Cranbrook Bucks fans have plenty to smile about following a pair of convincing wins to check in on opening weekend for the BCHL regular season, including Saturday’s 6-1 victory over the Vernon Vipers.
The Bucks were hoping to carry momentum from Friday’s 9-0 win over West Kelowna into Saturday’s clash with the Vipers, and that’s exactly what went down. Like Friday, the Bucks put together a three-goal showing in the first period to build a convincing lead. Goals from Kaslo Ferner, Maddex Marmulak and Bryce Sookro had the Bucks leading 3-0 after the first period.
Vernon pushed back in the second period, and held the Bucks shooters at bay. The Vipers netted the lone goal of the second period, a power play marker from Lukas Brennan to at 4:29 to cut Cranbrook’s lead to 3-1, that score held steady through the second intermission.
Cranbrook’s power play put the game away in the final frame. Goals from Sookro, Shane Baker and Rasmus Svartstrom all came with the man advantage intact, and the Bucks were able to cruise to a 6-1 win.
Saturday’s win lifts Cranbrook’s record to 2-0 to start the season. On special teams, the Bucks went 5/6 on the power play and 4/5 on the penalty kill while outshooting Vernon 43-30.
The Bucks return to action Friday at Western Financial Place to start a home and home with the Okotoks Oilers.
Buck Tracks:
- 29 saves for Bucks goalie Jaden Cholette for the win in his BCHL debut
- 3 assists for Matthew Gilmore
- Bucks power play is 9/11 to start the season (81.8%)
