Chiefs Comeback for OT Win

(Photo by Matt Jensen Photography)

In front of their biggest crowd of the season (1525), the Spruce Kings went right down to the wire with the Chilliwack Chiefs. The first meeting was a 4-1 win for Prince George, and the Chiefs left with a 3-2 decision from round two. In double overtime, Kale Kane played the hero scoring the winner to give his side a 6-5 thriller in the third meeting of the two teams.

Making his BCHL debut, Rob Raju was playing in front of a hometown crowd for his first game as a Spruce King. He made a good impression tipping in a shot on his first shift. From the left point, Tyler Anderson teed up the puck, and right in front of the net Raju was able to get enough of the puck to beat Mark Sinclair. The last time the two teams met, Sinclair made 46 saves on 48 shots. Prince George doubled their lead 6:54 in as Jarod Hovde scored his 14th goal of the season. Ethan de Jong went around the net, and with Sinclair on his backside, he shovelled a shot on net. Diving out, Hovde was able to slap at the puck in for the 2-0 lead. The excitement wound’t last long though as Will Calverly scored 13 seconds later to make it 2-1.

Barreling down the left side, Ben Brar would restore the two goal lead at the 9:34 mark. Picking the top left corner, Brar had his eighth goal since coming over in a trade from the Penticton Vees. Prince George would head to the penalty kill shortly after as Adam Burnett went to the box for kneeing, but the Spruce Kings were able to kill it off.

Period two saw Kale Kane come alive for Chilliwack. He had missed the first two meetings against Prince George, after posting eight points last season when playing PG. From the right circle, Kane went bar down to make the score 3-2 7:64 in. Tyler Anderson responded with a point shot to double the lead once again for Prince George. The goal was the 15th of the season for Anderson. Adam Brubacher led the BCHL last season with 18 goals for goals amongst defensemen. The Chiefs were quick to reply once again with Will Calverly scoring just before the halfway mark of the period. Chilliwack added two more in the second to take their first lead 5-4 heading into the third period. Ben Fanjoy started the scoring, and it was capped off with Connor McCarthy blasting one past Tavin Grant. The goal put McCarthy into a tie with Trevor Cosgrove of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs for first in goal scoring amongst defensemen.

There were nine goals in the first two periods, but the tenth came right down to the final minute of the game. Taking a tip from the side of the net, Ben Brar sent the game tying opportunity just wide of the net. He would make up for it moments later knocking in a rebound to tie the game at five with 10 seconds to go.

In double overtime, Brett Mennear was sprung down alone against Mark Sinclair. The Chiefs netminder came up with the big save, and that allowed Chilliwack to counter. Drew Lennon dove to stop a Kale Kane breakaway, but he just missed. The Quebec native broke down the ice, and made no mistake beating Grant for the 6-5 overtime winner.

Taking the season series lead was Chilliwack who now has two wins and one loss to their credit. Prine George will aim to even things tomorrow as the pair play their doubleheader in the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena once again.