It was another close call in Wednesday’s edition of the Battle of the Kootenays, with the Cranbrook Bucks taking a 3-2 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters.
The Smokies held the early shots edge through the first period, but it was the Bucks who got on the board first. A Patrick Murphy goal just shy of the eleven-minute mark put Cranbrook up 1-0 though intermission.
The Bucks added to their lead early in the second period. Captain Bryce Sookro tallied in the opening minute to boost Cranbrook’s lead to 2-0. The two teams battled to a stalemate until the dying minutes, when a Trail goal from Isaac Fecteau at 18:30 cut Cranbrook’s lead to 2-1. However, the Bucks bounced back just twenty-eight seconds later with a Jacob Fletcher goal to take a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.
Trail rallied through the third period, but could only muster one goal from Jason Stefanek. Bucks goalie Jaden Cholette held his ground the rest of the way to preserve a 3-2 win for the East Kootenay club.
Wednesday’s win lifts Cranbrook’s record to 25-16-2, Trail outshot the Bucks 35-30. The Bucks are back in action Friday when they host the Brooks Bandits for Pink the Rink night.
Buck Tracks:
- Patrick Murphy up to 19 goals on the season.
- 1g, 1a for Bryce Sookro
