By Andrew Chernoff CanucksBanter
October 8, 2022
The Trail Smoke Eaters came out of the starting gate on a mission against visitors Wenatchee Wild on Friday, October 7 at Cominco Arena.
The Smokies ended their losing streak at two games, and extended the Wild winless losing streak to 4-games, as Trail put a fiesty 60 minute game together for a 7-5 win in a highly entertaining game.
Wenatchee outshot Trail 46-43 (10-19, 17-13, 19-11).
Trail started the home game with spirit and determination in front of the friendly fans and opened up the scoring for the first time this season as Josh Schenk potted his first of the season , assisted by Ethan Werrener (1) at 5:22.
The Smokies dominated the first half of the opening period before the Wild found their game and started to take it to Trail evening up the score at 1-1 on a goal by David Heiduk (2), assisted by Ean Somoza (3) at 12:13.
In the middle period, with Trail’s Alec Whipple in the penalty box for tripping, the Smokies regained the lead at 2-1 on a shorthand goal by Judah Makway (1), assisted by Evan Bushy (3) at 3:35.
Wenatchee continued to stay with the Smokies responding on the powerplay a few minutes later to even the game at 2-2 at 6:28, Gabe Dombrowski (3), assisted by Christian Kim (4) and David Heiduk (1).
The Wild continued to dominate the 2nd period, taking the lead in the game for the first time 3-2 at 12:37 on a goal by Cade Littler (1), assisted by Parker Murray (1) and Jeremiah Slavin (1).
Trail would respond quickly knotting the game up at 3-3, Brady Hunter (1), from Ethan Willoughby (1) and Alec Whipple (1) at 14:33.
Wenatchee would not submit to the home team, and regained the lead to take a 4-3 advantage into the intermission. Garrett Szydlowski (1), from Ean Somoza (4) and Jeremiah Slavin (2) at 14:57.
With Wenatchee winless in their previous three games to start the season, and Trail winless in their last two games, the 3rd period would have plenty of excitement and tension.
The Smokies got it going as Trail served notice they were in the game to win as Nicholas Remissong (4), assisted by Brady Hunter (2), Adam Parsons (2) at 5:14, made it 4-4.
Less than five minutes later Trail got out in front at 5-4 on the powerplay with a goal by Mathieu Cobetto-Roy (2), unassisted at 9:09.
Wenatchee would prove to be stubborn guests, as just over three minutes later the game would be tied at 5-5. Cade Littler (3), second of the game, assists to Garrett Szydlowski (1) and Jeremiah Slavin (3) at 12:46.
The Smokies continued to be relentless, and would not break, rewarded less than three minutes later regaining the lead at 6-5. Jack Kurrie (1) from Evan Bushy (4) and Brady Hunter (3) at 15:05.
The last minutes would be tense and nail biting but good teams always find a way to win, and Smokies Captain Evan Bushy (1) scored the insurance goal with 36 seconds left into an empty net as the Wild pulled out all stops to no avail.
Trail was 1 for 4 on the powerplay and 4 for 5 on the penalty kill.
Evan Bushy and Brady Hunter led Trail (1-2=3 each); with Warrener, Willoughby, Whipple and Parsons chipping in with assists. Schenk, Makway, Hunter, Remissong, Cobetto-Roy, Kurrie, and Bushy the goal scorers.
Smokies goalie Cole Tisdale stopped 41 of 46 shots in the win.
Next up, West Kelowna Warriors tonight at Cominco Arena.
Smoke Signals
- The Warriors will be rallying after a 4-3 Overtime road loss against the Cranbrook Bucks last night.
- West Kelowna are undefeated on the road (2-0-1-0) sporting the best road record in the Interior Conference.
Source: bchl.ca
