Venue: Rolling Mix Concrete Arena
Game Time: Friday December 9th @ 7pm
The Prince George Spruce Kings had a five game winning streak snapped last weekend as they lost a pair of games to the Chilliwack Chiefs and Victoria Grizzlies. That ended last night with an all important victory over the Langley Rivermen who are chasing PG in the standings. The win moved Prince George six points clear of the Rivermen for third in the Mainland Division, and a win tonight would give them an eight point cushion.
All night long the game was back and forth with Prince George taking the lead on a goal from Parker Colley. The forward picked off a clearing attempt at the blueline, and brought the puck in before beating Bo Didur. It was Didur’s first start for the Rivermen since mid-November. Angus Crookshank scored a highlight reel goal in with 54 seconds to tie the game at one. Both teams traded goals in the second, and Langley scored first in the third to make it 3-2, but the Spruce Kings replied with three unanswered goals being capped off by Brett Mennear scoring shorthanded.
A win against Langley was a good sign for the Spruce Kings as they had lost all seven meetings last season. Five goals against Bo Didur was key as well, as the veteran goalie stone walled the team last season allowing just seven goals in seven games against Prince George.
This game marks the second of four straight home games against Langley for Prince George. The next double header will come just before New Years with games on the 29th and 30th.
Brett Mennear is 1 goal away from 50 in his career.
BROADCAST LINKS
WATCH on HockeyTV
LISTEN on 99.3 The Drive
STANDINGS:
Prince George sits in the middle of the Mainland 12 points behind the Chilliwack Chiefs, and six points ahead of Langley. Surrey is seven points back, but have also played three extra games. The Rivermen have the one point lead on the Eagles, and have three games in hand.
WHO TO WATCH:
PRINCE GEORGE:
Parker Colley – FWD: When one door closes, another opens and Parker Colley came crashing through that open door last night. With Jamie Huber being traded back East, and Kyle Johnson in duty for Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge the Spruce Kings needed someone to step up offensively, and that was Colley last night with two goals and one assist.
Huner Luhmann – FWD: He’s still on a 15 game goal drought, but Luhmann looked hungry on the ice last night. Another forward picking up more ice time, he collected two assists which was as many as he had in the six games heading into Thursday’s contest.
LANGLEY RIVERMEN
Angus Crookshank – FWD: A pain in the side of the Spruce Kings all night, Crookshank scored one beautiful goal, rang a shot off the post, and with his vision nearly setup at least three more goals. He has three points in three games this season, and will be looking to continue that pace tonight.
Bo Didur – FWD: Talked about earlier in the recap of last night, Didur was a force last season against the Spruce Kings. As a veteran goalie, expect Didur to have a strong bounce back performance tonight after surrendering 5 last night.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Spruce Kings @ Coquitlam Express – Friday December 16th, 7pm – Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre
Spruce Kings @ Cowichan Valley Capitals – Saturday December 17th, 7pm – Island Savings Centre
NEXT HOME GAME: Spruce Kings vs Langley Rivermen – Thursday December 29th, 7pm – Rolling Mix Concrete Arena
