Hockey is back at Cominco Arena.
Close to 2300 fans piled into the historic building for the Trail Smoke Eaters home opener, following the $2.5-million renovation, which took six months.
The perfect night was spoiled by a 4-1 win by West Kelowna, the Smokies first setback in seven regular season games.
Warriors goalie Angelo Zol was the story with a highlight reel save off Cade De St. Hubert and an unbelievable back door scramble across the net to rob Zach Coutu. He made a similar save on Christian Kim on a Trail power play late in a scoreless first period.
The Smokies came out flat in the second period and that proved to be their undoing.
Warrior winger Ethan Merner opened the scoring just shy of the five minute mark with a power drive to the net down the right-wing and a shot into the top of the net.
Dylan Krayer also went top shelf about a minute later with a forehand-to-backhand move following a neutral zone turnover.
The Warriors delivered the early dagger in the final minute of the middle frame when Swedish import Ruslan Jamaldinov ripped a power play wrister home from the right-wing circle, extending his consecutive game goal scoring streak to five.
The Warriors made it 4-0 about five minutes into the third period on a seeing-eye shot from the mid-point by Carson Pavlowich that found the middle-top of the net.
West Kelowna’s stifling neutral zone defense kept the Smokies at bay until speedy 6’4″ Swede Lewis Jonerheim streaked down the left-wing and set up De St. Hubert in front of the net for his third goal of the season with just over three minutes remaining.
17-year-old rookie Caden Stoltz got the fans off their feet with several solid hits. The 5’8″ 150-lb winger looks like a “Ridge Dawson” in the making.
The Warriors registered 12 of their 22 shots in the second period. Zol made one last great save in close off Dylan Lariviere late in the third period, among his 17 stops on the night.
Trail went 0-for-4 on the power play, while killing off 3-of-4 Warriors advantages.
The Smokies open the BCHL Showcase in Abbotsford against the Nanaimo Clippers at 11:00 a.m. (PT).
Catch all the action on Mixlr and FloHockey.
The next home game is Friday, October 24 against the Blackfalds Bulldogs. Tickets are available in the Smokies Store or online at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.
