The Smoke Eaters welcomed the Bucks to Cominco for one final time this preseason and the Bucks took full advantage of the welcome putting six up on the board and shutting the Smokies out.
The Smoke Eaters found themselves in penalty trouble all night and against a brick wall in Nathan Airey, who’s allowed just one goal in his two preseason starts against the Smoke Eaters. Trailing 2-0 going into the second, the response to get back into the game was there for the Smoke Eaters, who controlled much of the play but didn’t get anything for their efforts. That mixed with a late second period goal form the Cranbrook Bucks seemed to deflate the Smoke Eaters.
Credit to the Bucks though who didn’t give the Smoke Eaters much of a chance to get set up in the third as they would come out an score an early goal to make it 4-0. The Bucks added two more late in the third to seal things up as they finished 4-0 against BCHL opponents in the preseason. The Smoke Eaters have one final test before the games start counting for points as they play Canada’s National Women’s Team on Monday night at 7pm. Tickets are sold out for this game but fans wanting to watch all the action can watch on HockeyTV, Shaw Spotlight or listen for free on Mixlr.com/trail-smoke-eaters/
