The Trail Smoke Eaters and the Cranbrook Bucks each claimed a victory in their back-to-back preseason games this weekend at Western Financial Place.
Playing their first exhibition game in Cranbrook on Friday, the Smokies fell to the Bucks in Game 4 of the pre-season Kootenay Cup 4-1. Bucks captain Briggs Gammill scored the opening goal of the game and the first-ever at Western Financial Place for the franchise, while also adding one more in the third to complete Cranbrook’s first exhibition victory on home ice.
Watch Cranbrook’s first goal at home below:
Dane Dowiak also scored a pair of goals for Cranbrook in the win. Both players finished with 3 points (2G, 1A) while Jacob Zacharewicz earned the victory between the pipes.
Trail’s lone goal was scored by Drew Elser just 76 seconds after Gammill’s final pot early in the third period. Both teams went 0/7 on the Power Play.
The next day the two teams met in Game 5 of the Kootenay Cup.
Trail would take back a 3-2 lead in the pre-season series with a dramatic 6-5 overtime victory.
Following a scoreless opening period, the Bucks burst out to an early 3-0 lead in the middle frame. However, the Smoke Eaters would score five unanswered goals from Jordan Hendry, Quinn Disher, Jaden Senkoe, Ben King and Mitchell Prowse.
Gammill would score his second of the contest for the Bucks and Carson Kurylo would tie the game in the second half of the third period, forcing overtime.
In the extra frame, Dowiak would get a two-minute minor for interference, putting Trail on the power play. Captain Cody Schiavon scored the game-winner on the ensuing power play to give the Smoke Eaters the 6-5 victory.
Watch the game-winner below:
Now with Trail leading the pre-season Kootenay Cup 3-2 through five games, the rivals will now have to wait until November 21st and 27th to close out the series. Those two games will be the final exhibition matchups for either team ahead of the BCHL’s proposed regular-season start in December.
Trail’s next game will be hosted this Thursday by the Merrit Centennials, who are (1-3-0-0) in the preseason. Puck drop is at 7:00 pm PST and can be viewed exclusively with a subscription to BCHL TV (HockeyTV).
