Spruce Kings tackling tough Interior trip
If the Prince George Spruce Kings want to know how they stack up against the best the B.C. Hockey League has to offer, some of those questions will be answered on a three-game road trip this weekend.
It starts tonight in Penticton, continues Saturday in Vernon and wraps up Sunday afternoon in Salmon Arm.
The Penticton Vees (22-10-1-2) rank fourth in the Interior Division, 10 points behind the league-leading Vernon Vipers (26-8-1-4), but have three games in hand over Vernon.
The Spruce Kings (20-12-2-4) are coming off an overtime win over the Langley Rivermen on Saturday and were just two points behind the Rivermen for first place when they left Prince George Thursday morning.
“This will be a tough one but we’re up for it, our guys are ready for it,” said Spruce Kings head coach Adam Maglio. “It is a measuring stick. We’ll need good goaltending on the road and a simple game. I still believe we can beat any team in the league, but it certainly won’t be an easy task.”
The Kings had a chance to leapfrog Langley for first in the Mainland Division last weekend but dropped a 2-1 decision Friday – the first game back from the Christmas break for both teams. Maglio said the way his team played in that two-game set bodes well for them this weekend.
“Our forwards did a good job in these last two games playing 200 feet, we committed to defence and didn’t give up a lot off the rush,” said Maglio.
The Vees will play in Prince George on Thursday, Jan. 18, followed the next night by a date with the Vipers at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. Kings centre Patrick Cozzi, who scored the OT winner in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Langley, can’t wait to see how the Kings stack up against the perennial powerhouses.
“It’s going to be a great challenge, I’m looking forward to playing the top two teams in the league,” said Cozzi. “It will be a fun weekend.”
The Kings face the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (13-21-3-0) seventh in the Interior) Sunday at 3 p.m.
• The Spruce Kings bus developed engine trouble and broke down in Hixon Thursday morning and the WHL Prince George Cougars came to the rescue, lending the Kings their bus for the duration of their Interior Division tour. Ralph Posteraro drove the Cougars’ bus to Hixon and handed the keys to Kings driver Bob Huard.
“It’s great they were able to help us out – it just shows the co-operation between the teams and we’d obviously reciprocate,” said Kings general manager Mike Hawes.