The Trail Smoke Eaters dulled the mood for the Cranbrook Bucks on Friday night’s annual Pink The Rink game, taking a 4-1 win to bring an end to Cranbrook’s three-game winning streak.
The Bucks took awhile to get started, they were unable to register a shot through the first twelve minutes of the first period, but goaltender Braedyn McIntosh was in fine form. The Smokies managed to crack the code on McIntosh late in the opening frame with a Lucas Lemieux point shot to take a 1-0 lead into intermission.
Cranbrook appeared rejuvenated through the opening minutes of the second period, and a Bryce Sookro goal at the five-minute barrier put Cranbrook in a 1-1 tie.
Trail restored their lead a few minutes later when a point shot hit Ridge Dawson and redirected past McIntosh, putting the Smoke Eaters in a 2-1 lead. Trail’s lead held steady through forty minutes.
The Smoke Eaters put the game away in the third period. A passing play spurred by a strong Trail forecheck led to a Judah Makway goal to extend Trail’s lead to 3-1 midway through the final frame. The Smokies added one more late goal on an empty net with a long shot from Isaac Fecteau to secure the 4-1 win.
Friday’s loss drops Cranbrook’s record to 19-24-2, the Bucks were outshot 35-30. Both teams finished 0/2 on the power play.
The Bucks will have a chance to get back in the win column Saturday night when they host the Penticton Vees.
Buck Tracks:
- Jacob Fletcher (1a) extends point streak to 7 games.
- Thank you to the 2,685 fans who came out to Pink The Rink night to support antibullying causes!
– Article includes photo from Martin Ross
