GAME DAY | PEN at TRA

The Trail Smoke Eaters got off to a resounding start to the preseason with a 12-2 win over Cranbrook.

The Cominco Arena clash between these BCHL Kootenay rivals featured big offensive nights by a pair of young forwards.

18-year-old BCHL sophomore Callas Pierce opened the scoring, got his second goal in the middle frame with a baseball-like bat of the puck into the Bucks net and closed out the scoring with an unassisted breakaway snipe.

Cash Carter, who celebrates his 18th birthday on Saturday, counted two goals, one assist and recorded the biggest hit of the night.

The Alberta product followed up big-time on last year’s Smokies debut at the end of the regular season when he counted his first BCHL goal in Salmon Arm.

Cash’s cousin, 17-year-old defenseman Cohen Carter also scored against the Bucks.

D-man Drew Anastasio had a goal and two assists, while Attila Lippai, Dylan Lariviere, Lucas Lemieux, Noah Ziskie and Gavin Jensen rounded out the Trail scoring.

Former Merritt Centennial Jack Ziliotto had four assists and was part of the most dominant trio of the evening with Pierce and Lariviere, another former Centennial.

Another effective line were rookie recruits Jensen, Deacon Drummond and Cade De St Hubert.

Among the local kids, 16-year-old defenseman Owen McCarthy saw a lot of ice, including time on the penalty kill. He also helped set up Lippai’s second period snipe.

Goalie Chayse Johnson got the win. The 17-year-old from Trail only had to make six saves in his 31-minutes of action. Veteran Ryan Parker stopped 10 shots, with both giving up a goal each.

The Smoke Eaters outshot Cranbrook 42-18, while piling up period leads of 4-1 and 7-2. Trail was 0-for-1 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.

There were 10 rookies among the 21 players who were in Trail’s lineup against the Bucks.

Among the four players who sat out with injuries were returnee Gryphon Bucci, who was coming off an outstanding training camp and rookie recruit Brayden Rotach from Castlegar.

The Smoke Eaters will likely insert veterans Ridge Dawson, Jason Stefanek, Jack Kennedy, Isaac Fecteau and goalie Teagan Kendrick into the lineup Friday night at home against Penticton. They all sat out Wednesday’s opener.

Opening face-off at Cominco Arena is set for 7 p.m.