Preview – Smoke Eaters Look For Revenge On The Road In Bucks Home Opener

After losing a tightly contested game on Friday night at home, the Smoke Eaters will head to Cranbrook to take part in their Home Opener, looking to spoil the party.

Season series versus Cranbrook

Sep. 30 Cranbrook 3 at Trail 1 Final
Oct. 1 Trail at Cranbrook 7:00 pm MDT
Oct. 15 Cranbrook at Trail 7:00 pm PDT
Dec. 30 Cranbrook at Trail 7:00 pm PST
Dec. 31 Trail at Cranbrook 6:00 pm MST
Feb. 10 Cranbrook at Trail 7:00 pm PST
Feb. 11 Trail at Cranbrook 7:00 pm MST

The Smoke Eaters head to Cranbrook looking to clean up small parts of their game, after a strong performance and much to like for 50-55 minutes on Friday against the Bucks. A shoot first mentality might also be the focus as a few times the Smoke Eaters were caught looking for the perfect play instead of just putting the puck on net. There was still a lot to like on Friday night, Nic Remissongs line, with Jack Kurrle and Adam Parsons on his wings, were one of the best and most consistent lines on Friday night. While the Smoke Eaters checking line of Marshall, Makway and Hamilton made their presence felt every shift. Hunter, Cobetto-Roy and Disher all had good chances as well on Friday for their first goals of the season but couldn’t beat Carter Capton in the Bucks net. Still the positive takeaway is that those players who are likely going to be the top scorers for the team are getting their chances.

Smoke Eaters leading scorers:

Parsons (3-1-4)
Remissong (3-1-4)
Disher (0-4-4)
Cobetto-Roy (1-2-3)
Marshall (0-3-3)

The Bucks got their bounce back after the 7-1 loss in Penticton last Saturday, as they forced the Smoke Eaters into mistakes and then took advantage of those two errors late in the third period to take the win from the Smoke Eaters. Cranbrook will look to replicate that performance tonight in their own home opener a Western Financial Place, where the Bucks will look to take a early season series lead over the Smoke Eaters. Cranbrook will likely be without Jack Henry who was unable to finish last night’s game, which will see the Bucks defensive pairs switched up a bit, however they played most of the game last night with a full 6 defencemen due to dressing 7 to start the game. Nathan Airey, who watched his goaltender partner earn his first BCHL win last night will likely step back into the crease at home looking for another win himself.

Bucks leading scorers:

Pfoh (2-1-3)
Hjartarson (1-2-3)
Smith (2-0-2)
Frias (1-1-2)
Henry (1-1-2)

Catch all the action from Western Financial Place tonight at 6PM PST on HockeyTV or on the Smoke Eaters Mixlr as the Smokies head to Cranbrook looking to split the weekend series.