The Blackfalds Bulldogs hung on for a 5–4 win against the Trail Smoke Eaters on Halloween night, snapping Trail’s three-game winning streak and extending their own to four. Nicholas DiPaolo set the tone just 22 seconds in, helping the Bulldogs build an early 3–0 cushion before Trail furiously outshot them 29–20 to climb back into the game. Though the Smoke Eaters clawed within one late in the third, Dean Tolkos tipped in the eventual game-winner, and goalie Nico Armellin stood tall in the final moments to seal the road victory. The hard-fought win pushes Blackfalds to an 8–7–0–0 record, lifting them to third in the Interior East division
Trying to actually watch any of that momentum live was an exercise in pure frustration, though, thanks to Trail’s brutal FloHockey feed. The broadcast is incredibly annoying to sit through, routinely cutting away to random commercials or rolling slow-motion replays while live, active play is happening right in the middle of the ice. Missing key transitions and zone entries because the stream is stuck on a replay or an ad entirely ruins the flow of the game.
Nick DPaolo scores on the first shot of the game just 22 seconds in to make it a 1-0 Bulldogs lead. The assists on the goal went to Dean Toskos and Luke Walkauskas.–Nicholas DiPaolo opened the scoring just 22 seconds into the first period to give the Bulldogs an instant 1–0 lead. He struck right off the opening shift, beating Trail goaltender Marek Schlenker to stun the home crowd and set the tone
Shots on goal in the first period were 11-6 for the Smoke Eaters
Ryul Kwan made it a 2-0 Bulldogs game with his fifth goal of the season on a beautiful passing play. The assists on the goal went to Lucas Texeira and Matthew Croxall.
Dean Toskos scores his third goal of the season to make it a 3-0 game for the Bulldogs at 3:30 of the second period. The assist on the goal went to Luke Walkauskas and Nick DiPaolo.
Dysen Drake, the son of former NHLer Dallas Drake gets Trail on the board with his ninth goal of the season at 6:19 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Swede Ted Welander and Medical Lake, Washington native Caden Stoltz.– Armellin almost had this goal by inches with his glove.
Fruitvale, BC native Wade Gallamore scores for the Smoke Eaters to get them within one at a 3-2 game. The goal was unassisted.
Shots on goal in the second period wee 9-8 for Trail
Lucas Texeira scores his first BCHL goal to make it 4-2 game for the Bulldogs at 8:50 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to Matthew Croxall and Ryul Kwan.
Trail gets within one with 5:24 left in the game when Castlegar, B.C native Brayden Rotach scores making it a 4-3 game. The assists on the goal went to Las Vegas, Nevada native Chase Nehring and Former Amarillo Wrangler Daniel Ressaga.
Dean Toskos makes it a 5-3 game with his second goal of the night at 15:14 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to Luke Walkauskas and Nicholas DiPaolo.
Smokies get within one with their goalie pulled 1:40 to go when Moscow, Russia native Aleksandr Andriyashev scored his third of the season. With the assists going to Erik Larson and Tim-Kristian Lukkarinen.
Shots on goal in the third period were 9-6 for the Smoke Eaters. Trail outshot Blackfalds 29-20 in the game.
For The Bulldogs Nico Armellin stopped 25 of the 29 shots that he faced for the win. For Trail former Regina Pat Marek Schlenker stopped 15 of the 20 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were mentioned at the end of the game as I seen guys skate out, but they aren’t listed on the BCHL site. So I made my own bias ones 1) Dean Toskos 2) Nico Armellin 3) Lucas Texeira.
Attendance in Trail was 981
Bulldogs next game is Friday November 6th in Blackfalds against the Trail Smoke Eaters.
