RECAP – Smoke Eaters Return to Cominco Spoiled by Vipers

The Smoke Eaters couldn’t get a goal when they needed it most, while the Vipers got some bounces, as they leave Trail with two points and a 4-1 win over the Smoke Eaters on Friday night.

The Smoke Eaters had a strong start to this game, outshooting the Vipers 12-8 in the first and testing Ethan David early and often in the Vernon net. However the first period left us with nothing to separate the two sides as we’d head to the intermission scoreless.

The second period saw the Smoke Eaters add 14 shots on net and come close to opening the scoring twice, and come very close before the Vipers would score. Off the rush Brady Smith you put a pass out front looking for Remissong who found himself tied up with Anthony Cliche of the Vipers. The pass from Smith back across to the right beat David who was sliding to his left, but hit the stick if Cliche who knew very little about where that puck was as he was partially knocked to the ice in his battle with Remissong. The puck would then deflect out of the Vipers crease to Dylan Compton who would lead the rush the other way and end up finishing it, as his back hand shot hit off both posts and just crossed the line, giving the Vipers a 1-0 lead. Late in the second the Vipers would double there lead as Isaac Tremblay would score a highlight reel goal as he deked out the Smoke Eaters defenceman and netminder to make it 2-0.

Early in the third Vernon would score a third just as a Smoke Eater penalty came to and end, putting the game further out of the Smoke Eaters reach. Vernon would arguably get the goal that sealed their victory not long after as Hank Cleaves cleaned up in front of the net, much to the displeasure of Maddocks who felt he was interfered with on the goal after the scramble in front. After a quick discussion by the officiating crew the goal would stand giving the Vipers a 4-0 lead. The Smoke Eaters would finally get one past David on their 30th shot of the night as Even Bushy’s point shot on the powerplay got through everyone.

Bushy’s fifth of the year gave the Smoke Eaters an extra boost in the closing minutes but that would the the only goal they would find. The Smoke Eaters will now look to rebound on Saturday night against the