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Trail Smoke Eaters piling up victories

The BCHL's hottest team continues to roll with a pair of weekend wins to establish a new club record

Eleven heaven.

The Trail Smoke Eaters extended their franchise record B.C. Hockey League winning streak to11 games Saturday, Feb. 1, ringing in the new month with an 8-3 romp over the visiting Vernon Vipers in front of 1,904 fans at Cominco Arena.

The Smokies established the new club record 24 hours earlier with a 6-3 road victory over the Bucks in Cranbrook.

Christian Kim and Dylan Lariviere staked Trail to a 2-0 lead against the Snakes Saturday with powerplay goals less than seven minutes after the national anthem.

Will Schumacher pulled one back for Vernon, also with the man advantage, leaving the visitors down a goal after the opening period.

The Smoke Eaters would score five straight goals over the next 27 minutes, courtesy of two from Jason Stefanek – giving the home team a 4-1 advantage after 40 minutes – and singles from Drew Anastasio, Cade De St. Hubert, and Lucas Lemieux.

Luc Bydal scored a pair for Vernon before Max Hense finished off the scoring with 90 seconds left in the game for Trail.

Ryan Parker picked up the victory in goal, making 36 stops. Jari Kykkanen and Logan Cunningham combined to make 39 saves for Vernon. The Smokies chased Kykkanen nearly four minutes into the final frame following De St. Hubert's goal.

The Smoke Eaters also got off to a quick start Friday in Cranbrook.

Zach Coutu, with his first goal of the year, Stefanek, and Judah Makway, with the man advantage, scored 1 minute 24 seconds apart to stake Trail to a 3-0 lead.

Cranbrook replied with a goal from Rasmus Svartstrom, his 28th of the season, before the end of the period, and Bryce Sookro, just 22 seconds after the ice clean, to get to within a goal.

De St. Hubert scored to give Trail a 4-2 lead, but the margin was reduced to 4-3 heading into the third period, thanks to a Bucks goal from Svartstrom (29).

Brayden Sinclair, shorthanded, and Kim, into an empty net, scored unanswered third-period markers for the Smokies, making a winner of goalie Teagan Kendrick, who made 43 saves. Jaden Cholette took the loss for Cranbrook, finishing with 21 saves.

Trail (27-8-2-1) remains in second place in the Interior Conference, five points behind the conference-leading Penticton Vees (30-6-2-0), and one point up on the third place Brooks Bandits (27-8-0-2).

Brooks, who dumped the hometown Vipers 6-3 Sunday afternoon at Kal Tire Place, less than 24 hours after being spanked 6-1 by the Vees, have a game in hand on both Trail and Penticton.

The Smoke Eaters will look to extend their franchise winning streak to a dirty dozen Friday, Feb. 7, when they host the Sherwood Park Crusaders at Cominco Arena. Game time is 7 p.m.

The Crusaders (23-14-0-0) are tied for fourth with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the Interior, each with 46 points. The Crusaders have three more wins than Salmon Arm.

The Vees pay a visit to Cominco Arena Saturday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. It's the first of back-to-back meetings with the conference leaders for Trail. The two teams will meet again for a Valentine's Day tilt Friday, Feb. 14, in Penticton.



Roger Knox

About the Author: Roger Knox

I am a journalist with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. I started my career in radio and have spent the last 21 years working with Black Press Media.
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