Game 1 - Smokies 5 Vipers 3

Even if you didn't have a calendar or any access to a form of media, it wouldn't take you very long to determine it was the first game of the regular season.  A combination of rust, sloppiness, and mistakes were the name of the game on Friday night as the Trail Smoke Eaters defeated the Vernon Vipers in the 2015-16 season opener.  It was far from a pretty affair, but the winning team made fewer mistakes.

The Trail Smoke Eaters would open the scoring as Ross Armour would steal the puck from Liam Finlay, then fire back door to Rhett Willcox who was wide open in front of Jarrod Schamerhorn to make it 1-0.  The Vipers would get the game tied late as Joe Sacco put a sharp angle shot right at the feet of goaltender Bailey MacBurnie who kicked the puck right out to Hunter Zandee who would slide it home and tie the game with just 23 seconds left in the period.

Trail took over to start the second period by controlling the puck and using their forecheck to hem the Vipers in their own zone.  That would directly lead to a goal as Nick Halloran scored a very pretty goal moving from his left to his right in the slot then firing across his body short side on Schamerhorn.  That lead lasted 11 seconds as Steven Jandric would score a goal while standing right in crease to make it 2-2.  The game was only tied for 2 minutes before Rhett Willcox scored his second of the night off a nice 2 on 1 feed from Kienan Scott to make it 3-2 for the road team.  While on a powerplay the Vipers would again tie the game this time off the skate of Liam Finlay who was driving hard to the net.  The goal would be discussed by the officials, but appeared to go off the outside of Finlay's skate, negating a kicking motion.

Again, the Smoke Eaters would take a lead and this time there was no come back from the Vipers as Harlan Orr finished off a nice passing play from Kurt Black to make it 4-3.  The Vipers got themselves in some penalty trouble as Mac Ferner would be assessed a 5 minute major for a blow to the head.  The Smokies wouldn't score, but it took significant time off the clock.  The PK was impressive, but very late in the game Kienan Scott would score into the empty net to give the Smoke Eaters a 5-3 victory.

Here is the official box score:

PERIOD 1

1-0 Trail Smoke Eaters at 15:19 - Rhett Willcox from Kale Howarth

1-1 Vernon Vipers at 19:37 - Hunter Zandee from Joe Sacco and Jagger Williamson

PERIOD 2

2-1 Trail Smoke Eaters at 5:26 - Nick Halloran from Evan MacEachern and Kurt Black

2-2 Vernon Vipers at 5:47 - Steven Jandric from Liam Finlay and Peter Tufto

3-2 Trail Smoke Eaters at 7:37 - Rhett Willcox from Kienan Scott and Jeremy Lucchini

3-3 Vernon Vipers at 17:59 (PP) - Liam Finlay from Peter Tufto

PERIOD 3

4-3 Trail Smoke Eaters at 9:31 - Harlan Orr from Kurt Black and Cooper Sande

5-3 Trail Smoke Eaters at 19:52 - Kienan Scott from Jake Kauppila

Here are tonight's 3 Stars

STARS OF THE GAME
1st STAR	2nd STAR	3rd STAR
Trail Smoke Eaters Rhett Willcox	Vernon Vipers Liam Finlay	Trail Smoke Eaters Kurt Black

POWER PLAYS
Trail Smoke Eaters	0 for 6 (00.0%)
Vernon Vipers	1 for 7 (14.3%)

Mark Ferner stated in the pregame show that this Viper team may take its lumps early in the season as the team tries to find its identity.  The youth on the backend definitely showed at times, but it will be time that corrects those mistakes.

In goal, Jarrod Schamerhorn was very solid and was hung out to dry on all 4 goals the Smokies scored.  At the other end, Bailey MacBurnie was very impressive in his first BCHL regular game.

This Trail team doesn't appear to be the Smokies team of previous seasons.  They appear to be balanced in all 4 lines and responsible in their own end.

The rematch of the home and home set goes Saturday night from the Cominco Arena in downtown Trail.  You can hear all the action with Johnston Meier Insurance Viper Hockey on 107.5 KissFM starting at 7:15 with the pregame show.