PHOTO: Timothy Matwey
CRANBROOK BC – Late game heroics from Rowan Miller proved to be the difference in the Game 6 as the Prince George Spruce Kings soared to an overtime victory and win the best-of-seven series, defeating the Cranbrook Bucks 3-2.
1st PERIOD:
NO SCORING
SHOTS:
PG 23 CRA 10
2nd PERIOD:
CRA: On a Bucks power-play, the puck came to 6’6 defenceman Declan Ride in front of the goal off a bounce off the Spruce King defender and Ride potted home his first of the post-season. Ride’s first of the playoffs was assisted by Johnny Johnson and Noah Quinn at 6:14.
PG: Not even a minute later, after a faceoff in the offensive zone, the puck found Evan Fedele who got the puck at the right circle and threw to the puck to the goal, and it solved Nathan Airey on the blocker side to tie the game at one. Fedele’s first BCHL playoff goal was unassisted at 7:10.
CRA: On another Bucks power-play, Tyson Dyck got the puck at the left circle and ripped a wrist shot glove side on Aaron Trotter to regain the Bucks lead. Dyck’s fourth of the series ono the power-play was assisted by Rhys Bentham and Noah Quinn at 13:25.
SHOTS:
PG 12 CRA 9
3rd PERIOD:
PG: In the final minutes in the third frame, Dylan Schives spotted Nick Rheaume at the attacking blue line and Rheaume then found Rowan Miller streaking up the left circle and Miller hammered a one timer top corner on Nathan Airey to tie the game at two. Miller’s first of the playoffs was assisted to Rheaume and Schives at 16:43.
SHOTS:
PG 8 CRA 6
OVERTIME:
PG: In the extra frame, Simon Labelle spotted Miller at centre ice who whacked the pass out of mid-air to his stick, streaked behind the Cranbrook defender and Miller went top corner on Airey as he was falling to the ice to give the Spruce Kings the series win. Miller’s second of the series and of the game came at 13:42 from Labelle and Dylan Schives.
SHOTS:
PG 7 CRA 5
FINAL SCORE:
PG 3 CRA 2 (OT) (Spruce Kings Win Series 4-2)
FINAL SHOTS:
PG 50 CRA 30
POWER-PLAYS:
PG 0-3 CRA 2-3
3 STARS:
1.CRA: Nathan Airey (47 Saves)
2.PG: Rowan Miller (2G, GWG)
3.CRA: Declan Ride (1G)
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER OF THE GAME:
CRA: Rhys Bentham (1A)
The Spruce Kings will now await their opponent for the second round. They will either do battle with the Penticton Vees or the West Kelowna Warriors.
