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Interior Conference Semi Final Game #1 – (4) Prince George Spruce Kings at (1) Penticton Vees

PHOTO: Garrett James

Tonight, in Penticton, round 2 of the Shaw BCHL Playoffs officially kicks off when the Prince George Spruce Kings do battle with the Penticton Vees. These two interior conference clubs meet in the post-season for the second time in league history, and the first time since 2009. Prince George and Penticton faced each other six times in the 2021-22 regular season, and split the seasons series, with three wins a piece. The Spruce Kings are coming off a spirited six-game series victory over the Cranbrook Bucks while the Vees prevailed in five games against the Trail Smoke Eaters. Game 1 goes tonight at 7:00 PM at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

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PENTICTON VEES

OVERVIEW

 Head Coach: Fred Harbinson

Record: 4-1

Home Record: 2-1

Last Game: A 5-1 victory over Trail in Game 5 on home ice

Goals For/Goals Against: 17 GF/ 9 GA

Power-Play: 6/20 (30%)

Penalty-Kill: 17/18 (94.4%)

Leading Scorers: Luc Wilson (5GP – 1G – 6A – 7PTS) Adam Eisele (5GP – 1G – 4A – 5PTS) Bradley Nadeau (5GP – 1G – 4A – 5PTS)

PICKING UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF

 2001 born forward Luc Wilson (Duncan, BC) has enjoyed a strong 20-year-old season in the BCHL. The former Cowichan Capital finished his 20-year-old campaign with 29 goals and 46 assists, good for 75 points in 52 games. So far in the playoffs, the University of Minnesota-Mankato commit has been the offensive catalyst for the Vees, posting a goal and six assists for seven points in five games. Four of those seven points for Wilson have come on the power-play.

A TERRIFIC CAREER FOR LANE

 Two seasons, 50 games, 43 wins, and 11 shutouts. By the numbers, it has been a superb BCHL career for Penticton goaltender Kaeden Lane who backstopped the Vees in Round 1 with a 1.61 Goals Against Average and a .935 save percentage. During the 2021-22 regular season, Lane finished the year with a 28-3-2 record, earning him BCHL first team all-star honours.

BOTTINI TO MISS FIRST THREE GAMES OF SERIES

 Earlier this week, the BCHL announced that Stefano Bottini would miss the first three games of Round 2 due to receiving his third minor penalty and a misconduct for a Blow to the Head, dating back to the regular season. During the regular season, the Canisius College commit finished with 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points in 51 games. Three of his points in 2021-22 came against the Spruce Kings, which included a pair of goals.

PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS

OVERVIEW

 Head Coach: Alex Evin

Record: 4-2

Road Record: 1-2

Last Game: A 3-2 overtime win in Cranbrook in Game 6 on Saturday Night

Goals For/Goals Against: 17 GF/14 GA

Power-Play: 4/23 (17.4%)

Penalty-Kill: 13/21 (62%)

Leading Scorers: Luc Laylin (6GP – 5G – 2A – 7PTS) Nick Rhéaume (6GP – 2G – 4A – 6PTS) Simon Labelle (6GP – 3G – 2A – 5PTS)

WHAT A START TO THE POST-SEASON FOR LAYLIN

 2001-born forward Luc Laylin (St. Michael, MN) was no short of terrific in the opening round of the Shaw BCHL playoffs. The 20-year-old forward registered seven points over the course of six playoff games which led all Spruce Kings. Laylin’s seven points rans him tied for fifth in league playoff scoring. The University Of. St Thomas commit has played 4 games against the Penticton Vees in the regular season, and collected points in every game, including 4 points, a multi-goal game, and a game winning goal.

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 No Prince George Spruce King has more points against the Penticton Vees than forward Nick Rhéaume. The U-Mass Lowell commit registered eight points in six games against the Vees, tallying six goals and two assists. Throughout the 2021-22 season, Rhéaume led all Spruce Kings skaters with 29 goals and 30 assists, good for 59 points in 53 games. The last two Spruce Kings to score more than 29 goals in a season, were Ben Brar (33) and Dustin Manz (31) in the 2018-19 season.