The Cranbrook Bucks were hoping for a little better in Friday’s home opener versus the Merritt Centennials, but they won’t have to wait long for a rematch.
Merritt made quick work of silencing the home crowd in the first period, with goals from Jacob Smith and Zach Losier within the first two minutes. Cranbrook fired 19 shots on goaltender Karlis Mezsargs to no avail, and trailed 2-0 at the first intermission.
The Centennials had another fast start in the second period via goals from Luke Melnik and Tim Kim to go up 4-0 by the 1:23 mark. Merritt’s third goal signaled a goalie change for the Bucks, with Danick Leroux manning the crease the rest of the way. Cranbrook finally found the scoreboard at 4:09 with Jacob Fletcher’s first BCHL goal. However, the Bucks failed to muster any more offence through the middle frame, and trailed 4-1 after forty minutes.
Cranbrook’s shooters started to pepper the Merritt goal in the third period, but the Centennials’ stopper was on his game. Only Noah Urness managed to score for Cranbrook midway through the final frame, which left the Bucks short at the buzzer and allowing Merritt to secure a 4-2 victory on the road.
Friday’s loss drops Cranbrook’s record to 2-3. The Bucks outshot the Centennials 46-40, they finished 0/2 on the power play and 3/3 on the penalty kill.
The Bucks get a chance for redemption Saturday night in a rematch with Merritt at Western Financial Place.
Buck Tracks:
- 1st BCHL goal for Jacob Fletcher
