Trail shutout Cents 8-0

Friday night was Curtis Toneff and Jackson Krill’s first game against their former squad, the Trail Smoke Eaters. Krill was brought over to Merritt at the deadline for Nick Remmisong. Toneff played for Trail in 2013 and went on to serve as an assistant coach for two seasons.

The Smokies weren’t feeling nostalgic as less than five minutes in Zach Michaelis would open the scoring. At the 11:42 mark, Connor Michaud would beat Hicks on a soft looking shot to extend the Trail lead.

Trail would tack on two more goals in the period to finish up the first period up 4-0.

John Hicks would make a number of highlight real saves, stopping 19/23 through 20.

The Cents would play a much better middle stanza, but wouldn’t be rewarded for their efforts. To begin the frame, Hicks was replaced in goal by Jackson Baker.

The Cents would get a chance to break the goose egg on a 5-on-3, but Tristan Allan slipped at the line, allowing a 2-on-1 the other way that Evan Bushy would finish. Later on the powerplay the captain Coalson Wolford would add to the Smokies lead, 4-0 after two.

Despite giving up a pair, the Cents outshot the Smoke Eaters 16-10 in period and bounced back from a slow start.

Trail would add two more in the final frame to win 8-0. The Cents would fir e on 35 shots in the game, the most all month, but Evan Fradette turned them all away for the shutout.

Cents are back in action on Wednesday, when Prince George comes town.