Bucks come out on top in goal-filled battle against the Chiefs

The Cranbrook Bucks defeated the Chilliwack Chiefs 5-3 on Friday (Oct. 16) before an energetic crowd at Western Financial Place.

Bucks forward Konnor Bissell opened the scoring at 18:48 of the first period.

Markuss Sieradzkis tied the game for Chilliwack with a power-play goal at 11:11 of the second period.

Cranbrook regained the lead two minutes later when Mitch Patrick scored, assisted by Jack McMinn and Matthew Gilmore.

In the 15th minute, McMinn threaded a pass to Gilmore, who scored to give Cranbrook a two-goal lead.

On the power play in the 18th minute, Gryphon Watson-Bucci scored from Patrick and Ty Ross, sending the Bucks into the third period with a three-goal lead.

Sieradzkis scored his second power-play goal at 11:43 of the third period.

Sieradzkis completed the hat trick at 18:05, pulling Chilliwack within one before CJ Watroba sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 19:54.

Bucks goaltender Keegan Carswell stopped 35 of 38 shots. Chiefs netminder Noah Tegelaar made 34 saves on 30 shots faced.

After the game, Bucks head coach Roshen Jaswal welcomed the win but said the team still had room to improve.

“You’re happy. You won, but the coaching side of you… we want our team to close games out a little better obviously and that’s where our process is just committing to that process. But you know, I’m happy for the guys,” said Jaswal.

“We’re on a good little stretch here right now, which is nice. Really happy with how we’re progressing and it’s good lessons for us to keep learning and growing and understanding how to play with leads.”

Jaswal said beating a strong Chiefs team was a confidence boost.

“Obviously, they’re pretty high in the standing, so it’s good to see how we played against them for the most part,” he adds.

Before the Bucks scored three goals in the second period, Jaswal said the message was to buy into the process and trust it.

“We talked about how taking it a shift at a time and not worrying about the periods of the games just focusing on your shift,” he said.

“I thought they did a really good job with that – especially in the second and even a power play we get that we don’t score on but I thought we built momentum for us. It’s a good group of kids.”

“They’re learning and at the end of the day. They are still kids right? They’re teenagers. So it’s gonna be growing pains, but I’m really happy with how they’re progressing.”

Jaswal said the Bucks can learn from how they handled pressure in the game.

“I think we have to understand especially when you go into the third period with the lead. You have to understand that the other team’s gonna push really hard and it’s about limiting our mistakes because that’s what they’re waiting for and keeping the game in front of you,” he adds.

“We kept playing and I thought we closed the game out, so it’s good to see.”

Cranbrook next hosts Spruce Grove at Western Financial Place on Oct. 23.

Three Stars of the Game

1st: Matthew Gilmore – Cranbrook Bucks

2nd: Mitch Patrick – Cranbrook Bucks

3rd: Konnor Bissell – Cranbrook Bucks