Bucks fall 4-2 as Warriors strike late
Cranbrook leads after 40 minutes, then watches the game get away in the third.
The Cranbrook Bucks took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission Tuesday night and held it through a scoreless second period, then dropped a 4-2 decision to the West Kelowna Warriors at Western Financial Place. Emmanuel Chan scored three times for the visitors, including the winner with 1:19 left and an empty-netter 30 seconds later, in front of 1,202 fans.
Gryphon Watson-Bucci and Brayden Gourley scored 42 seconds apart late in the first to flip a 1-0 deficit. That was as good as it got. The Bucks managed six shots in the third while West Kelowna poured on 15, and the Warriors left town with the two points. Cranbrook falls to 1-4-0-0.
Scoring Summary
1st Period — Chan opened the scoring at 4:23 from Max Dinneen. The Bucks answered late. Watson-Bucci tied it at 17:00 from Teghan Mullin and Devin Smith, and Gourley put Cranbrook in front 42 seconds later from Shane Tronoski and Liam Magnuson. It was 2-1 after one.
2nd Period — No scoring. The period was defined by special teams and a major. Matthew Tarlton was assessed a slashing major and game misconduct at 6:12 — a call that stood after video review — and the Bucks killed off the five-minute disadvantage. Both sides finished 0-for-3 on the power play.
3rd Period — Daxton Endicott tied it at 12:06 from Trey Hinton and John Kelly. With the extra attacker coming and the building looking for a late push, Chan finished a play from Olivier Chan and Dinneen at 18:41 to put West Kelowna ahead. Cranbrook went to the extra attacker, and Chan hit the empty net at 19:11 for his third of the night.
Goaltending
Keegan Carswell went the distance in the loss, stopping 28 of 31. Bor Glavič made 23 saves on 25 shots for the win.
Key Game Stats
| Category | West Kelowna | Cranbrook |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 4 | 2 |
| Period Scoring | 1-0-3 | 2-0-0 |
| Shots on Goal | 32 (8-9-15) | 25 (12-7-6) |
| Power Play | 0-for-3 | 0-for-3 |
| Penalty Minutes | 12 (6 infractions) | 23 (6 infractions) |
| Goaltender | Glavič (W) 23/25 | Carswell (L) 28/31 |
Three Stars
- Emmanuel Chan (#26), West Kelowna Warriors — 3 goals
- Brayden Gourley (#11), Cranbrook Bucks — 1 goal
- Gryphon Watson-Bucci (#14), Cranbrook Bucks — 1 goal
FortisBC Energy Player of the Game: Jack McMinn
Goal Scorers
WK — Emmanuel Chan 4:23 1st (Dinneen); Daxton Endicott 12:06 3rd (Hinton, J. Kelly); Emmanuel Chan 18:41 3rd GWG (O. Chan, Dinneen); Emmanuel Chan 19:11 3rd EN (unassisted)
CRA — Gryphon Watson-Bucci 17:00 1st (Mullin, Smith); Brayden Gourley 17:42 1st (Tronoski, Magnuson)
What’s Next
The Bucks hit the road Friday, October 2 at Spruce Grove (6:45 p.m. MDT), then stay there Saturday, October 3 (6:00 p.m. MDT). The next home date is Friday, October 9 versus Trail.
