It’s the BCHL season opener. After a grueling 3 weeks since main camp opened and the Smoke Eaters began exhibition play, it’s finally time to play for points.
Season series preview:
Oct. 8 Trail @ Cranbrook 7:00 pm MDT
Oct. 9 Cranbrook @ Trail 7:00 pm PDT
Dec. 1 Trail @ Cranbrook 7:00 pm MST
Dec. 17 Cranbrook @ Trail 7:00 pm PST
Dec. 18 Trail @ Cranbrook 7:00 pm MST
Dec. 31 Trail @ Cranbrook 7:00 pm MST
Jan. 1 Cranbrook @ Trail 5:00 pm PST
The Smoke Eaters begin the season with another test against a familiar foe in the Cranbrook Bucks, a foe that got the better of them of three separate occasions during the exhibition schedule. The Smoke Eaters went 8-2 against the Bucks in the pod last year, despite the unique circumstances of last year’s season, the record will be something the Smoke Eaters will be looking to replicate as the Bucks begin their first full season in the BCHL. There will be a plethora of BCHL debutants tonight in Cranbrook as the Smoke Eaters new recruits look to make a name for themselves in the BCHL.
The Bucks went undefeated in the preseason beating the Smoke Eaters three times and then the Wenatchee Wild. They also beat Team Canada by an 8-3 score line to wrap up their exhibition schedule on Tuesday. With five wins under their belt the Bucks will be feeling confident that they can get their first BCHL win in front of their home fans and get the weekend started on the right note before coming to Trail on Saturday night. Nathan Airey has been very good so for for the Bucks in the preseason and looks poised to have a standout BCHL season should he keep up that form. With two points finally on the line it will be interesting how these two teams conduct themselves and make any changes from their preseason tilts.
Tonight’s game gets started at 7pm in Cranbrook, 6pm Pacific time. Catch the game on HockeyTV or on the Smoke Eaters Mixlr with the pregame show starting ten minutes prior to puck drop.
