Venue: Rolling Mix Concrete Arena
Game Time: Friday November 18th @7pm
Last week, the Spruce Kings were once again able to save a roadtrip on the final game. Down in the Mainland for a pair, Prince George received a stellar 47 save performance from Tavin Grant, but were unable to find the winning goal falling 2-1 in double overtime to the Surrey Eagles. Parker Colley scored the lone goal for his side defending the puck from Trent Huitema, and then beating Michael Botiz through the legs.
Friday night the offence came alive, as Jarod Hovde and Travis Schneider scored a pair each, and the Spruce Kings beat the Coquitlam Express 6-3. Prince George led 5-1 at one point, and the Express made things interesting scoring twice to get within one, but Sam De Melo scored his first BCHL goal with under two minutes to play to put the game out of reach.
Nanaimo’s record is over .500, but a recent stretch of games have not been pretty for the Island squad. The Clippers have lost five of their last six, and in the five losses they’ve been outscored 26-12. Last season, the Clippers swept the season series 2-0, outscoring Prince George 14-3. The closest of the two games came in PG where Nanaimo won 5-2. Prince George hasn’t beat Nanaimo since September 20th 2014 where the Spruce Kings won the season opener 6-4. A 5-3-1 road record shows that the Clippers are no slouches away from their home barn, but have lost their last two away games.
Still serving his suspension from the USHL, Keegan Ward will have to wait for his BCHL debut.
LIAM WATSON-BRAWN PREVIEWS WEEKEND
BROADCAST LINKS
WATCH on HockeyTV
LISTEN on Mixlr
STANDINGS:
Prince George (10-10-1-2) have had the two teams behind them catchup, as Surrey and Langley both swept their weekends on the island. The Spruce Kings still hold a three point lead over the two teams, and have more wins, and a better goals differential with all three now having played the same amount of games. The Chilliwack Chiefs with a game in hand are eight points ahead.
The Nanaimo Clippers (11-10-3-0) certainly aren’t the scoring power house they were last night. Finishing with 235 goals last year, the Clippers averaged 4.05 goals per game, whereas this season they’re averaging 2.83. Their 25 points have them sitting in fourth on the Island, but have a healthy eight point lead on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
WHO TO WATCH:
PRINCE GEORGE:
Jarod Hovde – FWD: It’s go big or go home for the Alberta forward. Hovde has 16 points this season, and he has scored 14 of them in just four games. He has two games this season with five points in a game, the most recent being Friday against the Coquitlam Express. The small forward has scored all kinds of goals this season from pure snipes, to digging in the crease.
Tavin Grant – G: With Stefan Wornig being out since his win against the West Kelowna Warriors, Grant has filled in admirably. The Burnaby product stopped 47 of 49 shots in the OTL to Surrey, and followed that up stopping 32 pucks in his team’s win over the Express.
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COQUITLAM:
Matt Creamer – FWD: In a huge step forward from last season Creamer took just 17 games to replicate his point total from last season which took him 47 games to gain. The sophomore is tied for the team lead in goals, but is pointless in his last three. Creamer had a hat-trick in his last game vs PG.
David Eccles – DEF: Having started with the Penticton Vees this season, Eccles is the player most familiar with PG playing them three times, and picking up two assists in the process. In two games as a Clipper, Eccles has yet to find the score sheet. An impressive stat as a defenseman, Eccles doesn’t have a penalty yet this season in his 21 games.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Spruce Kings vs Surrey Eagles – Saturday November 19th, 7pm – Rolling Mix Concrete Arena
Spruce Kings vs Coquitlam Express – Friday November 25th, 7pm = Rolling Mox Concrete Arena
Spruce Kings vs Salmon Arm Silverbacks – Friday November 26th, 7pm – Rolling Mix Concrete Arena
