Tonight, at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena, the Prince George Spruce Kings take to the ice for their seventh game on the 54-game schedule as they host the undefeated Penticton Vees at 7:00 PM. Prince George is coming off a 3-2 victory this past Thursday night against the Victoria Grizzlies. Kolton Cousins, Jimmy Doyle, and Nick Rhéaume had the three Spruce King goals, while Jordan Fairlie got the victory in between the pipes, improving his record to 2-0-0-0.
PENTICTON VEES
OVERVIEW
Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2021-22 Record: 5-0-0-0
2021-22 Road Record: 2-0-0-0
Last Game: A 6-2 victory over the Surrey Eagles this past Thursday afternoon at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack.
Goals For/Goals Against: 21 GF/10 GA (+11)
Power-Play: 12.5 % (16th)
Penalty Kill 88.5% (3rd)
Leading Scorers: Josh Nadeau (5GP – 4G – 3A – 7PTS) Fin Williams (5GP -2G – 5A – 7PTS) Luc Wilson (5GP – 4G – 2A – 6PTS
THE BRO’S
The Vees have gotten some fantastic production thus far from brothers Josh and Bradley Nadeau. The 18 year old Josh and the 16 year old Bradley have combined for 13 points already in the Vees first five games of the year. Both Josh and Bradley are also committed to play NCAA Division 1 Hockey at the University of Maine.
NHL BLOODLINES
Penticton’s roster has a couple of names that may sound familiar to the average hockey fan. Names include Arnott, Niedermayer, Nieuwendyk, and Richter. Defenceman Grayson Arnott is the nephew of 20 year NHL’er Jason Arnott, defenceman Josh Niedermayer is the son of former New Jersey Devil and Anaheim Duck Scott Niedermayer, forward Jackson Nieuwendyk is the son of long time NHL’er and Stanley Cup Champion Joe Nieuwendyk, and lastly Beanie Richter who is the son of former New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter. Beanie’s older brother Tom is a former member of both the Vees and the Spruce Kings.
PENTICTON FACTS:
-15 different Vees have tallied at least one point in the team’s first five games
– Fin Williams plays in Prince George for the first time since being traded in the summer of 2020
-Penticton is 4-2-1 vs Prince George in the last five seasons
PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS
OVERVIEW
Head Coach: Alex Evin
2021-22 Record: 5-1-0-0
2021-22 Home Record: 2-0-0-0
Last Game: A 3-2 victory over the Victoria Grizzlies this past Thursday at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack.
Power Play: 39.1% (1st)
Penalty Kill: 80% (10th)
Leading Scorers: Nick Rhéaume (6GP – 4G – 6A – 10TS) John Herrington (5GP – 5G – 4A – 9PTS) Kilian McGregor-Bennett (6GP – 1G – 7A – 8PTS)
CAPTAIN CUZZY
The Prince George Spruce King captain has been no short of clutch in the last two games. Kolton Cousins has two goals in his last two games which came at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack. One of those tallies, turned out to be the game winning goal against the Wenatchee Wild this past Wednesday. The pride of Sechelt has five points in his first six games of the 2021-22 season.
DEFENSIVE PRODUCTION
The Spruce Kings defenceman have slowly but surely been finding the scoresheet, especially this past week at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack. Ben LeFranc finished the weekend with two goals and an assist, while 20-year Dylan Schives scored his first as a Spruce King as well, adding a helper. The Spruce Kings defenders as a whole have four goals scored in the first five games of the 2021-22 season.
PRINCE GEORGE FACTS
- Kilian McGregor-Bennett leads the Spruce Kings in assists with 7
- Prince George is currently riding a four game winning streak
- Forward John Herrington has four points in his last three games
