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GAME PREVIEW: Smoke Eaters Host Reigning RBC Cup Champion Chiefs

PHOTO: Mike Hockley

The Trail Smoke Eaters open up a two-game weekend on home ice as they take on the reigning RBC Cup champion Chilliwack Chiefs on Friday night at the Trail Memorial Centre.

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Smoke Eaters vs. Chiefs 2018/19 Regular Season Schedule:

Friday, October 20th @ Trail Memorial Centre (7:00 PM)

Sunday, December 9th @ Prospera Centre (2:00 PM)

The Smoke Eaters and Chiefs split their season series from a year ago, with each team winning on home ice. Trail picked up a 7-3 victory over Chilliwack at the Trail Memorial Centre in late September with Levi Glasman collecting four assists in the game. The Chiefs responded with a 4-3 win over the Smoke Eaters just over a week later at the Prospera Centre in Chilliwack. The two clubs have split their season series each of the last three seasons dating back to the 2015/16 season.

Trail comes into Friday night looking to find their way back into the win column after a 4-0 shutout loss to the Vernon Vipers on Wednesday night at Kal Tire Place. Adam Marcoux started the game for the Smoke Eaters, making 10 saves on 13 shots and suffering his 4th loss of the season before being relieved after a period by Tanner Marshall, who came on to make 19 saves on 20 shots.

Smoke Eaters Leading Scorers:

Braeden Tuck (7-7-14)

Levi Glasman (3-11-14)

Trevor Zins (4-8-12)

Carter Jones (3-9-12)

Diarmad DiMurro (0-12-12)

The Smoke Eaters have been busy in the day off between games, bringing in a pair of forwards to help them up front. Trail acquired Layne Sniher from the Prince George Spruce Kings along with future considerations in exchange for Sean Donaldson while also adding the likes of Max Kryski, who had been released from the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League. Both of Sniher and Kryski will not be available for tonight’s game.

Sniher, 18, had an outstanding season with the Calgary Buffaloes Midget AAA squad, finishing 4th in Alberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL) scoring with 17 goals and 33 assists for 50 points in just 35 games last season. Kryski, 18, has played his last 68 games with the Cougars, scoring 8 goals and adding 2 assists for 10 points over that span along with 26 penalty minutes.

The Trail Memorial Centre has been a good place for the Smoke Eaters so far this season, holding a record of 4-2-1-0 and collecting points in 5 of the 7 contests on home ice. Trail is 3rd in the BCHL in goals on home ice with 29 and their power play also ranks #2 in the league at home, operating at a 27.6% clip.

The Chilliwack Chiefs enter play on Friday with the best record in the league at 12-4-0-0 and are coming off of a 5-1 victory over the West Kelowna Warriors on Tuesday night at Royal LePage Place, their 3rd win in a row. Kevin Wall scored twice while Will Dow-Kenny, Harrison Blaisdell and Colton Kitchen added singles in the victory. Mathieu Caron turned aside 33 of the 34 shots he faced in the game for his 12th win of the season.

Chiefs Leading Scorers:

Kevin Wall (11-11-22)

Harrison Blaisdell (10-7-17)

Matt Holmes (8-4-12)

Skyler Brind’Amour (3-7-10)

Brett Willits (1-9-10)

The Chiefs have seven players returning from last year’s RBC Cup championship squad including forwards Harrison Blaisdell, Skyler Brind’Amour and Wyatt Elmer with defensemen Powell Connor and Marcus Tesink also returning. Both goaltenders from a season ago are back for the Chiefs as well with Mathieu Caron and Daniel Chenard manning the blue paint.

One of Chilliwack’s rookies is making a name for himself throughout the BCHL this season as Fairport, New York native Kevin Wall has had a terrific start to the season. The Merrimack University commit leads the league with 11 goals in his 16 games played this season and sits 2nd in the BCHL in points with 22. Wall has points in each of his last three games including a two-goal, three-assist and five-point game against the Warriors on Tuesday.

It’s been a heavy start to the season for second-year netminder Mathieu Caron, who has played in every game this season for the Chiefs. The Abbotsford, BC native has not allowed more than 5 goals in a game and ranks 5th in both goals against average (2.41) and save percentage (.923) while playing the most minutes at 947 this season.

The Smoke Eaters and Chiefs drop the puck at 7:00 PM tonight from the Trail Memorial Centre with tickets available for purchase at the Smoke Eaters Main Office. Trail remains at home for Retro Night on Saturday against the West Kelowna Warriors where the Smokies will debut their 1939 retro jerseys. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM as well.