It’s another overtime hattrick for the Cranbrook Bucks thanks to Sunday’s 3-2 OT win over the Surrey Eagles, securing a sweep of their three-game west coast road trip in the process.
The Bucks kept up with the Coastal Conference-leading Eagles in the first period, despite suiting up for their third game in less than seventy-two hours. Neither team ended up on the scoresheet through the opening twenty minutes, shots were at a 9-8 advantage for Surrey at intermission.
The Eagles broke the scoring shortly past the midway barrier of second period action. Arvega Hovsepyan tallied his eighth goal of the season at 13:24 to put the home team up 1-0. The Bucks failed to gain any ground in the middle frame, and trailed 1-0 at the break.
A Surrey goal less than one-minute into the third period doubled their lead to 2-0, and forced the Bucks to refocus. A power play goal from Bryce Sookro set the stage for a comeback bid at 6:37, cutting Surrey’s lead to 2-1. With a sense of urgency beginning to arise, the Bucks struck again with a tying goal from Luke Pfoh at 16:33. The 2-2 deadlock remained intact at the buzzer, forcing a third straight overtime finish for the Bucks.
Cranbrook wasted little time completing the comeback, Bryce Sookro’s second goal of the game at 1:22 into 3-on-3 overtime secured the 3-2 win for his Bucks.
Sunday’s win lifts Cranbrook’s record to 11-13-1, the Bucks were outshot 32-28. On special teams, Cranbrook’s power play finished 1/2 and the penalty kill went 1/1.
The Bucks finally return home on Friday for a showdown with the Prince George Spruce Kings in the first half of a weekend double-header.
Buck Tracks:
- 2 pts for Luke Pfoh (1g,1a)
- 2 goals for Bryce Sookro, first multi-goal game of his BCHL career.
- Second time this season with three straight wins via overtime/shootout.
