Game Day | CRA at TRA

The Trail Smoke Eaters made a statement with Friday’s 4-1 win over Brooks at Cominco Arena.

They shut down the third highest scoring team in the BCHL, limiting the Alberta powerhouse to 21 shots on goal.

The offense came early and often.

Jack Kennedy’s seeing-eye screen-shot snapper from the point found the top of the net at 3:17 and the captain extended Trail’s lead to 2-0 in sensational fashion.

Ridge Dawson dashed down the right wing and roofed a short-side shot just over five minutes later to tally his 14th goal of the season, 4th shorthanded marker and the unassisted lamp-lighter was his 100th career point.

Bandits goalie Zach Zahara then stole a sure goal away from Christian Kim moments later.

He dove across the wide-open net and caught the California kid’s quick-release shot and made a similar scintillating circus save off Jason Stefanek in the third period.

The Bandits got on the board just past the 14 minute mark of the opening frame on Parker Lalonde’s speedy solo effort down the left wing with the backhand finish in close, but the Smokies responded just 23 seconds later.

Carter Matthews sprung Brayden Sinclair in alone with a superbly precision saucer pass on an odd-man rush, Sinclair’s shot was stopped by Zahara and Gryphon Bucci jammed away at the side of the net until the puck crossed the red line.

The two teams tightened up defensively in the second period producing just 11 shots in total during a scoreless middle frame.

Trail limited the explosive visitors to just four shots on goal in the third period with a relentless and stifling neutral zone presence, while whipping 12 shots at Zaraha.

The Smokies finally sealed the deal with Kim’s empty net goal in the dying seconds, his 20th of the season.

Trail outshot the Bandits 26-21 and both teams were 0-for-2 on the power play.

Ryan Parker’s solid 20-save effort earned the 19-year-old netminder his 10th win of the season, earning him top spot for the VH Sport 3 Stars of the Game.

He will get the start again tonight at home against Cranbrook as Teagan Kendrick is recovering from a second round of dental surgery earlier this week.

The Bucks will try to bounce back from a 7-3 Friday night home ice loss to Salmon Arm.

The Silverbacks fired four second period goals, put the game away with three unanswered markers in the third and outshot the Bucks 41-23.

Rasmus Svartstrom scored twice for Cranbrook and has a league-leading 39 goals and has six goals in five games against the Smokies.

It’s been a road warrior season series with Trail prevailing in all three Cranbrook contests, while the Bucks have won both Cominco Arena clashes, including a 3-2 decision on February 26.

Opening face off is set for 7 p.m. and great seats are still available at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.

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 SMOKIES FANS!!!
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2025-26 Season Ticket Pricing:
Adult/Senior: $299 (+ tax/fees) – Increases to $359 after May 31
 Youth (13-18): $129 (+ tax/fees) – Just $5.20 per game!
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For more info or to secure your seat, please visit:
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