The 2022 Shaw BCHL Playoffs started with a major upset. The eighth-seeded Trail Smoke Eaters went into Penticton and took down the number-one overall seeded Penticton Vees by a 5-3 score in Game 1 of their first round series.
Zach Michaelis and Charlie Strobel each chipped in with a goal and an assist to lead the charge for the Smokies, while netminder Cole Tisdale held the fort, making 39 save to earn the victory.
This game was wild right from the puckdrop. Ridge Dawson and Michaelis each scored for Trail before the five-minute mark of the first period to give their team the earlier two-goal advantage, but Adam Eisele responded with a goal at 13:42 of the opening frame to cut into the lead. Josh Schenk put the Smoke Eaters back up by two shortly after before Jackson Nieuwendyk responded for Penticton late in the first to make it 3-2 after one.
The Vees eventually tied the game 3-3 on a Casey MacDonald power-play goal midway through the second period, but the Smokies would not be denied on this night. Strobel scored for Trail just over five minutes into the third and Corey Cunningham sealed it with an empty-netter late in the game.
Tisdale’s huge performance in net earned him first star of the game. Vees forward Luc Wilson had two assists in the loss.
Game 2 of this series goes Friday night back in Penticton at 7p.m.
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