The Trail Smoke Eaters are looking for something, anything, positive Tuesday night as they finish off a three game homestand against the Merritt Centennials.
Head Coach Bill Birks was pressed to find anything close to it after a pair of home games against the Penticton Vees this past weekend.
“I don't know, can you find any?” he said after I asked him if there was anything he thought the team could build on from the pair of matchups.
The Smokies only found the back of the net late in Friday’s 5-1 loss Friday and were completely neutralized in a 7-0 shutout the next night.
Besides the opening ceremony at the beginning of Friday’s game, fans in Cominco Arena didn't have much to cheer about during the homecoming weekend.
Smokies Captain Adam Wheeldon says they just weren't ready going into the weekend double date.
“I would say maybe [we lacked] preparation. I don't think we were prepared to play those two games [against] Penticton. But that's going to change Tuesday.”
This is surprising because of the great performance the orange and black had at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack a week ago where they took 3 out of 4 points in games against Langley and Cowichan Valley.
“I don't get how we played five real good periods down on the coast and then come back a week later and play five...no, I don't know even think we had five good shifts all weekend.” said a not-so-pleased Birks Saturday night following the game.
Tonight’s match, which kicks off a home and home with the Cents, could help the Smokies put some space in the standings between the them and Merritt as Trail works towards a meeting with other divisional rivals the West Kelowna Warriors at the end of the month.
“It's a [divisional] game and these games at the beginning of the season are big ones. These games are why we didn't make the playoffs last year.” said Wheeldon.
Wheeldon says they know they can play better and they'll be coming out of the gates flying on Tuesday.
They'll have to coming out flying - the Smokies lost the season series 5-2 to the Centennials last year, and win a meeting until Dec.18th.
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