The Trail Smoke Eaters earned three out of a possible four points
at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack
Trail kicked off the event with a back and
forth affair against the Langley Rivermen on Friday. The contest saw seven lead
changes.
The Smokies opened the scoring just over
six minutes into the game, with a goal off the stick of forward Jesse Knowler.
However, the orange and black found themselves down 3-2 halfway through the
third period until Jake Kaupilla netted his first ever BCHL goal on the power play
with 2:09 left in regulation.
The game would need extra time, but not much, as Langley Captain Mitch McLain would end the game 22 seconds into OT with a power play goal.
The game would need extra time, but not much, as Langley Captain Mitch McLain would end the game 22 seconds into OT with a power play goal.
“It took us a bit
to get into it. The rink was hot [and] it was a little foggy on the ice and it
was a long day on the road [to get there]." said Smokies head coach Bill
Birks. The bench boss went on to say the effort "gave ourselves some
confidence that we can play with anybody. I was pretty happy with the point. [I
was a] little upset we didn't get two but a point is a point and it was
huge."
The Smokies would take any frustration from that game out on the Cowichan Valley Capitals Sunday afternoon in a 6-2 decision.
The Caps needed just 19 seconds to find the back of the net, however Trail newcomer Brendan Lamont answered with a pair in the first period to put the Smokies in control.
"[Their first goal] was a little bit of a wake up call for us but after that we dominated the rest of the game for sure. We got better every period." says Birks.
With the win the Smoke Eaters get a taste of revenge after last year's 8-1 loss toCowichan Valley
Birks went on to say that the play of both his goaltenders stood out to him and that allowed other pieces to fall into place.
"Both [Adam] Todd and [Dustin] Nikkel played unreal. They gave [us] a lot of confidence. There wasn't a bad goal let in all weekend. Our goals against was down, our power play was clicking both nights and our penalty kill was really both nights."
He is confident coming home for the season's first match at Cominco Arena Friday against the Penticton Vees.
"We're going to be a team to be reckon with that's for sure. We're pretty deep we had four lines rolling all night and everyone played top notch. There are some guys talking down here that Trail is going to make some noise, so it's a good feeling!"
The Smokies would take any frustration from that game out on the Cowichan Valley Capitals Sunday afternoon in a 6-2 decision.
The Caps needed just 19 seconds to find the back of the net, however Trail newcomer Brendan Lamont answered with a pair in the first period to put the Smokies in control.
"[Their first goal] was a little bit of a wake up call for us but after that we dominated the rest of the game for sure. We got better every period." says Birks.
With the win the Smoke Eaters get a taste of revenge after last year's 8-1 loss to
Birks went on to say that the play of both his goaltenders stood out to him and that allowed other pieces to fall into place.
"Both [Adam] Todd and [Dustin] Nikkel played unreal. They gave [us] a lot of confidence. There wasn't a bad goal let in all weekend. Our goals against was down, our power play was clicking both nights and our penalty kill was really both nights."
He is confident coming home for the season's first match at Cominco Arena Friday against the Penticton Vees.
"We're going to be a team to be reckon with that's for sure. We're pretty deep we had four lines rolling all night and everyone played top notch. There are some guys talking down here that Trail is going to make some noise, so it's a good feeling!"
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