Cooper golden against Silverbacks
In his first B.C. Hockey League start in more than two weeks, Brad Cooper made the most of his opportunity.
The 18-year-old Prince George Spruce Kings goalie from West Vancouver blocked all 23 shots the Salmon Arm Silverbacks fired his way to post his first BCHL shutout as the Kings kept up their winning ways with a 3-0 victory Saturday night at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
Dustin Manz scored the only goal the Kings would need on a Prince George power play 11:41 into the first period and also assisted on Jarod Hovde’s insurance goal in the third period.
Ben Brar added to the total with a shorthanded empty-netter late in the game.
The win moved the Spruce Kings (16-10-2-3) within three points of the Mainland Divisionleading Langley Rivermen (15-7-9-1), who lost 5-1 Saturday in Cowichan Valley. The Rivermen wrapped up their three-game Island Division tour Sunday in Nanaimo with a 5-2 loss. The Spruce Kings have won four straight and five of their past six games.
Shots were 36-23 in favour of the Kings. Kyle Dumba took the loss in goal for Salmon Arm (12-15-3-0, seventh in Interior Division).
The Kings were without forwards Ethan de Jong (their leading scorer) and Kyle Johnson (fifth in team scoring), who are attending the Team Canada West camp in Calgary for the World Junior A Hockey Challenge.
Prince George hosts the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Friday, then faces the Wenatchee Wild on home ice Saturday.