The Cranbrook Bucks drew the Nanaimo Clippers for day two on their BCHL Showcase dance card, and the Clippers proved to be a formidable dance-partner – earning a 4-2 win over the Bucks.
The Bucks, coming into Tuesday’s game of the heels of an impressive 9-2 win over Cowichan Valley on Monday, were unable to score on any of their thirteen shots in the first period. The lone goal in the opening frame came from Nanaimo’s Michael Craig at 14:54 to put the Clippers at a 1-0 advantage. Bucks goalie Nathan Airey and Clippers tender Shane Shelest were dialed in for a goaltender’s dual.
The Bucks tied the game just over three-minutes into the second period. Jack Silich, fresh off of a hattrick performance on Monday, tallied Cranbrook’s opening goal via a tip-in to put the Bucks in a 1-1 tie. Nanaimo responded with goals from Brody Waters and Jake Hewit to retake their lead at 3-1. Cranbrook added one more on a nice passing play which was finished by Carsyn Good to leave the Bucks at a 3-2 deficit to begin the third period.
Both teams clamped down on their defences, and they rode the heels of strong goaltending through a tug-of-war third period. Cranbrook pulled their goalie in lieu of an extra attacker with time dwindling in the final frame, but it backfired – and the Clippers picked up an insurance goal on the yawning cage with less than a minute left in the game. At the final buzzer, the Clippers had earned a hard-fought 4-2 victory over the Bucks.
Tuesday’s loss puts an end to Cranbrook’s two-game winning streak while their record falls to 6-3. Cranbrook outshot the Clippers 37-35. On special teams, Cranbrook’s power play went 0/2 and they were 3/4 on the penalty kill.
The Bucks are heading back to Cranbrook after posting a 1-1 record at the 2022 BCHL Showcase, they’re back in front of a home crowd Friday night versus the Powell River Kings.
Buck Tracks:
- 1st goal of the season for Carsyn Good.
- Bucks all-time record vs Nanaimo is 1-1.
- 2 points for Jack Silich (1g,1a) – 7 points through last 3 games.
Lead photo by Garrett James
