The Cranbrook Bucks’ return to in-game action packed plenty of excitement with the club staging a four-goal third period to secure a comeback victory.
The Bucks managed a 6-4 win over the Smoke Eaters thanks to a four-goal outburst in the third period in Wednesday’s preseason debut in Trail.
The Smokies managed to find their way to the scoreboard at 7:52 in the opening frame by way of a tally from veteran forward Josh Schenk to put the home team at a 1-0 advantage. The Bucks squared up in short order, a few slick moves deep in Trail territory from Danik Reeves put the Bucks on the board at 10:44 to tie the game at 1-1.
The deadlock remained intact through the first twenty minutes, with Trail holding an 11-8 shots advantage.
Trail began to establish momentum midway through the second period, starting with a goal from Jack DesRuisseaux at 8:40 to put the Smokies up 2-1. Cranbrook briefly tied the game at 2-2 with a goal from Noah Urness at 9:48. The Smoke Eaters responded with two more goals from Schenk and fellow veteran Ridge Dawson to take a 4-2 lead into intermission.
Third period action was Cranbrook’s time to shine. Bucks newcomer Oskar Cederqvist pulled Cranbrook back within one goal at the 1:39 mark, reducing Trail’s lead to 4-3. The Bucks tied the game 4-4 thanks to a Kaslo Ferner goal with five-minutes remaining in regulation. That set the stage for Brandon Pazdzierski’s go-ahead goal at 16:52 to give Cranbrook their first lead of the game at 5-4. An empty net goal from Sammy Hynes sealed Cranbrook’s 6-4 win.
The Bucks finished 2/4 on the power play in Wednesday’s exhibition edition of the BCHL’s Kootenay rivalry, while Trail’s power play went 1/4. The Smoke Eaters outshot Cranbrook 44-31.
Preseason action continues for the Bucks on Thursday, September 14 in a clash with the Prince George Spruce Kings at Trail’s Cominco Arena. Cranbrook’s lone home game on the preseason schedule is Saturday, September 16 versus the Trail Smoke Eaters.
Buck Tracks:
- Goaltenders Danick Leroux and Jaxon Loewen split duties vs Trail, both stopped 20 of 22 shots.
- Multi-point games for Noah Urness, Kaslo Ferner, Brady Yakesh and Luke Pfoh.
