Game Day | OKO at TRA
After an unanticipated night off, the Trail Smoke Eaters return to action tonight (Sat) at home against the Okotoks Oilers.
The Friday night clash against their Kootenay rivals from Cranbrook was postponed.
The seven hour closure of Highway 3-95 at Yahk meant the Bucks team bus couldn’t get through.
Once the highway reopened, the Bucks pushed through to Penticton for tonight’s game against the Vees. The game against the Smokies will be rescheduled.
Trail carries a six game winning streak into the showdown against the Oilers, who are the only team to beat Trail over the past 14 contests, a 3-2 overtime win on Nov 22 and a 4-2 victory on Dec 7, both in Okotoks.
The Smokies streak includes a 6-1 win over the Oilers on December 28 at Cominco Arena.
In that game Jason Stefanek led the attack with three assists, including a pair of highlight reel setups. The 20-year-old centreman is riding a six game points streak that includes five goals and five assists.
Stefanek is coming off a superlative performance last Saturday night in Penticton.
The California kid assisted on Lucas Lemieux’s first period power play goal, scored the tying goal while falling after a tantalizing toe-drag late in the third period and sealed the 3-2 victory in overtime, snapping in a Christian Kim rebound.
Evan Sundar had two assists in the December 28 win against the Oilers and will put a five game points streak on the line.
The Smoke Eaters new defenseman is poised to make his debut.
Max Hense arrived on Thursday from Germany. The 18-year-old played for his country at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Ottawa and has six goals and 25 points in 26 games this season in the German Junior league.
After missing both games last weekend because of an illness, veteran defenseman Jack Kennedy was in last night’s lineup.
However, the Smokies have lost a veteran centreman.
Jack Ziliotto has left to join the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League.
Teagan Kendrick’s victory last Saturday was his 43rd as a Smoke Eater, moving the 20-year-old into the franchise lead, one ahead of Kevin Hachey.
Another team record could fall tonight.
Coach and GM Tim Fragle is tied with Jim Ingram at 99 wins behind the Smokies bench.
Opening face-off is set for 7 p.m. (PT) and good seats are still available at Tickets.TrailSmokeEaters.com.