The Cranbrook Bucks have busted out of their slump thanks to a high-scoring victory over the Vernon Vipers Friday.
The Bucks returned home Friday after going winless on last weekend’s three-game road trip, and they found themselves down early. Vernon was able to strike at 1:17 when a lucky bounce led to a goal from Lee Parks to give the road team a 1-0 lead. Cranbrook responded before the three-minute mark when Blake Cotton scored to tie the game 1-1. The Bucks added two more goals through the opening frame from Jack Silich and affiliate player Peyton Mithmuangneua to take a 3-1 lead into intermission.
Cranbrook’s lead extended to 4-1 thanks to a goal from another affiliate player, this time it was Kaslo Ferner at the 1:47 mark of the second period. Vernon narrowed the gap to 4-2 just seconds later when Thomas Tien snuck a rebound past Nathan Airey. Both teams traded more goals as the middle frame carried on, the Bucks held a 6-4 lead after forty minutes.
The offensive well dried up for both teams in the third period, but the Vipers were able to pull a little closer to the Bucks with Tien’s second goal of the night at 7:49 to reduce Cranbrook’s lead to 6-5. The Vipers went with an empty net in lieu of an extra attacker late in the game, but the Bucks were able to stand their ground and held on for a 6-5 win, erasing their three game winless streak.
Friday’s win improves Cranbrook’s record to 30-12-1-2, the Bucks outshot Vernon 39-37 in the winning effort.
The Bucks are back in action Saturday night versus the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
Buck Tracks
- Peyton Mithmuangneua scores his first BCHL goal in his first game.
- Kaslo Ferner earns his first three BCHL points (2g,1a)
- Jack Silich boosts team-leading goal count to 21.
