Bucks beat Cents 6-1

The Cents would strike first on Thursday night in Cranbrook, with the Captain setting up Levi Carter with a beautiful one-handed pass. The Patella feed would send Carter in alone where he beat Nathan Airey up high.

Following the opening goal, Cranbrook would find an extra gear and pot two quick ones to take the lead.

First Liam Hansson turned a puck over and passed to Johnny Johnson for his 18^th of the year. Then Carter Schmidt was first to a lose puck in neutral ice, he would open up John Hicks’ five-hole. After 20 minutes, 2-1 Bucks.

The second period would see the Bucks come out strong with a number of quality chances. The Cents would bend but not break in the frame and hold the score line at 2-1 after 40.

Hicks stopped 34/36 through two.

Cranbrook would finally solve the Merritt defense in the third period scoring four times in the final 20 minutes to balloon the score to a 6-1 final. Goals came from Tyson Dyck, Zeth Kindrachuk, Kellan Hjaartarson and Hayden Gelbard.

Hicks deserved a better fate stopping 48/54 in the losing effort.

Cents and Buck play again Friday night at 7pm MST, 6pm Pacific.