Venue: Rolling Mix Concrete Arena
Game Time: Thursday December 8th @ 7pm
Each team has played half their regular season games. None of those have been against one another though. Three months in, and they finally meet, and Langley will be familiar with Prince George as the next four games in the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena will be played against the blue men group.
Prince George had a nine game undefeated streak end at home last weekend, as they dropped a pair of games. First it was a chippy 3-2 loss to the Chilliwack Chiefs, followed up by a 4-1 loss to the Victoria Grizzlies who have now beat the Spruce Kings in seven straight.
Langley meanwhile has lost just once in their last five games. They are 3-1-0-1 in that span scoring 4+ in the three wins.
Last year the Spruce Kings struggled against Langley losing all seven games. The Rivermen were pushed to overtime once against PG but emerged as 5-4 winners in the RMCA. Prince George was outscored 36-10 in the seven games played.
BROADCAST LINKS
WATCH on HockeyTV
LISTEN on Mixlr
STANDINGS:
This weekend will be a valuable one for both teams, as they have each played the same number of games, but the Spruce Kings sit four points ahead. Even if Langley sweeps the weekend they will still sit in fourth behind Prince George based on the Spruce Kings having more wins. On the other hand, if the home team is able to sweep, they will be eight points ahead. With Surrey dropping a few games lately, this weekend is the perfect opportunity for Prince George to give themselves some breathing room.
WHO TO WATCH:
PRINCE GEORGE:
Jarod Hovde – FWD: His linemates are gone for the weekend, and it will be interesting to see how Jarod Hovde replies. Since late September, he has been on a line with Johnson and de Jong that hasn’t been separated. The other two are in Leduc Alberta trying out for the World Junior A Challenge, so Hovde will have to click with his new line this weekend to keep the offense rolling.
Ben Brar – DEF: Playing 21 games for Penticton, Brar had four points in that time. He has nearly equalled that as a Spruce King with three points in six games. With de Jong and Johnson missing this weekend as they try out for the WJAC, look for Brar’s ice time to leap.
LANGLEY:
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Nicholas Ponak – FWD: He’s back. Traded in the off-season for future considerations, the Abbotsford product has excelled playing closer to home. With 16 goals and five assists in 29 games, he has by far surpassed the six goals and six assists he put up last season with the Spruce Kings.
Zac Masson – FWD: This guy loves playing the Spruce Kings. Last season he played six of the seven games against Prince George, racking up two goals and fours assists to account for six of his 21 points on the season.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Spruce Kings vs Langley Rivermen – Friday December 9th, 7pm – Rolling Mix Concrete Arena
Spruce Kings vs Langley Rivermen – Thursday December 29th, 7pm – Rolling Mix Concrete Arena
Spruce Kings vs Langley Rivermen – Friday December 30th, 7pm – Rolling Mix Concrete Arena
