Kings hopes for victory dashed as Capitals dominate

On the day before the B.C. Hockey League’s Christmas break, the Prince George Spruce Kings skated out on the ice Sunday at Island Savings Centre in Duncan with visions of first place dancing in their heads.

Unfortunately for the Spruce Kings, there was a grinch in Cowichan Valley Capitals clothing who spoiled the day.

Ty Pochipinski scored shorthanded while the Spruce Kings were trying to gain the lead on a five-minute penalty and the Caps never looked back, skating to a 5-2 victory. Pochipinski’s between-the-legs roof shot, 36 seconds after Prince George defenceman Dylan Anhorn had tied the game 1-1 on the same power play, was a shot in the gut that took all the stuffing out of the Spruce Kings.

Nicholas Wilson made it a 3-1 count a few minutes later, scoring on a wraparound – the third goal Kings goalie Brad Cooper allowed on only seven shots in 25:36 of game action. Kings head coach Adam Maglio waved Cooper to the bench and brought 20-year-old Evan DeBrouwer into the game and he stopped 16 of 17 shots.

In the opening period, the Kings did everything but score on the Capitals, outshooting them 13-3 but the none of those shots fooled goalie J.J. Pichette. Azzaro Tinling opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period, on a Caps’ power play.

But the Capitals owned the puck in the final two periods, outshooting the Kings 2412 in the final 40.

Ethan Scardina scored two in the third period, including an empty-netter, while Patrick Cozzi replied for the Spruce Kings.

Other than Anhorn’s goal, 1:39 into the second period, the Kings’ power play was ineffective, going 1-for-8, including the fiveminute chance.

With that loss, the Kings (19-11-2-4) wasted a chance to leapfrog the Langley Rivermen into first place in the Mainland Division. The Rivermen (17-9-9-2) are just one point ahead of the Spruce Kings, who hold a game in hand. The two teams meet in Prince George on Dec. 29-30, when the league schedule resumes.

The Kings were without two of their top forwards - Ethan de Jong and Kyle Johnson, who helped Canada West win World Junior A Challenge gold with a 5-1 win over the United States Saturday in Truro, N.S.

The Spruce Kings watched that game while traveling on the ferry to Victoria, where they played the Grizzlies to a 3-3 tie Saturday night.

Cozzi scored 16:45 into the third period to force overtime. Brady Bjork and Jarod Hovde also scored for Prince George. Matthew Doran and Alex Newhook, both on power plays, and Lach Hadley, at even strength, scored the Victoria goals.

The Grizzlies led 1-0 after one period and 3-2 after 40 minutes.

The Kings started their trip with a 3-1 win over the Express in Coquitlam.

Before the Dec. 29 game at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena, the Spruce Kings plan to salute the accomplishments of de Jong and Johnson and their Canada West teammates, Rivermen forwards Brendan Budy and Angus Crookshank.