Game Day | TRA at SGS

It’s time to start another streak.

The Smokies record run of 14 straight victories ended last Saturday night with a 2-0 loss to Salmon Arm and it’s back on the road for a weekend in Alberta.

Heading into tonight’s tilt in Spruce Grove, the Trail troupe is third in the Interior Conference, just one point back of Brooks and five behind the Penticton Vees.

The Saints are in a furious fight for the eighth and final playoff spot, sitting three points behind Okotoks who occupy the final postseason position.

This season series began back on September 27 with Trail jumping into a 5-0 first period lead, but it wasn’t a casual cruise to the 7-2 victory.

Teagan Kendrick put on a prolific show for family and friends, making 21 of his 39 saves in a second period that saw Trail kill off a series of penalties, including a five minute major and an extended 5-on-3 disadvantage.

Lucas Lemieux scored twice including a shorthanded marker in the middle frame to set his sensational season in motion. The 19-year-old, also from nearby Edmonton leads all BCHL rearguards with 12 goals.

Evan Sundar was a force that night with a goal, assist and six penalty minutes in a feisty game against his former team. However, he remains out of the lineup with a lower body injury.

The Smokies also won both games in Trail, pumping in four power play goals in a 5-1 win on November 1 and rebounding from a 2-1 deficit after one period to post a 5-2 win on January 3.

Lemieux leads all goal scorers head-to-head with three, while Christian Kim has five points against the Saints with two goals and three assists.

The Smokies head into the weekend as the second highest scoring team in the BCHL with 188 goals and are anxious to put their offense back in high gear after being shut out for the first time this season.

Tonight’s game also marks a return home for Edmonton boy Zach Coutu. The 19-year-old will play in front of his family and friends for the first time as a Smoke Eater. The speedy winger has 16 points in 12 games since coming over from the AJHL and has thrived on the line with California kids, Christian Kim and Jason Stefanek. Coutu has also just made an NCAA Division-1 commitment to the University of Alaska-Anchorage.

Opening face off is set for 6 p.m. Pacific Time, with all the action on Mixlr and FloHockey.