Game Day | CRA at TRA
It’s another Cominco Arena Clash tonight between the Trail Smoke Eaters and their BCHL Kootenay Rivals, the Cranbrook Bucks.
The Smokies are riding a league-high, six-game winning streak that includes a 6-4 New Year’s Eve victory in the East Kootenay.
Rookie Cade De St. Hubert scored 30-seconds after the Bucks tied the game in the first period and set up Cash Carter’s goal minutes after the Bucks tied the game 3-3 in the second period.
The game featured a rare disallowed goal that was called back after a post-play conference by all four officials, who determined the Bucks were offside.
Moments after what would have been the tying goal with 1:14 remaining in the third period, Jack Ziliotto pumped in an empty net goal that sealed the Trail victory.
Jason Stefanek also scored in that game and has two goals and one assist to lead the Smokies season series attack against the Bucks.
The 20-year-old California kid has points in six straight games including last Saturday’s heroics in Penticton.
Stefanek assisted on Lucas Lemieux’s first period power play goal, forced overtime with a highlight reel toe-drag late in the third period to tie the game and netted the overtime winner on a Christian Kim rebound as Trail triumphed 3-2.
Evan Sundar who scored in Cranbrook on Dec 31 is on a five game points streak and leads the team with 30, one ahead of Stefanek and two more than line mate Judah Makway.
The win moved Trail to within a single point of second place Brooks and leaves them three points back of the Interior Conference leading Vees.
The Bucks are coming off last weekend’s split of a home-and-home series against Brooks, including Friday’s 5-4 shootout victory at home.
Cranbook is sixth in the conference, five points behind Sherwood Park and five ahead of Spruce Grove.
The Bucks are paced by points leader Jacob Fletcher who has 35 – one more than Bryce Sookro of Nelson, who leads all BCHL defensemen.
Blake Cotton had a hat trick against Trail on New Year’s Eve and has scored five times in the season series, while Swedish import Rasmus Svartstrom has four goals versus the Smoke Eaters. He also leads the BCHL with 24 tallies.
Teagan Kendrick made 40 saves on New Year’s Eve and 38 during Saturday’s victory over the Vees.
It was the 20-year-old’s 43rd win as a Smokie, moving the Edmonton area puck-stopper into the team’s all-time lead and it was coach Tim Fragle’s franchise record-tying 99th victory.
The Smokies have brought in an 18-year old defenseman who played for Team Germany at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Ottawa.
Max Hense, who also played for his country at the U-18 Gretzky-Hlinka Cup, had 6 goals and 25 points in 26 games with his German Junior team this season.
The 6’2″ 198-lb rearguard may play this weekend.
Opening face-off between the Smokies and Bucks is set for 7 p.m. Good seats are still available at the door or at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.