It wasn’t pretty but the Smoke Eaters comeback again in the third period and beat the clock in overtime as they knock off the West Kelowna Warriors 4-3 on home ice.
The Smoke Eaters were unlucky to not be ahead through the first period. Facing their former goaltender in Cayden Hamming, who was making his first BCHL start since May 7th of 2021 (BCHL Pod Season), the Smoke Eaters put the puck on net quickly and repeatably as they outshot the Warriors 17-11 in the first with a post mixed in there as well. However both Hamming and Smoke Eater netminder Teagan Kendrick were perfect through the opening period as we went to the second still searching for a goal.
In the second the Warriors found their legs after being hemmed in their own zone for much of the first, as just 18 seconds in Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero would score the icebreaker as he shoveled the puck over the shoulder of Kendrick in tight for his second of the season. The Warriors looked to be in prime position to runaway in the second period as Jaiden Moreillo scored on the powerplay four and a half minutes later. The Smoke Eaters would finally get some luck though in terms of bounces that lead to goals, as Josh Schenk would crack the shutout bid in the making for Hamming with some help from Cobetto-Roy, as Schenk picked up his second in as many games.
The Warriors would respond quickly though on a goal Kendrick will want back. Jake Bernadet would turn a shoot almost blindly from the right wall, putting the shot on target and having it sneak through under the arm of Kendrick and in to restore the two goal lead for West Kelowna. The Smoke Eaters then got a much needed deflection and goal late in the second period to come within one as Adam Marshall, looking for Schenk out front would have his pass go off Isiah Norlin and in to make it 3-2 with Marshall scoring his first BCHL goal.
The Smoke Eaters, after a tough second period all things considered would go to the third within one of the Warriors.
In the third the Smoke Eaters would capitalize on the powerplay after the Warriors got their second too-many men call of the night, much to the displeasure of the Warriors bench. Like the Warriors though in the second period, the Smoke Eaters took just seconds to strike and it was Brady Hunter, who also picked up his second in as many games and his first powerplay goal of the season to tie the game at 3.
The final 14 minutes would solve nothing and so overtime was needed. Even then it came right down to the wire in the extra frame, 2.7 seconds to be exact, as Nic Remissong won the draw against NHL draft pick Ben MacDonald outside the Warriors zone, where Disher would pick up the puck, loop in, toe drag and roof the puck for the winner.
The Smoke Eaters pick up huge back to back wins on home ice, both involving third period comebacks as they move to 3-3-0 on the season. The Smoke Eaters have two more games on home ice next weekend before heading to the BCHL Showcase as the Salmon Arm Silverbacks come to town on Friday while the Cranbrook Bucks come back to Cominco on Saturday.
