jack Henry took a hard hit from Trail forward Judah Makway. The collision left Henry on the ice for several minutes while trainers from both teams checked on him, he was he was eventually taken off the ice via stretcher and brought to hospital. Play resumed and the Bucks were able to take a 1-0 lead in the dying minutes of the first period, Jarrod Smith converted a nice setup from Kellan Hjartarson at 16:09. Bucks goalie Carter Capton had a strong twenty minutes, turning aside all of Trail’s eight first period shots.
The Smoke Eaters were able to tie the game late in the second period via a power play goal from Nicholas Remissong at 16:02. The Bucks fired fourteen shots on Trail’s Teagan Kendrick in the second period. The game was tied 1-1 at intermission.
A seventeen-second scoring spree sealed Cranbrook’s victory over the Smoke Eaters midway through the final frame. First, a goal from Donovan Frias put the Bucks up 2-1 at 11:21. Cranbrook padded their lead to 3-1 via Noah Quinn’s first goal of the regular season. Trail continued to push through the third period, but Capton shut the door in the Cranbrook crease to preserve a well-earned 3-1 Bucks victory over their Kootenay Pass counterparts.
Cranbrook outshot Trail 30-27 in the winning effort. On special teams, Cranbrook was unable to convert on any of their three power play chances, Trail was 1/3 with the man-advantage Friday night.
These two teams meet each other again Saturday night for Cranbrook’s home opener.
Buck Tracks:
- Donavan Frias scores first career BCHL, twin brother Julian gets the primary assist.
- Jarrod Smith scores 2nd goal of the season.
- Luke Pfoh extends point streak to three games with assist on Noah Quinn’s goal.
