Trail Smoke Eaters earn split on Alberta road trip
Published 2:00 pm Sunday, October 4, 2026
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The Trail Smoke Eaters came back to defeat the Spruce Grove Saints on Friday (Oct. 2), but squandered a two-goal lead in a close loss to Sherwood Park Crusaders, Saturday.
The Smoke Eaters split its two games in its first Alberta road trip of the 2026-27 season, and is set to return to the Edmonton area for the BCHL Showcase next week.
Trail led the Crusaders 3-1 on goals from Jaden Sikura, Maddox Gandha, and Dysen Drake, his fourth of the season.
However, the home team responded cutting the lead to 3-2 on a goal from Finn Kallay at 13:48 of the second, and Hunter Yannick tied it 71 seconds later.
Kallay completed the hat trick and made it 4-3 Crusaders, 50 seconds into the third, for the game winner.
After two strong periods, the Smoke Eaters offence managed just four shots on goal in the final frame.
Trail outshot Sherwood Park 31-28 with Justin Robinson earning the win, and Chayse Johnson the loss. Special teams were a bright spot with the Smoke Eaters going 1-for-4 on the power play, and 4-for-4 on the PK.
On Friday, the Smoke Eaters responded, and Dysen Drake netted the game winner 43 seconds into overtime to lift the Smoke Eaters to a 4-3 victory over the Saints.
Drake flew down the right wing and backhanded a shot over the glove of Spruce Grove goalie Joseph Quintilio, with assists to Colton Whitfield and Ty Izadi.
The Michigan product leads all Smoke Eaters in goals with four and is tied with Robert Polis in points with five in six games.
The Saints led 3-1 after two periods, but Maddox Gandha scored his first as a Smoke Eater 90 seconds into the middle frame to cut the lead to one.
Sikura, a Lexington, Kentucky product, made it 3-2 by tallying his first goal of the season for Trail midway through the third.
With time winding down, the Saints were assessed a penalty and Trail goalie Marek Schlenker pulled for an extra man with 1:48 to play.
Smokies forward Tyler Greene capitalized, tying the game with 65 seconds left in regulation on a set up from Drake and Polis.
The Smoke Eaters outshot the Saints 32-23, and went 1-for-4 on the power play, while Spruce Grove was 2-for-5.
The 2-4-0-0 Smoke Eaters will face off against the Bucks in Cranbrook on Friday, Oct. 9, before heading to the BCHL Showcase.
The 2026 BCHL Showcase will held at the Silent Ice Center in Nisku, AB from October 11 to 14. This marks the first time the league has hosted its annual scouting event in Alberta.
All 20 BCHL teams play two regular-season games each. The event is designed specifically as a scouting hub, drawing over 100 coaches and scouts from the NHL, NCAA, and U Sports to evaluate players in a single location.
Trail is scheduled to play the 4-1-0-0 Prince George Spruce Kings on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. MT and 3-1-2-0 Coquitlam Express on Monday, Oct. 12 at 2:45 p.m. at the Silent Ice Centre-Hesco Arena.