Post Penticton Audio

Smokies Forward Nick Sandor

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Smokies Forward Scott Jacklin

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Smokies Defenceman Eric Walker

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Smokies Coach Jim Ingram

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Smokies Forward Steve Oursov (Pre-Game)

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Post Game: Trail 5 Penticton 4 (OT)

Trail, BC - The Smoke Eaters finally got a happy ending in overtime. After dropping recent games to Merritt and Salmon Arm in extra time, Nick Sandor scored early in the second overtime to give Trail a 5-4 win over Penticton on Tuesday night.

Sandor scored after Scott Jacklin completed a hard working shift with a steal in the Vees zone and a perfect feed to the Smokies sniper. It was the 2nd of the night for Sandor and his 24th of the season.

The goal put a cap on a very entertaining and dramatic game. It was a throwback to the unprecedented 4 overtime wins the Smokies had over Penticton last season at the Cominco Arena.

Trail took an early lead on Sandor's first goal only 55 seconds into the game. Beau Bennett tied the game on the power play.

Each time one team got a lead the other struck back. When Mitch Kaufmann scored on a wicked hop off the glass to give Trail a 2-1 lead, Stefan Nicholishen answered for Penticton. After Eric Walker notched his third of the season to put Trail up again, Byron Sorensen answered with his first goal as a Vee.

The Smokies may have been having flashbacks to blown leads against the Centennials and Silverbacks as the Vees took a 4-3 lead early in the third period. However, Travis St. Denis won a face off by wiring a puck past Sean Bonar to send the game to overtime.

Kiefer Smiley made 32 saves in the win for Trail including several key stops in the third period. Sean Bonnar stopped 29 pucks in a losing cause for Penticton.

It was the first win of the season for the Smokies against the Vees and only their second against a team in the Interior's top 4. Their next action is against Merritt on Saturday night in Trail.

ON THE TRAIL: The line of Justin Brown, Paul Mailey and Steve Oursov was matched up consistently against Denver Manderson's line. While Manderson and Bennett both got multiple points, the two-way line for Trail was able to hold them off the board at even strength ... Penticton won the special teams battle with 2 power play goals on 3 chances while they shut down all 3 Trail advantages. Trail had a slight edge at even strength ... The Vees had a goal called back on a high stick ... The Smokies were again without defenceman Graeme Strukoff and forward Thomas Abenante due to injuries. Abenante is likely done for the remainder of the season after recent surgery on his ankle ... Smokies defenceman Eric Walker had an extra reason to celebrate as his cousin Luke won a gold medal as a member of Team USA at the World Junior Championship. The Americans beat Canada in overtime just as the Smokies and Vees were starting to play the first period.

Game Day: Penticton at Trail

It's a big game tonight for both the Vees and Smoke Eaters. Trail has a chance to stay ahead of Prince George in the race for the final playoff spot in the Interior. The Spruce Kings play their first game after the holiday break tonight in Powell River. As for the Vees, they can tie Vernon for top spot in the BCHL with a win in Trail this evening and a Vernon loss against Merritt. The Vees and Smokies have only played each other three times so far this season. The first and third games were actually quite competitive while the second game was only close after two periods because of Kiefer Smiley's spectacular early play. Penticton has one of the deepest and most skilled teams in all of Junior A hockey. Trail has to play a hard working and consistent hockey game to find the W tonight. We know they are capable of hanging with the league's top teams. Now is the time for them to prove they can do more than just hang in. Here is a look at the season series...

-September 23: Trail 3 at Penticton 5
-October 2: Trail 2 at Penticton 8
-Novembe 29: Penticton 4 at Trail 2

POWER PLAY

Trail: 2/8 (25%)
Penticton: 4/20 (20%)

TRAIL TOP SCORERS

1. F Travis St. Denis (1-3-4)
2. F Scott Jacklin (2-0-2)
2. F Nick Sandor (1-1-2)
2. F Matt Wilkins (0-2-2)
2. F Sam Mellor (0-2-2)

PENTICTON TOP SCORERS

1. F Denver Manderson (2-4-6)
2. F Beau Bennett (2-3-5)
2. F Ryan Viselli (2-3-5)
4. F Alex Szczechura (1-3-4)
4. F Logan Johnston (1-3-4)
4. F Garrett Milan (3-1-4)

GOALTENDERS

1. Sean Bonar (PEN) 1-0, 2.00GAA, 0.909%
2. Joel Rumpel (PEN) 2-0, 2.50GAA, 0.904%
3. Kiefer Smiley (TRA) 0-2, 6.07GAA, 0.850%
4. Garrett Beckwith (TRA) 0-1, 5.00GAA, 0.848%

ROSTER

Trail

Penticton

BROADCAST

Home games are not broadcast on the radio in Trail but it will be on EZ Rock in Penticton with Ryan Pinder and I'll have the call on BCHL PPV.

FUNDRAISER

Tonight's game is a fundraiser for 17 year old JL Crowe student Alannah Amantea who has a rare immune disorder. $3 from every adult/senior ticket and $2 from every student/youth ticket will go towards Alannah's trust fund which basically covers things like travel expenses for when she has to go out of town for treatment. I hope we can full the Cominco Arena for a worthy cause.

Post Salmon Arm Audio

Nelson Ford Trail Smoke Eaters Hockey: Salmon Arm 8 Trail 7 (OT)

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Smokies Assistant Coach Brian Youngson

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New Beaver Valley Goaltender Paul Barclay

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Vernon Forward Kellen Jones on he and Connor winning the Mountain FM Athlete of the Year

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Post Game: Salmon Arm 8 Trail 7 (OT)

Salmon Arm, BC - Trail couldn't hang on to five different leads in an 8-7 overtime loss to the Silverbacks on Sunday. It was a wild and sloppy effort by both teams that Greg Noyes ended early in the second extra frame.

The Smoke Eaters took an early 3-2 lead after the first period on goals by Travis St. Denis, Darnell Dyck and Nick Sandor.

Trail extended their lead in the second period as Steve Oursov scored his first goal since returning to the Smoke Eaters and Matt Wilkins made it 5-2 on the power play. However, the Silverbacks responded with the hard work of their third and fourth lines. Devin Gannon, Josh Manson and Matt Cassidy scored in the second half of the period to tie the game up.

The Smokies again took the lead twice in the third period. Sean Nugent scored to make it 6-5 and Oursov's second of the game gave Trail a 7-6 lead. Again they wouldn't hold up as goals by Noyes and Travis Statchuk sent the game to overtime.

St. Denis has 3 points for Trail while Oursov, Dyck, Wilkins and Paul Mailey had 2 each.

It was the second consecutive overtime loss for Trail as they've now earned 2 of a possible 6 points since returning from holiday break. The next action for the Smokies is Tuesday night at home against Peneticton. They'll welcome Merritt to the Cominco Arena again on Saturday.

ON THE TRAIL: Thomas Abenante was out of the line-up for Trail and is likely done for the remainder of the season after suffering a serious ankle injury against Merritt. Graeme Strukoff also missed the game with a lower body injury while Mike Betz was scratched ... The Smokies held BCHL points leader Mark Zengerle to a single assist but were burned by Salmon Arm's improving depth. The Silverbacks are starting to get some more production from their third and fourth lines as they make a push to challenge the three Okanagan clubs ahead of them in the Interior ... Garrett Beckwith made 25 saves in a losing cause for Trail. Kurt Williams stopped 32 of 39 Trail shots to get his second win against the Smokies this season ... Trail hadn't given up 8 goals in a game since November 13th in Vernon ... The Smokies now have a win, an overtime loss and a tie in six games against Salmon Arm this season. It's their best showing against any of the Interior's top teams. The two clubs face off again in February.

(I'll have highlights and post-game reaction tomorrow night on Mountain FM's Overtime. I also wanted to quickly congratulate Eric Walker's cousin Luke and Team USA for making the gold medal game at the World Junior Championship. They'll have a very tough time stopping Canada's quest for six straight wins, but it should be a heck of a game on Tuesday. You can watch that one at 4:30pm right before heading to the rink for the Trail game against Penticton.)

Game Day: Trail at Salmon Arm

September 29: Trail 5 at Salmon Arm 5 (OT)
October 23: Salmon Arm 1 at Trail 7
Novembe 6: Salmon Arm 6 at Trail 2
November 7: Salmon Arm 6 at Trail 3
December 4: Trail 2 at Salmon Arm 5

POWER PLAY

Trail: 6/30 (20%)
Salmon Arm: 4/23 (17%)

TRAIL TOP SCORERS

1. F Nick Sandor (3-3-6)
1. F Scott Jacklin (1-5-6)
3. F Travis St. Denis (4-1-5)
3. D Steve Koshey (0-5-5)
5. F Sam Mellor (2-2-4)
6. F Darnell Dyck (3-0-3)
6. F Matt Wilkins (0-3-3)
6. F/D Wade Bennett (0-3-3)

SALMON ARM TOP SCORERS

1. F Mark Zengerle (3-9-12)
2. F Tyler Gubb (7-2-9)
3. F David Killip (2-6-8)
4. D Greg Noyes (1-6-7)
5. F Corey Chakeen (3-3-6)
6. F Travis Statchuk (0-3-3)
6. F Charlie Vasaturo (0-3-3)

GOALTENDERS

1. Kurt Williams (SA) 1-0-1, 3.23GAA, 0.890%
2. Garrett Beckwith (TRA) 1-1, 3.50GAA, 0.905%
3. Tony Ierfino (SA) 2-1, 4.00GAA, 0. 883%
4. Kiefer Smiley (TRA) 0-2-1, 4.76GAA, 0.854%

ROSTER

Trail

Salmon Arm

BROADCAST

The game is available on Mountain FM at 104.1 FM in Trial, 99.3 FM in Castlegar, 103.5 FM in Nelson and 96.7 FM in Grand Forks. It is also available on our website.

Video Highlights: Merritt 4 Trail 3 (OT)