It’s almost time to change the calendars, and the Cranbrook Bucks are on a roll heading into the finale for 2022.
The Bucks picked up where they left before the BCHL’s holiday break on Friday night in Trail, their winning streak has grown to eight games after a 3-0 win versus the Smoke Eaters to strike first in a home-and-home to close the year.
The newest member of The Herd stole the show Friday night, recently acquired forward Jeremy Tremblay got the ball rolling in the first period with a well-placed wrist shot into a crowd to tally Cranbrook’s first goal at 7:11. The 1-0 lead held steady through the opening frame, Bucks goalie Carter Capton turned aside all of Trail’s 7 shots.
Second period action was tight on both ends and quality chances were scarce. Cranbrook managed to build their lead with Tremblay’s second goal of the night at 5:20 off a rebound from a Nick Peluso shot. The Smoke Eaters were unable to solve Capton through forty minutes, and the Bucks held a 2-0 lead into the third period.
Trail staged a push in the final frame, but the Bucks were able to weather the storm. The Smoke Eaters put 11 shots on Capton, who was able to keep the door closed in the Cranbrook crease to preserve his first shutout of the season. A buzzer-beater on an empty net from Donovan Frias secured a 3-0 win for the Bucks in the penultimate game of 2022.
Friday’s win was Cranbrook’s eighth victory in a row, their record improves to 20-8-1. Both teams fired 24 shots, the Bucks held off Trail’s power play on all four attempts but failed to convert with their lone chance with the man-advantage.
The two clubs finish their year-ending home-and-home Saturday night in Cranbrook at Western Financial Place, the Bucks will have a chance to push their winning streak to nine games.
Buck Tracks:
- First 2 goals of Jeremy Tremblay’s BCHL career.
- Rhys Bentham’s 100th BCHL game.
- Carter Capton’s 2nd BCHL career shutout.
