The Smoke Eaters came out with their best start of the year, but had to be at their best at the end after the Wild fought all the way back from an early deficit, as Parsons scored his second of the night to win the game 6-5 late.
The Smoke Eaters started Friday’s game by jumping out to a 4-0 lead over the Wild, much to the delight of the 1600 fans inside Cominco. Newly named BCHL All-Star Nicholas Remissong got the ball rolling 3:33 into the game after Parsons forced a turnover behind the Wild net, as the puck came to Remissong at the left circle who let a quick shot go to beat Andy Vlaha for the 1-0 goal.
Hunter, Parsons and Hendry would combine on the next goal as Hendry’s outlet pass to Centre finds Parsons, who dumps it in, while Hunter retrieves it and returns the puck to his winger for the 2-0 goal
It was BCHL first that got the Smoke Eaters their 3-0 lead as Adam Marshall did well to fake his route behind the net, cut back to the near side allowing himself to pass out front for an unmarked Alec Whipple who looked like a natural goal scorer putting the puck past Owen Millward who had taken over the Wenatchee net after the 2-0 goal.
The Smoke Eaters capped off an impressive start with the 4-0 goal from Josh Schenk. With the teams 4-on-4 Schenk and Fechko would play a little give and go to combine on the goal.
The Wild though wouldn’t go away quietly. And in line with the recent one goal game trend between these teams over the last three games, the Wild would come charging back over the next 40 minutes. Gabe Dombrowski got the Wild on the board after a low shot from Cade Littler went off the pad of Kendrick right to the back post for Dombrowski making it 4-1 after the first period.
The Smokes Eaters we’re quick to respond in the second as Adam Marshall temporarily restored the four goal lead beating Millward off the scramble in front. But Little had other plans as he set up Dombrowski and Micah Berger for the 5-2 and 5-3 goals for the wild, sending them to the third down only by a pair.
Wenatchee would compile the comeback as Little capped off a four point night by getting on the goal side of the score sheet as he found the puck in the crease of the Smoke Eaters net and slid it past Kendrick. The Wild finally got the powerplay to work as Parker Murray tipped a shot down at the halfway point of the third, tying this game at five and erasing the Smoke Eaters tremendous start. But the Smoke Eaters would get the last laugh, and guess who it was, Parsons with his team leading 9th goal of the season with under two minutes to go ends up winning the game for the Smoke Eaters.
The Smoke Eaters no look ahead to the Merritt Centennials next Friday night at Nicola Valley Memorial Arena as their next test, before they return home to face the West Kelowna Warriors on Saturday night.
