The Cranbrook Bucks finished off their last action before Christmas with a brace of games against Interior Division rivals, the Vernon Vipers and Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
Friday evening, Dec. 15, saw the Bucks’ recent addition Braedyn McIntosh coming up big time in goal against the Vipers, facing 42 Vernon shots and stopping all but one. Vernon pushed hard in the first period, but to no avail, scoreboard-wise. Meanwhile, the Bucks, after killing off a penalty, got a power play of their own, with Defenceman Joseph Blackley scoring from a point shot.
Another Bucks defenceman, Sam Bélanger, made it 2-0 with another point shot four minutes into the second period. Vernon took out goalie Ethan David at this point, and Colin Reay took over between the pipes for the rest of the way.
In the third period, Kaslo Ferner made it 3-0, on a Cranbrook power play, with 15 minutes left in the game.
Vernon had four power play chances in the second, but just couldn’t get past McIntosh.
Isaac Tremblay finally got the Vipers on the board towards the end of the third period, but the Bucks stood firm the rest of the way, and earned their first victory over Vernon this season.
The Bucks were no slouch in the shots department on Friday. They got 35 on Vipers goalies David and Reay.
On to Saturday night, with the arrival of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. A tight, hard-fought affair ensued at Western Financial Place. Both teams had their power play chances, both teams failed to convert on any.
However, Julian Frias opened the scoring early in the first period, his ninth of the season, just 1:48 into the game.
J.J. Monteiro evened things up in the second, at the 15 minute mark, and then got the go-ahead goal in the third — and the eventual game winner.
Both teams were assessed a 10-minute misconduct during the game: The ‘Backs’ Jonah Aegerter in the second, after a roughing call against him; and Jaden Fodchuk picked one up in the third, after being called for checking from behind. The Bucks’ penalty kill was effective, but nonetheless, final score 2-1 Silverbacks.
Let the Christmas holiday begin.
The Herd goes into the Christmas break in sixth place in the Interior Conference, with 29-13-15-1, for 27 points, just behind Trail (28 points) and ahead of Merritt (26). Cranbrook’s next action is Saturday, Dec. 30, in Trail, and Sunday, Dec. 31, when Trail comes to Cranbrook.