It’s go time!
The Smoke Eaters open the playoffs tonight (Friday) in Vernon.
Coach and GM, Tim Fragle has indicated all players will be available to open the best-of-seven series.
Trail closed out the regular season last weekend with wins of 4-2 in both Penticton and Salmon Arm.
Mathieu Cobetto-Roy scored the opening goal against the Vees and sniped the winner against the Silverbacks after returning from a four-game injury absence.
The 20-year-old centreman, who also kills penalties and takes key face-offs, heads into the post season on a three game goal-scoring streak.
He also tops all players in the season series against the Vipers with five goals and three assists.
Adam Parsons, along with both Jason and Chase Stefanek, had two goals each against the Vipers as Trail captured the season series with a 4-1 record.
Parsons potted the overtime winner in Vernon, as Trail took the season series opener 3-2 back in late November.
The Smoke Eaters lost the only other game in Vernon 3-2 on January 6th and recorded victories in all three games in Trail.
The scores were 5-2 on December 8th, 3-1 on January 24th and 6-2 on March 9th.
This series is poised to produce a great goaltending duel.
Vernon’s Ethan David and Colin Reay have both turned in stellar performances against the Smoke Eaters this season.
Trail’s Teagan Kendrick is coming off a magnificent March with four victories, a goals against average of 1.77 and a save percentage of .944.
Meanwhile, Smokies rookie puck-stopper Ryan Parker was named a star in each of his last three appearances.
On defense, Smoke Eaters Captain and team MVP, Ethan Warrener had a goal and five assists against the Vipers, while Adam Barone assisted on four goals and his lone goal of the season series was a shorthanded marker.
Forward Luke Pakulak was Vernon’s hottest shooter against Trail with three goals.
Games one and two in Vernon on Friday and Saturday start at 7 p.m. They can be heard on Mixlr and watched on FloHockey.
Good seats are still available for games three and four at Cominco Arena this coming Tuesday and Wednesday. Fans are reminded to skip the line and select their seats online at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.
