The Trail Smoke Eaters close out the first half of the 2024-25 regular season at home tonight against the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
The Smokies had their five game win streak and run of points in six straight games snapped last Saturday night with a 4-2 setback in Okotoks.
Judah Makway and Evan Sundar created memorable moments with goals on shorthanded breakaways and Sundar was unable to score on a third period breakaway at a crucial moment in the game.
The night before was memorable for many reasons.
Sundar snapped a 12-game goalless drought with three and added a pair of assists, leading Trail to an 11-0 win in Blackfalds. Sundar earned BCHL First Star honours for the week for that performance and the shorthanded tally the next night against the Oilers. The five points by the 19-year-old winger vs Blackfalds ties him for the best single night performance this season in the BCHL.
Judah Makway celebrated the announcement of his NCAA Division-1 commitment to the University of Alaska-Anchorage last Friday with four assists against Blackfalds.
Jason Stefanek scored twice, including a shorthanded marker and has a team-leading 13 goals, while line mate Christian Kim tallied twice and added two assists, while Gryphon Bucci also potted a pair of goals and added one helper.
Goalie Teagan Kendrick made some sensational saves among his 23 stops to pick up his first shutout of what has been an excellent season for the 20-year-old.
The Smoke Eaters victory against Blackfalds set BCHL standards for the most goals scored in one game; their six second period goals are the most by any team in the middle frame and is the largest margin of victory in the league this season.
The Bulldogs fell 7-4 Friday night to the Vipers in Vernon, who didn’t seal the victory until scoring an empty net goal with just over a minute remaining.
Blackfalds will be trying to snap a 13-game winless streak that includes a 6-5 overtime loss at home to Spruce Grove last Saturday.
This is an important game for Trail in the Interior Conference standings.
The Smoke Eaters are just one point behind the third-place Salmon Arm Silverbacks, three points ahead of Sherwood Park and four up on the Cranbrook Bucks.
The Trail troupe will have a two week break after this game, with a December 28 return to Cominco Arena against Okotoks.
The opening face-off against the Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m.
