Merritt Centennials goalie Tyler Steel should be charged with larceny after stealing Sunday’s game from the Trail Smoke Eaters.
The Brown University commit stopped 29 of 30 shots including many of the sensational variety to beat the Smokies 3-1 and extend their losing skid to four games.
Kevin Lohan scored the eventual winner when he wristed a screen shot from the point, that found its way through traffic and over the blocker of Smokie goalie Lyndon Stanwood to make it 2-0 midway through the second period.
Scotty Patterson opened the scoring for the Cents at 12:04 of the first when he banged in a Jeff Wright rebound over Stanwood. Sean Maktaak and Regan Soquila teamed up for the Cents’ third marker, as Soquila fed a perfect pass on a 2-on-1, and Maktaak banged it into the open net before the middle frame was done.
The Smokies had numerous opportunities but could not get a bounce to go their way. Steele foiled them time and time again, including a great glove save off a Luke Sandler rebound midway through the third.
Connor Collett would finally get the Smokies on the board with 16:15 gone in the third when he snapped a bullet over the glove of Steel to draw the black and orange within in two. Collet would also be named third star of the game.
Recently signed Trail native Ryan Edwards looked good in his third game with the Smokies, working hard and causing a number of turnovers because of his relentless forecheck.
Edwards scored almost two points a game with the Beaver Valley Nitehawks last season, 35 goals and 60 assists in 50 games, and he hopes to bring some of that deft touch around the net to the Smokies.
More Smokies news and interviews in Tuesday’s edition of the Trail Times.