Bucks drop 5-3 decision to Trail after early two-goal lead
Cranbrook jumps out 2-0, but the Smoke Eaters score five around a power-play reply and leave Western Financial Place with the win in front of 1,415.
The Cranbrook Bucks could not turn a strong first period into a second home win Saturday night, falling 5-3 to the Trail Smoke Eaters at Western Financial Place. Mitch Patrick and Brayden Gourley had the Bucks up 2-0 after 20 minutes, but Trail answered with three second-period goals and two more in the third in front of 1,415 fans.
Gryphon Watson-Bucci added a power-play goal and an assist, finishing with two points on the night. Teo Pisani picked up a pair of helpers. After Friday’s 4-2 home-opener win over Okotoks, Cranbrook moves to 1-3-0-0 on the season.
Scoring Summary
1st Period — Patrick opened the scoring at 9:42 from Pisani and Watson-Bucci. Gourley doubled the lead at 13:18 off a feed from Cadel Gourlay for his first of the season. Cole Willard took a late tripping minor, but Trail did not convert and the Bucks carried a 2-0 lead into the intermission.
2nd Period — Roberts Polis got Trail on the board unassisted at 2:56. After Liam Magnuson was called for holding, Brayden Rotach tied it on the power play at 7:03 from Aleksandr Andriyashev. Cranbrook went back in front at 11:29 when Watson-Bucci finished a power-play chance from Matthew Gilmore and Pisani. Dysen Drake answered 91 seconds later, an unassisted marker that tied the game 3-3 and prompted a goaltending change, with Keegan Carswell replacing Jakub Hajek at 13:00 on a tough outing.
3rd Period — Max Schaller put Trail ahead for good at 9:08 from Daniel Rassega. Cranbrook pulled Carswell late, and Tim-Kristian Lukkarinen scored into the empty net at 19:25. Matching misconducts were assessed to Gilmore and Drake with 39 seconds left after a late scrum.
Goaltending
Hajek started and stopped 13 of 16 shots over 33:00 before being lifted after Drake’s tying goal. Carswell finished with 15 saves on 16 shots in 26:56 and took the loss. Marek Schlenker went the distance for Trail, making 22 saves on 25 shots, and was named first star.
Key Game Stats
| Category | Trail | Cranbrook |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 5 | 3 |
| Period Scoring | 0-3-2 | 2-1-0 |
| Shots on Goal | 33 (8-14-11) | 25 (11-5-9) |
| Power Play | 1-for-3 | 1-for-2 |
| Penalty Minutes | 8 (5 infractions) | 10 (6 infractions) |
| Goaltender | Schlenker (W) 22/25 | Hajek 13/16; Carswell (L) 15/16 |
Attendance: 1,415 • Arena: Western Financial Place • Game length: 2:19 (6:03–8:22 p.m. MDT)
Three Stars
- Marek Schlenker (#33), Trail Smoke Eaters — 22 saves on 25 shots
- Gryphon Watson-Bucci (#14), Cranbrook Bucks — 1 goal, 1 assist
- Mitch Patrick (#19), Cranbrook Bucks — 1 goal
FortisBC Energy Player of the Game: Nathan Simm
Goal Scorers
TRA — Roberts Polis 2:56 2nd (unassisted); Brayden Rotach 7:03 2nd PP (Andriyashev); Dysen Drake 13:00 2nd (unassisted); Max Schaller 9:08 3rd GWG (Rassega); Tim-Kristian Lukkarinen 19:25 3rd EN (unassisted)
CRA — Mitch Patrick 9:42 1st (Pisani, Watson-Bucci); Brayden Gourley 13:18 1st (Gourlay); Gryphon Watson-Bucci 11:29 2nd PP (Gilmore, Pisani)
What’s Next
The Bucks stay at Western Financial Place on Tuesday, September 29, when the West Kelowna Warriors visit at 7:00 p.m. MDT. Tickets are available at cranbrookbucks.ca and at the Western Financial Place box office.
