And so it begins.
The Trail Smoke Eaters open the 2023-24 regular season against their Kootenay rival, the Cranbrook Bucks tonight at Cominco Arena.
They met twice during the preseason with the Bucks winning 6-4 in Trail and 4-3 back home in last Saturday’s preseason finale for both teams, which saw Cranbrook come from behind in both contests.
They scored four unanswered third period goals on September 6th in Trail, after the home side rode a two-goal performance by Josh Schenk to a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes.
Schenk is serving the final game of a two-game suspension and won’t be available until Saturday night’s game at home against West Kelowna.
The Smoke Eaters also got off to a great start in Cranbrook, jumping out to a 2-0 lead on Mathieu Cobetto-Roy’s power play snipe. He assisted on the other two Smoke Eater goals that night as well.
The Bucks chipped away, scoring in the dying seconds of the second period to tie the game 3-3.
Smoke Eaters rookie goalie, Ryan Parker stood out in the third period with several sensational saves among his 23 stops throughout the final frame.
The only puck that got past him was a screen shot from the point, but it stood up as the winner despite a wild flurry around the Bucks net in the final seconds, with Parker on the bench for a sixth attacker.
The Smoke Eaters named Ethan Warrener captain after the veteran defenseman finished tied for the BCHL points lead in the preseason with seven on a goal and six assists.
Cobetto-Roy also had a strong preseason with three goals and two assists, while newly appointed assistant captain Ethan Mann fired two goals with three helpers.
Schenk and Adam Parsons are the other assistant captains.
Bucks defenseman Brady Yakesh led Cranbrook in preseason scoring with two goals, including the winner Saturday against the Smoke Eaters, along with four assists.
The two preseason games featured the physicality and animosity expected in a developing rivalry and there is nothing to suggest that won’t carry into the first game with two points on the line.
Trail posted a preseason record of 1-4-1, while the Bucks were 3-0-1, but the slates have been erased now that the regular season is upon us.
The new team will be introduced tonight just before the 7:00 p.m. puck drop. Tickets are still available at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com or at the box office.
