Spruce Kings Defend the Castle

2                                        Final Score                                        0
Funk, Tilsley	Goal Scorers
46	Total Shots	37
18	1st Period Shots	13
15	2nd Period Shots	15
13	3rd Period Shots	9
0 for 5	Power Play	0 for 3
	3rd Star	Bailey MacBurnie
Cavin Tilsley	2nd Star
Liam McCloskey	1st Star
11-29-1-2	Current Record	18-23-0-1

            Prince George got some excellent goaltending from Liam McCloskey, and skated to a 2-0 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters. With 37 saves, the Pitt Meadows native picked up his first BCHL shutout.

            In the first, despite there being 31 shots, neither team could score on one another. Liam McCloskey came up big late in the period when Matt Stief was in the box. Prince George scored in the last two games where they had power plays, but went 0 for 5 against the Smoke Eaters.

            The second period would finally provide a goal, as Jordan Funk drove towards the net, and had a centring pass from Parker Colley go off his foot and past MacBurnie who was far out of his net pressuring Colley. That marker would prove to be the winner, and Jordan Funk’s both goals this year are game winners.

            With Trail pressuring in the third attempting to tie things up, it would be Prince George getting the all important second goal of the game. Cavin Tilsley stole the puck inside the Trail blue line, and drove down the right wing. His first attempt was stopped by MacBurnie, but was able to pick up his rebound, and wrap it around the net for the 2-0 lead.  

            There was a scary moment a few minutes later, as Adam Burnett collided with Ross Armour behind the play, and both players went down. Burnett got up after about a minute, but Armour was down on the ice for over five minutes. Eventually he got up thanks to the help of both team trainers looking after him, along with some team mates skating him to the dressing room.

            Levi Johnson, a callup from the Kamloops Storm would take a late penalty, but the Spruce Kings were able to kill it off, and them Smoke Eaters Ryan Swanson took a late penalty to give Prince George valuable offensive time. With Newton came out of the box (serving the additional penalty Swanson took) the Smoke Eaters would pull the goalie, but couldn’t beat McCloskey. Prince George would hold on for the final 2-0 win, and kick off their lengthy home stand on a good note. 13 of the next 16 games will be played at the Coliseum.