The Cranbrook Bucks might look back on Friday’s 4-2 loss to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs as the one that got away.
The two clubs made their returns from the BCHL all star break Friday night, and the Bucks looked sharp through the first three quarters of first period action. Goals in quick succession from Jacob Fletcher and Blake Cotton lifted Cranbrook to a 2-0 lead by the fifteen minute barrier. The Bulldogs managed to tally on a power play goal from Fischer O’Brien at 17:15 to cut Cranbrook’s lead to 2-1 heading into intermission.
Alberni Valley squared things up with another power play goal from O’Brien early in the second period, tying the game 2-2 at 2:57. The Bulldogs continued to press, and added another couple goals from Samuel Leonard and Cole Bishop to give the road team a 4-2 lead. The Bucks found themselves trailing by two goals after forty minutes.
The Bucks had their share of chances in the third period, but failed to gain any ground on the Bulldogs. Cranbrook went with an empty net in the dying minutes, but they weren’t able to generate any offence with the extra attacker, and they left the ice with a 4-2 loss to Alberni Valley.
Friday’s loss drops Cranbrook’s record to 14-22-2, the shots count was tied 35-35. On special teams, the Bucks finished 0/7 on the power play while their penalty kill went 2/4.
The Bucks return to action Sunday afternoon versus the Vernon Vipers.
Buck Tracks:
- Goal for Jacob Fletcher, 2 game point streak.
- 90th career BCHL game for Julian Frias.
- Bring your skates and helmets to Sunday’s game for Skate with the Bucks 2024!
