The Cranbrook Bucks have won their first playoff series in franchise history, defeating the Trail Smoke Eaters in six games to advance to the second round of the BCHL post-season.
The Herd punched their ticket to the next round after a tense 1-0 win in Game 6 in Cranbrook on Sunday (April 13), as goaltender Jaden Cholette made 26 saves for his first career playoff shutout.
Blake Cotton was the lone goal-scorer of the game, tipping home a point shot from Nic Leggett towards the end of the second period.
Trail Smoke Eaters goaltender Teagan Kendrick made 26 saves, including a key stop against Bucks forward Shane Baker who was awarded a penalty shot late in the middle frame.
It was a roller-coaster series for both clubs, which hinged on a marathon triple overtime affair in Game 4.
To open the series, the Bucks came out of Trail with a win to keep the series tied at 1-1. Heading into Cranbrook, Trail took the lead with a win in Game 3, however, both teams took it to six periods of hockey in Game 4, with Blake Cotton scoring the overtime winner and knotting the series back to 2-2.
The Bucks returned to the West Kootenay, earning a 4-2 win in Trail for Game 5, before sealing the series in front of 2,300 fans with a 1-0 win on Sunday afternoon in Cranbrook.
Captain Bryce Sookro leads the squad's post season scoring race, with two goals and four assists, while Blake Cotton and Rasmus Svartstrom are close behind with four goals and one assist each.
That sets up a second round clash against the Penticton Vees, which finished at the top of league standings in the regular season.
