Game Day | BRK at TRA
It’s time for the Smokies to enjoy some home cooking.
They open a five game home stand tonight against the defending BCHL Champion Brooks Bandits and play seven of the final eight games before Christmas at Cominco Arena.
Trail’s record is an outstanding 14-4 and even more astounding when you consider they have played 14 of their first 18 games away from their home base.
The Smokies are coming off a split of last weekend’s doubleheader in Salmon Arm and arguably deserved a better fate than last Saturday’s 2-1 setback.
Tonight’s tilt is a rematch of the October 4 opener of the season series in Brooks.
The Trail troupe battled fatigue in the final game of the Alberta road trip.
They opened leads of 2-0 and 3-1 early in each of the first two periods, only to see the Bandits rally to tie the game with seven and a half minutes remaining.
Smokies goalie Cooper Michaluk was stellar in the final minutes of regulation and overtime, setting the stage for Christian Kim’s winner into the top corner, nine minutes into the tie breaking period.
The 20-year-old Californian remains hot heading into the rematch.
Kim has put up nine points during his five game streak and leads the team with 19, one more than line mate Cash Carter, who has a team leading eight goals. They have combined with centreman Cade De St. Hubert to amass 21 points over the past six games.
Alexi Zhukov has a team leading 21 points for the 10-7-1 Bandits, who have won two straight games after going through a five game losing streak.
The Bandits also have the third most goals in the BCHL with 79, due in part to a 29.6% power play.
This game could shape up as another goaltender duel.
Zach Zahara of the Bandits has been excellent against the Smokies.
His resume against Trail includes the save of the season last year at Cominco Arena.
The 20-year-old was on his way to the bench as Brooks was trying to get a sixth attacker out onto the ice. Zahara noticed a turnover, scrambled to get back to the net and made a miraculous diving stop.
Trail homebrew Chayse Johnson has been outstanding between the pipes since taking over for the injured Michaluk.
The 18-year-old is 4-2 with a save percentage of .914, along with the fourth best goals against average in the BCHL at 2.19.
The Smokies new goaltender will dress for his first game in a Trail uniform.
Lyam Leblanc started the season with Amherst of the Maritime Hockey League where he had a 6-5 record with a 3.01 GAA and .912 SP. Leblanc was also the Goaltender of the Year last season in the MHL.
There will be another debut.
Ted Welander flew in from Sweden on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old defenseman has been a team mate of Louis Jonerheim for the last four seasons and they once shared an apartment while playing for Malmo.
Opening face-off will take place after a pre-game ceremony as it’s Family Weekend, with parents and relatives of the Smoke Eaters players on hand for tonight’s game and tomorrow night’s showdown against Okotoks.
It’s a 7 p.m. start and good seats are still available at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.