Kings clipped in Nanaimo
Almost perfect.
After two wins and many kilometres on a tough three-game weekend tour of the BCHL’s Island Division, the Prince George Spruce Kings were looking to run the table and beat the Nanaimo Clippers Sunday afternoon in Nanaimo.
No Spruce Kings team has ever accomplished such a feat since they joined the BCHL in 1996, but the guys wearing the blue and red crown came awfully close Sunday. They outshot their opponents 3628 but could not outscore them.
Gunnar Wegleitner found the net with just 21 seconds left in the five-minute overtime period to lift the Clippers (1113-0-0) to a 3-2 victory. It was the first overtime loss of the season for the Spruce Kings (17-7-1-1), who had a 2-0 overtime record heading into Sunday’s game.
Tyler Schleppe’s goal 2:10 into the third period tied it for the Kings, after the Clippers went ahead 2-1 on second-period goals from Jonathan Stein and Thomas Samuelsen. Ben Poisson’s 10th goal of the season, 6:48 into the game, gave the Kings an early lead.
Bradley Cooper made 25 saves in net for Prince George. Jordan Naylor picked up the win in goal for the Clippers, making 34 stops.
The Kings began the weekend with a 3-0 win Friday over the Powell River Kings and edged the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 2-1 on Saturday. The Bulldogs did the Spruce Kings a favour Sunday afternoon in Port Alberni when they defeated the leagueleading Chilliwack Chiefs 4-1.
The Chiefs (19-8-0-0) continue to hold on to first place in the Mainland Division, just two points ahead of secondplace Spruce Kings, who gained a point Sunday and have a game in hand over Chilliwack.
The Spruce Kings return to home ice at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena Wednesday night to face the Trail Smoke Eaters (1011-4-2, seventh in the Interior Division), then head to Chilliwack to take on the Chiefs Friday and Saturday.