The Cranbrook Bucks saw their three-game winning streak come to an end Saturday in a 3-1 loss to the Spruce Grove Saints, but not for a lack of trying.
The two clubs went shot for shot through most of the first period. The lone goal came from Spruce Grove’s Kiefer Miller tipped a point shot past Bucks goalie Miles Roberts to go up 1-0. Cranbrook wasn’t able to net a response ahead of intermission.
The Bucks and Saints held each other at a stalemate through the middle frame. Cranbrook outshot the Saints 12-6 but could not solve Xander Miceli in the Spruce Grove crease. The score remained 1-0 Saints after forty minutes.
In the third period, the Bucks pulled into a 1-1 tie just shy of the seven-minute mark thanks to Rasmus Svartstrom’s 21st goal of the season. However, the Saints had a couple more tricks up their sleeves. A Matheson Mason goal off a scramble in the Bucks zone made it 2-1 at 8:58. That was followed with a tally from a James Richards point shot at 15:37 to give the Saints a 3-1 lead. The road team began to flex their defensive muscle in the dying minutes, and the Bucks were unable to mount a comeback, giving way to a 3-1 Spruce Grove win.
Saturday’s loss drops Cranbrook’s record to 15-11-1, they outshot the Saints 37-29. On special teams, the Bucks went 0/3 on the power play and 3/3 on the penalty kill.
The Bucks have begun their BCHL holiday break. The team returns to action at home December 27 versus the West Kelowna Warriors.
Buck Tracks:
- Rasmus Svartstrom heads into holiday break with a share of the BCHL goal-scoring lead at 21.
- The Cranbrook Bucks wish you a safe and happy holidays. See you back at the rink on December 27!
