With both teams coming off overtime losses to the Penticton Vees, both the Smoke Eaters and Wild will be eager for a win and the two points.
Season series vs Wenatcee
Oct. 16 Wenatchee at Trail 7:00 pm PDT
Oct. 30 Wenatchee at Trail 7:00 pm PDT
Jan. 12 Wenatchee at Trail 7:00 pm PST
Feb. 27 Wenatchee at Trail 3:00 pm PST
Mar. 17 Trail at Wenatchee 6:00 pm PDT
Mar. 18 Trail at Wenatchee 7:05 pm PDT
Mar. 19 Trail at Wenatchee 6:00 pm PDT
The Smoke Eaters worked hard for their single point last night in Penticton, falling just short in overtime. But the gutsy performance should give them a confidence boost regardless of the outcome. The Smoke Eaters fought back twice to tie the game before taking a lead of their own, which was eventually lost in the third which forced overtime. Evan Fradette was remarkable in the Trail net stopping 50/54 shots, a busy night’s work. The Smoke Eaters will want to try and limit the opportunities and shots Fradette see’s tonight as he’ll likely get the start again. Newcomers in Zach Michaelis and Teddy Lagerback continue to impress with goals at key moments, they’ll get some offensive help tonight as newly acquired forward Charlie Strobel will make his Trail and BCHL debut. These two teams met in the preseason and needed a shootout to decide the points, we’ll see if extra time will be needed again.
Smoke Eaters leading scorers:
Michaelis (4-0-4)
Lagerback (3-1-4)
Hendry (0-4-4)
Disher (1-2-3)
Hunter (0-2-2)
The Wild will play just their second game of the season after falling in overtime last Saturday in Penticton. It was a positive start to the season for Wenatchee, playing their first regular season gave in over 550 days, as they held two leads against the Vees before allowing a late goal and then the overtime winner. With just another one off for the Wild before the BCHL Showcase they’ll be looking to stay sharp. Playing just once a week could put them at a disadvantage in terms of fitness and game speed, with the Smoke Eaters playing their fifth game of the year already tonight. Not much has changes in the Wenatcee lineup since they played Trail in the preseason, nut they proved then they had the offensive capabilities to keep pace with opposing teams despite a considerably younger roster.
Wild leading scorers:
Littler (1-0-1)
Price (1-0-1)
Emerson (0-1-1)
Puck drop goes tonight at 7pm as the Smoke Eaters look to get back in the win column against their interior division rivals from south of the border. The pregame show starts at 6:45 on BCHLTV and of the Smoke Eaters Mixlr.
