You had the feeling it would be a memorable night when Trail rookie Callas Pierce got his first BCHL goal early in the first period and then Nanaimo tied the game three minutes later when the puck came over top of the net from the backboards and went in off Smokies goalie Teagan Kendrick three minutes later.
Pierce would score again in the third period, Patrick Reilly would post his first career BCHL goal, the Smokies would score six unanswered goals, and Kendrick stopped a penalty shot in the third period.
When the ice chips cleared, the Smoke Eaters emerged with an 8-6 win at the BCHL Showcase in Seattle.
The rink full of NHL and NCAA scouts saw a wild-west shootout that also had its defensive moments.
With the game tied 4-4 in the second period and facing a power play that was 30.25% heading into the game, the Smokies killed off a two-man disadvantage for 1:38 and carried that momentum into the third period, reeling off four of their six unanswered goals to open an insurmountable 8-4 lead.
Chase Stefanek was outstanding, capping a day in which he was identified by NHL Central Scouting as a potential 4th round draft choice.
The 17-year-old tipped in a Jack Kennedy shot to tie the game in the second period and set up Ridge Dawson’s third period goal with a power move through the Nanaimo defense. He was also checked at the last second bearing down on an empty Nanaimo net late in the third period after stealing the puck in the Trail zone.
Adam Marshall also scored twice and Max Potvin rounded out the Trail attack with a single.
The Clippers outshot the Smokies 35-32, and were held to just one power play goal on five chances. Their goal came with 19 seconds left in the game as a major penalty left Trail shorthanded for the final 3:17.
The Smoke Eaters were 2-for-5 on the power play.
And there is little time to rest.
Trail takes on Alberni Valley this afternoon at 1:50 p.m. PT at the Kraken Community Iceplex in Seattle.
The Bulldogs beat Cranbrook 4-2 in their game on Wednesday, which was played right before the Smoke Eaters-Clippers contest.
The game can be heard on Mixlr or watch the action on FloHockey.
