The Cranbrook Bucks had just one game through the Family Day long weekend, and it was a good one.
The Bucks offence found a new gear Monday afternoon to dismantle the Vernon Vipers in a 9-1 final.
First period action saw Cranbrook build a comfortable lead thanks to their blueline. Defenseman Loke Sodergren got things going with a goal at 3:01 to lift his Bucks to a 1-0 lead, he added another tally at 9:19 to extend their lead to 2-0. Fellow blueliner Joseph Blackley put Cranbrook in a 3-0 lead in the latter stages of the opening frame to give the Bucks a comfortable advantage at intermission.
Cranbrook’s lead bumped up to 4-0 with an early second period goal from Julian Frias. Following that, the Vipers finally managed to solve Bucks goalie Carter Capton, Adam Csabi netted Vernon’s first goal at 14:55 to cut Cranbrook’s lead to 4-1 ahead of the second intermission.
The Bucks erupted in the third period. Cranbrook put up five third period goals from Patrick Murphy and Shane Baker while Blake Cotton potted three goals to secure his first BCHL hattrick, leading the Bucks to a 9-1 blowout win over the Vernon Vipers.
Monday’s win was Cranbrook’s third win in a row and improves their record to 19-23-2, the Bucks outshot Vernon 38-31. On special teams, Cranbrook’s power play finished 3/7 and they went 2/2 on the penalty kill.
The Bucks return to action Friday for Pink The Rink night when they host the Trail Smoke Eaters.
Buck Tracks
- Carter Capton stops 30 of 31 shots.
- 1st career hattrick for Blake Cotton.
- 1st multi-goal BCHL game for Loke Sodergren.
- Shane Baker scores in BCHL debut.
