LANGLEY BC – Nick Poisson’s two goals, and multi point performances from Preston Brodziak and Corey Cunningham was just what the Spruce Kings needed as they string back to back wins and defeat the Langley Rivermen 5-4 in overtime.
In the opening period, it took the Spruce Kings just 43 seconds to get on the scoreboard. Wil Kushniryk was able to shovel home a rebound in front of the goal past Kristian Lyon to give PG the lead. Just over a minute later, the Rivermen got one back as a centering pass from Devin Leduc somehow found a way through the wickets of Jett Alexander to tie the game at one. The game remained tied after the opening twenty minutes.
In the second period, just over a minute in, Brendan Budy picked the pocket of Jett Alexander, fired the puck off his skate and the puck slowly but surely found its way to the back of the net to give the Rivermen a 2-1 lead. Just over five minutes later, the Spruce Kings found themselves on the power-play and they were able to convert. A point shot stopped by Lyon spit out to Nick Poisson on the doorstep and he buried it past the Langley goaltender. The Rivermen then found themselves on a man advantage of their own. Forward Tanner Versluis had the puck at an awkward angle but found a way to shoot the puck top corner, short side on Alexander to regain the Langley lead. That ended Alexander’s afternoon, as Carter Woodside came in relief. The Spruce Kings would not go away. Back to the man advantage they went, and executed for a second time. Fin Williams got the puck down low and found Corey Cunningham in the slot, and Cunningham buried it tie the game at three. The game remained tied after two periods of play.
In the final frame, Rivermen forward Kalen Szeto was taken down on a breakaway and was then awarded a penalty shot. Szeto would go glove side on Woodside to regain the Rivermen lead. The Spruce Kings again were able to bounce back. Nick Poisson wheeled the puck in the zone and shovelled it to the goal and after a mad scramble in front, Preston Brodziak was able to tuck it in and tie the game with under 6 minutes to go in third period. 60 minutes didn’t solve anything, to overtime we go.
In the overtime, it took just 20 seconds for the Spruce Kings to score. Nolan Welsh raced into the zone with Nick Bochen and Welsh fed it to the Spruce Kings defenceman but was robbed by the pad of Lyon. Welsh then gobbled up the rebound and passed it to Poisson at the top of the circle, and Poisson wired it glove side and looked to alumni Ben Brar, Layton Ahac, and older brother Ben Poisson in the stands for his celebration as the Spruce Kings win the final game of 2019 by a 5-4 score.
“Both of these wins were huge” says Nick Poisson. “It is nice to win those games heading into the Holidays, especially after that big losing streak. It will be nice to rest up, get healthy, and to get better and stronger in 2020”.
The Spruce Kings are now off for 10 days for the Holidays, and we will be back in action on January 3rd as they once again take on the Langley Rivermen at the George Preston Rec Centre.
3 STARS
- Corey Cunningham (PG)
- Brendan Budy (LGY)
- Nick Poisson (PG)
FORTIS ENERGY PLAYER OF THE GAME : Brian Scoville (LGY)
