The Trail Smoke Eaters picked up an important early season divisional victory with a 5-3 win over the Merritt Centennials.
After having their home opener spoiled by the Vipers a week earlier, the Smoke Eaters where focused on getting a great start in their second home game of the young season. With 3 goals on 4 shots in the first period they got the start they were looking for. Connor Brown-Maloski opened the scoring just 2:22 into the opening frame, when Cooper Leitch doubled that lead less than two minutes later, and Kurt Black would widen that lead to 3 on just the 4th shot of the period at the 6:54 mark of the first period.
The Smoke Eaters Kienan Scott would make the lead 4 just 2 mins into the 2nd period. The Centennials would bounce back however. Colin Grannary would start the come back followed by Nick Fiorentino. And then Nick Jermain would pull the Cents to within one on a powerplay marker at the 17:31 mark of the period. But just before the horn, Smokies forward Jake Kauppila broke down the left wing and ripped a perfectly placed shot pastthe Cents goalkeeper to add the insurance marker with his 3rd goal of the early season.
In the 3rd the teams would go back and forth with exciting scoring chances at both ends. Smoke Eaters rookie 20 year old starter Bailey MacBurnie would hold steady picking up his 2nd win of the season making a number of big stops in the process.
Three Stars on the night where Nick Forentino (Cents)(3rd), Bailey MacBurnie (Smoke Eaters)(2nd), and Jake Kauppila (Smoke Eaters)(1st).
The Smoke Eaters will now start preparing for the BCHL Showcase where they will face off against the Prince George Spruce Kings (0-4-0-0, 6th Mainland) and for the first time will take on BCHL newcomer Wenatchee Wild (3-0-0-0, 1st Mainland). All showcase games can be viewed on fasthockey.com .
After the BCHL Showcase, the Smoke Eaters will focus their attention on a couple of big divisional road tests with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (3-0-1-0, 1st Interior) and the Penticton Vees (3-1-0-0, 2nd Interior).
The Smoke Eaters next home game will be on Oct. 9th when they will welcome the Prince George Spruce Kings to Cominco Arena for a Friday night tilt.
