MERRITT BC – 5 different Prince George Spruce Kings finished with multi point nights in the opening game of the BCHL Regular Season, giving Prince George their first win of the year, with an 8-1 victory over the Merritt Centennials.
1st PERIOD:
MER: At the 8:10 mark of the opening frame, Walker Erickson made a great move around a Spruce King defender and went five hole on a breakaway to give the Centennials a 1-0 lead. Erickson’s first of the season was assisted from both Deegan Mofford and Wyatt Marlow.
PG: On a Spruce King power-play, Nick Rhéaume spotted John Herrington and Herrington rifled a one timer from the right circle past 16 year old John Hicks to tie the game at one. Rhéaume and Rowan Miller had the two assists at 10:58.
PG: On another PG man advantage, Kilian McGregor-Bennett got a great feed from Max Borovinskiy, and fired it top shelf past Hicks to give the Spruce Kings the lead. McGregor-Bennett’s first of the season came at 16:39 of the opening frame.
SHOTS:
PG 17 MER 6
2nd PERIOD:
PG: 1:20 into the period on an odd man rush, 20-year-old assistant captain Rowan Miller tucked the puck just over the goal line to net home his first of the season. Nick Rhéaume had the lone helper on Miller’s tally.
PG: At 16:52 on another odd man rush, forward Jimmy Doyle took the puck down the right wing and picked the top corner on Hicks to make it 4-1. Doyle’s first as a Spruce King was unassisted.
PG: Not even two minutes later, the puck came to John Herrington in front of the goal and put it by Hicks for his second of the night. Kilian McGregor-Bennett and Kolton Cousins had the helpers on Herrington’s second of the night and season at 18:17.
PG: 20 seconds later on a Spruce Kings power-play, it was the captain Kolton Cousins in tight and fired it by Hicks far side to make it 6-1 good guys. Cousins’ first of the season was assisted by Austin Fraser and Kilian McGregor-Bennett at 18:37.
SHOTS:
PG 8 MER 4
3rd PERIOD:
PG: Off a weird bounce along the left-wing boards below the Merritt goal line, the puck shot to Simon Labelle and he made no mistake and put it by Brayden Melnyk to add to the PG lead. Labelle’s first of the year was unassisted at 15:50.
PG: With 45 seconds remaining in the period on a 2 on 1, newcomer Ty Gagno scored his first goal as a Spruce King going top corner from the left circle to make it 8-1. Gagno’s first was assisted by Evan Fedele at 19:15.
SHOTS:
PG 15 MER 6
FINAL SCORE:
PG 8 MER 1
FINAL SHOTS:
PG 40 MER 17
POWER-PLAY:
PG 3/8 MER 0/3
3 STARS:
- PG: John Herrington (2 G)
- PG: Kilian McGregor-Bennett (1 G 2 A)
- PG: Nick Rhéaume (2 A)
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER OF THE GAME:
MER: Walker Erickson (1 G)
