Well the 2025/26 season is officially over and what a ride it was!
The Bucks showcased one of the most historic seasons in BCHL history, and showed what resilience, belief, and everyone buying in can accomplish!
Starting the year off and only having 5 wins before New Years Eve, including a 10 game losing streak at the end of October, the playoffs seemed more like a fever dream than reality. But then, just like that, a complete 180. Win after win after win, and the Bucks started rolling and didn’t stop. With the addition of some key pieces and the resurgence in all aspects on the ice, the Bucks went on a tear, winning 15 games and securing the last playoff spot, heading into the postseason, almost even knocking off the Silverbacks out of the 3rd seed.
The postseason started and the Bucks would face-off against the #1 ranked team in the league in the West Kelowna Warriors and the doubters were out in full swing. But as the dream season continued, the Bucks would shock the hockey world and knock off the number one team in 5 games, stunning everyone, and making it to the second round for only the second time in franchise history!
Round 2 showed to be a tougher opponent, as the Salmon Arm Silverbacks just came off sweeping the Trail Smoke Eaters and were riding high. They took the first 2 games at home in Salmon Arm and the series would come back to Cranbrook with the Bucks down 0-2. Cranbrook would use their home ice advantage and the stellar goaltending of Jason Tremblay to win all 3 games at home and send the series back to Salmon Arm for game 7 where Teo Pisani would score the game winner and send the Bucks to the Conference Finals for the first time ever!
In the Conference Finals the Bucks would have the reigning champs in front of them in the Brooks Bandits and it proved to be a tough task. Brooks would be tough at home and took a 2-0 series lead. The Bucks, who remained perfect at home in the postseason and in over 80 days, kept the streak going with a 4-1 win on May 5th and closed the gap to 2-1. But the defending champs would take the next 2 games in Cranbrook and end the Bucks season at Western Financial Place last night.
With the season the Cranbrook Bucks have had, it was one for the story books! From being the lowest rated team in the playoffs, to making the conference finals proved that this organization can always find a way to win and is a testament to the players and coaches that made this season so special! We are so proud of each and every one of our players and they can hold their heads high, knowing that they created something special this year.
To our graduating players: Thank you for spending the last year of your junior hockey career with us, thank you for being part of the Bucks family and good luck in whatever path you choose to go in life! Your names are etched in Cranbrook Bucks History and as the old saying goes, “Once a Buck, always a Buck”!
And lastly, thank you to our fans! THANK YOU Bucks Nation, for coming on this incredible journey with us and for making it so memorable! For filling the rink every home game, to the billet families taking care of our boys, to the friends and family supporting from close and afar, you played an important role this year too!
We thank everyone for this year and see you next season!
