(Clark scores the overtime winner and gets mobbed. Game photos by Randy Emery.)
Wow, what a way to start the season. I don't think anyone who saw that game could possibly say they didn't get their money's worth. No matter what you thought of who carried the play, this game had a little bit of everything. Lead changes left and right, early deficit, come back, late deficit, come back, big saves, big hits, pretty goals, fights and overtime. Oh, and the lights went out. It was as good a time as I've had at a BCHL game.
Check out the box score at the new BCHL website. There are also some new and interesting features there. They include four new BCHL blogs that I'll soon be putting up links for. Hammer is still the godfather of BCHL blogs, but I'm glad to see more guys getting into it.
We kicked things off with what I thought was a very cool video graphic on the big screen put together by Trail's jumbotron tech guru Daryl Taylor. I had the honour of introducing the team with Van Halen's "Right Now" blaring on the sound system. Loved getting to do that, hope it sounded OK. The crowd was right into it, especially during the introductions for the five local players wearing orange and black this season. Unfortunately after the opening festivities the lights at Cominco Arena took an absurdly long time to start back up.
The delay could only have heightened the nerves for Trail's 13 BCHL rookies. It seemed like that early as Travis Oulette and David Andreassen each took advantage of Smokies defensive coverage mistakes to give Penticton and early 2-0 lead. Goaltender Paul Barclay later told me he thought the nerves of starting the season may have contributed to those goals getting behind him, but he had almost no shot at them.
However, as they've done throughout the pre-season this plucky young team didn't show any signs of quit. Sean Nugent knocked in the rebound off of a Skyler Smutek shot and Trail was only down 2-1 after the first period. Nugent just recently joined Trail after competing in lacrosse all summer long. His Victoria team went all the way to the Minto Cup final. Nugent also played Jr B hockey under Coach Ingram with the Kerry Park Islanders. He has BCHL experience as well having played 10 games with the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Nugent didn't score any points in those games but was able to get on the score sheet in his first period with Trail. The goal also marked Smutek's first BCHL point. Riley Loyst had the other assist making his return to the BCHL after a year in Nelson.
The second period was an odd one on the scoreboard. Penticton out shot the Smokies 16-4, but Trail got the only goals of the period. Sean Nugent is proving himself to be quite the sniper so far. Coming down the left wing he was going to dump the puck in but instead saw that young goaltender Sean Bonar left him a hole to shoot for. The relatively harmless looking shot evaded Bonar and the game was tied. Just a couple of minutes later a Patrick Raley shot hit off of J.F. Boisvert in front of the net and beat Bonar to give Trail a lead. Both goals were prime examples of what can happen when you get pucks to the net and when guys go to the front of the goal to make some noise. That's something Coach Ingram has always preached and early on the proof was in the pudding.
Mid-way through the period new Trail Captain Ryan Bulach showed why the coach gave him that role. Penticton's Grossman did something to C.J. Legassic (missed it) that called for a quick visit by trainer Kevin McCallum. Bulach immediately responded by challenging a legitimate BCHL heavyweight fighter. As Coach Ingram put it to me after the game, Bulach may not have earned the decision in that fight but he sure proved again what kind of leader he is. Bulach fought hard and stood up to Grossman while taking a few punches for his team. Trail then completed a big penalty kill at the end of the period to head into the dressing room with a lead.
A controversial penalty on Patrick Raley gave the Vees an early chance in the third. Travis Oulette took advantage of it with his second of the night. The impressive product of Ontario Jr B hockey tied the game up at 3. Small but feisty Garrett Milan quickly gave Penticton their second lead of the game just a couple of minutes later. Right off the next face off Nugent showed one of the main reasons he'll see a regular shift on the Smokies. The big man from the Island dropped the gloves with Logan Johnson and put on a show for the Trail fans. Nugent can really throw them and he did it with gusto. Johnson held his own, but give Nugent the decision here. A good way to respond to the Penticton goals and stall their momentum.
Paul Barclay made some huge saves to maintain the one goal deficit. He was fantastic all night after getting the nod as the starter in game one. It must have felt like deja-vu for Barclay who started last year's home opener. In that game he let in a couple of goals early before going the distance to double overtime. In that game he made a late mistake (that still in my mind was a blown call) and Vernon got the win. This time it'd be a different story. Late in the period when things looked lost, J.F. Boisvert continued to show why Trail was so happy to recruit him with his second goal of the game and his BCHL career. Brandon Clark picked up an assist and his first point in Trail. The power play goal lifted the crowd's spirits and sent the game to overtime.
Trail had a great chance with a late power play in overtime, but they couldn't take advantage. In double overtime Barclay had to come up huge on a penalty shot to prolong the game. After saving it he knocked the put into his net. However, on a penalty shot once the initial save is made the play is dead. Had it been a live hockey play the goal would've counted. The huge stop kept Trail alive and gave them the opening they needed. With some extra room thanks to the three on three action Riley Loyst got a late shift and made the most of it. Clark found him streaking through centre, Loyst made a good move to draw the defence in and found a streaking Clark who put the winner into a wide open night. A fantastic debut for the team full of new faces ended with a victory against the defending champions.
While the team was obviously nervous and scattered at times there were a lot of things to like about this effort. Later this week I'll talk a bit more about what I thought they did well and not so well in their first game. Right now a little more than 24 hours later I'm still pretty pumped from seeing one of the most exciting hockey games I can remember in my short time watching the BCHL. The other thing that really stood out for me was how good a vibe there was in the locker room after the win. These guys have only been together a couple of weeks but the chemistry is fantastic. They are obviously thrilled to be here and relishing life in the BCHL. I can only hope this enthusiasm and positive feeling keeps building as these guys get some more experience under their belts.
Here's the bottom line for me: Saturday night was my girlfriend's first Smokies game (I think at least) and she told me today that she wants to go back again on Saturday whether she gets to see much of me at the game or not. That's exactly the point isn't it. Lets hope she's just one of many fans who'll get hooked.
SMOKIES THREE STARS
While the game sheet takes both teams into account I'll just be talking about Trail here.
1. Paul Barclay: 47 saves on 51 shots. In Coach Ingram's words he won Trail the game. Barclay was terrific in exhibition play and terrific again on opening night. His athleticism was again evident in some big kick saves and his endurance late in the game. However, the biggest difference this year is his poise. Barclay is a calmer, smarter goalie with an extra year and a new lease on his hockey life.
2. Brandon Clark: the elder statesman of the Smokies young blue line played a calm, smart and
physical game through the first 55 minutes. After that he was part of the two biggest goals of the game. Clark had an assist on the tying goal. He looked good on the PP and it was nice to see that unit get a goal in the first game. He also started and finished the play on the winning goal. His deceptive speed got him in behind the D for a great feed from Loyst on the winner. Clark will be counted on as a steady leader on the back end. He's also expected to contribute more on the scoreboard than he ever has in the BCHL. He is getting the opportunity he's been waiting for. So far, so good.
3. Sean Nugent: Two goals and a decisive fight. That was surprisingly only good enough for third star on this night. Nugent did all you would hope from him and more on this night. An assist away from the Gordie Howe. Coach Ingram said Nugent was more than just an enforcer. If game one is any indication this guy has more to contribute than his gifted fists. A great start for him especially when you realize he didn't play a single exhibition game because of lacrosse.
Honourable Mentions: J.F. Boisvert had two goals and couldn't crack my list because of what the other guys did. He still had a terrific debut with the Smokies and showed why he's getting top line minutes as a 19 year old rookie. Riley Loyst had two assists on the night including a terrific play on the winning goal.
NEXT GAME: Friday night in Merritt. The winless Cents are going to be ready after what is sure to be an intense week at practice for them. Trail can't afford to take Merritt lightly. These games are hugely important if the playoff race ends up being similar to what it was last season. My impression of this team is that they have a strong mental make-up and will bring their 'A' game. It's also the first broadcast of AM Ford Trail Smoke Eaters Hockey on Mountain FM this season. We'll bring you every road game on 104.1 in Trail. The Smokies are back home on Saturday against Westside. This time you'll get your chance to play in the Guitar Hero contest. There's 500 bucks in Walmart gift certificates up for grabs after the first 10 games of the contest so take your shot and see if you can do better than I did this week. If any of you actually saw my shameful performance you'll realize that won't be too tough. It was a lot of fun though!
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