When: October 14th, 2016 @7pm
Where: Rolling Mix Concrete Arena
It’s a team not named the Penticton Vees, or the Wenatchee Wild so the Prince George Spruce Kings (3-7-0-1) like their odds. All of Prince George’s losses have come at the hands of those two teams, while they’re 3-0-0-1 against other teams.
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs (4-6-1-0) will look to break that streak for the Spruce Kings, as they come up to Prince George for the first and last time this season barring a playoff matchup. The Bulldogs have been up and down this season, with things mostly being low lately as the team has lost four of their last five games all at home, being outscored 19-13 in that time. This weekend is a Mainland roadtrip for the team and will play Langley Saturday night, and Chilliwack Sunday afternoon.
After winning three of four games, the Spruce Kings lost both games down in Wenatchee last week by a combined score of 12-2. Tanner Campbell and Hunter Luhmann were the goal scorers for Prince George. It was the second goal of the season for each player.
Last year the two meetings between these two teams all went to extra time. In game one, it was Alberni Valley squeaking out the overtime win just 12 seconds in on a goal from Josh Adkins. Back in Prince George, no team emerged victorious as they fought to a 2-2 draw.
STANDINGS:
Prince George sits just outside a playoff spot at the moment, as the Coquitlam/Langley double header last week didn’t do the Spruce Kings any favours. Both teams are now ahead with the Express two points up, and Langley just one. Both teams face some stiff competition this week, as the Rivermen play a home and home series starting tonight with the Penticton Vees who they have already lost to this year in the BCHL Showcase. They will then play the Bulldogs on Saturday who will have had a long bus ride from Prince George the night before. Coquitlam meanwhile plays the Surrey Eagles tonight, and then host Powell River and Wenatchee over the weekend. With a pair of wins this weekend, the Spruce Kings may be back in a playoff position following Sunday’s game against Powell River.
Alberni Valley is currently the only team in the Island Division not holding a playoff spot. They’re just two points back of Nanaimo, and a ways back from the other leaders, but do have games in hand over all of them. The Bulldogs have a history of strong finishes to make the playoffs, but can’t afford to fall too far back. With a long roadtrip this weekend, if they don’t come out with some points they could be looking up early.
STREAKS:
While a number of player streaks ended this week in Wenatchee, the Spruce Kings do have a two game winning streak alive at home. The Bulldogs are .500 on the year for road games with a 2-2 record.
Not the greatest streaks, but Parker Colley had penalties in five consecutive games (12 PIM total) while Connor Russell has penalties in the last four home games he’s played.
The Bulldogs currently have the longest losing streak in the BCHL with three straight losses.
WHO TO WATCH:
Spruce Kings: After two goals in two games, Kyle Johnson was shutdown by the Wild last weekend. He played well against the Bulldogs last year, with three assists in two games. At this point last year, Johnson had one more point than he does now, and started to pick up his play around this time. He had three points in his first eight games, and wound up with 41 points in 58 games.
Bulldogs: With nearly a third of his team’s goal, it’s tough not to look out for Jake Witkowski who has seven goals in 11 games. He is coming off a two goal performance in a 4-3 loss to Chilliwack. He’s a streaky scorer with no goals in his first three games, four goals in a span of two goals later, and went another three games without a goal before his two goal outburst.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Spruce Kings vs Powell River Kings – Sunday October 16th, 3pm – Rolling Mix Concrete Arena
Spruce Kings vs Chilliwack Chiefs – Thursday October 20th, 7pm – Rolling Mix Concrete Arena
Spruce Kings vs Surrey Eagles – Saturday October 22nd, 7pm – Rolling Mix Concrete Arena
