Saturday night looking for the weekend split with the Weantchee Wild, the Spruce Kings didn’t get the start they wanted, and didn’t finish very well either.
The first period was one of missed opportunities for the Prince George Spruce Kings. The Wild had one grade A scoring chance five minutes into the game, and it was Troy Conzo making no mistake scoring for the first goal of the game. The night prior Tanner Campbell scored the first goal of the game, and it was the first time of the season that the Wild hadn’t scored first. Prince George would earn a late power play, and had one good opportunity with Tanner Campbell in the slot, but couldn’t beat Garrett Nieto. That would prove costly as immediately after the penalty expired, Troy Conzo took the puck down the left wing, and beat Tavin Grant for his second of the period. Tanner Campbell would later have a partial breakaway stopped by Nieto, and Ben Poisson’s one timer from the slot was also swallowed up. The period would end with some pushing and shoving as the top lines for each team got into it in front of the Wild net. With Tanner Campbell being shoved against the glass, the arena staff opened the door behind him, and he stumbled back but was fortunately not hurt on the play.
Period two would start better for the Spruce Kings, as Hunter Luhmann was moved to the first line with Brett Mennear and Jamie Huber. Luhmann took a feed on the right side, and beat Nieto wrecking the shutout bid. After that it was all Wild though as the Spruce Kings took a penalty immediately after, and Brian Williams scored on a rebound just squeaking the puck between the post and a reaching Grant. Later it was Charlie Combs driving out from behind the net, kicking the puck to his stick, and getting two shots away beating Grant on the rebound. The Wild would strike again from behind the net, as the ever dangerous Brendan Harris passed out to the bottom of the left circle where Sam Morton was waiting to snap a puck into the net for his second goal in as many games making the score 5-1 with 6:57 to go in the period.
In the final period it was the Wild breaking out again as just a minute and a half in a nice passing play with Colin Burston and Slava Demin was finished off by Matt Baker to put the Wild up by five. Twelve minutes later Burston would be the beneficiary of a perfect cross ice pass, beat Grant upstairs for the 7-1 lead. The only thing missing from the night was a Troy Conzo hat-trick, but fans wouldn’t have the wait long as a missed pinch from the Spruce Kings defense led to a 2-on1 with Lucas Sowder and Conzo. Sowder sauced the puck over to Conzo, and he made no mistake scoring the final goal of the evening with 2:48 left in the third making the game 8-1.
Prince George was 0 for 2 on the powerplay while the Wild went 1 for 6 including some 5-on-3 time in the third period. The Spruce Kings are in action this coming week back at home as they take on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs Friday, and the Powell River Kings Sunday.
October 20th will mark the first time the Spruce Kings play a divisional opponent NOT named the Wenatchee Wild as the Chilliwack Chiefs are in town. Games on the 22nd and 23rd will also be played in the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena against the Surrey Eagles. All games will be streamed on FASTHockey and Mixlr.
