As the 2600 fans settled into their seats for the final home game of the season, the Smoke Eaters were preparing another statement win against an interior division rival.
The Smoke Eaters made sure to close out the regular season on home ice in style, with the help of three power play goals they rolled past the Silverbacks who couldn’t do much about it. The Smoke Eaters opened the scoring with their first power play goal at 7:55 of the first period on a tip in front by Chase Dafoe, who tallied his second goal in as many games since returning to the lineup. The Smoke Eaters then followed that up with Braden Costello’s 12th of the year just 43 seconds later, a goal that ended up being tonight’s game winner.
The Smoke Eaters could of had more in the tail end of the first and through the second but Grant Adams gave the Silverbacks an opportunity to stay in the game with a few big saves, including one on a breakaway against Michael Colella, as Trail would go on to outshoot Salmon Arm 36-22 on the night. The Smoke Eaters only goal of the second was Dafoe’s second of the night, again on the power play as he found the puck at his feet and made no mistake in tight to give the Smoke Eaters a 3-0 lead going to the second intermission.
In the third things got heated as Salmon Arm would lose two players to game misconducts and their coach who was escorted out during the third period following a hit to Trevor Isaksson, who had to leave the game for treatment but would return. The Silverbakcs would score on the 4-on-3 after all the penalties were handed out as Luke Mylymok hit a perfect shot on the one timer to beat Logan Terness and make it a 3-1 game. The Smokies would quickly kill any plans for a comeback with another two quick goals. This time just 36 seconds apart as Dafoe scored the 5-1 goal to grab his first BCHL Hat-Trick with his third power play maker of the night, while Jaden Senkoe went coast to coast with this beauty that made it 4-1 just moments before Dafoe’s goal.
The Smoke Eaters would comfortably see out the closing minutes as they picked up their 36th win of the season moving them into 3rd in the league standings, tied with Cowichan but holding the tie-breaker. Trail also finish the regular season with 21 home wins through 29 games, making the Trail Memorial Centre one of the toughest buildings in the BCHL to play in. Terness picked up win #27, tying him to the franchise record for most wins in a season by a goaltender with possibly one more game to break the record Saturday night in Merritt. Dafoe was named the 1st star of the night, Senkoe the 2nd while Cody Schaivon was name third star with two assists. Colella was named Energy player of the game.
Following the game the Smoke Eaters announced their regular season team award with fans sticking around to watch the festivities.
Kent Johnson took home the teams top scorer award.
Johnson and Smoke Eaters captain Philippe Lapointe shared the team MVP award.
Lapointe was awarded the Ed Shelley leadership award.
Tyler Ghirardosi was given the Community Impact award.
And Logan Terness took home two awards as Rookie of the Year and Fan Favourite award.
The Smoke Eaters close out the regular season Saturday night in Merritt to take on the Centennials. Puck drop at 7pm from Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
