PHOTO: Chuck Chin
PRINCE GEORGE BC – A pair of goals from Simon Labelle, and singles from Kolton Cousins, and Austin Fraser, along with a brilliant effort from Aaron Trotter, making 28 saves, gave the Spruce Kings a 4-1 victory over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks to cap off the 2021-22 regular season. With this victory, the Spruce Kings finish 4th in the Interior Conference and will host the opening round of the Shaw BCHL Playoffs, beginning April 1st.
1st PERIOD:
PG: 5:12 into the opening stanza, an Amran Bhabra shot from the right point went toward the goal and then the puck ricocheted to Simon Labelle at the left side of the goal to get the Spruce Kings ahead. Labelle’s 11thof the season was assisted by both Amran Bhabra and Nick Rhéaume at 5:12.
PG: In the final minutes of the first period on a Spruce King man advantage, Kolton Cousins spotted Austin Fraser cross inside the right circle and wired it by Owen Say to make it 2-0. Fraser’s 13th of the year was assisted by Cousins and Nick Marciano at 16:26.
SHOTS:
PG 12 SA 4
2nd PERIOD:
SA: After some sustained pressure in the attacking zone, a Michael Ladyman point shot was tipped in front of the goal by Noah Serdachny in tight to get the Silverbacks on the board. Serdachny’s 26th of the season was assisted by both Ladyman and Mathieu Cobetto-Roy at 9:59.
SHOTS:
SA 12 PG 10
3rd PERIOD:
PG: Just over three minutes into the final period, a Dylan Schives point shot was tipped in the slot area by the captain Kolton Cousins and by Owen Say to make it 3-1. Cousins’ 16th of the season was assisted by Schives and John Herrington at 3:18.
PG: A few minutes later, Simon Labelle made a terrific move at the right circle in the attacking zone and ripped the puck low glove on Owen Say to make it 4-1. Labelle’s second of the season and 12th of the year was unassisted at 5:22.
SHOTS:
SA 11 PG 10
FINAL SCORE:
SA 1 PG 4
FINAL SHOTS:
SA 29 PG 34
POWER-PLAYS:
SA 0-3 PG 1-3
3 STARS
1.PG: Simon Labelle (2 G)
2.PG: Kolton Cousins (1G 1A)
3.PG: Aaron Trotter (28 Saves)
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER OF THE GAME:
PG: Austin Fraser (GWG)
