With round one of the BCHL Playoffs about to kick off , lets take a look back at the 58 game schedule that saw the Trail Smoke Eaters set multiple franchise records.
2nd Place Finish –
For the first time since the 1996/97 season the Trail Smoke Eaters finished 2nd in the Interior division. With a record of 36-17-2-2-1 the Smoke Eaters put up 77 points in 58 games. An incredible feat given that if you take out the first five games the Smokies put up 36 wins in 53 games.
They set a new franchise record for point percentage this season as well. Previously at 0.658 (79 points of a possible 120) through a 60 game season in 96/97, this seasons team beat that mark with a point percentage of 0.664 with 77 points of a possible 116.
Franchise Setting Win Streak –
After a slow start the Smoke Eaters set the record straight by becoming the hottest team in the league rattling off nine consecutive victories, seven of which were on the road. The streak concluded with a 4-1 win at home against the Nanaimo Clippers, who were running a seven game win streak. The Smoke Eaters beat West Kelowna, Victoria x2, Prince George x2, Cowichan, Surrey, Merritt and Nanaimo on their road to team history. Their nine game win streak kicked off a run of games where the team went 17-1-1-1 over a twenty game span to shoot up the BCHL standings and earn recognition on the CJHL weekly power rankings.
Road Warriors –
While the Smoke Eaters were dominant on home ice this year they were just as hard to beat on the road. The team set a new record for most road wins in a season at 15 games. The record was set at 14 wins in 96/97 but was matched in 2006/07 as well as 2017/18. This years squad now hold the record uncontested.
Along with overall road wins in a season the Smoke Eaters set the record for consecutive road wins with six in a row. The wins came at the same time as the teams nine game win streak as the Smoke Eaters spent close to a month on the road between games at Cominco.
Home Fortress –
While it may have not set any records the Smoke Eaters dominance on home ice cannot be over looked. With a record of 21-6-1-0-1 on home ice the Smoke Eaters bolstered the fourth best home record in the league. Aside from Coquitlam it was the hardest place to win from September 22nd on wards, losing just two games the rest of the way, going 21-2-0-0-1 with losses to Surrey and Coquitlam. That’s a 0.875 winning percentage on home ice, the second best in the league between during that time frame. Between the loss to Surrey and Coquitlam the Smoke Eaters won 12 consecutive games inside the Trail Memorial Centre.
It was 58 games of highs an lows. Now the Smoke Eaters begin a new quest as they try to become the first Smoke Eaters team to be crowned BCHL Champions. It all gets started Friday February 28th at 7pm against the Prince George Spruce Kings.
