It’s back to Cominco Arena for some holiday hockey this afternoon between the Smoke Eaters and West Kelowna Warriors.
The Smokies are coming off Saturday’s 5-3 come from behind win in Cranbrook, a game in which they battled through the adversity of a disputed goal that put them behind 2-0 after one period.
The first BCHL goal for Latvian, Roberts Polis turned the momentum in Trail’s favour, resulting in a dominant second period in which returnee and assistant captain Brayden Rotach scored his first of the season on a sensational shot during a power play and Dysen Drake counted his first BCHL tally to tie the game 3-3 heading to the third.
German Max Schaller scored his first BCHL goal on a mid-third period breakaway and it stood up as the winner, while Scandinavian power forward Tim Lukkarinen put the game away with a 150-foot shot into the Bucks empty net with 35-seconds remaining.
While the Smokies are looking for their second win of the season which would even its record at 2-2, West Kelowna is seeking a second straight victory after last night’s 4-2 decision in Cranbrook.
Emmanuel Chan stole the East Kootenay spotlight with the hat trick, including the winner and the empty net deal sealer, capping an unanswered three goal third period outburst. The 19-year-old from Montreal has a league leading eight goals and 10 points.
His 20-year-old brother Olivier and fellow overage returnee Max Dineen are tied for sixth in the early BCHL points race with seven.
The 3-2 Warriors are tied with Brooks for the league lead in goals with 19, but have given up a league high 21 against.
West Kelowna also has eight returning players from last year’s team that finished first in the Interior West Division.
Holiday hockey at Cominco Arena gets under way at 5 p.m.
