Spruce Kings beat Smoke Eaters
The long wait is over. The Prince George Spruce Kings finally have a home-ice victory to celebrate.
They scored four times in the third period to defeat the Trail Smoke Eaters 6-4 in front of 637 spectators Thursday at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
Rookie forward Travis Schneider tipped in a goalmouth feed from linemate Ben Poisson for the winner, 16:49 into the third period. Poisson intercepted a clearing attempt into the corner from Trail goalie Zach Dyment to set up Schneider for his first career B.C. Hockey League goal.
Schneider, an 18-year-old import from West Palm Beach, Fla., added an insurance goal late in the game.
The win was the first in six tries on home ice for the Spruce Kings, who improved their fifth-place Mainland Division record to 2-5-0-1. The loss kept the Smoke Eaters (2-5-0-0) last in the Interior Division
Goals came fast and furious in the third period. Trailing 3-2 to start the period, the Kings responded with two quick ones from Kyle Johnson (a rebound) and Jarod Hovde (a Trail giveaway in the slot), the first goals of the season for both Prince George forwards.
That lead didn’t last long, however. Trail winger Ryan Murphy pressured pointman Drew Lennon and broke in on a partial break, fooling Steffan Wornig with a low shot to the far side to tie it 4-4.
The Kings fired 19 shots at Dyment in the third period and ended up outshooting the visitors 44-30.
In the second period, Luke Santerno took advantage of turnover just outside the Kings’ blueline to give the Smokies a 2-1 lead. The Kings atoned for their mistake a couple minutes later.
Jamie Huber went to the net as Adam Burnett fired one off the goalpost and got to the loose puck, whacking it in beyond the reach of Dyment.
Josh LaFramboise restored the Trail lead 9:35 into the second period, using a burst of speed to catch defenceman Connor Russell flatfooted before rifling in a snap shot.
The teams traded power-play goals in the first period. Poisson struck first for the Spruce Kings at 14:30, the third of the season for the rookie from Burnaby, and Kyle Howarth countered for the Smoke Eaters 14 seconds before the intermission.
The Kings’ penalty killers weathered a storm in the third period with Tanner Campbell serving a four-minute penalty for buttending but Wornig held off the Trail attack, using his six-foot-six body and a brand-new set of pads to absorb a barrage of shots.
LOOSE PUCKS: Tavin Grant backed up Wornig in goal. The 18-year-old Burnaby minor hockey product was sent to the Spruce Kings Thursday from the WHL Cougars. Grant, who played junior B last season in the KIJHL for the Kamloops Storm, could see his first BCHL game action tonight when the Spruce Kings host the Cowichan Valley Capitals at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (7 p.m. start). As a 16-year-old Grant played 18 games in the WHL for the Cougars in 2014-15.… Defenceman Tyler Anderson, 20, is expected to suit up for his first game with the Kings since he was acquired Wednesday in a trade which sent 20-year-old forward Braiden Epp to the West Kelowna Warriors.