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GAME PREVIEW: Smoke Eaters Host Warriors On Retro Night

PHOTO: Mike Hockley

The Trail Smoke Eaters are back on home ice as they look to snap a two-game losing skid, hosting the West Kelowna Warriors on Retro Night at the Trail Memorial Centre on Saturday night.

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

Friday, September 7th @ Cominco Arena (4-3 Warriors/OT) (BOXSCORE)

Saturday, September 8th @ Royal LePage Place (6-4 Smoke Eaters) (BOXSCORE)

Saturday, October 20th @ Cominco Arena (7:00 PM)

Saturday, January 5th @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)

Friday, February 22nd @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)

Saturday, February 23rd @ Cominco Arena (7:00 PM)

Trail and West Kelowna have seen their season series split with both teams winning while on the road this season. The Smoke Eaters picked up a 6-4 victory at Royal LePage Place the last time these two teams met in the opening weekend of the regular season thanks to four power play goals from the Smoke Eaters man advantage. Michael Hodge led the offensive attack with a goal and two assists while Adam Marcoux stopped 26 of the 30 shots thrown his way.

The Smoke Eaters enter Saturday night’s contest looking to try and snap a two-game losing stretch after a 5-2 loss to the Mainland Division’s Chilliwack Chiefs on Friday night on home ice. Carter Jones and Kent Johnson scored in the game for Trail while Adam Marcoux made 29 saves on 33 shots in his 6th loss of the season.

Smoke Eaters Leading Scorers:

Braeden Tuck (7-8-15)

Levi Glasman (3-11-14)

Carter Jones (4-9-13)

Trevor Zins (4-9-13)

Diarmad DiMurro (0-13-13)

There will be two new players donning Smokies vintage sweaters tonight as Layne Sniher and Max Kryski both draw into the lineup for tonight’s game. Sniher, 18, comes from the Prince George Spruce Kings after tying for 3rd in Alberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL) scoring from a season ago with the Calgary Buffaloes Midget AAA program while Kryski, 18, comes to Trail after spending the last season and a bit with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Sniher will wear #25 while Kryski will don #7.

Captain Braeden Tuck found his way back on the scoresheet last night with an assist against the Chiefs and will look to carry that over into what has been some very strong play against the Warriors this season. The Sacred Heart University commit has tallied a pair of goals and a pair of assists against West Kelowna over their two-game season series, which spanned the opening weekend of the season. The Calgary, Alberta native continues to lead the Smoke Eaters in scoring with 7 goals and 15 points in his 15 games played this season.

Tanner Marshall will get the start in net tonight for the Smoke Eaters and will look to try and pick up his 3rd win of the season. The Kelowna, BC native will be making his 6th appearance of the season, boasting a 2.81 GAA and a .901 SV% so far over 256 minutes played this season. Marshall last played on Wednesday night in Vernon against the Vipers as he came on in the 2nd period and made 19 saves on 20 shots.

The West Kelowna Warriors enter Saturday night’s game after a big victory on home ice a night ago, earning a 3-2 triumph over the Penticton Vees at Royal LePage Place. Chase Dubois scored twice in the game while Mike Hardman added a single tally in the victory but it was netminder Brock Baier who stole the show, stopping an impressive 52 of 54 shots to pick up his 2nd win of the season.

Warriors Leading Scorers:

Willie Reim (8-11-19)

Max Bulawka (5-12-17)

Chase Dubois (6-8-14)

Mike Hardman (7-5-12)

Parm Dhaliwal (3-9-12)

After a solid 16-year-old season last year, Warriors forward Max Bulawka is having a terrific start to his 2018/19 campaign. The Kelowna, BC native has points in each of his last five games and has also collected points in ten of his last eleven contests. Over his current five-game point streak, Bulawka has earned two goals and six assists for eight points.

It’ll be Connor Hopkins that gets the nod in between the pipes for Geoff Grimwood’s squad on Saturday night after Brock Baier’s outstanding performance on Friday. The Malden, Massachusetts native has played well this season, owning a 5-4 record to go along with a 3.22 GAA and a .909 SV%. The Yale University commit is winless in October, however, having last won on September 28th, a 5-3 victory over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and a stretch that spans three games.

It’s a battle of the top two power plays in the BC Hockey League tonight as the Warriors roll into town with the top operating man advantage at 28.6%, scoring 14 goals on their power play. The Smoke Eaters PP ranks second at 23.6% and is tied for the league lead with 17 goals manufactured with extra man power on the ice. It sets up for what could possibly be a big special teams battle between the two sides.

The Smoke Eaters and Warriors drop the puck on Retro Night at the Trail Memorial Centre at 7:00 PM tonight. Tickets can be purchased at the Smoke Eaters Main Office ahead of the opening face-off as well as at the door.